SS Independence Passenger List (August 24, 1953): Diplomats, Generals, and Cultural Icons on a Luxurious Voyage
📌 Discover the August 24, 1953, First-Class passenger list of the SS Independence, featuring diplomats, military officers, opera legends, and elite travelers journeying from Naples to New York. Explore the golden age of transatlantic ocean travel.
Front Cover of a First Class Passenger List from the SS Independence of the American Export Lines, Departing 24 August 1953 from Naples to New York via Genoa, Cannes and Gibraltar, Commanded by Captain Hugh L. Switzer. GGA Image ID # 163f2cc204
Senior Officers and Staff
- Commander: Captain Hugh L. Switzer
- Chief Engineer: Harvey Shriner
- Staff Captain: John Korista
- Staff Engineer: Louis T. Smallwood
- Chief Purser: Gleason T. Marquise
- Senior Purser: Robert C. Lane
- Chief Surgeon: Charles H. Rogers
- Assistant Surgeon : Alfred F. De Milia
- Chief Steward: Charles Regis
- Assistant Chief Steward: Charles Wright
- Maître d'Hôtel : Mario Sorre
- Chef de Cuisine : I. Louis Molina
- Chief Radio Officer: Emile S. Fazulak
- Social Directress: Ann Dickson
First Class Passengers
Embarked at Naples
- Mrs. Giuseppa Annunziata
- Mr. Edmund C. Austin
- Mrs. Marion T. Austin
- Miss Judith Austin
- Miss Barbara Ann Austin
- Mrs. Antonina Balistrien
- Mildred L. Bernard
- Mr. Mathews N. Besho
- Dr. Henry L. Bockus
- Mrs. Henry L. Bockus
- Miss Barbara Ann Bockus
- Mrs. Samuel C. Brasch
- Mr. John A. Cajzer
- M/Sgt. Warren G. Campbell
- Mrs. Alice Campbell
- Mr. Charles L. Casper
- Mrs. Charles L. Casper
- Mrs. Rachel Chapman
- Dr. Samuel M. Dodek
- Mrs. Samuel M. Dodek
- Mrs. M. E. Flanders
- Miss Cornelia B. Ford
- Miss Alice H. Ford
- Mr. Edgar E. Foster
- Mrs. George J. Fritz
- Mr. William D. Gadwah
- Mrs. Aileen M. Gadwah
- Mr. W. Daniel Gadwah
- Miss Rita L. Gill
- Mr. Samuel Green
- Mrs. Pauline S. Grossman
- Miss Ellen B. Hammonds
- Mr. Robert L. Hershey
- Mrs. Robert L. Hershey
- Mr. Robert L. Hershey, Jr.
- Mr. Michael L. Hershey
- Mr. Stephen L. Hershey
- Miss Rita Hogan
- Mr. John D. Iams
- Mrs. John D. Iams
- Mr. Jon C. Iams
- Miss Barbara D. Iams
- Mstr. William D. Iams
- Mrs. Ray Josephs
- Mrs. Emy Kalmanoff
- Mstr. Alan S. Kalmanoff
- Miss Agnes R. Kelley
- Miss Frances Kilpatrick
- Miss Catherine J. Kilpatrick
- Miss Elena Marie Lambrosa
- Mr. Carlo G. Leoni
- Mr. Joseph F. Lilly
- Mrs. Joseph F. Lilly
- Miss Louise E. Lilly
- Mr. Joseph T. Lilly
- Mr. Walter Maassen
- Miss Kathryn F. Mahoney
- Mr. Edwin Martenet
- Mrs. Edwin Martenet
- Miss Emily H. Martenet
- Miss Barbara H. McKeon
- Mrs. Willa N. McKimmon
- Miss Mary L. Mencarelli
- Miss Gilda E. Mendico
- Mr. Leonardo Mestrandrea
- Dr. Nicholas Mestrandrea
- Mrs. Tillie Mestrandrea
- Mstr. Leonard Mestrandrea
- Mstr. Fred Mestrandrea
- Mr. Louis Nicastro
- Mrs. Janet A. Nicastro
- Mstr. Francis E. Nicastro
- Mr. Louis M. Oppenheim
- Mrs. Sylvia K. Oppenheim
- Miss Ruth M. Oppenheim
- Mr. Edward Perazone
- Mrs. Emelia Perazone
- Mr. Arnold M. Picker
- Mrs. Arnold M. Picker
- Miss Carol D. Picker
- Miss Phyllis B. Picker
- Mr. Michael Poto
- Miss Laura E. Preble
- Mr. William H. Read
- Mrs. Louise J. Read
- Rinaldi, Mr. Nicola
- Mr. Lionel C. Rosenbaum
- Mrs. Dora H. Rosenbaum
- Mr. Arthur E. Rosenbaum
- Miss Lillian Rosenbaum
- Mr. Nicola Rossi-Lemeni
- Mrs. Vittoria Rossi-Lemeni
- Miss Donatella Sabetta
- Miss Rosina Salva
- Dora S. Savino.
