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

📌 Explore a rare 1905 transatlantic passage contract for Jens Julius Skafte, a Norwegian immigrant traveling from Denmark to Minnesota aboard Cunard’s RMS Ivernia. Discover insights into Scandinavian migration patterns, steerage travel conditions, and historical ticket pricing. A must-read for historians, genealogists, and ocean travel enthusiasts!

Cunard Line RMS Ivernia Contract for Passage, Copenhagen to America, 11 March 1905. GGA Image ID # 1f9dccc53a

Passage Contract Summary

• Date of Purchase / Voyage: 11 March 1905 / 6 April 1905
• Steamship Line: Cunard Steam Ship Company, Limited
• Steamship: RMS Ivernia
• Route: Copenhagen to Albert Lea, MN via Liverpool and Boston
• Ticket Type: Passage Contract
• Voyage Class: Not Stated
• Name on Contract: Jens Julius Skafte
• Etnicity of Passenger(s): Norwegian
• Contract Terms: Limited Translated from Danish
• Cost of Ticket: 218.20 DKK / $1,760.00 USD in 2020

In this case, based on the transciption of the Passenger Manifest, Jens Julius Skafte was a Norwegian immigrant who had settled in Albert Lea, Minnesota and was returning to the United States from Scandinavia.

Route Followed: Copenhagen > Liverpool > Boston > Albert Lea

The Cunard Steam Ship Company, Limited,

1 Rumford Street

Liverpool

C. Mogensen, General-Agent

27 Nyhavn, Kjøbenhavn

Cunard Line

Passager-Kontrakt Nr. 6467

mellen

C. Mogensen i Kjøbenhavn, Generalagent for Danmark,

og nedenanførte Passagerer angaaende Befordring

fra Kjobenhavn til Albert Lea, Minn.

Passagerens fulde Navn: Jens Julius Skafte

Alder: 44

Livsstilling: Farnier

Fødested: Liverpool

Sidste Opholdssted: Amerika

Rubber Stamp: STEMPEL FOR LÆGESYN - ESBJERG

I the undersigned C. Mogensen do hereby engage to forward by Steamship and railroad there above named passenger from the place of departure to the place of destination for the sum of Two Hundred Eighteen Kroner 20 Øre.

Contract Information

• Date of Contract: 11 March 1905 (Indicate on Danish Tax Stamp of 15 Øre affixed on upper left of Contract.
• Number of Pages: 1 (Reverse side is blank)
• Dimensions: 22.3 x 17.3 cm

Passenger Information

• Name: Jeno Julius Skapte
• Arrival Date: 6 April 1905
• Age: 44
• Estimated Birth Year: about 1861
• Gender: Male
• Ethnic Background: Norwegian
• Port of Departure: Liverpool, England
• Ship Name: Ivernia
• Port of Arrival: Boston, Massachusetts
• Last Residence: United States of America
• Source Citation: National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Washington, D.C.; Crew Lists of Vessels Arriving at Boston, Massachusetts, 1917-1943; Microfilm Serial: T938; Microfilm Roll: 82.
• Source Information: Ancestry.com. Boston Passenger and Crew Lists, 1820-1943 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2006.

Original data:

• Boston, Massachusetts. Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at Boston, Massachusetts, 1891-1943. Micropublication T843. RG085. 454 rolls. National Archives, Washington, D.C.
• Boston, Massachusetts. Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at Boston, Massachusetts, 1820-1891. Micropublication M277. RG036. 115 rolls. National Archives, Washington, D.C.
• Boston, Massachusetts. Crew Lists of Vessels Arriving at Boston, Massachusetts, 1917-1943. Micropublication T938. RG085. 269 rolls. National Archives, Washington, D.C.

