Steerage Class Passage Contracts & Tickets (1850s-1920s): Immigration Records & Ocean Travel History

📌Explore authentic steerage class passage contracts from 1854-1921, detailing the immigrant experience aboard historic ocean liners. This collection offers invaluable resources for genealogists, historians, and educators studying transatlantic migration.🌍

All Steerage 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.

🚢 Steerage Class Passage Contracts & Tickets: A Glimpse into the Immigrant Journey 🌍

The Steerage Class Passage Contracts & Tickets collection at the GG Archives is a historical treasure trove showcasing firsthand accounts of transatlantic immigration. These primary source documents provide a window into the lives of millions of immigrants who crossed the seas in pursuit of a new beginning in America, Canada, South Africa, and beyond.

From mid-19th century packet ships to early 20th-century steamship liners, these documents offer unparalleled insights into migration history, making them indispensable for teachers, students, genealogists, and historians. Whether it’s an 1854 passage contract from France, a prepaid ticket for an Irish immigrant in 1880, or a 1921 steerage manifest from Germany, these artifacts shed light on the financial, legal, and logistical aspects of ocean travel.

Harsh Realities of Steerage Travel: The 1854 Passage Contract for a French Immigrant Aboard SS Admiral

A Glimpse into 19th-Century Transatlantic Migration

The 1854 Steerage Passage Contract for Naber Vinceut (possibly Vincerot) aboard the SS Admiral of the Vanderbilt European Steamship Line provides a rare and invaluable look into mid-19th-century transatlantic migration. This contract, issued in Le Havre, France, for a voyage to New York, details the strict regulations, challenging conditions, and immigrant expectations for steerage passengers.

This contract serves as a primary source document illuminating the economic realities, legal restrictions, and onboard experiences of 19th-century immigrants. It is a remarkable artifact that showcases how early ocean travel was structured for European emigrants, particularly those traveling in steerage, the most affordable but least comfortable class.

The Voyage of the SS Devonshire: An 1855 Passenger Contract & The Harsh Realities of Ocean Travel

A Rare Window into Mid-19th Century Transatlantic Migration

The Passengers' Contract Ticket for Fourteen-Year-Old Michail Abrahams on the SS Devonshire, purchased on 4 July 1855, for a voyage from London to New York beginning 7 July 1855, offers a remarkable historical snapshot of transatlantic migration during the height of the packet ship era. The Swallowtail Line, known for its fast and reliable packet ships, operated the Devonshire, a vessel that transported hundreds of passengers—mostly immigrants—on arduous multi-week journeys across the Atlantic.

This document serves as an invaluable artifact, providing insights into 19th-century ocean travel, migration policies, and the economic conditions shaping the journeys of those seeking a new life in America. It also offers a comparison between early transatlantic sailing and the later era of steamships, highlighting the evolution of maritime travel and immigration trends.

RMS Britannic (1880) Prepaid Passage Ticket: A Window into Irish Immigration & Transatlantic Travel

The White Star Line Memorandum of Prepaid Steerage Passage on the RMS Britannic, dated 29 May 1880, is an important historical artifact that sheds light on the transatlantic journey of Irish immigrants during the late 19th century.

This document represents a prepaid ticket for Mrs. Frank (Ellen) McGuire, an Irish woman traveling in steerage from Queenstown (now Cobh), Ireland, to New York, USA. The prepaid nature of the ticket is significant—it suggests that a relative or sponsor in America likely sent money to facilitate her voyage, a common practice for Irish immigrants during this period.

This ticket provides a direct connection to migration records, offering valuable insights into Irish diaspora movements. For historians and educators, it serves as a tangible example of how prepaid passage systems enabled family reunification and helped drive mass emigration to America.

RMS Germanic (1880) Prepaid Passage Ticket: British Immigration & Transatlantic Travel to America

The RMS Germanic Agent’s Record for Prepaid Steerage Passage, dated 29 May 1880, is an important historical document reflecting the migration of working-class Europeans to the United States during the late 19th century.

This particular prepaid ticket was purchased for John Price, a 43-year-old British laborer, traveling from Cardiff, Wales, to Scranton, Pennsylvania via steerage class on the RMS Germanic of the White Star Line. For genealogists, this passage record offers valuable details on an ancestor’s migration journey, including who purchased the ticket, where the journey started, and the ultimate destination. For historians and educators, it serves as a tangible example of prepaid passage systems, which helped immigrants overcome financial barriers to migration.

