Ludwig and Elise Gampher - SS Albert Ballin - 16 July 1926

Group Photo of German Immigrants to America on the SS Albert Ballin of the Hamburg-America Line, Who Departed from Hamburg on 16 July 1926 for New York, Arriving on 26 July 1926. Image Courtesy of Lydia Schlotthauer Sayers Yee. GGA Image ID # 1597090fdb

In the group photograph above, you will see two individuals seated behind the life ring. Those are my aunt and uncle. (My grandmother's brother Ludwig and his wife) Elise and Ludwig Gampfer.

This was taken on 16 July 1926 before departure from Hamburg, Germany. The Gampfers Traveled in the Third Class and arrived at Ellis Island, New York, on 26 July 1926.

After Ludwig served in the German Navy during WWI, he vowed to leave Germany for a better life. So he did. As far as I can recall, he never set foot back in Germany after September 1926, having gone back with Elise to settle his affairs.

Upon returning, they purchased a house in Brooklyn. During the Second World War, our family was very dependent on the CARE packages he sent from New York. After retirement, Ludwig and Elise moved to Kenoza Lake, New York. He died in 1996, and she died in 1998.

Staatsarchiv Hamburg, Bestand: 373-7 I, VIII (Auswanderungsamt I). Mikrofilmrollen K 1701 - K 2008, S 17363 - S 17383, 13116 - 13183 (1926). Hamburg State Archives. GGA Image ID # 1597388ef2

Left Side List No. 9, Page 00740 of the List or Manifest of Alien Passengers for the United States for Passengers aboard the SS Albert Ballin of the Hamburg-America Line that departed from Hamburg on 16 July 1926, arriving in New York on 26 July 1926. Form 500 B, United States Department of Labor, Steerage Passengers Only. GGA Image ID # 1597bc9189

Right Side List No. 9, Page 00740 of the List or Manifest of Alien Passengers for the United States for Passengers aboard the SS Albert Ballin of the Hamburg-America Line that departed from Hamburg on 16 July 1926, arriving in New York on 26 July 1926. Form 500 B, United States Department of Labor, Steerage Passengers Only. GGA Image ID # 1597e5a82e

Scenes from the Third Class on the SS Albert Ballin of the Hamburg-America Line, 1926. Left to Right, Top to Bottom: Third Class Dining Room, Passengers Relaxing on the Thrid Class Promenade Deck, Third Class Ladies Saloon, Third Class Bath and Stateroom. From the Albert Ballin Passenger List, 28 January 1926. GGA Image ID # 15976c7d46

SS Albert Ballin was an ocean liner of the Hamburg-America Line launched in 1923 and named after Albert Ballin, the visionary director of the line who had committed suicide several years earlier. Albert Ballin was built by Blohm & Voss in Hamburg and served on the Hamburg-New York City route.

Declaration of Intention, Ludvig Gampfer dated 26 July 1926. Filing a declaration of intention was the first formal step toward naturalization for most persons seeking admission to U.S. citizenship between Jan. 29, 1795 and Dec. 23, 1952.  For this reason the census and other contemporary sources sometimes refer to filing a declaration as "taking out first papers." GGA Image ID # 15994a7e1f

DSS Form 1, World War II Draft Registration Card for Ludwig Gampfer, Order Number 11034, Serial Number T-1121. Ancestry.com. U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011. GGA Image ID # 1598df9600

Transcription of WWII Draft Registration Card for Ludwig Gampfer

• Name: Ludwig Gampfer
• Race: White
• Age: 42
• Birth Date: 20 Feb 1899
• Birth Place: Permasens, Germany
• Registration Date: 16 Feb 1942
• Registration Place: Elmhurst, Queens, New York
• Employer: Rose Dye Works
• Weight: 170
• Complexion: Light
• Eye Color: Blue
• Hair Color: Brown
• Height: 5 5
• Next of Kin: Elisa Gampfer

Declaration of Intention No. 157146 for Elise Gamfer dated 26 July 1928. National Archives and Records Administration; Washington, DC; NAI Title: Index to Petitions for Naturalizations Filed in Federal, State, and Local Courts in New York City, 1792-1906; NAI Number: 5700802; Record Group Title: Records of District Courts of the United States, 1685-2009; Record Group Number: RG 21. GGA Image ID # 15995e504c

Review of the Ludwig and Elise Gampfer Immigration Story and Its Relevance to Ocean Travel Studies

The story of Ludwig and Elise Gampfer, who immigrated from Germany to the United States aboard the SS Albert Ballin in 1926, provides a rich historical case study for teachers, students, genealogists, historians, and researchers of ocean travel and immigration. Their journey encapsulates the economic, political, and personal motivations that drove European emigration to America in the early 20th century, while also offering valuable insights into transatlantic ocean travel, steerage conditions, and the immigrant experience at Ellis Island.

