LPC means "likely to become pauper.

My sister-in-laws ancestors came to America around the turn of the century 1880-1910 from Sicily. Unbelieveably the records have been accessible and has only taken a few weeks of research thus far. We did find one passanger held for inquiry for LPC. Another relative of my sister-in-law's mother wrote back what LPC meant on the manifestos.


Donna Cruzze wrote:
LPC means "likely to become pauper."

...but during the 1932 campaign he (Hoover) had taken credit for "rigidly restricted immigration." Thus, with the kind of creative reinterpretation of the law usually credited to his immediate successor, Hoover completely changed the meaning of the "l.p.c. clause." In 1882 the original phrase had been "paupers or persons likely to become a public charge" and the intent had been to exclude, not poor persons, but persons incapable of supporting themselves. But Hoover's claim of credit was misleading. The new administrative interpretation of the "l.p.c. clause" had actually begun at the tail end of the Coolidge administration. As early as September 1928 the State Department instructed American consular officials in Mexico to apply standards more stringently. Hoover's directive gave consular officials enormous latitude, which some used with murderous effect a few years later. The new interpretation of the old clause was eventually stretched so that many consuls were able to require immigrants either to have substantial assets in their possession or a sponsor in the US who would file an affidavit attesting a willingness to support the immigrant if necessary and an ability to do so.

Roger Daniels, Charles Phelps Taft Professor Emeritus of History
University of Cincinnati


I then replied to Donna about my special interest in genealogy:

I always meant to get a chance to "look LPC up". But very very interesting. One of the major reasons I am doing these studies is to fill the gap in our children's history of America. This is so important information when people complain about the immigration laws now. I hear complaints because the paperwork is not done fast as they think it should take, or they have to wait in line for 3-4 hours. Our ancestors went through a lot to make "our" America today. I want some of this history of the hardship people endured be taught to our grandchildren so they can become a little more appreciative.

To which Donna replied:::
Over the years I have done the following. While traveling across the desert, in the middle of nowhere, I stop the car and have them get out. I point to the horizon (and it is hot, hot, hot) and I say "how would you like to cross this desert in a covered wagon with no air conditioning and only make 3 miles a day until you covered the 400 mile trip we are making today. That is what our pioneer ancestors did.

To which I reply:
Just keeping it real for our KIDS