The prepaid ticket was a lifeline for many working-class immigrants, as it allowed families already in America to send money for loved ones to join them, facilitating family reunification and the growth of immigrant communities in the United States.

A Swedish Emigrant’s Journey: 1880 Cunard Line Steerage Passage from Gothenburg to Boston

The Cunard Line Steerage Passage Contract from June 4, 1880, documents a critical aspect of 19th-century immigration—prepaid passage for European emigrants seeking a new life in America. This particular contract, issued for Luders Engström, details his journey from Gothenburg, Sweden, to Boston, Massachusetts, via Hull and Liverpool, England. It provides a rare insight into the steerage class experience, including its costs, contractual obligations, and travel conditions.

This document is a valuable artifact—an authentic link to the millions of immigrants who crossed the Atlantic in search of opportunity. It is an especially compelling piece for those researching Swedish emigration and the Cunard Line’s role in transatlantic travel.

North German Lloyd Prepaid Steerage Ticket - 1883: A German Family's Journey to America

A Vital Document in Transatlantic Migration History

This North German Lloyd Prepaid Steerage Passage Certificate from February 17, 1883, is a fascinating artifact showcasing the prepaid ticket system used to bring families from Germany to America. The document represents a significant part of immigration history, particularly for genealogists, historians, and educators studying the mass migration of Germans to the United States in the late 19th century.

Issued for Bealle Nutchen and four family members, this passage ticket covered their journey from Bremen, Germany, to New York City, a major immigration hub during this period. Their voyage was part of a larger migration wave of German families seeking better opportunities in the New World.

This contract serves as a real-world primary source illustrating the logistics, costs, and challenges of steerage-class immigration. It provides key names, ages, and locations that can help in tracing family histories.

RMS Lucania Passage Contract - 1895: A German Immigrant’s Journey to America

A Critical Historical Document on Ocean Travel and Immigration

This 1895 Steerage Passage Contract for Heinrich Hermes aboard the RMS Lucania of the Cunard Line provides an authentic look into late 19th-century transatlantic migration. As a German immigrant, Heinrich’s journey from Rotterdam to New York via Liverpool represents the millions of Europeans who crossed the Atlantic in search of a better life.

This document is a valuable resource that reveals the logistics of steerage travel, ticket pricing, and immigration records. It serves as a primary source for understanding transatlantic migration, the conditions of steerage class, and the economic realities of immigration. It offers a direct link to passenger manifests, ancestry records, and the financial sacrifices made by immigrants.

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

This document is an authentic record of Swedish emigration, showcasing how European immigrants booked their voyages and the terms under which they traveled. 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. It provides direct links to passenger manifests, immigration policies, and socioeconomic data on European migration.

RMS Celtic (1902) – A Swedish Immigrant’s Journey to America via Steerage Class

A Journey of Hope and Determination This original Third Class/Steerage Passage Contract, issued on 14 November 1902, documents the immigration of Ester Hilma Maria Magnuson from Gothenburg, Sweden, to New York City aboard the White Star Line's RMS Celtic.

This document is a first-hand source reflecting the complex logistics of transatlantic travel, migration policies, and passenger experiences at the turn of the 20th century. It serves as an essential link in tracing Swedish ancestry, connecting departure records, ship manifests, and immigration files. It provides insight into the European exodus to America, offering a look at economic conditions, passage costs, and the role of steamship lines. It sheds light on the operation of the White Star Line, the feeder ship system, and third-class travel conditions aboard the mighty Celtic.

RMS Saxonia (1903) – A Danish Immigrant’s Journey from Frederikshavn to America

This original steerage passage contract, issued on 21 April 1903, documents the transatlantic journey of Danish immigrant Kristian Johannes Janson Sogen, traveling from Frederikshavn, Denmark, to West Branch, Pennsylvania, via Liverpool and Boston aboard the Cunard Line’s RMS Saxonia. This contract is a historical artifact that helps explain Danish immigration, transatlantic migration routes, and the economic realities of the early 20th century.