 

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Why This Story Matters

1. For Educators and Students: A First-Person Perspective on Immigration

📌 Key Themes: Immigration, WWI Aftermath, Economic Migration, Life in America

Ludwig Gampfer’s decision to leave Germany after serving in the German Navy during World War I reflects the larger postwar struggles many Europeans faced, including economic hardship, political instability, and limited opportunities for upward mobility. His story can be used in history, social studies, and immigration studies curricula to illustrate:

• Push and Pull Factors of Immigration – How war, economic hardship, and the promise of a better life in America motivated migration.
• Ellis Island Experience – The importance of Ellis Island as the main entry point for immigrants and the bureaucratic process of entering the United States.
• Cultural and Economic Contributions – How immigrants like Ludwig and Elise became part of the American workforce, in this case, settling in Brooklyn and contributing to New York’s industrial economy.

For students, the group photo of German immigrants aboard the SS Albert Ballin humanizes immigration history, allowing them to connect real faces to historical events.

 

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2. For Genealogists: A Model for Tracing Family Immigration Records

📌 Key Themes: Passenger Lists, Ship Manifests, Naturalization, Draft Records

The detailed documentation of Ludwig and Elise’s journey serves as an exemplary guide for genealogists looking to trace family history through immigration records. The availability of:

✅ Hamburg Passenger Lists (manifest details, departure/arrival records)
✅ Declaration of Intention Documents (first steps toward U.S. citizenship)
✅ WWII Draft Registration Cards (tracking post-immigration life)

This documentation offers a roadmap for individuals researching their ancestors, particularly those who arrived in New York via German steamship lines.

Additionally, the manifest records of the SS Albert Ballin show the specific routes taken by immigrants, including stops in Boulogne and Southampton, which can help genealogists identify potential European connections before departure.

 

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3. For Maritime Historians: Insights into Third-Class Travel in the 1920s

📌 Key Themes: Ocean Liner History, Steerage Conditions, Shipboard Life

The SS Albert Ballin, a Hamburg-America Line ocean liner, represents the peak of transatlantic immigration travel before the Great Depression and restrictive U.S. immigration laws.

💡 Key Takeaways for Maritime History:

• The third-class accommodations aboard the SS Albert Ballin were more refined than earlier steerage conditions, reflecting gradual improvements in passenger travel during the 1920s.
• Photographs of third-class facilities (dining room, promenade deck, staterooms) offer a visual comparison between different ship classes.
• The ship’s namesake, Albert Ballin, was a major figure in early 20th-century ocean travel, responsible for innovations in luxury ocean liners.

For maritime researchers, this case study provides real-world documentation of the passenger experience in third class, bridging the gap between historical accounts and visual records of ocean travel.

 

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4. For Immigration Historians: A Reflection of Post-WWI Migration Trends

📌 Key Themes: U.S. Immigration Laws, Economic Migration, Cultural Assimilation

Ludwig and Elise Gampfer’s journey took place in 1926, a period when U.S. immigration laws had begun to restrict European arrivals under the 1924 Immigration Act.

💡 Key Historical Context:

• Their successful entry into the U.S. suggests that they met the strict new visa requirements, which favored skilled laborers (Ludwig’s occupation as an "Elektromonteur" likely helped).
• The story of their settlement in Brooklyn reflects a common immigrant pattern of clustering in urban centers with existing communities.
• During WWII, Ludwig’s ability to send CARE packages to relatives in Germany showcases how immigrants played a crucial role in supporting families abroad, even during times of global conflict.

For historians, the Gampfer story provides a personalized look at how individual immigrants navigated restrictive laws, adapted to life in America, and maintained transnational ties.

 

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Final Assessment: A Rich Case Study for Multiple Fields of Research

The immigration story of Ludwig and Elise Gampfer is an excellent resource for understanding transatlantic travel, Ellis Island immigration, steerage conditions, and immigrant contributions to American society.

🔎 Who Can Benefit from This Case Study?
✅ Teachers & Students – Engaging real-life immigrant stories for history and social studies lessons.
✅ Genealogists – A guide to tracing family immigration records through ship manifests and naturalization documents.
✅ Maritime Historians – A glimpse into third-class accommodations aboard German ocean liners in the 1920s.
✅ Immigration Scholars – A study of post-WWI migration patterns and the impact of U.S. immigration laws.

By combining personal narratives with historical records, this article brings the ocean travel experience of immigrants to life, making it a valuable and versatile resource for multiple fields of research.