Second-Class Passages Across the Atlantic: Immigration, Travel, and Ticketing (1897-1930)
📌 Discover a collection of Second-Class Passage Contracts and Tickets from 1897-1930, documenting transatlantic journeys of immigrants, business travelers, and tourists. These primary sources offer insights into ticketing, migration policies, and the realities of ocean travel. Ideal for genealogists, educators, and history enthusiasts. 🚢🌍📜
All Second Class Passage Contracts and Tickets available at the GG Archives. These unique contracts represent primary source documents of the voyage of many immigrants. Our collection includes a variety of types and classes and provides an invaluable account of the cost of passage.
🌍 Recap & Summary: Second Class Passage Contracts & Tickets 🚢📜
The Second Class Passage Contracts and Tickets Index is an invaluable historical resource documenting the journeys of immigrants, business travelers, and tourists who crossed the Atlantic in Second Class accommodations during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This collection of primary source documents provides unique insights into maritime travel, immigration policies, ticketing procedures, and the socioeconomic dynamics of transatlantic migration.
🔎 Whether you're a teacher, student, genealogist, or historian, this archive offers an authentic look into how people traveled across the ocean, complete with ticket costs, passenger details, and contract terms. It is especially relevant for those researching family immigration histories, as many second-class passengers were immigrants who were able to afford better accommodations than steerage but still traveled under contractual limitations.
SS St. Louis Prepaid Passage Memorandum (1897) – A Window into Transatlantic Travel
A Significant Document for Genealogists, Historians, and Ocean Travel Enthusiasts
This 1897 Prepaid Steamship Ticket Memorandum for J. L. Laplace, traveling Second Cabin aboard the SS St. Louis of the American Line, offers a fascinating insight into transatlantic travel at the turn of the century. The document provides valuable details about ticket costs, terms, refund policies, and the financial aspects of prearranged passage—all of which are crucial for understanding immigration, tourism, and business travel during this era.
This document showcases how transatlantic voyages were arranged, paid for, and structured, shedding light on Second Cabin travel—a class that bridged the gap between luxury and steerage. It serves as a real-world primary source that enhances discussions about migration patterns, social mobility, and the evolution of international travel. This document may be a missing link in family history research, offering proof of an ancestor’s voyage to America.
American Line Prepaid Passage Memorandum (1898) – A Rare Look at Transatlantic Travel
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.
This document serves as an essential record of international movement, potentially linking to passenger manifests, census records, and family histories. It is a primary source that showcases how transatlantic travel was financed, arranged, and regulated. It provides insights into social class differences, economic conditions, and migration patterns during the late 19th century.
SS California (1912): Second-Class Passage Receipt from New York to Glasgow
This Second Cabin Ticket Receipt, dated 6 May 1912, is an important historical document showcasing transatlantic passenger travel aboard the SS California of the Anchor Line Steamship Company. Purchased by Jessie M. Clerihew, a Scottish traveler, the ticket secured her passage from New York to Glasgow, Scotland, in second-class accommodations on 18 May 1912. The SS California was one of the key passenger ships operated by the Anchor Line, serving as a vital connection between the United States and Scotland.
The SS California was one of the key passenger ships operated by the Anchor Line, serving as a vital connection between the United States and Scotland. The ticket receipt provides insight into the experience of second-class travelers on early 20th-century steamships. It highlights the role of the Anchor Line in transatlantic crossings between the U.S. and Scotland. Reveals the cost of travel and how it compares to modern currency values. The receipt offers a valuable genealogical link for researchers tracing Scottish ancestry. It also reflects on a significant movement between Britain and the U.S. weeks after the Titanic disaster.
SS Laconia 1912 Second Cabin Passage: A Glimpse into Transatlantic Travel
This Agent’s Receipt and Record for a Second Cabin passage aboard the Cunard Line’s SS Laconia, dated 3 June 1912, provides a compelling snapshot of early 20th-century transatlantic travel. The ticket was purchased for James Bartholomew, a traveler booked for the 15 June 1912 voyage from Boston to Liverpool. The cost of the ticket was $52.50, equivalent to $1,450.00 in 2020 dollars when adjusted for inflation.