- Miss Dora E. Schmidt
- Maestro Tullio Serafin
- Mrs. Elena Rakowska Serafin
- Dr. Foster D. Snell
- Mrs. Cornelia T. Snell
- Mr. Herman J. Stich
- Mrs. Hermine N. Stich
- Mrs. Laura Y. Stranahan
- Mr. Hall P. Street
- Mrs. Hall P. Street
- Mrs. John T. Taylor
- Mr. Niemann A. Terry, Jr.
- Mrs. Joan Terry
- Miss Jane L. Terry
- Mstr. David M. Terry
- Miss Gail A. Theis
- Mr. Theodore A. Tonna
- Mrs. Theodore A. Tonna
- Miss Vicki Lee Tonna
- Miss Jean Tonna
- Miss Joan Tonna
- Mr. Louis Toro
- Mrs. Sylvia Toro
- Mrs. Anna J. Underwood
- Miss Louise Van Dyke
- Mr. Alvis C. Waller
- Mr. Harrison Williams
- Mrs. Joseph H. Williams
- Miss Beverly Williams
- Mr. Robert N. Williams
- Mr. Harry D. Williams
- Mrs. Mary J. Williams
- Dr. Arthur D. Wolf
- Mrs. Arthur D. Wolf
- Mr. Eliahu Yacoby
- Mrs. Helen T. Yost
- Miss Betty Yost
- Mr. Giorlando Zangara
- Mrs. Violetta Zangara
- Mrs. Helen K. Zangara
- Mrs. Harriet S. Zucker
Embarked at Genoa
- Mrs. Elvira Andreozzi
- Mr. Bruno J. Augenti
- Mrs. Bruno J. Augenti
- Miss Marta J. Augenti
- Mstr. Jordan B. Augenti
- Dr. Mario Austoni
- Dr. Frank Eugene Barton
- Mrs. Frank Eugene Barton
- Mr. Walter Bendick
- Miss Grace H. Blondheim
- Mr. W. Z. Bradford
- Mr. Ellsworth Bunker
- Mrs. Ellsworth Bunker
- Mr. H. Richard Chew
- Mr. Thomas J. Connolly
- Mr. Joseph H. Cordelia
- Mrs. Ruth Marie Cordelia.
- Mr. Ernest Cuneo
- Mrs. Margaret Cuneo
- Miss Barby Elizabeth Cutler
- Mr. Bruno A. Davis
- Mrs. Norma C. Davis
- Mrs. Anna Faraguna
- Miss Joan Faraguna
- Miss Rosella Samuel Francis
- Mr. Arnold D. Frese
- Mrs. Ines M. Frese
- Mr. Norbert R. Gagen
- Miss Jeannette L. Galler
- Miss Mariarosa Gallieni
- Mr. Merigo Gavioli
- Mrs. Francesca Gavioli
- Mrs. Rosa Genack
- Mstr. Menachem Genack
- Miss Hephzibah Genack
- Mrs. Lillian Goldblats
- Mr. W. Paul Haws
- Mrs. Wanda M. Haws
- Miss Janice Carolyn Haws
- Miss Becky Jane Haws
- Mr. Louis M. Heminway III
- Hinckeldeyn, Miss Ines
- Mr. Maxwell Hoffman
- Mr. Robert A. Hooker
- Dr. Edgar A. J. Johnson
- Mrs. Edgar A. J. Johnson
- Mr. Edgar A. J. Johnson, Jr.
