SS Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse Passenger List - 23 May 1905

Front Cover, First and Second Cabin Passenger List from the SS Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse of the North German Lloyd, Departing 23 May 1905 from Bremen to New York via Southampton and Cherbourg, Commanded by Captain O. Cüppers. GGA Image ID # 2107deb1c0

Senior Officers and Staff

1. Commander: Captain O. Cüppers
2. Chief Officer: A. Gerdes
3. Second Officer: O. Rabien
4. Second Officer: R. Arndt
5. Second Officer: W. Schwoon
6. Third Officer: Th. Kränzlein
7. Fourth Officer: A. Menge
8. Chief Engineer: F. Ziganke
9. First Engineer: H. Beyersdorff
10. First Doctor: Dr. P. Katerbau
11. Second Doctor: Dr. F. Hannes
12. Chief Purser: C. Schnell
13. Purser: C. Cleff
14. Assistant Purser: W. v. Trümbach
15. Chief Steward: H. Trage
16. Second Steward: W. Müller
17. Second Steward: O. Lange
18. Third Stewart: A. Lange
19. Third Stewart: A. Pflug
20. Chief Cook: A. Uhlig
21. Baggage Master: F. Litschke
22. Sea Post Officer: Carl Schünemann, Bremen

First Cabin Passengers

1. Herr Edward E. Ayer.
2. Frau Edward E. Ayer und Bedienung.
3. Herr H. A. Astlett.
4. Herr Robert Ablas.
5. Herr J. N. Bonaparte.
6. Herr Ansco G. Brainier.
7. Frau von Baumbacb.
8. Fräulein von Baumbach.
9. Herr Henry G. Bielefeld.
10. Herr Emil A. Bielefeld.
11. Herr A. A. Boyd.
12. Frau k. A. Boyd.
13. Fräulein Gladys Boyd.
14. Herr Genl. Alfred Elliot Bates.
15. Frau A. J. M. Birney.
16. Herr H. A. Boehm.
17. Herr Aug. Boehm.
18. Frau A. Boehm.
19. Frau M. S. Caldwell.
20. Herr W. W. Chenay.
21. Frau W. W. Cheney.
22. Herr J. M. Codman jr.
23. Herr H W. Calham.
24. Herr J. C. Carrara.
25. Frau J. C. Carrara.
26. Herr Joseph Carson.
27. Frau Joseph Carson.
28. Master Carson nebst Bedienung.
29. Herr O'Connell.
30. Herr Charles Duntze.
31. Herr Elisha Dyer jr.
32. Frau Elisha Dyer jr. und Bedienun
33. Herr J. W. Duntley.
34. Frau J. W. Duntley.
35. Herr P. M. Davis.
36. Herr Carl A. Johnson.
37. Herr Charles G. Emery.
38. Frau Charles G. Emery und Bedienung.
39. Herr O. O. Friedlaender.
40. Herr J. S. Fischer.
41. Frau J. S. Fischer.
42. Herr Reginald Foster.
43. Herr C. A. Ficke.
44. Frau C. A. Ficke.
45. Fräulein Alice Ficke.
46. Fräulein Helene Ficke.
47. Herr A. D. Ficke.
48. Herr Samuel W. Fairchild.
49. Frau Charles F. Ganson und Bedienung.
50. Herr F. S. Grasselli.
51. Herr F. W. Gehring.
52. Frau F. W. Gehring.
53. Herr Frank W. Gordon.
54. Herr George W. Guthrie.
55. Frau George W. Guthrie.
56. Frau Guthrie.
57. Fräulein Guthrie.
58. Herr Josef L. Graf.
59. Frau Josef L. Graf.
60. Fräulein Gertrud Graf.
61. Herr Louis E. Grouse.
62. Herr Henry von Gündell.
63. Frau Henry von Gündell.
64. Herr B. W. Goodmann.
65. Frau R. H. Howard.
66. Herr D. G. Humble.
67. Herr Herrn. F. Helwig.
68. Herr George A. Howe.
69. Frau George A. Howe.
70. Fräulein K. L. Hayden.
71. Herr John A. Hilliard.
72. Herr Anton Hilbert..
73. Herr George Kollstede.
74. Herr Charles Knuth.
75. Herr Geo. Koch.
76. Frau Geo. Koch.
77. Frau J. Chr. Koehler.
78. Herr J. P. Lühme.
79. Fräulein K. Lansing.
80. Herr Baron de Leyssac.
81. Herr Pt. B. Luckey.
82. Frau R. B. Luckey.
83. Frau Bertha Knaack-Leroux.
84. Herr Lamar.
85. Frau H. M. Motz.
86. Frau Edward H. Mason.
87. Fräulein Florence J. Mason.
88. Fräulein Edna S. Mason.
89. Herr John R. Meeker.
90. Frau John R. Meeker.
91. Fräulein Meeker.
92. Fräulein Florence Meeker.
93. Fräulein Avice Meeker.
94. Herr S. J. Meeker.
95. Herr A. J. Mc. Birney.
96. Herr Meyn.
97. Frau Meyn und Bedienung.
98. Herr Nathaniel Myers.
99. Frau Nathaniel Myers und Bedienung.
100. Fräulein Graham Malhall.
101. Fräulein M. Mulhall.
102. Herr A. P. Mason.
103. Frau A. P. Mason.
104. Fräulein Therese Mc. Cusker.
105. Herr J. C. Osgood und Bedienung.
106. Herr S. Oppenheimer.
107. Frau S. Oppenheimer.
108. Herr Graf James Pourtales.
109. Frau Gräfin James Pourtales und Bedienung.
110. Herr E. W. Pendleton.
111. Herr Alfred Preuss.
112. Herr J. Patxot.
113. Herr C. J. Pfluecker.
114. Frau C. J. Pfluecker und Kinder nebst Bedienung.
115. Frau Walter L. Pierce.
116. Herr Alfred Edward Pfahler.
117. Herr Reg.-Rat Otto Riese.
118. Frau Reg.-Rat Otto Riese.
119. Herr A. H. Raes.
120. Herr Richter.
121. Fräulein Marie Reitmann.
122. Herr Lewis Henry Rogers.
123. Herr Chas. G. Rathgen.
124. Herr William G. Scarlett.
125. Herr Waldemar Scholz.
126. Herr Carl Sellenscheidt.
127. Frau Carl Sellenscheidt.
128. Herr Louis Schramm.
129. Fräulein Laura Swam.
130. Herr Sydney Stern.
131. Herr Wm. A. Taylor.
132. Herr J. von Thal, Botschaftssekretär.
133. Herr Morris Terker.
134. Herr Ullmann.
135. Herr T. S. Woolsey.
136. Herr Weinberg.
137. Herr J. H. Woodruff.
138. Frau J. H. Woodruff.
139. Herr Fred. Warschauer.
140. Frau Fred. Warschauer.
141. Herr E. Wälder.
142. Herr W. L. Wilson.
143. Frau W. L. Wilson.
144. Boyd Wolberton.
145. Herr Chas. Weinberg.
146. Frau Chas. Weinberg.
147. Robert Weinberg.
148. Herr William E. Walter.
149. Herr E. H. Zeller.
150. Herr A. Zimmermann