The early 1900s saw a surge in transatlantic travel, with Cunard Line’s luxurious and efficient steamships dominating the route between North America and Europe. The SS Laconia, one of Cunard’s newer vessels, offered travelers multiple class options, with Second Cabin positioned between the elite First Class and the crowded Third Class steerage.
SS Cassandra Passage Ticket (1914) – A Transatlantic Journey Amidst War
The SS Cassandra Westbound Ticket Order from 8 July 1914 offers a rare and fascinating look into transatlantic travel just weeks before the outbreak of World War I. This document, issued to Miss Ruth Immel, records her second-class voyage from Glasgow, Scotland, to Montreal, Canada, departing on 29 August 1914 aboard the Donaldson Line’s SS Cassandra.
For genealogists, historians, and educators, this passage order is a valuable primary source, illustrating the migration of American travelers returning home from Europe as war loomed over the continent. It also provides critical insights into ticketing systems, travel costs, and the infrastructure supporting ocean voyages in the early 20th century.
The SS Reliance Prepaid Passage Certificate, issued on January 27, 1923, represents a rare and historically significant record of transatlantic migration in the post-World War I era. It documents the prepaid passage of 18-year-old Frieda Mayer from Hamburg, Germany, to St. Louis, Missouri, via New York, aboard the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company (RMSP) liner SS Reliance.
This second-class prepaid ticket was purchased by a relative, Bernhard Mayer, who had immigrated to the United States in 1892—a clear example of chain migration, where established family members sponsored new arrivals. Frieda’s journey was delayed, and she did not arrive until October 1925, illustrating the complexities and uncertainties that often accompanied overseas migration.
For teachers, students, genealogists, and historians, this document is an invaluable primary source, revealing the role of prepaid passage systems, the financial realities of migration, and the legal and logistical intricacies of early 20th-century transatlantic travel.
A Glimpse into Early 20th-Century Immigration Through a Young Polish Girl’s Journey
This prepaid passage contract from December 11, 1923, for a 13-year-old Polish immigrant, Janina Kozlowski, offers a compelling window into the immigration experience of the early 20th century. The United States Lines contract covered her second-class voyage aboard the SS Zeeland from Antwerp to New York, highlighting not only the logistical aspects of transatlantic travel but also the legal and financial hurdles faced by immigrants and their families.
This historical document is particularly valuable for teachers, students, genealogists, and historians, as it provides firsthand evidence of how European immigrants navigated the complex process of transatlantic relocation. From the cost of passage ($164.56, equivalent to approximately $2,500–$39,900 in 2020 dollars) to the contract stipulations, this receipt tells a powerful story of hope, hardship, and opportunity.
The SS Roma Passage Contract (Quota) from 18 September 1928 is a significant historical document reflecting the rigid structure of transatlantic ocean travel during the interwar period. Issued by Navigazione Generale Italiana, this Second Class passage contract was part of the quota system imposed by the Immigration Act of 1924, which restricted the number of immigrants allowed into the United States. This document is a valuable resource for teachers, students, genealogists, and historians, offering insights into immigration policies, passenger rights, and the legal framework governing transatlantic voyages.
The "Quota" stamp on the contract is one of the most striking elements. It reflects the U.S. immigration restrictions under the Immigration Act of 1924, which imposed a strict quota on Italian immigrants (only 4,000 in 1928). This mark alone adds immense genealogical and historical value, as it confirms the passenger’s status under U.S. immigration law.
The SS Conte Biancamano Passage Contract from 25 October 1930 is a historically significant document that captures the financial, legal, and logistical realities of transatlantic migration in the early 20th century. Issued by Lloyd Sabaudo, one of Italy’s premier steamship lines, this second-class passage ticket belonged to Salvatore Milluzzo, a 16-year-old Italian immigrant traveling from Naples, Italy, to New York.
This contract offers incredible value for teachers, students, genealogists, and historians studying transatlantic migration, maritime history, and U.S. immigration policies during the Great Depression. It also provides valuable genealogical details, including ticketing procedures, travel costs, and restrictions placed on passengers.
🌟 Why This Collection is Significant
1️⃣ Second-Class Travel: The Middle Ground Between Luxury & Steerage
Second-class accommodations offered greater comfort than steerage but were still affordable for middle-class travelers and wealthier immigrants.
Many prepaid tickets were issued, showcasing the role of family sponsorship in helping immigrants make their journeys.
