RMS Laconia 1913: Third-Class Prepaid Passage from Liverpool to Boston

📌 Explore a rare 1913 Third-Class prepaid ticket for Mary Ellen McGuire’s voyage aboard the RMS Laconia. This artifact sheds light on transatlantic migration, Irish immigration, and early 20th-century ocean travel. 🌊📜

RMS Laconia Third Class Prepaid Ticket - Agents Record, Liverpool to Boston, 3 June 1913. GGA Image ID # 1e9ce63b8b

Summary of Agent's Record

• Date of Purchase / Voyage: 3 June 1913 / 10 June 1913
• Steamship Line: Cunard Line
• Steamship: RMS Laconia
• Route: Liverpool to Boston
• Ticket Type: Agents Record
• Voyage Class: Third Class
• Name on Contract: Mary Ellen McGuire
• Etnicity of Passenger(s): Irish
• Contract Terms: Not Stated
• Cost of Ticket: $39.00 / $1,050.00 USD in 2020

Agent's Record Details

From Liverpool to Boston

June 10-19, 1913

• Name of Passenger: Mary Ellen McGuire
• Age 20
  Fare
• Ocean: $35
• Railroad: $4
• Total Fare: $39
• Agent Commission: $2
• Net Due Cunard: $37

Ticket Paid for by: Katie A. McGuire,

Kensington Road, Edgewood,

Advised 12.Jun.1913

This is another steerage passenger who was on the same voyage to Boston as Ludvig Gjønvik.

Connection to the Gjenvick-Gjønvik Family

A unique bond exists between the Gjenvick-Gjønvik Archives and this passage ticket, weaving a narrative of heritage and history. Ludvig Gjønvik, at just 21 years old, embarked on his journey to the United States aboard the same vessel and voyage from Liverpool to Boston. Both traveled in the modest confines of third class. It is unlikly that the two conversed as Ludvig did not speak English at the time of this voyage. His grandson established the GG Archives many years later, a lasting tribute to their family's legacy, precisely 87 years after Ludvig's poignant voyage. View Ludvig's Cunard Passage Ticket.

Relative Cost of Passage Ticket in Today's Currency Value

In 2020, the relative values of $39.00 from 1913 ranges from $763.00 to $20,600.00.

A simple Purchasing Power Calculator would say the relative value is $1,050.00. This answer is obtained by multiplying $39 by the percentage increase in the CPI from 1913 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 $39.00 Commodity in 1913 there are four choices. In 2020 the relative:

• real price of that commodity is $1,050.00
• real value in consumption of that commodity is $2,140.00
• labor value of that commodity is $5,120.00 (using the unskilled wage) or $6,440.00 (using production worker compensation)
• income value of that commodity is $6,070.00
• economic share of that commodity is $20,600.00

If you want to compare the value of a $39.00 Income or Wealth, in 1913 there are five choices. In 2020 the relative:

• real wage or real wealth value of that income or wealth is $1,050.00
• household purchasing power value of that income or wealth is $2,140.00
• relative labor earnings of that commodity are $5,120.00 (using the unskilled wage) or $6,440.00 (using production worker compensation)
• relative income value of that income or wealth is $6,070.00
• relative output value of that income or wealth is $20,600.00

If you want to compare the value of a $39.00 Project in 1913 there are four choices. In 2020 the relative:

• real cost of that project is $763.00
• household cost of that project is $2,140.00
• labor cost of that project is $5,120.00 (using the unskilled wage) or $6,440.00 (using production worker compensation)
• relative cost of that project is $6,070.00
• economy cost of that project is $20,600.00

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 Laconia Third-Class Prepaid Ticket – A Journey to America, 3 June 1913

🌍 A Historic Passage from Liverpool to Boston

This Agent’s Record for a Third-Class prepaid ticket aboard the Cunard Line’s RMS Laconia offers a fascinating glimpse into early 20th-century transatlantic migration. Dated 3 June 1913, this ticket was purchased for Mary Ellen McGuire, a 20-year-old Irish immigrant traveling from Liverpool to Boston. The cost of her ticket was $39.00—equivalent to $1,050.00 in today’s dollars—a sum that would have required significant financial planning for a working-class traveler.

This ticket represents not just a journey, but a story of opportunity, family connections, and the growing Irish diaspora in America.