To Southampton

1. Herr Baumeister Böhler.
2. Herr M. Böttcher.
3. Herr Bror Carlson.
4. Frau Bror Carlson.
5. Herr Dr. A. Feldmann.
6. Fräulein Olga zum Felde.
7. Herr Baurat R. Graepel.
8. Frau Beatrice Rodewald.
9. Fräulein Viva Rodewald.
10. Hermann Rodewald.
11. Herr J. Zink.

To Cherbourg:

1. Herr Dr. Georg Hirschfeld.
2. Herr Emil Hirschfeld.

Additional First Cabin Passengers

1. Mr. Moos
2. Mr. O'Connell
3. Mr. F. Morgan
4. Mr. P. Blackwell
5. Mr. D. Virtue
6. Mr. R. Sturdevant
7. Mr. D. Weiller
8. Mr. G. Vitelli
9. Mr. G. Livingston
10. Mr. H. Bartenbach
11. Mrs. Moore
12. Mr. C. Frankenthal
13. Mr. W. Chance
14. Mr. R. Stiefel
15. Mr. A. Eisenlohr
16. Miss M. v. Vorst
17. Mr. Frantisek Saller
18. Mrs. H. Wood
19. Miss Wood
20. Miss R. Sands
21. Miss B. Crosby
22. Mr. W. Hofman
23. Mr. W. Kenan
24. Mr. L. Rothstein
25. Mr. E. Duflot
26. Mr. H. Vinke
27. Mr. H. Rosenthal
28. Miss F. Watson
29. Mr. & Mrs. Whitford
30. Mr. R. Petsch
31. Mr J. Sullivan
32. Mr. P. Gorman