Relative Cost of Passage Ticket in Today's Currency Value

218.20 Danish krone [1804-2015] in year 1905 could buy the same amount of consumer goods and services in Sweden as 58.05608906185556 US dollar [1791-2015] could buy in Sweden in year 1905. This comparison should be used if the purpose of the analysis is to compare absolute worth over time rather than relative worth. Historical currency converter

In 2020, the relative values of $58.06 from 1905 ranges from $1,330.00 to $41,700.00.

A simple Purchasing Power Calculator would say the relative value is $1,760.00. This answer is obtained by multiplying $58.06 by the percentage increase in the CPI from 1905 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 $58.06 Commodity in 1905 there are four choices. In 2020 the relative:

• real price of that commodity is $1,760.00
• real value in consumption of that commodity is $3,980.00
• labor value of that commodity is $8,690.00 (using the unskilled wage) or $12,100.00 (using production worker compensation)
• income value of that commodity is $10,600.00
• economic share of that commodity is $41,700.00

If you want to compare the value of a $58.06 Income or Wealth, in 1905 there are five choices. In 2020 the relative:

• real wage or real wealth value of that income or wealth is $1,760.00
• household purchasing power value of that income or wealth is $3,980.00
• relative labor earnings of that commodity are $8,690.00 (using the unskilled wage) or $12,100.00 (using production worker compensation)
• relative income value of that income or wealth is $10,600.00
• relative output value of that income or wealth is $41,700.00

If you want to compare the value of a $58.06 Project in 1905 there are four choices. In 2020 the relative:

• real cost of that project is $1,330.00
• household cost of that project is $3,980.00
• labor cost of that project is $8,690.00 (using the unskilled wage) or $12,100.00 (using production worker compensation)
• relative cost of that project is $10,600.00
• economy cost of that project is $41,700.00

Source: www.measuringworth.com Samuel H. Williamson, "Seven Ways to Compute the Relative Value of a U.S. Dollar Amount, 1790 to present," MeasuringWorth, 2022.

🚢 RMS Ivernia Passage Contract (1905): A Scandinavian Immigrant’s Journey to America 🇩🇰➡️🇺🇸

📜 Overview: 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.

🌍 Why This Document is Valuable

📖 For educators & students: 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.

🧬 For genealogists: This document is a vital record for tracing Scandinavian ancestry, pinpointing departure locations, ship names, and final destinations in America.

📜 For historians: Provides insights into the transportation infrastructure supporting immigration, including contracts, ticketing systems, and travel conditions for Scandinavian migrants.

🛳 For maritime enthusiasts: The RMS Ivernia, a well-known Cunard liner, was part of the migration boom, ferrying thousands of European immigrants to the U.S.

📜 Key Details of the Passage Contract

📅 Date of Purchase: 11 March 1905

🚢 Steamship Line: Cunard Steamship Company, Limited

🛳 Steamship: RMS Ivernia

🌍 Route: Copenhagen → Liverpool → Boston → Albert Lea, MN

🎟 Ticket Type: Passage Contract

💰 Cost of Ticket: 218.20 DKK (~$1,760 in 2020 USD)

🛏 Voyage Class: Likely Steerage

👤 Passenger: Jens Julius Skafte (44 years old, Norwegian farmer)

📌 Interesting Fact: This contract confirms that Jens Julius Skafte was an established immigrant returning to the U.S., as his last place of residence was already listed as "America".

🛳 The Journey: Scandinavia to America’s Midwest 🌍

🛶 Why Immigrants Left Scandinavia in 1905:

✔️ Many Norwegians, Swedes, and Danes migrated to America in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, seeking land, economic stability, and opportunities.

✔️ Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, and the Dakotas became key Scandinavian settlement areas, offering farming opportunities similar to their homelands.

✔️ U.S. railroads promoted immigration, offering low fares and land incentives to European settlers.

📍 Route Details:

✔️ Departed Copenhagen, Denmark by steamship to Liverpool, England.

✔️ Transferred to RMS Ivernia, which sailed from Liverpool to Boston.

✔️ Upon arrival, he traveled by train to Albert Lea, Minnesota, where many Norwegian immigrants had settled.