It provides critical details—departure city, intended U.S. destination, fare cost, and name variations—useful for tracing ancestry and immigration records. It offers a rare glimpse into passenger agreements, the logistics of steerage travel, and the financial burden of immigration. This contract provides insight into the role of the RMS Saxonia in the wave of Scandinavian migration to America.

SS Arundel Castle (1904): British Settlers’ Journey to South Africa on the Union-Castle Line

This passage contract, issued on 8 October 1904, documents the journey of Wm. G. Parker and Herbert Kerr aboard the RMS Arundel Castle, a Union-Castle Line steamship traveling from Southampton, England, to Cape Town, South Africa. This contract provides a valuable historical record of British migration to South Africa during the height of British imperial expansion.

This contract illustrates British migration patterns, the role of Union-Castle Line in colonial transportation, and the logistical aspects of long-distance ocean travel in the early 20th century. This document provides specific names, ages, and details of passengers traveling to South Africa in 1904, making it a valuable resource for family historians. The contract highlights the importance of British-controlled shipping lines, which were essential for the movement of officials, settlers, and laborers across the empire. The Union-Castle Line was a key player in British maritime trade, operating regular mail and passenger services between England and South Africa.

RMS Ivernia (1905): Scandinavian Migration to America – A Historic Passage Contract

A Steerage Ticket to the American Midwest This passage contract, issued on 11 March 1905, records the journey of Jens Julius Skafte, a 44-year-old Norwegian farmer, traveling from Copenhagen, Denmark, to Albert Lea, Minnesota, USA via Liverpool and Boston aboard the RMS Ivernia of the Cunard Steamship Company. This document provides a detailed glimpse into Scandinavian immigration to America in the early 20th century, showcasing the transatlantic migration routes, ticket costs, and contract conditions of the time.

This contract is an excellent primary source illustrating European migration patterns to America, the role of steamship companies in mass migration, and economic factors influencing immigration. This document is a vital record for tracing Scandinavian ancestry, pinpointing departure locations, ship names, and final destinations in America. Provides insights into the transportation infrastructure supporting immigration, including contracts, ticketing systems, and travel conditions for Scandinavian migrants. The RMS Ivernia, a well-known Cunard liner, was part of the migration boom, ferrying thousands of European immigrants to the U.S.

RMS Walmer Castle (1906): British Emigration to South Africa – A Historic Passage Contract

This steerage passage contract, issued on 12 November 1906, documents the voyage of Walter Bayley, a 27-year-old British emigrant, traveling from Southampton, England, to Natal, South Africa, aboard the RMS Walmer Castle of the Union-Castle Mail Steamship Company. The document is an important primary source for studying British emigration to South Africa, revealing travel conditions, fare structures, and passenger rights under the Merchant Shipping Act of 1894.

This Contract provides insight into British migration to South Africa, including economic incentives, colonial expansion, and passenger conditions on long-haul voyages. It is an invaluable ancestral record confirming departure location, passenger identity, and destination, aiding those tracing British-South African family histories. It sheds light on South African-bound British emigrants, illustrating the role of steamship lines in imperial migration, and features the RMS Walmer Castle, a Union-Castle liner crucial to British-South African maritime travel, detailing passenger contracts and voyage conditions.

SS President Lincoln (1907): A Prepaid Voyage from Germany to America – A Rare Immigration Document

This prepaid passage contract, dated 20 November 1907, records the steerage travel of Heinrich Weise, his wife Anna, and their young son Richard aboard the Hamburg America Line’s SS President Lincoln. The family’s journey from Schippenbeil, Germany (modern-day Poland) to Ellsworth, Minnesota, via Cuxhaven and New York, represents a common immigration path for German families seeking a better life in the U.S.

A real-world immigration case study from the early 1900s. It validates ancestral migration records, linking to Ellis Island and U.S. Census records. It examines German migration patterns and prepaid ticket systems and details a significant immigrant steamship in the Hamburg America Line fleet.

SS President Lincoln (1912): Prepaid Passage Contract for Steerage Immigration to America

This Prepaid Passage Contract, dated 13 January 1912, is an important historical document that sheds light on transatlantic migration in the early 20th century. Issued for Matthäus Florek, a German immigrant traveling in steerage from Hamburg to McKeesport, Pennsylvania, via New York, it provides a detailed account of prepaid migration arrangements, contractual terms, and the immigrant experience aboard the Hamburg America Line’s SS President Lincoln.