Second Cabin Passengers

1. Herr Albert Adler.
2. Herr Adam Azic.
3. Frau E. Böcker.
4. Herr W. R. Brinckerhoff.
5. Herr Antonio Brias.
6. Herr Leopold Brias.
7. Herr Denis C. Bossos.
8. Frau Denis C. Bossos.
9. Herr Rudolf Bauer.
10. Frau Rudolf Bauer.
11. Herr Emerich Baranyai.
12. Fräulein Annie Bäucker.
13. Herr Benson.
14. Herr Herbert Bon.
15. Herr Robert Bon.
16. Herr Ludwig Wilh. Bussmann.
17. Frau Ludwig Wilh. Bussmann.
18. Herr Heim. Blum.
19. Fräulein Sara Brück.
20. Fräulein Käthi Behr.
21. Fräulein Anna Behr.
22. Fräulein Kazincy Boriska.
23. Fräulein Christine Braun.
24. Fräulein Bertha Beck.
25. Fräulein Bertha Beck.
26. Fräulein Berta Blitz.
27. Fräulein Anna Berta.
28. Herr Robert Boger.
29. Herr Albert Bornemann.
30. Herr Heinrich Bellek.
31. Fräulein Emilie Boger.
32. Herr Pierre Betan.
33. Fräulein Magd. Biehler.
34. Fräulein Zofia Budz.
35. Frau Martha Clémence.
36. Fräulein V. M. Craynon.
37. Herr Andrzej Cufin.
38. Frau Andrzej Cufin
39. Rudolf Cufin.
40. Stephan Cufin.
41. Elisabeth Cufin.
42. Herr Stephen Chunk.
43. Herr Delfenthal.
44. Frau Maria Dollak
45. und Kinder. Herr Adalbert Dropa.
46. Fräulein Maria Dropa.
47. Frau Wilhelmine Dittmann.
48. Herr Bruno Dittmann.
49. Herr Kazimir Dittmann.
50. Leo Dittmann
51. Herr Franz Danicek.
52. Herr Jabob Devcic.
53. Herr Dennis.
54. Herr Franz Dzick.
55. Herr II. Ehrich.
56. Herr Emil Ewald.
57. Frau Ottilie Erbs.
58. Fräulein Briska Erbs.
59. August. Erbs.
60. Herr Josef Einstein.
61. Herr August Erbs.
62. Herr Conrad Engelhardt.
63. Frau Ida Fraatz.
64. Fräulein Louise Fraatz.
65. Herr Otto Füller.
66. Herr Samuel Ferker.
67. Herr Dr. Adolf Friede.
68. Frau Marie Frankiewicz.
69. Herr Geza Greenbaum.
70. Fräulein Luise Gölz.
71. Frau Batery Gizella.
72. Frau Caroline Gaich.
73. Hubert Gaich.
74. Otto Gaich.
75. Anna Gaich.
76. Frau Clara Garrecht.
77. Fräulein Karolina Grossmüller.
78. Herr Josef Grafel.
79. Herr Josef Gittler.
80. Frau Maria Gonet.
81. Bronislawa Gonet.
82. Herr Otto A. Horn.
83. Frau Otto A. Horn.
84. Herr Karl Herrmann.
85. Herr Rudolf Hosp.
86. Herr Heinrich Huber.
87. Herr Hag.
88. Herr Hinrich Herreilers.
89. Frau Bertha Heuer.
90. Herr Leon Honya.
91. Herr Wilhelm Heim.
92. Herr Jacob Hopf.
93. Herr Heinrich Hopf.
94. Herr Henry Heuser.
95. Herr John Hiller.
96. Herr Heinrich Hermann.
97. Frau Frieda Helmer.
98. Hermine Helmer.
99. Fräulein Josefine Holtfelder.
100. Frau Barbara Horn.
101. Frieda Horn.
102. Fräulein Sophie Heinemann.
103. Herr Friedrich Harke.
104. Herr Chas. Hutchison.
105. Herr Karl Horn.
106. Fräulein Agnes Havlik.
107. Herr Martin Holy.
108. Frau Martin Holy.
109. Marie Holy.
110. Herr Paul Holic.
111. Frau Paul Holic.
112. Johann Holic.
113. Paul Holic.
114. Luza Holic.
115. Kristina Holic.
116. Herr Dmytro Hodowaniak.
117. Frau Friederike Iggena.
