Sikh immigrants arriving on the SS Minnesota, 1913Sikh immigrants arriving on the SS Minnesota, 1913
Seattle, Washington
Photograph by Asahel Curtis
Courtesy of the Washington State Historical Society, 1943.42.27255
Sikh agricultural workers, c. 1915Sikh agricultural workers, c. 1915
Northern California
Courtesy of the Bank of Stockton Historical Photograph Collection, 8423
Sirdar Jawala SinghSirdar Jawala Singh
Notice for “The Guru Govind Singh Sahib Educational Scholarships,” 1912
Courtesy of the South Asian American Digital Archive
Indian immigrants began steadily arriving in the United States as early as the turn of the twentieth century. These included Sikhs, who established businesses and worked on railroads and agricultural improvements. These settlers built a broad network across the country, with many becoming philanthropists and helping new immigrants through educational scholarships and other programs.