📜 1930s Ocean Liner Passage Contracts & Tickets: Stories of Migration, Travel & Global Change
📌 Explore authentic 1930s passage contracts and tickets from GG Archives. These primary sources document global migration, ocean travel, and personal journeys during the Great Depression and pre-WWII era—valuable for educators, genealogists, and maritime historians.
All Passage Contracts and Tickets for the 1930s 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.
🛳️✨ Review & Summary: “Passage Contracts and Tickets – 1930s” Index Page
A Fascinating Collection of Real-Life Stories Preserved Through Maritime Paper Trails 📜🌍
The GG Archives’ 1930s Passage Contracts and Tickets index is a goldmine of primary sources for anyone exploring the human side of transatlantic and Mediterranean ocean travel during one of the most dynamic decades of the 20th century. Each document—whether a simple receipt or a detailed multi-page contract—captures far more than a scheduled departure: it reveals a living history of migration, exploration, resilience, and aspiration.
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.
The SS Duilio Passage Contract (1931) provides an intriguing glimpse into transatlantic migration during the interwar period, particularly for Italian immigrants traveling to South America. Issued by Navigazione Generale Italiana, this third-class passage ticket details the financial, logistical, and contractual terms of a voyage from Genoa to Buenos Aires, with stops in Villafranca, Barcelona, Rio de Janeiro, Santos, and Montevideo.
This document is especially valuable for genealogists, historians, teachers, and students as it offers evidence of Italian migration to Argentina, one of the largest destinations for Italian immigrants in the early 20th century. It also serves as a key record for family historians seeking to trace ancestors who left Italy for new opportunities abroad.
In a world still reeling from the Great Depression, this vintage receipt dated April 11, 1932, for a round-trip ocean voyage aboard the SS Hamburg (eastbound) and SS Deutschland (westbound) is far more than a transaction—it’s a snapshot of educational travel, aspirational mobility, and mid-century global connectivity.
🛳️ Crossing the Atlantic in the Great Depression: 1932 SS Leviathan Tourist Cabin Passage Contract
The 1932 Tourist Cabin Contract Ticket for Miss Joan Marechal aboard the grand SS Leviathan is more than just a passage receipt—it’s a vivid snapshot of a world in flux, captured through the lens of a transatlantic voyage. This primary document, issued by United States Lines, illustrates not only the structure of interwar sea travel but also offers a compelling story of identity, resilience, and mobility during the Great Depression era.
💼 A Fare to Hamburg: 1933 SS St. Louis Cabin Class Passage Receipt
The Hamburg America Line’s Receipt for part-payment of a cabin class voyage aboard the SS St. Louis provides a rich and nuanced window into the world of transatlantic travel during a tense pre-WWII era. Dated 28 April 1933, this receipt serves as a tangible link to an era marked by economic struggle, rising political tension, and the enduring human desire for connection across borders.
Crossroads in the Caribbean: SS Werra Passage Contract from Havana to Galveston, 1933
The SS Werra Passage Contract from 30 May 1933 is a rare and compelling artifact from the interwar years, illustrating the mechanics and perils of transnational maritime travel in the early 20th century. Issued by Norddeutscher Lloyd Bremen, this contract for Mr. Frauk L. Pfeuffer’s voyage from Havana, Cuba to Galveston, Texas reflects not only the passenger logistics of the time but also the layers of political and legal complexity travelers faced.
The SS Deutschland Passage Receipt and Contract from 5 June 1933 offers a compelling snapshot of European immigration during a pivotal era—just months after Hitler rose to power in Germany. This prepaid receipt, arranged by a Maryland-based relative, reflects not only the personal stories of transatlantic relocation but also the broader currents of 1930s migration, economic sacrifice, and the complexities of international travel by ocean liner. 🧳📜
Luxury Passage Across the Atlantic: SS Saturnia First-Class Ticket and Contract – 1934
The SS Saturnia First Class Passenger Receipt from 3 November 1934 is a remarkable historical artifact that offers teachers, students, genealogists, and maritime historians a valuable lens into pre-WWII luxury transatlantic travel. This document, issued by the Italia Flotte Riunite, details the voyage of Mrs. Marie J. Ratte, an American, from New York to Trieste, traveling in First Class comfort aboard one of Italy’s most prestigious liners.
