ROCHESTER, N.Y.-- Between 1892 and 1954, more than 12 million immigrants saw the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island as they began their journey to make America home. Adam Urbanski missed the opportunity by about 6 years. But, research for his doctoral dissertation has taken him on a journey through Ellis Island's doors.

"Because of my experience and my family’s experience, the topic of immigrating became of greater interest to me," Urbanski said.

Urbanski, along with his parents and six brothers escaped from what was then Communist Poland in the late 1950's. They hid in about a dozen countries. This newspaper article from the 1980’s depicts the family's struggles as they made their way to the U.S.

"Learning about six languages over three and a half years, we finally made our way to America," Urbanski said.

In his dissertation, Urbanski looks at the reaction to immigrants coming to America and their first experiences by going through Ellis Island. He shares those stories with groups like this one at Temple Emanu-El.

"People who came through Ellis Island, there are very few who are still with us," Urbanski said.

Thelma Nemeroff's mother is living proof.

"My mother was the youngest of nine children in Russia," Nemeroff, who's the first American-born generation in her family, said. "They came here a little bit at a time."

Her mother was 9-years-old when she reached Ellis Island. Reaching the mainland however, took a little longer.

"She had pink eye," Nemeroff explained. "So, she was held on Ellis Island for a good couple of weeks."

Nemeroff said her mother at 103-years-old, doesn't remember much. So, it's exciting to see someone working to preserve a piece of American History.

"It's the most thrilling thing you can imagine," Rose Levin, also a daughter of Russian immigrant parents said.

Levin has been to Ellis Island. She had to see the place her parents began their new life.

"You have to admire what people did to come to freedom," Levin said.

It's admiration that's one step closer to continuing onto another generation, thanks to Urbanski's work.

"Immigration is the history of America," Urbanski said. "Very few people here are not descendants."

Urbanski said one day he hopes to write a book on what he's learned. For now though he says he's a little preoccupied fixing Rochester's education system.