Transatlantic Travel & Migration: Passage Contracts and Tickets from the 1940s–1950s
📌 Explore original ocean liner passage contracts from the 1940s–1950s at the GG Archives. These rich historical documents capture postwar migration, transatlantic travel, and maritime culture—perfect for educators, genealogists, and history enthusiasts.
All Passage Contracts & Tickets for the 1940s-1950s 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 – 1940s–1950s" Index Page
Charting the Course of Postwar Ocean Travel Through Primary Documents 📜🌍
The “Passage Contracts and Tickets – 1940s–1950s” section of the GG Archives is a historical treasure trove that illuminates two of the most transformational decades in global maritime history. From wartime voyages under blackout conditions to postwar luxury liners and mid-century immigration records, this collection of passenger contracts, receipts, and ticket stubs puts human faces and personal journeys at the center of global events. Each document reflects not only the individual traveler's story but also the broader historical and economic tides that shaped global mobility.
Wartime Voyage: Blue Star Line Saloon Passage Ticket (1943) – A Journey Through WWII
This rare WWII-era passage ticket from the Blue Star Line offers a fascinating glimpse into wartime transoceanic travel. Issued to Mrs. Rose Slutzkin, it records her journey from Adelaide, Australia, to an undisclosed Egyptian port at a time when civilian ocean travel was fraught with danger and uncertainty.
This historical document is invaluable for:
✅ 📚 Teachers & Students – A primary source on wartime civilian travel and maritime history.
✅ 🏡 Genealogists & Family Historians – A key resource in tracing passengers traveling under wartime conditions.
✅ ⚓ Maritime Historians & Enthusiasts – Provides insight into Blue Star Line operations and restrictions during WWII.
✅ 💰 Economists & Researchers – A detailed cost breakdown of the ticket’s inflation-adjusted value from 1943 to today.
This rare post-WWII passage ticket provides a fascinating look at transpacific ocean travel in the late 1940s. Issued to Miss Mary B. Bartlett, it documents her cabin-class journey from San Francisco to Sydney aboard the SS Marine Phoenix, a ship originally built for wartime troop transport but later repurposed for civilian travel.
Who Should Find This Resource Valuable?
✅ 📚 Teachers & Students – Ideal for research on post-war civilian travel, ship conversions, and early Cold War-era mobility.
✅ 🏡 Genealogists & Family Historians – A key primary source for tracing passengers migrating between the U.S. and Australia.
✅ ⚓ Maritime Historians & Enthusiasts – Offers insight into Matson Navigation Company’s post-war role in ocean travel.
✅ 💰 Economists & Researchers – Includes a detailed cost breakdown of the ticket’s inflation-adjusted value from 1947 to today.
The SS Orion First-Class Passage Ticket from 1948 provides an in-depth look into post-war luxury ocean travel between Sydney and London. Issued to Miss M. B. Bartlett, this document showcases the role of the Orient Line in rebuilding global passenger services after WWII and highlights the cost, regulations, and terms of high-end ocean liner travel during the late 1940s.
Who Should Find This Resource Valuable?
✅ 📚 Teachers & Students – Ideal for research on post-war migration, luxury transoceanic travel, and British-Australian maritime history.
✅ 🏡 Genealogists & Family Historians – A primary source for tracing individuals migrating between Australia and the UK.
✅ ⚓ Maritime Historians & Enthusiasts – Offers insight into the rebuilding of passenger shipping lines after WWII.
✅ 💰 Economists & Researchers – Includes a detailed cost breakdown of the ticket’s inflation-adjusted value from 1948 to today.
SS Vulcania Passage Ticket (1948) – A Post-War Transatlantic Journey from Alexandria to New York
This Passenger’s Receipt and Transportation Contract for Passage aboard the SS Vulcania was issued on 27 April 1948. This extraordinary document, representing a pivotal chapter in post-war maritime travel, offers a rare glimpse into the luxurious transatlantic voyages facilitated by American Export Lines and Italia S.A.N., Genoa.
The contract, a testament to history, details a first-class passage for Mr. Franklin E. Ransom, a 24-year-old from Dallas, Texas, on a journey from Alexandria, Egypt, to New York, departing 1 May 1948.
MS Gripsholm Prepaid Passage Ticket (1951) – A Journey from Post-War Europe to America
The MS Gripsholm prepaid passage ticket from 1951 is a remarkable artifact that offers a window into the post-war transatlantic migration experience. As Europe sought to rebuild after the devastation of World War II, many individuals and families looked to the United States as a land of opportunity and new beginnings. This document, issued to Mrs. Margarete Lenz, a German immigrant from Heidelberg, provides essential details about her journey from Bremerhaven, Germany, to New York City. The prepaid ticket, arranged by Mr. Gunner S. Anderson from Chicago, ensured her passage aboard the Swedish American Line’s MS Gripsholm, which was a well-known vessel catering to immigrant travel.