Crossing the Atlantic: 1935 Tourist Class Passage Contract for the SS Stuttgart
The 1935 Tourist Class Passage Contract for the SS Stuttgart, issued by the Norddeutscher Lloyd (North German Lloyd) Line, is a historical gem that offers educators, students, genealogists, and historians a window into the protocols, expectations, and risks associated with mid-20th century transatlantic ocean travel. This document highlights the personal journey of Mr. H. A. Hawgood, who booked his passage in Paris for a westbound voyage departing Boulogne-sur-Mer to New York on 6 September 1935.
Voyage by Contract: A 1935 Tourist Class Ticket on the SS Rex from Naples to New York
The passage contract for Dr. Charles Lombardo Bartholomew's journey aboard the majestic SS Rex in Tourist Class offers a captivating snapshot of 1930s ocean travel during the golden age of transatlantic crossings. This vintage document is more than just a ticket—it's a firsthand account of the formalities, expectations, and legal boundaries that shaped a traveler's experience aboard a world-class Italian liner.
This Hamburg America Line receipt, dated 22 February 1936, documents a third-class round-trip voyage for Mr. Otto Josh between New York and Bremen—first aboard the SS New York and returning on the famed SS Bremen. Though modest in appearance, this artifact offers a vivid snapshot of transatlantic mobility in the late interwar period, echoing themes of migration, commerce, and personal connection in a fraught historical moment. 🌍📜
🛳️ SS Galilea 1936 Passage Ticket – Trieste to Haifa Amid Geopolitical Shifts
Lloyd Triestino's Route from Trieste to Haifa — A Mediterranean Journey in a Tumultuous Era 🌍📜
This Tourist Class Passage Certificate, issued on 11 September 1936 for M. Freimann, offers an insightful glimpse into a personal voyage from Trieste, Italy to Haifa, British Mandate Palestine aboard the SS Galilea. Though seemingly simple in design, this ticket is steeped in geopolitical complexity, social history, and maritime evolution—making it highly relevant for educators, genealogists, and historians alike.
🛳️ SS Excambion 1938 Passage Receipt – New York to Naples on the Eve of WWII
An American Woman’s Journey from New York to Naples on the Eve of Global Upheaval 🌍🧳
This 1938 Passenger’s Receipt and Contract for Mrs. F. Garner Bishop aboard the SS Excambion offers a rich case study in interwar transatlantic travel, wrapped in the historical and economic context of pre-WWII Europe. Issued by American Export Lines, the document captures more than a travel arrangement—it reveals maritime culture, regulatory detail, and personal mobility in a world just months from radical change.
SS Excalibur Passage Receipt - 18 March 1938
Passenger's Receipt and Contract for passage on the SS Excalibur of the American Export Lines for a voyage departing from Genoa to New York on 18 March 1938 for an American adult woman. Includes Arrival Record and Relative Cost of Passage Ticket in Today's Currency Value calculations.
SS Brittania & SS Normandie Passage Contract - 6 September 1939
Passage Ticket for the Compagnie Général Transatlantique, Ltd., - The French Line, Southampton to New York, departing 6 September 1939, issued to Mrs. Agnes de Linia (or de Lina). Includes Arriving Passenger Record, New York, Coversion from Dutch Guilder to USD in 1939 and Relative Cost of Passage Ticket in Today's Currency Value calculations.
🔍 What Makes This Collection So Interesting?
