American Line Prepaid Passage Memorandum (1898) – A Rare Look at Transatlantic Travel

📌 Explore an 1898 Prepaid Passage Memorandum for Second Cabin travel aboard the American Line, detailing costs, conditions, and transatlantic travel norms. This historical document sheds light on immigration sponsorship, business travel, and middle-class migration—essential reading for historians, genealogists, and educators!

American Line Prepaid Passage Memorandum for Passengers Lloyd E. Brown and Leslie D. Brown, 11 November 1898. GGA Image ID # 1f9b731f7a

The ticket agent prepared this receipt, representing the left side of the prepaid steamship passage contract that the agent would forward on behalf of the immigrants named in the contract.

No. 56559
AMERICAN LINE.
SECOND CABIN—PREPAID
Memorandum
To be kept by Purchaser.

Buffalo, NY

Date issued November 11, 1898
NAMES OF PASSENGERS.

1. Lloyd E. Brown
2. Leslie D. Brown

Bought By: M. D. Lloyd

17 Glenwood Ave

City (Presumed to be Buffalo, New York)

Amount of Ocean Fare: $ 88.00

Amount of Inland Fare: $ 0

Total, $88.00

Should the passenger refuse to come out, within the specified time for which the Certificate is available, the Company will refund the amount paid, less 10 per cent. discount, on the production of this Memorandum, together with the corresponding Certificate of passage.

Money forwarded to INTERNATIONAL NAVIGATION COMPANY, 6 Bowling Green, New York, for the use of the passenger on arrival, will be delivered on application and identification.

Relative Cost of Passage Ticket in Today's Currency Value

In 2020, the relative values of $88.00 from 1898 ranges from $2,400.00 to $101,000.00.

A simple Purchasing Power Calculator would say the relative value is $2,830.00. This answer is obtained by multiplying $88 by the percentage increase in the CPI from 1898 to 2020.

This may not be the best answer.

The best measure of the relative value over time depends on if you are interested in comparing the cost or value of a Commodity, Income or Wealth, or a Project.

If you want to compare the value of a $88.00 Commodity in 1898 there are three choices. In 2020 the relative:

• real price of that commodity is $2,830.00
• labor value of that commodity is $15,300.00 (using the unskilled wage) or $22,400.00 (using production worker compensation)
• income value of that commodity is $22,400.00
• economic share of that commodity is $101,000.00

If you want to compare the value of a $88.00 Income or Wealth, in 1898 there are four choices. In 2020 the relative:

• real wage or real wealth value of that income or wealth is $2,830.00
• relative labor earnings of that commodity are $15,300.00 (using the unskilled wage) or $22,400.00 (using production worker compensation)
• relative income value of that income or wealth is $22,400.00
• relative output value of that income or wealth is $101,000.00

If you want to compare the value of a $88.00 Project in 1898 there are three choices. In 2020 the relative:

• real cost of that project is $2,400.00
• labor cost of that project is $15,300.00 (using the unskilled wage) or $22,400.00 (using production worker compensation)
• relative cost of that project is $22,400.00
• economy cost of that project is $101,000.00

Source: www.measuringworth.com Samuel H. Williamson, "Seven Ways to Compute the Relative Value of a U.S. Dollar Amount, 1790 to present," MeasuringWorth, 2022.

🚢 American Line Prepaid Passage Memorandum (1898): A Key Insight into Transatlantic Travel 🌍

📜 Overview: A Glimpse into the Journey of Lloyd E. Brown & Leslie D. Brown

This 1898 Prepaid Passage Memorandum from the American Line provides a valuable historical perspective on how individuals traveled across the Atlantic in the late 19th century. Purchased for Second Cabin passage, this document represents one leg of a larger journey, possibly for business, relocation, or family reunification.

📖 For genealogists, this document serves as an essential record of international movement, potentially linking to passenger manifests, census records, and family histories.

🎓 For educators and students, it is a primary source that showcases how transatlantic travel was financed, arranged, and regulated.

🛳 For historians, it provides insights into social class differences, economic conditions, and migration patterns during the late 19th century.

