RMS Campania Passage Contract - 1897: A Swedish Immigrant’s Journey to America

📌 Discover an 1897 Steerage Passage Contract for Swedish immigrant Augusta Collin, documenting her journey from Gothenburg to New York via Liverpool aboard Cunard’s RMS Campania. This historical document provides insight into transatlantic migration, steerage-class conditions, and U.S. immigration policies—a must-read for historians, genealogists, and educators!

RMS Campania of the Cunard Line 1897 Immigrant Passage Contract - Sweden to New York. GGA Image ID # 1f9b025570

Passage Contract Summary

• Date of Purchase / Voyage: 7 April 1897
• Steamship Line: Cunard Steamship Company
• Steamship: RMS Campania
• Route: Gothenburg to New York via Hull and Liverpool
• Ticket Type: Passage Contract
• Voyage Class: Steerage
• Name on Contract: Augusta Collin
• Etnicity of Passenger(s): Swedish
• Contract Terms: Translated from Swedish
• Cost of Ticket: Not Stated

Steamship steerage passage contract for a 25 year-old Swedish servant, immigrating to America from Gothenburg, Sweden on 7 April 1897. She took a small coastal steamer from Gothenburg to Grimsby, England, a train from Hull to Liverpool and boarded the Cunard steamship Campania for the voyage to New York arriving on 17 April 1897.

Hufvudkontor i Liverpool: The Cunard Steamship Company, Limited, 1 Rumford Street och 8 Water Street.

Agenter i New-York: Vernon H. Brown & Co., 4 Bowling Green

Agent i Boston: Alexander Martin, 99 State Street.

Agent i Chicago: F. G. Whiting, N. W. Corner Clark & Randolph Streets.

Cunard-linien N:o 626 Utvandrare-Kontrakt

emellan

J. Oscar Reis, Giiteborg, befullmaktigad utvandrare-agent, samt nedanstaende utvandrare:

I. Oscar Reis, hereby undertake, upon the following terms, to forward from Gothenburg to New York in North America, the emigrant named below for the sum of 109 Kronor, which amount has been duly paid and includes all ordinary charges upon landing in America.

The journey takes place from Gothenburg the 7 April 1897 by steamer steerage passage to or Grimsby in England and thence, within 48 hours after having passed the customs, to Liverpool by rail 3:rd class and from Liverpool within 12 days after arrival there, by Ocean steamer steerage passage, to New-York or Boston in North America. From New-York or Boston the Emigrant will be forwarded, immediately after having passed the customs and complied with other formalities,

by rail ______ 3:rd class to __________ .

At the above-mentioned fare the emigrant will be supplied with good and sufficient provisions and attendance from leaving Gothenburg until arrival at place of landing in America, lodging during the stay i England and conveyance and care of effects not exceeding 10 English cubic feet space by steamer and HO English pounds weight by railway.

Effects of children between 1 and 12 years are carried free at the rate of half of what has been before stated for effects to America, where no free conveyance of effects of children under 5 years is allowed.

The emigrant is entitled to a check for such effects, as are not under his own care, and will receive for same consisting of 1 packages and numbered 388 a compensation not exceeding Kronor 50 per adult, and not exceeding Kronor 25 for children between 1 and 12 years, in the event of nondelivery, of the effects on surrender of said check, upon arrival at place of landing in America, but no compensation will be allowed for loss or damage of effects caused by sea accident.

Should the emigrant on arrival in the foreign country be refused by the authorities to immigrate and, if it cannot be proved that this prohibition has been caused by circumstances come to pass after this contract was made out, I, J. Oscar Reis, do hereby agree to repay the emigrant for the passage and at my expense have him returned to Gothenburg, Sweden; likewise his maintenance until his return and forwarding ai4 care of his baggage.

Likewise do I agree to, if so required by the emigrant, to let all controversies about this contract's explication and the emigrants justice of compensation for nonfulfillment of the same to be decided by five arbiters, of whom the emigrant appoints two, I, or in case I refuse, the Kings governor in this government two, and the before said governor the fifth.

If the emigrant has any reason for complaint of not being treated in accordance with the terms stipulated in this contract, a report thereof should be made to the nearest Consul as soon as circumstances admit.