- Mrs. Thomas A. Kelly
- Miss Maureen Kelly
- Miss Linda Louise Kelly
- Miss Susan Kimball
- Mr. Charles L. Kirby
- Mr. Walter Koch
- Mr. Victor Joe Krieg
- Mrs. Gertrud Rosa Krieg
- Mr. Adrian Henrich Krieg
- Mrs. Ferdinand Kuhn
- Mr. Joseph Lasagna
- Mrs. Carmine Lasagna
- Mr. Milton S. Leidner
- Mrs. Margaret S. Leidner
- Mr. Anthony S. Leidner
- Mr. Ernest Loeb
- Mrs. Else Julie Loeb
- Mrs. Mildred M. Manheimer
- Mr. Adolph Mariani
- Mr. Nicola Mazzarelli
- Mrs. Nicola Mazzarelli
- Mr. Bernard J. McGuigan
- Mrs. Dorothy C. McGuigan
- Miss Cathleen M. McGuigan
- Mstr. Michael J. McGuigan
- Mr. Renzo Pivetti
- Mr. Luigi Pucillo
- Mrs. Nino Pucillo
- Mr. Stanley L. Richter
- Mrs. Stanley L. Richter
- Mrs. Frances Scheller
- Miss Alma Raynar Scott
- Mr. Harold J. Silver
- Mrs. Harold J. Silver
- Mstr. Andrew J. Silver
- Miss Patricia Merle Silver
- Mr. Thos. A. Sparrow
- Mr. W. E. Swanson, Jr.
- Mrs. W. E. Swanson, Jr.
- Mr. Kurt L. Taylor
- Mrs. Beate Jeanette Taylor
- Miss Diane E. Taylor
- Mr. Frank Voiello
- Miss Johanna Von Goeckinck
- Mrs. J. Harris Ward
- Mr. J. Anthony Ward
- Mr. David Harris
- Mr. John E. Weber
- Mrs. John E. Weber
- Mrs. Maria Simone Zaccaria
Embarked at Cannes
- Ambassador Fred L. Anderson
- Mrs. Elizabeth T. Anderson
- Miss Mary Winn Anderson
- Mr. Travis Scott Anderson
- Mr. Mavimilian Barlow
- Mrs. Maximilian Barlow
- Mrs. George Cameron Beach
- Mr. Thomas Milburn Belk
- Mrs. Katherine McKay Belk
- Mr. Lawrence A. Bengert
- Mrs. Louise F. Bengert
- Mrs. Flora L. Bergstein
- Mr. M. William Blake
- Mrs. M. William Blake
- Miss Grace Borgenight
- Mrs. Samuel W. Brown
- Mr. Erich Bucherer
- Mr. A. Carmel
- Mrs. A. Carmel
- Mrs. Charles L. Carr
- Mr. Marx M. Check
- Mr. Isaac Dean Check
- Mr. Morris Cherney
- Mrs. Bertha Cherney
- Mrs. Beatrice Cohn
- Dr. James P. Croce
- Mrs. James P. Croce
- Mrs. Harry Davis
- Mrs. Beatrice Ehrlich
- Dr. Charles Gerard Eichel
- Mrs. Fanny D. Eichel
- Miss Catherine E. Enis
- Mr. Emanuel "Dick" Flock
- Miss Louise Fishburn Fowlkes
- Miss Helen Frankenthaler
- Mr. George M. George
- Mrs. Carola George
- Mstr. Ronald M. George
- Miss Rita George
- Mrs. Yolande Gergely
- Mr. A. S. Gould
- Mrs. Molly Gould
- Mrs. Anne H. Greenburg
- Mr. Carl V. Greenburg
- Miss Elizabeth Boone Harrold
- Mrs. Hortense Hirsch.