This contract not only provides insight into the logistics of post-war migration but also highlights the economic aspects of transatlantic travel during this period. The total fare of $193.00, including an $8 head tax, when adjusted for inflation, would be equivalent to approximately $1,920.00 in 2020. The ticket also includes strict regulations regarding passport and visa requirements, as well as policies regarding passengers' eligibility for entry into the United States. These details serve as a valuable primary source for understanding the immigration process, maritime travel, and the economic realities of international relocation in the early 1950s.
🚢 RMS Queen Mary (1953) Passage Ticket – Transatlantic Travel with Cunard Line
The RMS Queen Mary passage ticket from 1953 offers a captivating glimpse into mid-20th-century transatlantic ocean travel, a period when ocean liners were still the primary means of crossing between Europe and North America. This was a time when commercial aviation was in its infancy, and ships like the Queen Mary served as both an essential means of transportation and a symbol of luxury and status. The Cunard Line, which operated the RMS Queen Mary, was one of the most prestigious shipping companies of the era, known for its impeccable service, grand accommodations, and efficient voyages.
This specific tourist-class passage ticket, issued for Mrs. Pauline Bunt, records her journey from New York to Southampton on February 7, 1953. While the ticket cost is not listed, the voyage was part of Cunard's efforts to make ocean liner travel more accessible to a wider range of passengers by offering different travel classes. The ticket details important aspects of the journey, including embarkation at Pier 90 in New York City, specific passenger regulations, and the documentation required for international travel. This document is a valuable historical artifact, shedding light on the logistics, experience, and significance of transatlantic sea voyages during this period.
SS Stavangerfjord & SS Oslofjord (1953) Passage Contract – Norwegian America Line First-Class Voyage
The Norwegian America Line passage contract from 1953 is an important historical document, offering insight into post-war transatlantic travel and the enduring role of ocean liners in global migration and tourism. By the 1950s, passenger ships remained the primary means of crossing the Atlantic, despite the increasing availability of air travel.
The SS Stavangerfjord and SS Oslofjord, operated by the Norwegian America Line, were among the prestigious ocean liners that connected the United States with Scandinavia, serving a diverse range of travelers including immigrants, business professionals, and vacationers. This contract captures a period when international sea voyages were still governed by meticulous regulations, structured accommodations, and formal passage agreements.
This first-class passage ticket, issued for Mrs. Katherine H. Somerville, records her journey from New York to Bergen on July 14, 1953, aboard the SS Stavangerfjord, with a return voyage on the SS Oslofjord from Kristiansand on September 9, 1953.
Priced at $295 for the eastbound journey and $350 for the westbound, the ticket represents a significant financial investment, adjusted for inflation to approximately $2,850 (one way) in 2020 dollars. The document provides valuable details about ticketing policies, baggage regulations, medical considerations, and the contractual obligations of both the passenger and the Norwegian America Line, making it a compelling artifact for those studying maritime history, transatlantic migration, or the evolution of global travel.
SS Vulcania (1956) Passage Contract – Italian Line Transatlantic Voyage to Naples
The SS Vulcania passage contract from May 15, 1956, is a remarkable historical artifact that offers a detailed look into mid-20th-century transatlantic travel. By the 1950s, ocean liners were still the primary means of long-distance travel, particularly for immigrants, business professionals, and tourists journeying between North America and Europe.
The Italian Line’s SS Vulcania was one of the premier passenger ships of its time, known for its reliability and luxurious accommodations. This passage contract captures an era when air travel was growing in popularity, yet ocean voyages remained an essential part of global transportation networks. The document provides a valuable snapshot of ticketing practices, onboard accommodations, and financial costs associated with travel on one of Italy’s most distinguished passenger liners.
This Cabin Class passage ticket, issued to Mr. Saied Ewies, an Egyptian traveler, records his journey from New York to Naples, Italy, departing on May 15, 1956. The ticket price of $296 included a $6 landing tax, a substantial sum at the time. Adjusted for inflation, this would be equivalent to $3,190 in 2022 dollars using the Consumer Price Index and as much as $16,800 when measuring against GDP share.
This passenger contract, issued by the American Express Company on behalf of the Italian Line, provides detailed information about the embarkation process, travel class, and financial exchange, making it an essential document for those interested in historical migration, maritime history, and the economics of ocean travel.
🚢 SS Castel Felice (1956) Passage Contract – Transatlantic Voyage from Le Havre to New York
During the 1950s, ocean travel was still a primary mode of transportation for migrants, business travelers, and tourists making transatlantic journeys. The SS Castel Felice, operated by SITMAR Line (Societa Italiana Trasporti Marittimi S.p.A.), was part of a network of ships that transported thousands across the Atlantic.
This passage contract from September 1, 1956, captures an era when travel by sea was not just a necessity but also an experience shaped by the ship’s amenities, voyage class distinctions, and ticketing processes. By this time, air travel was growing in popularity, but ocean liners remained a crucial link between Europe and North America, particularly for immigrants and long-term travelers.
This Tourist Class contract, issued for Charles Butler, documents his journey from Le Havre, France, to New York aboard the SS Castel Felice. The ticket was purchased for $195, which included a $5 embarkation fee. Adjusted for inflation, this cost would be between $1,860 and $9,070 in 2020 dollars, depending on economic comparisons.
