MS Gripsholm Prepaid Passage Ticket (1951) – A Journey from Post-War Europe to America
📌 Discover the historical significance of this 1951 prepaid passage contract for the MS Gripsholm, highlighting post-war migration, ocean travel, and the role of the Swedish American Line in transatlantic voyages. A valuable resource for genealogists, historians, and educators.
Swedish American Line Prepaid Tourist Class Westbound Passage Ticket, Departing from Bremerhaven for New York, Dated 13 November 1951. GGA Image ID # 12ce4cd6ee
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.
Summary of Prepaid Passage Contract
- Date of Purchase / Voyage: 13 November 1951 / 24 February 1952
- Steamship Line: Swedish American Line
- Steamship: MS Gripsholm
- Route: Bremerhaven (Bremen) to New York
- Ticket Type: Prepaid Passage Contract
- Voyage Class: Tourist Class
- Name on Contract: Mrs. Margarete Lenz
- Etnicity of Passenger(s): German
- Contract Terms: Transcribed
- Cost of Ticket: $193.00 / $1,920.00 USD in 2020
Prepaid Passage Contract Details
Prepaid Tourist Class Passage Ticket dated 13 November 1951 for German Immigrant, Departing from Bremerhaven on 24 February 1952 and arriving in New York on 6 March 1962 on the MS Gripsholm of the Swedish American Line. Toral Fare was $193.00 Including $8 Head Tax.
SWEDISH AMERICAN LINE
PURCHASER’S RECEIPT for Westbound Prepaid Orders as mentioned in margin hereof. NOT TRANSFERABLE TO OTHER PERSON
Tourist Class
Place and Date of Issue: Chicago 13 November 1951
Agent: SAL (Swedish American Line)
Prepaid Order From: Bremerhaven
To New York
Name of Passenger: Mrs. Margarete Lenz, Adult Female of Heidelberg, Germany, US Zone.
Connection with Outward Ticket No. EB 258889 ($185.00)
Rate, per Adult: $185.00
Amount Passage Money Paid: $185.00
US Head Tax: $8.00
Total Fare: $193.00
Purchaser: Mr. Gunner S. Anderson of Chicago
Departure from Bremerhaven: 24 February 1952
Arrival in New York: 6 March 1962
Ship: MS Gripsholm
Passenger Information
- First Name : Margarete
- Last Name : Lenz
- Place of Birth : Germany
- Date of Arrival : 6 March 1962
- Age at Arrival : 51
- Gender : Female
- Ship of Travel : Gripsholm
- Manifest Line Number : 7
The purchaser should retain this receipt. The original order is being forwarded to the office of the Line nearest to the residence of the intending passenger. If the original order is retained by, or sent direct to the intending passenger, he must immediately upon receipt of same forward it to one of the European offices of the Swedish American Line listed therein. The office of the Line will then acknowledge receipt and forward full information of further requirements. The passengers are expressly cautioned not to leave their homes for embarkation until they have received explicit instructions from the Line to do so.
The original order provides that the Swedish American Line will furnish the person or persons named therein passage as specified or requested, if accommodation is available at the rate paid, subject, however, to the following terms and conditions, all of which are incorporated therein as part thereof:
- The order must be exchanged for a passage contract and passage will be furnished subject to all the terms, conditions, stipulations, limitations, exceptions and exemptions contained in the form of passage contract which is in use by Swedish American Line at the time when the order is presented for exchange.
- The passenger must be in possession of a valid passport, duly visaed, or an official document equivalent thereto, and all other documents which may be required by the authorities of the United States of America or Canada, and must be admissible to the United States of America or Canada, in accordance with the laws, rules and regulations applicable to persons seeking admittance to the respective country of destination. Aliens barred from landing in America include persons suffering from loathsome or contagious disease, idiots, insane, invalids or cripples, epileptics, persons likely to become a public charge, professional beggars, those convicted of felony, or other crime or misdemeanor involving moral turpitude, polygamists, anarchists, prostitutes, contract laborers, blind, deaf or dumb, those suffering from Tracoma, Favus, Hernia, Tuberculosis, poor physique, or old age.
- Additional fare must be paid before embarkation in the following cases:—if passage is desired in a ship for which the rate is higher than that paid for in the order, if a seasonal increase is applicable, if this order is dated prior to a general increase in rates and presented for exchange for a passage contract after such increase becomes effective, or if a passenger named herein is found to be older on the day of sailing than the age limit for which passage has been paid.
- The order will be honored only if exchanged for a passage contract within one (1) year from the date of issue thereof.
- While name of class designated herein is subject to alteration, this will not mean any change in accommodation furnished.
- The Master or Owners will not be responsible for any consequences arising from hostilities or warlike operations between any nations, blockades, embargoes, regulations of any government authority, or any official interference with commercial intercourse. If the ship is detained in consequence of such actions, passengers will be charged for any extra time they are on board.
- Should the passenger not avail himself of passage as provided in the order, refund may be requested, and will be effected after deduction of commissions earned, cancellation fee, and such expenses and disbursements as may have been incurred in connection with the order.
Relative Cost of Passage Ticket in Today's Currency Value
In 2020, the relative values of $193.00 from 1951 ranges from $1,570.00 to $11,600.00.