This index highlights various steamship lines, including Cunard Line, American Line, Lloyd Sabaudo, Anchor Line, and United States Lines, offering a diverse view of transatlantic travel options.
2️⃣ A Treasure Trove for Genealogists 🧬
These passage contracts contain names, birthplaces, destinations, and sometimes physical descriptions—all vital details for tracing family histories.
Many passengers were immigrants whose travel was sponsored by relatives already in the U.S.—a process known as chain migration.
Several prepaid passage documents confirm how immigrant families financed travel for relatives still in Europe.
3️⃣ Immigration Policies & Their Impact on Travel 🛂
Quota restrictions, such as the Immigration Act of 1924, dramatically affected the number of immigrants allowed into the U.S.
Documents like the SS Roma Passage Contract (1928) provide evidence of quota-limited travel, highlighting challenges faced by Italians seeking to enter America.
Some documents detail the financial burden of transatlantic travel, with tickets often costing the equivalent of several months’ wages.
📜 Featured Documents & Their Most Fascinating Aspects
🔹 SS St. Louis Prepaid Passage Memorandum (1897) – American Line
📌 Why It’s Interesting:
✅ A rare example of a prepaid second-class passage memorandum—showing how passengers arranged and paid for travel in advance.
✅ Financial details reveal ticket costs and refund policies, providing insight into the economic considerations of travel in the 1890s.
✅ Ideal for genealogists and historians studying pre-arranged transatlantic migration.
🔹 SS California (1912) – Anchor Line – Ticket from New York to Glasgow
📌 Why It’s Interesting:
✅ This second-class ticket receipt belonged to a Scottish traveler, highlighting return migration to Europe.
✅ The voyage took place just weeks after the Titanic disaster, offering an intriguing historical context.
✅ Demonstrates the role of the Anchor Line in connecting the U.S. and Scotland, useful for researching Scottish-American migration.
🔹 SS Cassandra (1914) – A Ticket Issued Weeks Before World War I
📌 Why It’s Interesting:
✅ Issued just weeks before WWI, this ticket documents transatlantic travel during a period of immense geopolitical tension.
✅ The Westbound ticket for Miss Ruth Immel represents American citizens returning from Europe as war loomed.
✅ Excellent primary source for historians studying how global conflicts impacted ocean travel.
🔹 SS Reliance (1923) – A German Immigrant’s Prepaid Ticket to America
📌 Why It’s Interesting:
✅ This prepaid ticket from Hamburg to St. Louis, Missouri, illustrates chain migration in the 1920s.
✅ The ticket was paid for by a U.S. relative, a common practice among immigrant families.
✅ Shows how delays in immigration processing meant that some travelers arrived years after purchasing their tickets.
🔹 SS Roma (1928) – Second-Class Passage Under the Quota System
📌 Why It’s Interesting:
✅ Stamped with "Quota", indicating the passenger was subject to U.S. immigration limits under the 1924 Immigration Act.
✅ Only 4,000 Italians were allowed into the U.S. that year, making this contract a rare and valuable piece of immigration history.
✅ Highlights how second-class passengers were still affected by immigration policies, even if they could afford better accommodations.
🔹 SS Conte Biancamano (1930) – A Young Italian’s Journey to America
📌 Why It’s Interesting:
✅ Belonged to a 16-year-old Italian immigrant, Salvatore Milluzzo, traveling alone to join family in Hartford, Connecticut.
✅ Details the cost of passage ($638.75, equivalent to $9,900–$145,000 in today’s money!), showing the financial sacrifices made by immigrants.
✅ The contract includes restrictions on refunds, medical inspections, and even quarantine regulations, reflecting the rigid structure of ocean travel.
📖 Final Thoughts: Why This Collection Matters
🌍 The Second-Class Passage Contracts & Tickets archive is a goldmine of historical insight, offering a firsthand look at ocean travel between the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It provides valuable context for understanding migration, economic class distinctions, and the evolving nature of transatlantic voyages.
📜 For historians, these documents illustrate global migration patterns and economic conditions.
🧬 For genealogists, they provide essential clues to tracing family histories.
🏛️ For educators, they serve as primary sources that bring history lessons to life.
🚢 Whether researching immigration policies, analyzing ticketing trends, or uncovering lost family connections, this collection is an unparalleled historical resource. 🌟