118. Herr Charles P. Jaeger.
119. Herr Franz Jesina.
120. Frau Franz Jesina.
121. Franz Jesina.
122. Herr Walter Jasson.
123. Herr August Johns.
124. Herr Mile Jerkovic.
125. Herr Kunrina Jukushina.
126. Herr Claudio Mas Jornet
127. Herr Pedro Mas Jornet.
128. Fräulein Helene Koller.
129. Herr Henry Korff.
130. Herr Carl Klein.
131. Herr Charles Kuntzemann.
132. Herr Josef Koellerer.
133. Herr Ludwig Kaufmann.
134. Herr Emanuel Kiel.
135. Frau Emanuel Kiel.
136. Herr Markus Klein.
137. Frau Markus Klein.
138. Frau L. J. Keys.
139. Frau Giza Kains und Kind.
140. Herr Louis Kast.
141. Frau Louis Kast.
142. Camilla Kast.
143. Anna Kast.
144. Ludwig Kast.
145. Kare Kast.
146. Fräulein Emma Kunzemann.
147. Fräulein Mario Kunzemann.
148. Herr Kempthorne.
149. Herr Josef Kucerek.
150. Frau Josef Kucerek.
151. Anezka Kucerek.
152. Anna Kucerek.
153. Mario Kucerek.
154. Herr Sandor Kolin.
155. Herr Jan König.
156. Frau Jan König.
157. Herr Adam Kawula.
158. Frau Adam Kawula.
159. Pioter Kawula.
160. Herr Ignaz Kopecky.
161. Fräulein Anna Kosterce.
162. Herr Aron Kolm.
163. Frau Aron Kohn.
164. Herr Richard C. Krause.
165. Herr Karl Kummer.
166. Herr Petro Karwaski.
167. Schwester Mathilde Langwieler.
168. Herr Loring.
169. Fräulein Margarethe Lorenz
170. Frau Car. Laufenberg
171. Fräulein G. Laufenberg.
172. Fräulein Franziska Lövy.
173. Herr Wolf Littmann.
174. Fräulein Anna Lener und Kind.
175. Herr Eduard Liska.
176. Frau Martha Müller.
177. Johannes Müller.
178. Frau Agnes Musil.
179. Herr S. Muyake.
180. Herr Richard Möbius.
181. Herr R. Bruno Möbius.
182. Fraulein Berta Mezger.
183. Fräulein Anna Mayer.
184. Herr Martin Möhrle.
185. Heinr. Möhrle.
186. Herr Arthur Menz.
187. Fräulein Elisabeth Menacek.
188. Herr Janes Mericiu.
189. Herr Leon Mann.
190. Herr Otto Miller.
191. Herr Friedr. Meschko.
192. Frau Friedr. Meschko.
193. Herr Gustav Marsal.
194. Wenzel Marsal.
195. Herr Ancsin Makarow.
196. Herr Raffaels de Nunzio.
197. Herr Rudolf Neurad.
198. Herr Adolf Neurad.
199. Fräulein Lina Niena.
200. Herr Hinrick Nickel.
201. Fräulein Sara Nanter.
202. Herr Vratislav Nejedlék.
203. Herr Wasyl Nika.
204. Herr Christian Olsson.
205. Herr Franz Oresink.
206. Frau Rochen Oman.
207. Paul Oman.
208. Simson Oman.
209. Jacob Oman.
210. Baroch Oman.
211. Herr Gottfried Prestin.
212. Frau Gottfried Prestin.
213. Herr Max Pflughaupt.
214. Frau Bernardine Pothman.
215. Fräulein Julie Pichler.
216. Herr Josef Palacek
217. Frau Josef Palacek.
218. Oldriska Palacek.
219. Marie Palacek.
220. Frau Mary Piskor.
221. Fräulein Mary Piskor.
222. Herr Jacob Pucelj.
223. Frau Marya Prokop.
224. Andrej Prokop.
225. Herr Johann Ponne.
226. Herr Michaly Prinsner.
227. Frau Michaly Prinsner.
228. Majos Prinsner.
229. Maria Prinsner.
230. Herr Salomon L. Posalsky.
231. Herr Jacob Posalsky.
232. Herr H. W. Reese.
