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THE DOCTOR’S VISIT
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THE TRAVEL DOCUMENTS OF THE VAN LANCKER FAMILY
In 1920 Léon Van Lancker and his wife, Leonora migrated to the United States. Léon hoped to find a job in the car factories of Detroit. They sailed on the Red Star Line’s Kroonland.
In those days everyone was required to have a passport and a ticket. Upon their departure Léon and Leonora also had papers with them, stating that their uncle, Clement Lega, who already lived in Detroit, would be their sponsor and in which he officially declared that he would provide for them in the United States. The Van Lanckers would not be a burden on society in other words.
Léon also took his diploma as a car mechanic with him to find a job easier, and he soon succeeded in finding employment in the Ford plant in Detroit. His wife sewed for the neighbours. Their son, Clément was born in the United States. But Léon found it hard to get used to life in the United States and had a difficult time settling there. He felt homesick. The family returned to Europe in 1924, requiring a visa for this trip too.
