🛂 SS Corsican 1912 Immigration Inspection Card – Canada’s Steerage Passenger Records

📌 Explore the 1912 Canadian immigrant inspection card issued to William Cudby aboard the SS Corsican. Learn about immigration policies, health screenings, and passenger records from early 20th-century ocean travel. Ideal for genealogists, historians, and researchers.

🛳 SS Corsican Inspection Card – 1912: A Rare Glimpse into Canadian Immigration History

📜 An Essential Document for Immigrant Entry

The Canadian Immigrant Inspection Card issued to steerage passenger William (Wm.) Cudby aboard the SS Corsican of the Allan Line provides a remarkable historical artifact that sheds light on early 20th-century immigration procedures in Canada. This primary source document serves as a crucial research tool for genealogists, historians, teachers, and students interested in the processes of immigrant arrival, health screening, and inland travel assistance.

Steerage passengers were often subjected to rigorous inspections, and this card represents a critical piece of evidence that immigrants needed to retain for three years, proving their compliance with Canadian immigration and health regulations.

Canadian Immigrant Inspection Card was issued in 1912 to a steerage passenger on board the Allan Line SS Corsican. The card provided essential information, including the immigrant's name, Steamship, port, and departure date. The card was intended to be kept by the immigrant for three years. It would be shown to government officials whenever required.

Front Side, RMS Corsican Canadian Steerage Passenger Inspection Card, 27 June 1912 for Immigrant William (Wm.) Cudby Departing from Liverpool on 27 June 1912 and Arrived in Quebec on 4 July 1912. He Cleared Immigration the Following Day. GGA Image ID # 776afd26e4

Steerage Passenger Inspection Card for Immigration Officer at Port of Arrival in Canada

🔹 Name of Immigrant: William (Wm.) Cudby

🔹 Name of Ship: Corsican (Allan Line)

🔹 Sailing From: Liverpool

🔹 Date of Sailing: 27 June 1912

🔹 Country of Last Permanent Residence: Not Indicated

🔹 The Name appears on Manifest, Page 6, Line 4

🔹 Medical Examination Stamp: July 5 1912 Passed Medical Examination, Port of Quebec, Canada

🔹 Civil Examination Stamp: July 4 1912 Immigration Office, Dominion Government Quebec

🔹 Inland Exchange Order Stamp: Salvation Army Immigration July 5 1912 Quebec, QUE

🔹 Vaccination Protected /s/ W. Birch Cabey, Ship's Surgeon

Reverse Side, RMS Corsican Canadian Steerage Passenger Inspection Card, 27 June 1912, Containing Instruction for Immigrant -- "This card should be kept carefully for three years. It should be shown to government officials whenever required." The Instruction was Provided in English, Bohemian, Russian, Ruthenian, German, French, Dutch, Hungarian, Swedish, Polish, Italian, and Arabic. GGA Image ID # 41a024f03e

Color Postcard of the Allan Line RMS Corsican (1907) . GGA Image ID # 1d3cb64f9b

🚢 The SS Corsican: A Vessel of Migration

🔹 Ship Overview

✔ Launched: 1907

✔ Operator: Allan Line, later Canadian Pacific Line

✔ Voyage Route: Liverpool ➝ Quebec

✔ Passenger Class: Primarily Steerage & Cabin

✔ Arrival Date: 4 July 1912

✔ Notable Role: Transporting thousands of immigrants to Canada and North America

The SS Corsican was a key vessel in the early 20th-century migration boom, facilitating immigrant travel from Europe to Canada. Many passengers, like William Cudby, arrived in Quebec before dispersing inland to new opportunities in farming, industry, or settlement communities.

📖 The Significance of This Inspection Card

🌍 A Snapshot of Immigration Processing

The inspection card issued to William Cudby on 27 June 1912 represents an essential piece of Canadian immigration history. These documents were not just travel papers—they served as official government records tracking the arrival and inspection process of steerage-class immigrants.

✔ 🩺 Medical Examination: Cleared on 5 July 1912, ensuring public health safety.

✔ 🛂 Civil Immigration Examination: Approved on 4 July 1912 at the Dominion Government Immigration Office, Quebec.

✔ 🛤 Inland Exchange Order Stamp: Salvation Army Immigration Assistance on 5 July 1912, showing social support systems for immigrants.

✔ 💉 Vaccination Confirmation: Stamped and signed by W. Birch Cabey, Ship’s Surgeon, demonstrating the importance of immunization.

For genealogists and historians, this card confirms an immigrant’s legal entry and medical clearance, making it an invaluable resource for tracing ancestry and understanding early 20th-century immigration policies.

📸 Noteworthy Images from This Page

🛳 Front Side of the RMS Corsican Inspection Card (1912)

📷 A well-preserved document showing the immigrant’s name, voyage details, medical clearance, and official government stamps.

📑 Reverse Side of the Inspection Card

📷 Instructions in multiple languages emphasize the importance of retaining this card for three years, showing Canada’s multilingual immigrant population.

🖼 Color Postcard of RMS Corsican (1907)

📷 A visually striking postcard depicting the SS Corsican, a significant vessel in transatlantic migration history.

📚 Why This Inspection Card Matters for Researchers

🔍 For Historians & Educators

✔ Provides insight into Canada’s early immigration policies.

✔ Demonstrates the role of medical screenings and social services in the immigration process.

✔ Highlights the multi-ethnic nature of steerage passengers.

🛂 For Genealogists & Family Historians

✔ A crucial document for tracing ancestors who immigrated to Canada.

✔ Shows official entry and clearance into the country.

✔ Confirms ship of travel, arrival date, and original departure point.

📖 For Students & Researchers

✔ A tangible example of primary source documentation.

✔ Illustrates how immigration control and health screenings were implemented in 1912.

✔ Provides an authentic perspective on the experiences of steerage passengers.

🔹 Final Thoughts: A Unique Piece of Immigration History

This rare inspection card from the SS Corsican’s 1912 voyage is more than just a paper document—it’s a window into the past, offering a detailed look at how early 20th-century immigrants were processed, screened, and integrated into Canadian society.

For teachers, students, genealogists, and history enthusiasts, this page is an invaluable research resource, helping to connect the dots between immigration, public health, and the experiences of those who embarked on the long journey to a new life in North America.