Great Western Railway Emigrant Ticket (1912) – A Rare Railway & Ocean Travel Migration Document

The Great Western Railway Emigrant Ticket, dated 14 August 1912, is a rare and valuable historical document that highlights the crucial role of railway travel in connecting emigrants with transatlantic steamship departures. This receipt for Mr. & Mrs. Asbury, traveling from Kidderminster to Paddington Station in London, was issued for their steerage-class voyage aboard the RMS Arawa, bound for New Zealand.

This document highlights an overlooked part of the migration process – Before boarding an ocean liner, emigrants often traveled long distances by rail to major departure ports. It illustrates how steamship companies partnered with railways to facilitate seamless travel and demonstrates the interconnected transportation networks that shaped global migration in the early 20th century. While ship passenger manifests are common, pre-ocean train tickets are much rarer, making this a unique artifact.

SS Dunvegan Castle Passage Receipt (1912) – British Colonial Migration & Ocean Travel

The SS Dunvegan Castle Counterpart Passage Receipt, dated 15 November 1912, is a historically significant travel document that provides insight into British maritime migration and colonial transport networks. Issued for Mr. S. Peroganakis, this Deck Class ticket covered the voyage from Port Said (Egypt) to Delagoa Bay (modern-day Maputo, Mozambique) aboard the Union-Castle Mail Steamship Company’s RMS Dunvegan Castle.

This passage receipt is more than just a ticket—it’s a tangible piece of the vast British maritime network that connected Europe, Africa, and beyond! It illustrates how the Union-Castle Line facilitated passenger movement across Africa and the British Empire. It highlights the least-documented yet most commonly used class for working-class travelers and colonial migrants. The ticket provides a passenger’s name, travel route, and ticket cost, helping track ancestral migration patterns. It also offers insight into early 20th-century oceanic travel policies, fare structures, and onboard conditions.

"Deck Class" was a low-cost, basic travel accommodation on passenger steamships, typically referring to the most inexpensive ticket class available, often below Third Class or Steerage. It was primarily used for short-distance or colonial routes, particularly in British maritime networks, such as voyages within Africa, the Middle East, or between European and colonial ports.

SS Hudson 1921 Passage Contract: A Steerage-Class Immigration Journey from Bremen to New York

The SS Hudson Passage Contract Manifest, dated 22 June 1921, is a remarkable historical artifact capturing the transatlantic journey of Theresia Floc, a Yugoslavian immigrant, and her child, Maria. This steerage-class passage contract, issued by the United States Mail Steamship Company, details their voyage from Bremen, Germany, to New York, reflecting the challenges, legal stipulations, and financial commitments faced by immigrants in the post-World War I era.

For teachers, students, genealogists, and historians, this primary source document offers a direct glimpse into the experiences of Eastern European immigrants, particularly those from Yugoslavia, who sought new opportunities in America. The contract’s intricate legal conditions, baggage policies, and travel restrictions provide a comprehensive look at early 20th-century transatlantic migration.

SS George Washington 1921: A German Immigrant’s Steerage-Class Journey to America – Passage Contract & Certificate of Innocence

The SS George Washington Passage Contract, dated 17 September 1921, is a fascinating artifact that provides insight into the transatlantic migration experience of German immigrants traveling to the United States after World War I. This third-class (steerage) ticket, issued for a 26-year-old German teacher, represents a pivotal moment in postwar migration, reflecting economic hardships, strict travel regulations, and the evolving immigration policies of the United States.

For teachers, students, genealogists, and historians, this contract serves as a compelling primary source, detailing the costs, travel conditions, and legal stipulations faced by steerage-class immigrants. The addition of a Certificate of Innocence, a rare document carried by this traveler, highlights the strict vetting process imposed on German nationals in the wake of WWI.

📜 Key Themes & Takeaways

1️⃣ The Harsh Realities of Steerage Travel 🛳️

Steerage class was the cheapest and most basic travel option for immigrants. It often meant crowded, unsanitary conditions, limited food, and little privacy.