Shown and approved as prepared in compliance with KGI. Regulation as June 4, 1884, and Royal. Announcement. , 28 September 1893, to certify Gothenburg at the Police House on 7/4 1897.

Revers Side of Swedish Passage Contract, RMS Campania of the Cunard Line for 7 April 1897. GGA Image ID # 1f9b6ff522

Read carefully before my departure from Gothenburg!

According to the American Immigration Act approval from the April 1, 1893 are the following classes of strangers refused to trade to the United States, viz;

1: o) Persons who are idiots or insane.

2: o) Persons who suffer from a contagious disease.

3: o) Persons who by law are doomed for familiar sparkling forbrytelser, evidence of moral decay. This, however, are not included, the accused political offenses

4: o) those events like marriage. (Mormons).

5: o) Persons who agreed to perform work in the United States.

6: o) Persons who have benefited from poor meal, are working inept or in said destitute of teeth, if it is foreseeable that the arrival at their destination seem the general to load. In this section are also inbegripne: aged man and women, orphans, maimed, or deformed, hafvande unmarried woman, unmarried woman carrying illegitimate children, and widows who bring young children, but those in the additions to the point

6: o) listed people may, however, have a landing in America on the inside have to light up evidence "utfärdadt" by the competent authority derstades, which evidence must be presented a Cunard Line office present their departure from Gothenburg.

Additional Information from Immigration Records

• Name: Augusta Collin
• Ethnicity: Sweden, Swedish
• Date of Arrival: April 17, 1897
• Age at Arrival:  25y
• Gender:  Female
• Marital Status: Single
• Occupation: Servant
• Ship of Travel: Campania
• Port of Departure: Liverpool
• Manifest Line Number: 0264

Evidence of First Leg of Swedish Emigrant's Journey to America

Original data: EMIGRANTEN POPULÄR 2006 is a coproduction between Emigrantregistret in Karlstad and Göteborgs-Emigranten in Göteborg.

• Name: Augusta Collin
• Departure Date: 7 April 1897
• Ship Name: Cameo
• Birth Date: about 1872
• Birth Place: Amerika (USA)
• Age: 25
• Destination: Grimsby

Source Information:

Ancestry.com. Gothenburg, Sweden, Passenger Lists, 1869-1951 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Original data: Göteborgs Poliskammare, EIX 1-143, 1869–1950. Landsarkivet i Göteborg, Göteborg, Sweden.

• Name: Augusta Collin
• Birth Year: about 1872
• Gender: Kvinna (Female)
• Place of Origin: Amerika
• Destination: New York
• Record Date: 7 April 1897
• Port of Departure: Göteborg
• Database Name: EmiHamn
• Archive Call Number: 59:298:626
• Principal Person: Collin Augusta

Source Information:

Ancestry.com. Swedish Emigration Records, 1783-1951 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007.

🚢 RMS Campania Passage Contract (1897): A Window into Swedish Immigration to America 🇸🇪➡️🇺🇸

🌍 An Essential Document for Understanding Transatlantic Migration

This 1897 Swedish Steerage Passage Contract for Augusta Collin, a 25-year-old Swedish servant, documents her journey from Gothenburg, Sweden, to New York via Hull and Liverpool aboard the RMS Campania of the Cunard Line. This contract provides a rich historical insight into the process, costs, and conditions of immigrant travel in the late 19th century.

📜 For historians and genealogists, this document is an authentic record of Swedish emigration, showcasing how European immigrants booked their voyages and the terms under which they traveled.

🎓 For teachers and students, it serves as a compelling primary source, illustrating the complexity of 19th-century migration, immigration laws, and the role of major steamship lines in transatlantic travel.

🧬 For family historians, it provides direct links to passenger manifests, immigration policies, and socioeconomic data on European migration.

📜 Key Highlights of the Passage Contract

📅 Date of Purchase: 7 April 1897

🚢 Steamship Line: Cunard Steamship Company

🛳 Steamship: RMS Campania

🌍 Route: Gothenburg ➡ Hull ➡ Liverpool ➡ New York

🎟️ Ticket Type: Passage Contract

💰 Cost of Ticket: 109 Kronor (Price not stated in USD)

👤 Passenger: Augusta Collin (Age 25, Occupation: Servant)

🛏️ Voyage Class: Steerage (3rd Class)

📌 Interesting Fact: Augusta’s journey included multiple stages:

1️⃣ Small steamer from Gothenburg to Grimsby, England

2️⃣ Train from Hull to Liverpool

3️⃣ Transatlantic voyage from Liverpool to New York

This multi-step migration process was common for Scandinavian immigrants, who often had to travel through intermediary ports before reaching their final destination in America.