🔍 Why This Ticket Matters for History, Genealogy, & Maritime Studies

This prepaid ticket is a primary source artifact, valuable for:

📖 Teachers & Students: Offering insight into early 20th-century migration patterns.

📜 Genealogists: Connecting families to their immigrant ancestors.

🏛️ Historians: Exploring the role of prepaid tickets in ocean travel.

🚢 Maritime Enthusiasts: Understanding third-class accommodations aboard Cunard liners.

📌 Key Details from the Passage Ticket

📆 Date & Route:

Ticket Purchased: 3 June 1913

Voyage Departure: 10 June 1913

Route: Liverpool, England → Boston, USA

Ship: RMS Laconia (Cunard Line)

Class: Third-Class (Steerage)

👤 Passenger & Ticket Information:

Name: Mary Ellen McGuire

Age: 20

Ethnicity: Irish

Ticket Paid for by: Katie A. McGuire, Kensington Road, Edgewood (Likely a relative in the U.S.)

Fare Breakdown:

Ocean Passage: $35

Railroad Fare (Inland Travel): $4

Total Paid: $39

Agent’s Commission: $2

This record highlights how family members in America often prepaid tickets for loved ones to join them, ensuring their passage to the New World.

🖼️ Noteworthy Images & Their Importance

📜 RMS Laconia Third-Class Prepaid Ticket – Agent’s Record

This image captures the meticulous record-keeping of steamship agencies, documenting Mary Ellen McGuire’s fare, travel details, and payment records.

🏛 Cunard’s Liverpool Office – The Starting Point of Many Journeys

As one of the largest transatlantic shipping lines, Cunard’s Liverpool hub was a gateway for thousands of immigrants bound for North America.

💰 The Cost of Passage in 1913 vs. Today

Though $39 may seem insignificant today, when adjusted for inflation, it equates to $1,050.00 in 2020—a major expense for a working-class traveler.

💰 Economic Context of the Fare in 2020 Terms:

Purchasing Power Equivalent: $1,050

Labor Value Equivalent: $5,120 (Unskilled wage) or $6,440 (Skilled labor)

Relative Economic Share: $20,600

📌 Insight: This illustrates how third-class travel was still a financial burden, despite being the most affordable option.

🌊 The Immigrant Experience in Third-Class Travel

Traveling in third-class (steerage) was a challenging experience, but it was the gateway to a new life. Here’s what passengers like Mary Ellen McGuire might have experienced:

🚶‍♀️ Crowded Compartments: Basic bunk-style berths, often shared.

🍽️ Basic Meals: Simple but adequate food, often eaten in communal dining areas.

🤒 Risk of Illness: Poor ventilation meant sickness spread easily.

💼 Arrival at Ellis Island (or Boston’s immigration center): Immigrants underwent medical and legal inspections before entry into the U.S.

These conditions highlight the resilience of those seeking a better life, making these documents even more valuable for historical and genealogical research.

📜 The GG Archives Connection: A Personal Family Story

This ticket has a special connection to the Gjenvick-Gjønvik Archives, as Ludvig Gjønvik, the founder’s ancestor, traveled aboard the same voyage of the RMS Laconia in third class. Though Mary Ellen and Ludvig likely never met—Ludvig did not speak English at the time—their journeys symbolize the diverse immigrant stories of the early 20th century.

🌎 These shared experiences reflect the global movement of people, bound by hope and the promise of a better future.

🏛 Broader Historical & Genealogical Significance

🔎 For Genealogists

This document is a crucial link for families tracing Irish immigrant ancestors.

Prepaid tickets confirm sponsorship relationships, showing how immigrants relied on family networks.

🏛️ For Historians

This passage exemplifies the prepaid ticket system, which played a vital role in European emigration.

Highlights the economic barriers to travel, even for those in third class.

🔮 Final Thoughts: A Passage to the New World

The RMS Laconia Third-Class Prepaid Ticket from 3 June 1913 is more than just a travel document—it’s a tangible piece of immigration history.

📜 For historians, genealogists, and educators, this document is a crucial artifact that reflects the realities of third-class ocean travel, the financial sacrifices of immigrants, and the deeply personal stories of those seeking a new beginning in America.

🚢 Whether tracing family roots or studying migration history, this passage record is a priceless window into the lives of those who braved the Atlantic for a brighter future! 🌍✨