Contracts such as the 1854 SS Admiral Passage Contract and the 1883 North German Lloyd Prepaid Ticket provide firsthand accounts of what immigrants endured at sea.

Baggage restrictions, quarantine rules, and liability clauses reveal how difficult it was for immigrants to travel with their belongings safely.

2️⃣ The Rise of Prepaid Passage Systems 💰

Prepaid tickets allowed family members already in America to send funds for their relatives’ voyages.

Examples like the 1880 RMS Britannic Prepaid Passage for Irish Immigrants and the 1895 RMS Lucania Passage for a German Immigrant showcase how prepaid tickets helped families reunite.

These documents are crucial for genealogists, as they often link back to the sponsor or relatives in America who paid for the ticket.

3️⃣ Migration Patterns: Scandinavians, Germans, Irish, and British 🌎

Each document tells a unique story of migration waves, reflecting political, economic, and social trends.

Scandinavian immigrants are represented through contracts like the 1880 Gothenburg-Boston Cunard Line Passage and the 1897 RMS Campania Swedish Immigration Contract.

Irish and British immigration is highlighted in the RMS Germanic 1880 British Passage & the White Star Line Prepaid Ticket from Queenstown (Cobh).

Jewish and Eastern European migration is documented in contracts like the 1912 RMS Zeeland Jewish Immigration Contract and the 1921 SS Hudson Yugoslavian Passage Manifest.

4️⃣ The Role of Major Steamship Lines 🚢

The White Star Line, Cunard Line, Hamburg America Line, and Union-Castle Line were some of the most prominent carriers of immigrants across the Atlantic.

Contracts from ships like RMS Celtic, RMS Saxonia, and SS President Lincoln provide detailed glimpses into ticketing systems, contract terms, and travel routes.

The logistics of ocean travel, including train connections and baggage policies, show how steamship lines coordinated with railways to move emigrants to major departure ports.

📸 Noteworthy Images & Their Significance

1️⃣ 1854 Steerage Passage Contract from Le Havre to New York (SS Admiral)

📜 A rare document detailing the conditions faced by mid-19th century French immigrants. This contract reveals how emigrants were legally bound to specific travel terms before stepping aboard.

2️⃣ 1880 RMS Britannic Prepaid Ticket for an Irish Immigrant

🛳️ A powerful representation of Irish migration, showing how family members in America prepaid for loved ones to cross the Atlantic.

3️⃣ 1895 RMS Lucania Passage Contract for a German Immigrant

🧳 A real-world example of how steerage passengers booked and documented their voyages. The contract stipulates terms, baggage rules, and voyage conditions.

4️⃣ 1921 SS Hudson Steerage Passage Manifest (Bremen to New York)

🌍 A post-WWI migration record, showcasing the continued influx of Eastern Europeans seeking refuge and new opportunities in the U.S.

🌍 Why This Collection Matters for Historians, Educators & Genealogists

🔎 For Historians

🔹Illustrates economic and social migration trends from the 1850s-1920s.

🔹Documents how shipping lines structured steerage travel and regulated immigration flows.

🔹Reflects the impact of global events (e.g., Irish Potato Famine, European wars, industrial expansion) on migration patterns.

🧬 For Genealogists

🔹Links to ancestral migration records, providing names, travel routes, and sponsors.

🔹Helps reconstruct family migration stories, especially with prepaid tickets connecting immigrants to relatives in America.

🔹Aids in tracing surnames, ethnic origins, and port departures to find ship manifests and Ellis Island entries.

📚 For Educators & Students

🔹Engaging classroom material for studying immigration history.

🔹Primary source documents that illustrate the personal struggles of real immigrants.

🔹Comparisons between different eras of migration, from packet ships to ocean liners.

🏆 Final Thoughts: A Window into the Immigrant Experience

The Steerage Class Passage Contracts and Tickets collection is an extraordinary archive of migration history. These documents serve as tangible links to the experiences of millions of immigrants who crossed the Atlantic in search of a better life.

For those researching family history, teaching migration studies, or exploring immigration policies, this collection offers unparalleled insight into the personal, economic, and logistical aspects of steerage-class ocean travel.

These passage contracts are more than just tickets—they are stories of hardship, hope, and human resilience. 🌊🚢✨