🛤️ The Journey - A Swedish Emigrant’s Route to America

📍 Step 1: Departure from Gothenburg, Sweden

Augusta departed from Gothenburg, Sweden, on 7 April 1897, traveling on a small coastal steamer to Grimsby, England.

📍 Step 2: Train from Hull to Liverpool

After passing customs clearance in Grimsby, she took a 3rd-class train to Liverpool, one of the largest transatlantic departure points for immigrants.

📍 Step 3: Voyage on RMS Campania

On April 10, 1897, Augusta boarded the RMS Campania, a luxurious Cunard liner, though steerage passengers faced harsh travel conditions.

📍 Step 4: Arrival in New York (17 April 1897)

Upon arrival, Augusta was processed at Ellis Island, undergoing medical and legal inspections before being admitted to the United States.

📍 Step 5: Settling in America

Like many Swedish immigrants, Augusta likely joined a Swedish-American community, possibly in Minnesota, Illinois, or New York, where she could find work as a domestic servant.

📜 Contract Terms - What Immigrants Were Promised (and Risked) 🚨

🔹 Prepaid Travel - Augusta’s passage was paid in advance, covering transportation, food, and accommodations along the route.

🔹 Strict Timelines - The contract guaranteed departure from Liverpool within 12 days after arriving in England.

🔹 Baggage Limitations - She was allowed only 10 cubic feet of luggage, significantly restricting personal belongings.

🔹 Risk of Deportation - If Augusta was denied entry upon arrival, the agent agreed to cover her return to Sweden.

🔹 Legal Arbitration Clause - Any disputes regarding non-fulfillment of the contract would be settled by a panel of five arbitrators.

🚨 Key Warning:

Immigrants were explicitly warned that certain groups were prohibited from entering the U.S., including:

❌ The mentally ill, criminals, and those with contagious diseases

❌ Mormons (due to anti-polygamy laws)

❌ Single mothers, orphans, and elderly individuals without financial support

These strict regulations highlight the harsh immigration policies of the late 19th century and the uncertainty many immigrants faced.

📸 Noteworthy Images in the Collection

🖼 📜 Original Passage Contract - A detailed document, written in Swedish, outlining Augusta’s journey and legal obligations.

🖼 📄 Reverse Side with Immigration Restrictions - Lists U.S. laws barring certain immigrants, giving insight into who was considered "desirable" or "undesirable" at the time.

📜 Passenger Arrival Record - A Genealogical Treasure Trove 🧬

📜 Passenger Record for Augusta Collin

✔️ Arrived in New York on 17 April 1897

✔️ Traveled aboard RMS Campania (Cunard Line)

✔️ Nationality: Swedish

✔️ Age at Arrival: 25

✔️ Marital Status: Single

✔️ Occupation: Servant

For genealogists, this is a direct link to ancestry records, helping descendants trace their family's migration story.

💰 Cost of Passage in Today’s Money 💵

💰 1897 Cost: 109 Swedish Kronor

💰 2020 Equivalent (Estimated): $900-$1,200

🚢 Conclusion: This was a major financial investment, requiring careful planning and sponsorship.

📜 Why This Document Matters for Historians & Genealogists

🧭 For Historians - This contract illustrates the complex process of Swedish immigration, the role of steamship lines, and 19th-century migration laws.

📜 For Genealogists - It provides authentic documentation linking individuals to passenger lists, immigration records, and family history research.

🏫 For Teachers & Students - This primary source document brings real immigrant experiences into the classroom.

🌊 Final Thoughts - The Courage to Leave Everything Behind 🚢

This steerage passage contract is not just an old document—it represents the hopes and struggles of millions of immigrants seeking a better life in America.

For anyone researching Swedish immigration, family ancestry, or ocean travel history, this document is an invaluable piece of the past. 📜✨

Would you have made the journey in steerage class? 🤔🚢