A simple Purchasing Power Calculator would say the relative value is $1,920.00. This answer is obtained by multiplying $193 by the percentage increase in the CPI from 1951 to 2020.
This may not be the best answer.
The best measure of the relative value over time depends on if you are interested in comparing the cost or value of a Commodity, Income or Wealth, or a Project.
If you want to compare the value of a $193.00 Commodity in 1951 there are four choices. In 2020 the relative:
- real price of that commodity is $1,920.00
- real value in consumption of that commodity is $3,010.00
- labor value of that commodity is $3,540.00 (using the unskilled wage) or $3,650.00 (using production worker compensation)
- income value of that commodity is $5,430.00
- economic share of that commodity is $11,600.00
If you want to compare the value of a $193.00 Income or Wealth, in 1951 there are five choices. In 2020 the relative:
- real wage or real wealth value of that income or wealth is $1,920.00
- household purchasing power value of that income or wealth is $3,010.00
- relative labor earnings of that commodity are $3,540.00 (using the unskilled wage) or $3,650.00 (using production worker compensation)
- relative income value of that income or wealth is $5,430.00
- relative output value of that income or wealth is $11,600.00
If you want to compare the value of a $193.00 Project in 1951 there are four choices. In 2020 the relative:
- real cost of that project is $1,570.00
- household cost of that project is $3,010.00
- labor cost of that project is $3,540.00 (using the unskilled wage) or $3,650.00 (using production worker compensation)
- relative cost of that project is $5,430.00
- economy cost of that project is $11,600.00
Samuel H. Williamson, "Seven Ways to Compute the Relative Value of a U.S. Dollar Amount, 1790 to present," MeasuringWorth, 2022. URL: www.measuringworth.com/uscompare/
Who Should Find This Resource Valuable?
✅ 📚 Teachers & Students – This document is an excellent primary source for lessons on post-war immigration, economic migration, and transatlantic travel history. It can be used in history, economics, and geography classes to analyze migration patterns and transportation networks.
✅ 🏡 Genealogists & Family Historians – Those researching family migration stories will find this resource particularly valuable. It helps trace ancestral journeys, confirming names, routes, and costs associated with traveling to America in the mid-20th century.
✅ ⚓ Maritime Historians & Enthusiasts – The MS Gripsholm, operated by the Swedish American Line, played a crucial role in post-war passenger transport and immigration services. Maritime historians will find this document valuable for understanding the role of commercial passenger liners in international migration.
✅ 💰 Economists & Researchers – The inclusion of inflation-adjusted ticket prices makes this document a useful case study for exploring historical purchasing power, the cost of migration, and economic changes in global travel.
Historical Context of the Ship & Voyage
The MS Gripsholm, built in 1925 for the Swedish American Line (SAL), was one of the most prominent transatlantic passenger ships of its time. Initially launched as a luxury liner, it later played a pivotal role in refugee and immigration transport after World War II. By the early 1950s, it was primarily used for carrying European immigrants and displaced persons to the United States, facilitating one of the largest movements of people in modern history.
The Bremerhaven-to-New York route was a significant migration corridor for European immigrants, particularly Germans seeking a fresh start in America following the war. Many passengers, like Mrs. Margarete Lenz, were likely reuniting with family members who had already settled in the U.S. or were escaping post-war economic hardship. The Swedish American Line was known for its excellent service and safe passage, making it a preferred choice for transatlantic crossings.
Cost of Voyage (Then & Now) 💵
Understanding the cost of ocean travel in 1951 compared to today helps put historical migration into perspective. The $193.00 ticket price included a $185 passage fee and an $8 U.S. Head Tax, a standard immigration-related charge for new arrivals.
- Inflation-Adjusted Prices in 2020:
- Real Price Comparison: $1,920.00
- Labor Value Comparison: $3,540.00 – $3,650.00
- Income Value Comparison: $5,430.00
- Economic Share Comparison: $11,600.00
These numbers indicate that while travel was relatively affordable, it still represented a significant financial investment for most passengers. Many prepaid tickets were purchased by relatives in the United States, assisting family members in their relocation.
Noteworthy Images 🖼️
📜 Ticket Image ID #12ce4cd6ee – The Swedish American Line Prepaid Tourist Class Passage Ticket provides an authentic look at immigration documents of the era. Featuring official stamps, handwritten passenger details, and structured contract terms, it offers a tangible connection to historical voyages.
📑 Passenger Manifest (March 6, 1962 Arrival Record) – This provides crucial immigration details, such as the passenger’s age, gender, place of birth, and official line number on the manifest, making it invaluable for genealogists and historical researchers.
Further Research Using GG Archives 📖🔍
The GG Archives provides an extensive collection of passenger lists, travel documents, and immigration records that are crucial for historical and genealogical research. This passage contract for Mrs. Margarete Lenz’s 1951 journey aboard the MS Gripsholm serves as a perfect example of the detailed records available.
💡 Students and researchers can use these materials to write essays on transatlantic migration, economic shifts in ocean travel, or the role of steamship companies in post-war resettlement. By exploring primary sources like this ticket, they gain a deeper understanding of the human stories behind historical events.
🔗 Explore More at GG Archives! 📜✨