- Mr. Marcel Horowitz
- Mrs. Marcel Horowitz
- Mr. Arthur John Hosier
- Mrs. Hazel E. Hosier
- Mrs. Claude L. Ives
- Mr. Samuel B. Jacobs
- Mrs. William C. Jamison
- Miss Mary Alice Jamison
- Miss Anne Poynter Jamison
- Col. Albert A. Kaufman
- Mrs. Albert A. Kaufman
- Miss Susan F. Kaufman
- Mstr. Stephen M. Kaufman
- Mr. Bill Kennedy
- Mrs. Jerry Kennedy
- Mstr. Patrick Kennedy
- Mstr. Michael Kennedy
- Mr. Gerard W. Kiely
- Mr. Samuel E. Knowles
- Mrs. Samuel E. Knowles
- Mr. Henry R. Labouisse
- Miss Anne D. Labouisse
- Mr. Leon Levy
- Mr. Morris Margolin
- Mrs. Dorothy Margolin
- Mr. I. Smith Marks
- Mrs. I. Smith Marks
- Mr. Nicholas A. Mastroianni
- Mrs. Nicholas A. Mastroianni
- Mstr. Nicholas A. Mastroianni
- Mrs. Margaret M. McCloud
- Mrs. Mirken
- Mr. Glen E. Moorhouse
- Mrs. Glen E. Moorhouse
- Miss Ann Moorhouse
- Mr. James Moorhouse
- Dr. George H. Opdyke
- Miss Edith Petrich
- Miss Catherine S. Pharr
- Mrs. Paul Poynter
- Miss Nancy Squire Rawles
- Mr. Sam Rosenberg
- Mrs. Sam Rosenberg
- Mrs. Maria E. Salle
- Mrs. Robert Scher
- Miss Barbara Scher
- Mrs. Theodora Scruggs
- Mr. Frank See
- Mrs. Anna Carter See
- Miss Frieda Shipley
- Mrs. William Stephenson
- Miss Marian Lavenia Stowe
- Mrs. Florence Swarts
- Mr. Lynn B. Timmerman
- Mrs. Lynn B. Timmerman
- Mr. Edward L. Urquhart
- Mrs. Edward L. Urquhart
- Miss Gay Williamson
- Mr. Louis N. White
- Mrs. Mary White
Embarked at Gibraltar
- Mrs. Mabel C. Bailey
- Mr. Meir J. Benatar
- Mrs. Alegria L. Benatar
- Miss Evelyn L. Benatar
- Mstr. Jaime Benatar
- Mr. Harold L. Calligan
- Mr. M. Barney Cohen
- Mrs. Sophie C. Conroy
- Miss Joan H. Dickey
- Mrs. Laura V. Downing
- Mrs. Mary S. Epstein
- Mrs. Fortunata Gimenez
- Miss Kathleen A. Horne
- Miss Natalie Hulme
- Miss Anne Langston
- Mrs. Dorothy Lyons
- Mrs. William O. McCaffrey
- Mrs. Lena W. Morse
- Mrs. Willard G. Myers
- Mrs. Clare Palmer
- Mrs. Rhea Reiburn
- Miss Freda Steinberger
- Mrs. Hazel G. Villasmil
Back Cover, Cunard SS Independence First Class Passenger List - 24 August 1953. GGA Image ID # 163f4e5573
Review & Summary of the SS Independence Passenger List – 24 August 1953 🚢📜
A Glamorous Transatlantic Voyage Aboard the SS Independence 🌊✨
The SS Independence, one of the grandest ocean liners of the American Export Lines, set sail on August 24, 1953, departing Naples for New York, with stops in Genoa, Cannes, and Gibraltar. This voyage, led by Captain Hugh L. Switzer, epitomizes the luxury and prestige of transatlantic travel in the early 1950s, a time when air travel had yet to fully eclipse ocean liners for the world’s elite.
This passenger list is a treasure trove of notable individuals, including military officers, diplomats, academics, business tycoons, and entertainment figures, reflecting the international influence and affluence of those traveling by sea in this era.
Key Voyage Details
- Ship Name: SS Independence
- Operator: American Export Lines
- Voyage Date: 24 August 1953
- Route: Naples → Genoa → Cannes → Gibraltar → New York
- Passenger Class: First Class
- Commander: Captain Hugh L. Switzer
- Chief Purser: Gleason T. Marquise
- Senior Purser: Robert C. Lane
- Chief Surgeon: Dr. Charles H. Rogers
- Social Directress: Ann Dickson
The passenger manifest is a who's who of high society, military leadership, academic elites, and cultural figures, providing a snapshot of mid-century transatlantic travel at its finest.
Notable Passengers & Their Historical Context 🌟
This voyage of the SS Independence carried an extraordinary mix of distinguished passengers, ranging from military leaders and diplomats to academics, artists, and high-society figures.
🛡️ Military & Government Officials
🔹 Ambassador Fred L. Anderson – A high-ranking U.S. diplomat, likely involved in Cold War negotiations or European postwar reconstruction efforts. His presence underscores the global diplomatic ties maintained by the U.S. in the 1950s.
🇺🇸 Col. Albert A. Kaufman (USA) – Another key U.S. military figure, possibly returning from or en route to strategic military operations or NATO discussions.
🇺🇸 M/Sgt. Warren G. Campbell – A high-ranking enlisted officer, indicative of ongoing military assignments in Europe.
The presence of several high-ranking military officials suggests that this voyage played a role in Cold War diplomacy, military planning, or postwar reconstruction efforts.
🎓 Academic and Intellectual Figures
⚕️ Dr. Henry L. Bockus – A renowned physician, likely traveling for medical conferences or consultations in Europe.