The contract was issued in New York on June 2, 1956, by SITMAR’s agent, Overseas Charter & Shipping Co. This passage contract provides valuable insights into mid-century transatlantic voyages, the economic realities of travel, and the role of SITMAR as a major passenger carrier in the post-war period.
🔍 Most Interesting Highlights & Why They Matter
⚔️ WWII-Era Civilian Travel: Blue Star Line (1943)
The Saloon Class ticket from Adelaide to an Egyptian port aboard the Blue Star Line during World War II captures the rare, high-risk civilian travel of the time. Issued to Mrs. Rose Slutzkin, it represents the precariousness of wartime voyages when passenger ships shared sea lanes with convoys and submarines.
✅ Great for: War history classes, maritime risk studies, and genealogists tracing WWII-era movements
📌 Key Themes: Women travelers, wartime secrecy, transoceanic risk
🌊 Post-War Mobility & Migration
🚢 SS Marine Phoenix (1947) – San Francisco ➡️ Sydney
Originally a wartime troop ship, the Marine Phoenix was repurposed for postwar civilian use. Miss Mary B. Bartlett’s passage reveals how surplus military vessels transitioned into lifelines for global mobility in the rebuilding years.
🧳 SS Gripsholm (1951) – Bremerhaven ➡️ New York
This prepaid tourist class ticket reflects European migration to America in the aftermath of WWII. Mrs. Margarete Lenz's journey represents countless families hoping to begin anew across the Atlantic.
✅ Great for: Genealogists, students of postwar reconstruction, and economic historians
📌 Key Themes: Immigration logistics, U.S. entry regulations, economic hardship
💎 Luxury Returns to the Seas: SS Orion (1948), SS Vulcania (1948 & 1956)
The first-class ticket on the SS Orion from Sydney to Tilbury and the transatlantic passages aboard the SS Vulcania show the rebirth of ocean liner prestige. These high-end contracts reflect a postwar society eager to embrace international luxury and cosmopolitan travel again.
✅ Great for: Students of design, sociology, and travel culture
📌 Key Themes: Luxury, class division, tourism in a changing world
🏛️ Cultural Reconnection & Diplomatic Voyages
🇳🇴 SS Stavangerfjord & Oslofjord (1953) – New York ↔️ Bergen
Mrs. Katherine H. Somerville’s round-trip first-class voyage represents both leisure and cultural reconnection. These Norwegian America Line vessels were key players in preserving transatlantic ties between Scandinavia and the U.S. after WWII.
✅ Great for: Scandinavian studies, diplomatic relations, and postwar tourism
📌 Key Themes: First-class travel, cultural exchange, female travelers
🌍 Migration in Transition: SS Castel Felice (1956)
The Tourist Class passage from Le Havre to New York aboard the SS Castel Felice is one of the final echoes of the golden era of sea migration. As jet travel approached mainstream viability, this document reveals how many still relied on ships for intercontinental relocation.
✅ Great for: Comparative travel studies, sociology of migration
📌 Key Themes: Economic cost of emigration, working-class mobility, postwar resettlement
🖼️ Noteworthy Images to Explore 📸
🔹 Blue Star Line WWII Ticket Cover – Rare wartime ephemera showing restrictions and saloon class details
🔹 Cunard’s RMS Queen Mary (1953) – A tourist class passage on the most iconic liner of its time
🔹 Swedish American Line’s MS Gripsholm – A prepaid immigrant ticket, showing the American sponsorship of European relatives
🔹 SS Castel Felice Ticket (1956) – Simple, powerful design of a working-class voyage across the Atlantic
Each image enhances our understanding of design, branding, formality, and class in mid-20th century maritime travel.
📚 Relevance for Researchers & Educators
👨🏫 For Teachers & Students:
Provides firsthand documents perfect for studying postwar global movement, maritime policy, and Cold War-era society
Encourages critical analysis of primary sources in topics such as immigration, gender roles, luxury culture, and transportation economics
🧬 For Genealogists:
These contracts are name-rich, often listing departure cities, cabin numbers, ages, citizenship, and destination sponsors, ideal for building or verifying family migration timelines.
⚓ For Maritime Historians:
Reflects ship repurposing, technological upgrades, and the changing economic models of ocean liner companies
Highlights lesser-known lines (e.g., SITMAR, Oceanic Steamship Co.) as well as the giants like Cunard and Swedish American Line
🧭 Final Thoughts – Why This Collection Matters
The Passage Contracts and Tickets – 1940s–1950s index brings history to life through the lens of ocean travel. These documents are more than just tickets—they are portals into personal stories, set against the backdrop of war, recovery, migration, and modernity.
🎓 Students: Use these as primary sources in essays on WWII, immigration policy, and the economics of travel.
🔍 Researchers: Discover new insights into class structures, shipping networks, and passenger demographics.
🧬 Genealogists: Trace family history through detailed, tangible records of real-life journeys.
Whether you’re exploring the world of grand luxury liners or the humble journey of a hopeful migrant, these contracts place you right at the dock, passport in hand, ready to cross the sea. 🌊🧳✍️
