Passenger Lists

Information contained within a passenger list varied greatly between the steamship companies and even between voyages. Many offered at least some content in two languages, if the primary language was not English.

Right - Front Cover of the First Class Passenger List for the White Star Line R.M.S. Titanic.

Potential Components of Passenger Lists

* Steamship Line
* Name of Steamship or Ocean Liner
* Name of the Captain (often referred to as the Commander)
* Date the voyage left the port of origination
* Route the steamship took ( i.e. Liverpool to New York via Queenstown (Cobh))
* Listing of Senior Officers and Crew Members
o Most extensive on the German based steamship companies
%u2022 Listing of Passengers by Class (Note 1)
o Name of Passenger, usually with courtesy title
o Wives were frequently listed as Mrs. Jones or Mrs. Henry Jones unless travelling without their husbands.
o Entourages of the Saloon and First Class passengers were listed by profession or type such as Maid, Nurse, Governess, Stewardess, Chauffeur, Valet, Male Attendant, etc.
o Young children were often listed as an appendage to the wife's name such as Mrs. Jones and Child or Mrs. Jones and Two Children
o Unmarried women and girls were always addressed as Miss (or Mlle / Fräuline)
o Pre-adolescent boys were addressed a Master
* Information for Passengers
o Meal times, Seating arrangements
o Music - provided by the Ship's Orchestra or Band
o Staterooms
o Baggage - Storage and responsibility
o Baths - Location and availability
o Smoking - When and where allowed
o Upper Berths - Information on how to obtain steps
o Berth Assignments - No changes typically allowed except through the purser.
o Bar - When Closed
o Lights - When the lights are turned off in the public rooms
o Surgeons - Availability, common charges, pharmaceuticals, treatments
o Barber - Charges and location
o Library - Location and other information
o Letters - Sea Post information - where to mail
o Telegrams / Wireless - Cost, Availability
o Stationery, Postcards - Availability
o Valuables - Steamship companies were not responsible for theft. They advised passengers to deposit valuables in the steamship safe for safekeeping during the voyage.
o Money, Foreign Currency Exchange - Where to exchange currency or purchase money orders
o Amusements - Availability of games (board, card or deck games)
o Gymnasium - Where located
o Electricity - Noted on most 19th century passenger lists, phased out by the 1920s.
o Landing Arrangements
o Pets - Transport and restrictions
o Deck Chairs (rental Fee)
o Head Tax information
o Immigration information
* Photographs or Illustrations of the Ships or ship accommodations
* Time on Shipboard
* Approximate Distances
* Return Accommodation information
* Telephone Facilities
* List of Offices and Agencies of the steamship line
* Proposed Sailings - Typically for the next three to nine months
* Advertisements for special cruises
* Other advertisements - Not typical but occurred on occasion - often for hotels or restaurants.

Classes of Passengers

The class carried varies by steamships (just as they vary with the Airlines of today - such as an MD-80 vs. Boeing 767) dependent of the vessel and the era it was built or last remodeled.

From the highest to lowest class of passengers
1. Saloon Passengers
2. First Class or First Cabin Passengers
3. Second Class or Second Cabin Passengers
4. Cabin Passengers
5. One Class Passengers (Special Class)
6. Tourist Third Cabin Passengers
7. Tourist Class Passengers
8. Third Class Passengers
9. Steerage Passengers

Value of Passenger Lists
The value of the souvenir passenger lists varies greatly. Original Titanic passenger lists can fetch $100,000 or more. Carpathia - the rescue ship of the Titanic are also highly prized by collectors and extremely rare.

Many of the older passenger lists (pre 1920) are sought after by collectors for their cover art while others are prized for a specific ship or noteworthy (usually catastrophic) voyage.

Learn more about passenger lists and other related material at the Gjenvick-Gjønvik Archives,