📜 Key Details of the Prepaid Passage Memorandum

📅 Date of Purchase: November 11, 1898

🚢 Steamship Line: American Line

🛳 Steamship: Not Specified

🌍 Route: Eastward from New York

🎟 Ticket Type: Prepaid Passage Memorandum

💰 Cost of Ticket: $88.00 (Equivalent to $2,830 in 2020 USD)

🛏 Voyage Class: Second Cabin

👤 Passengers: Lloyd E. Brown & Leslie D. Brown

📌 Purchased By: M. D. Lloyd, 17 Glenwood Ave, Buffalo, NY

📌 Interesting Fact: The American Line, operated by the International Navigation Company, was one of the major transatlantic carriers, connecting Europe and America for business, tourism, and immigration.

🔎 What is a Prepaid Passage Memorandum? Why Did It Matter?

A Prepaid Memorandum functioned as a receipt and financial guarantee for a prearranged voyage. This system was particularly useful for:

✔️ Immigrants sponsored by relatives in America

✔️ Business professionals traveling for work

✔️ Tourists and visitors needing a return voyage

✔️ Missionaries, military personnel, and government workers

📌 Refund Clause: If the passenger did not embark within the allocated time, the steamship company refunded the ticket price minus a 10% fee—ensuring that only committed travelers occupied the limited cabin space.

📌 Inland Fare Consideration: Unlike many prepaid tickets, this one only covered ocean fare. This suggests that Lloyd and Leslie Brown were responsible for securing separate transport to their final destination upon arrival.

📌 Potential for a Round-Trip Voyage: Since no westward (U.S. to Europe) passage is specified, this could indicate:

🔹 A one-way voyage for relocation OR

🔹 A return journey after visiting the U.S.

🛏️ Second Cabin Travel – A Comfortable Middle-Class Option

Unlike Steerage (often associated with mass immigration), Second Cabin offered a more refined but affordable experience for middle-class travelers.

✔️ Smaller, semi-private cabins

✔️ Better meals than Steerage

✔️ Access to a dining saloon and some promenades

✔️ A less crowded experience compared to Third Class

📌 Did You Know? Second Cabin passengers did not have the full luxury of First Class, but they avoided the hardships of Steerage, making it a popular option for skilled professionals, businessmen, and wealthier immigrants.

📸 Noteworthy Images in the Collection

🖼 📜 American Line Prepaid Memorandum - The original document showcasing ticket pricing, purchase details, and refund policies.

🖼 📄 Refund & Passenger Conditions - The fine print detailing what happens if the ticket is not used.

📜 Relative Cost of Passage – Then vs. Now 💰

💰 1898 Ticket Price: $88.00

💰 2020 Equivalent: $2,830 to $101,000 (depending on the valuation method)

📌 Comparison with Today: While the base price seems reasonable for a transatlantic voyage today, in 1898, $88.00 was a major expense—possibly a month’s wages for a skilled worker or several months' wages for an unskilled laborer.

🔹 Conclusion: The purchase of a Second Cabin ticket was likely a planned financial decision—suggesting that the passengers had stable incomes or financial support.

🧬 Genealogical & Historical Value of This Document

🧭 For Historians - This memorandum illustrates how transatlantic travel was structured and financed, providing insights into the economic and social aspects of Second Cabin travel.

📜 For Genealogists - This record may serve as a crucial family history link, connecting ancestral migration records, census data, and Ellis Island entries.

🏫 For Teachers & Students - This primary source document can enhance lessons on late 19th-century immigration, social class distinctions in ocean travel, and economic trends.

🌊 Final Thoughts – A Window into Late 19th-Century Travel 🚢

This Prepaid Passage Memorandum is more than just a financial record—it represents a snapshot of the evolving world of transatlantic travel, where class distinctions, prepaid sponsorships, and economic planning played key roles.

For anyone researching family migration, historical travel, or 19th-century business voyages, this document is an invaluable piece of history connecting the past to the present.

Would you have chosen Second Cabin over Steerage? 🤔🚢