🌍 1. A Wide Geographic Reach
These documents trace journeys from Naples to New York, Genoa to Buenos Aires, Bremen to Galveston, Trieste to Haifa, and New York to Naples. Whether migrants fleeing economic hardship or elite travelers enjoying luxury liners, the collection reflects the full spectrum of mobility in the interwar years.
👥 2. Variety of Passenger Stories
From a 16-year-old immigrant (SS Conte Biancamano) to an American woman traveling alone before WWII (SS Excambion), these contracts spotlight:
- Women travelers 🧳
- Italian migration to Argentina 🇮🇹➡️🇦🇷
- Student voyages via the Intercollegiate Travel Bureau 🎓
- Third-class transatlantic experiences during the Great Depression 💼
- Jewish migration to Palestine (SS Galilea) under British Mandate rule 🕊️
📚 3. Relevance for Educators and Researchers
Each entry in this index can be a springboard for classroom discussion or academic inquiry. These documents:
- Illustrate how legal, economic, and social systems intersected at sea
- Highlight racial, gender, and class-based mobility differences
- Serve as authentic primary sources for genealogy projects
- Provide insight into global routes, port cities, and shipboard life
⭐ Most Engaging Highlights
🔹 SS Conte Biancamano (1930)
An Italian teen’s second-class passage from Naples to New York paints a vivid picture of the migrant experience during early Fascist Italy.
🔹 SS Duilio (1931)
A third-class journey to Buenos Aires reflects the little-discussed migration of Italians to South America, a major historical movement rarely covered in U.S.-centric curricula.
🔹 SS Leviathan (1932)
A beautifully documented Tourist Cabin Contract during the Great Depression that sheds light on transatlantic luxury on a budget.
🔹 SS St. Louis (1933)
A simple receipt tied to the Hamburg America Line evokes a world on edge as Jewish migration increased amidst rising Nazi power.
🔹 SS Galilea (1936)
This Trieste–Haifa route stands out for its geopolitical context, involving Jewish migration to British Mandate Palestine—timely for studies of Zionism, colonialism, and WWII.
🔹 SS Excambion (1938)
Mrs. F. Garner Bishop’s journey to Naples blends personal narrative with global turbulence, offering a compelling portrait of pre-war travel.
🖼️ Noteworthy Images
📸 SS Excambion Contract Cover & Terms
Elegant design and dense legal language—perfect for analyzing maritime law and consumer protection in the 1930s.
📸 SS Saturnia First-Class Ticket (1934)
Luxury in full view: this polished document evokes the golden age of liner travel for the elite.
📸 SS Stuttgart Tourist Contract (1935)
A Paris-based booking for westbound travel—an excellent example of cross-border ticketing infrastructure in prewar Europe.
📸 SS New York & Bremen Third-Class Receipt (1936)
Simple, utilitarian, but deeply personal—ideal for exploring the economic realities of working-class mobility during the Great Depression.
🎓 Why This Index Matters for Scholars & Enthusiasts
For Teachers & Students:
Offers firsthand documentation for research papers on 1930s immigration, international relations, maritime commerce, or gender and travel.
Encourages close reading and analysis of historical contracts, which are packed with details about economic systems, legal protections, and social hierarchies.
For Genealogists:
These documents include full names, routes, cabin numbers, and payment details, all of which can enrich a family history or validate oral traditions.
For Historians:
Tracks shifting migration routes (e.g., from Europe to Palestine), evolution of ocean liner companies, and how major geopolitical shifts were felt at sea.
📍 Final Thoughts – Why This Index Page Is Invaluable
The “Passage Contracts and Tickets – 1930s” collection is a living archive of resilience, migration, and exploration. From the rise of fascism to the roots of Zionist movement, from third-class emigrants to first-class leisure travelers, these documents tell the untold stories of a world in flux.
📚 Encourage students to use this archive in essays, oral history projects, and primary source analyses. Every receipt, ticket, or contract unlocks a new voyage into the past. 🌊✈️📖