📌 Did You Know? The Ivernia was one of the largest immigrant carriers for Cunard, accommodating thousands of steerage passengers on each voyage.

🛳 The RMS Ivernia: A Steamship Built for Migration

✔️ Launched in 1899, the RMS Ivernia was a Cunard liner built for mass transatlantic migration.

✔️ Primarily carried immigrants from Central and Northern Europe to the United States.

✔️ Had a capacity for over 2,000 passengers, most of whom traveled steerage class.

✔️ Provided basic but efficient transportation, allowing European migrants affordable passage to America.

📌 Did You Know? The RMS Ivernia was later used as a troop transport during World War I before being sunk by a German U-boat in 1917.

📜 Conditions of Steerage Travel

⚓ Challenges of Steerage Travel for Scandinavian Immigrants:

✔️ Crowded and unsanitary conditions, often with bunks stacked four or five high.

✔️ Minimal privacy, as most steerage passengers slept in open dormitory-style quarters.

✔️ Simple food rations, typically including bread, soup, and potatoes.

✔️ Limited ventilation, making conditions stuffy and prone to illness outbreaks.

✔️ Medical inspections were mandatory—as evidenced by the "Stempel for Lægesyn - Esbjerg" (Medical Stamp from Esbjerg, Denmark) on Jens’ contract.

📌 Did You Know? Many immigrants, including Scandinavians, Eastern Europeans, and Italians, endured difficult voyages but viewed it as a necessary hardship for a better life in America.

📜 Refund Policies & Contract Conditions

🔹 If the passenger failed to board, the ticket was partially refundable, with fees deducted for processing and commissions.

🔹 Cargo was restricted—passengers could carry only a limited amount of baggage.

🔹 Medical clearance was required—evident from Jens’ medical examination stamp.

📌 Interesting Fact: Jens’ contract was issued by C. Mogensen, Cunard’s Danish general agent, who processed thousands of similar contracts for Scandinavian immigrants heading to America.

📸 Noteworthy Images in the Collection

🖼 📜 The Original Passage Contract – A well-preserved example of a transatlantic migration document.

🖼 🚢 The RMS Ivernia – A Cunard liner that transported thousands of European immigrants to the U.S.

🖼 📄 Passenger Lists – Identifying Jens Julius Skafte on board the Ivernia, arriving in Boston.

💰 Cost of Passage: Then vs. Now

💰 1905 Ticket Price: 218.20 Danish Krone (~$58.06 in 1905 USD)

💰 2020 Equivalent: $1,760 to $41,700 USD (depending on comparison method)

📌 Comparison with Today:

✔️ A steerage ticket in 1905 cost roughly the same as an international economy-class airline ticket today.

✔️ The real economic impact of such a journey was enormous, requiring significant savings or sponsorship.

🔹 Conclusion: Jens’ ticket price suggests he was a modestly successful farmer, capable of affording return travel between Norway and the U.S..

🧬 Genealogical & Historical Value of This Document

📜 For Genealogists:

✅ Provides an official record of a Scandinavian immigrant’s journey.

✅ Confirms exact date and ship name for Jens’ passage.

✅ May help track family records in Minnesota.

🏫 For Teachers & Students:

✅ Demonstrates how Scandinavian immigrants arrived in America.

✅ Highlights economic factors influencing migration.

✅ Shows the role of steamship lines in mass migration.

📖 For Historians:

✅ Offers evidence of large-scale Scandinavian migration to the U.S.

✅ Sheds light on the network of European migration agents.

✅ Illustrates steerage-class conditions for early 20th-century immigrants.

🌊 Final Thoughts – A Voyage of Hope & Hardship 🚢

This contract represents more than just a journey—it symbolizes the dreams and sacrifices of Scandinavian immigrants seeking a better life in America.

Would you have embarked on a similar voyage in 1905? 🤔🇩🇰➡️🇺🇸