⚕️ Dr. Samuel M. Dodek – Another respected academic in the field of medicine, further emphasizing the ship’s role in facilitating transatlantic scientific and medical exchange.
🔹 Dr. Nicholas Mestrandrea – A name suggesting academic or professional importance, potentially in the sciences or humanities.
These individuals represent the growing international collaboration in academia and medicine during the 1950s.
🏛️ Diplomats & Business Magnates
Ellsworth Bunker – A prominent American diplomat, serving as U.S. Ambassador to Italy at the time. His presence on this voyage underscores the importance of diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Italy in the postwar era.
🔹 Mr. Arnold M. Picker – A film industry executive, likely traveling for business dealings related to Hollywood or European film production.
🔹 Mr. Nicola Rossi-Lemeni – A famed Italian opera singer, suggesting connections to high society and the cultural elite of the time.
These individuals highlight the economic, diplomatic, and cultural significance of transatlantic crossings in the early 1950s.
🎭 Entertainment & Cultural Figures
🔹 Maestro Tullio Serafin – One of the most famous opera conductors of the 20th century, his presence adds a touch of artistic prestige to this passenger list.
🔹 Mrs. Elena Rakowska Serafin – Likely his wife, accompanying him on an artistic tour or performance engagements.
🔹 Miss Helen Frankenthaler – A pioneering American abstract expressionist painter, her presence suggests the role of ocean liners in the cultural and artistic exchanges between the U.S. and Europe.
These cultural luminaries reinforce the SS Independence’s role as a bridge between European and American art, music, and entertainment.
The SS Independence: A Symbol of Luxury & Prestige 🚢💎
The SS Independence was one of the most celebrated ocean liners of its time, renowned for its speed, elegance, and luxurious accommodations.
🔹 Launched: 1950
🔹 Operator: American Export Lines
🔹 Capacity: Over 1,000 passengers
Notable Features:
🔹 Stunning art deco interiors
🔹 Spacious First-Class suites with modern amenities
🔹 Celebrity and diplomatic clientele
🔹 Legacy: The SS Independence, along with its sister ship SS Constitution, carried Hollywood stars, business magnates, and diplomats, reinforcing the importance of ocean liners before the jet age fully took over transatlantic travel.
The SS Independence was a floating palace, embodying the postwar optimism and economic boom of the early 1950s.
Noteworthy Images from This Passenger List 📸
1️⃣ Front Cover of the Passenger List
🔹 Classic design featuring the red American Export Lines flag, evoking the golden age of ocean travel.
🔹 GGA Image ID # 163f2cc204
2️⃣ Back Cover Featuring the American Export Lines Flag Logo
🔹 A timeless emblem of transatlantic travel prestige and American maritime dominance.
🔹 GGA Image ID # 163f4e5573
These images provide a visual reminder of the elegance and grandeur of mid-20th-century ocean travel.
Relevance for Teachers, Students, Historians, and Genealogists 📚
This passenger list serves as an invaluable historical document, offering insights into mid-century transatlantic travel, elite society, and global diplomacy.
🔹 For Teachers & Students –
🔹 Provides a firsthand look at Cold War-era diplomacy and military movements.
🔹 Demonstrates the importance of ocean liners before commercial air travel became dominant.
🔹 For Genealogists –
🔹 Helps trace family migration patterns from Europe to America.
🔹 Documents distinguished individuals and their transatlantic movements.
🔹 For Historians –
🔹 Highlights the social and political landscape of the 1950s.
🔹 Preserves details of elite transatlantic voyages, cultural exchanges, and diplomatic interactions.
🔹 For Maritime Enthusiasts –
🔹 Showcases one of the last great ocean liners before the jet age.
🔹 Highlights the role of American Export Lines in global transportation.
Final Thoughts – Why This Passenger List Matters ⚓✨
The SS Independence’s First-Class voyage from Naples to New York on August 24, 1953, represents a golden era of ocean travel, reflecting the elite passengers, cultural exchanges, and diplomatic ties of the time.
✔ Features prominent diplomats, military officials, artists, and business leaders.
✔ Illustrates the importance of ocean liners before transatlantic jet travel became common.
✔ Serves as an essential genealogical and historical resource.
✔ Captures the elegance and prestige of mid-century First-Class travel.
This passenger list is a testament to a bygone era, where ocean liners symbolized status, elegance, and international diplomacy. ⚓✨