233. Frau H. W. Reese.
234. Herr Joseph Rucker.
235. John Rucker.
236. Herr Erwin Renz.
237. Herr Heinrich Riedel.
238. Frau Fani Reisz und Kinder.
239. Herr Ernst Ross.
240. Frau Amalie Stepper.
241. Herr Gustav F. Schlusing.
242. Herr Heinrich Sehrameyer.
243. Wilh. Carl Schwefel.
244. Herr Fritz Scheel.
245. Herr Cuno Scheel.
246. Herr H. S. Smith.
247. Frau Cecilie Spitzer und Kinder.
248. Fräulein Marie Stöver.
249. Fräulein Johanne Stöver.
250. Herr William Schweitzer.
251. Frau Julie Sieber.
252. Eduard Sieber.
253. Willibald Sieber.
254. Anna Sieber.
255. Julie Sieber.
256. Herr Karl Schew.
257. Herr Heinrich Schew.
258. Frau Gitze Strusser.
259. Her sch Strusser.
260. Anczel Strusser.
261. Fräulein Luise Seeger.
262. Herr Julius Selling.
263. Frau Olga Sandow.
264. Frau Anna Schaufler.
265. Frau Ele Schapira
266. Fräulein Amalie Schöbzke.
267. Fräulein Minnie Stoll.
268. Herr Willi. Schumacher.
269. Fräulein Rosa Scharz.
270. Frau Sophie Schencker.
271. August Schencker.
272. Alois Schencker.
273. Herr Theodor Schwer.
274. Herr Alfons Svoboda.
275. Herr Carl Schweikart.
276. Fräulein Anna Schuba.
277. Fräulein Zuzanna Stankoviansky.
278. Herr Tomasz Slivva.
279. Frau Sosie Somermann und Kinder.
280. Frau Marya Serafin.
281. Stanislawa Serafin.
282. Herr Isaak Stoll.
283. Herr J. A. Sauter.
284. Fräulein Reise Schneider.
285. Fräulein Eije Schneider.
286. Herr Elie Schneider.
287. Frau Elie Schneider.
288. Fräulein Itte Schneider.
289. Herr Rafael Schneider.
290. Herr Robert Schulz.
291. Herr Anton Stawowy.
292. Herr Ignatz Traubner.
293. Frau Ignatz Traubner.
294. Herr Eugen Tomicic.
295. Herr Elimar Taddiken.
296. Fräulein Eleonora Tomalska.
297. Herr Josef Tomaszewski.
298. Frau Anna Unger und Kind.
299. Herr Carl Heinrich Völkel.
300. Fräulein Julie Vogelmaier.
301. Fräulein Johane Vebits.
302. Herr Gustav Waruken.
303. Herr Hermann Wendt.
304. Herr August Würdemann.
305. Frau August Würdemann.
306. Heinrich Würdemann.
307. Gustav Würdemann.
308. Fräulein Bertha Werk.
309. Frau Adolf Weisz.
310. Fedor Weisz.
311. Herr Johann Zakrajsek.
312. Frau Johann Zakrajsek.

To Southampton

1. Herr Auguste de la Haye.

To Cherbourg

1. Frau Marie Libol
2. Fräulein Berta Libol
3. Herr Jarda Libol
4. Herr Max Spiro
5. Herr Hans Sprinz

Additional Second Cabin Passengers

1. Mrs. Josefine Kozina
2. Ilona Kozina
3. Mr. Salomon Kutner
4. Mr. Adolf Friedländer
5. Mr. Josef Sustersich
6. Miss K. Rehan
7. Miss L. O'Brien
8. Mr. Jacob Kotler
9. Mr. G. Lapresle
10. Mr. Herrn. Neumann
11. Mr. & Mrs. M. H. Welsh
12. Mr. Fr. Petersen
13. Mr Paul Souchay
14. Mr. Soulm Finkelstein
15. Mr. Leo Hutinet
16. Mr. Josef Rusiuek
17. Miss J. Bourg
18. Mr. & Mrs. P. Lison & child
19. Miss M. Prokop
20. Mr. J. Lange

Title Page, SS Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse First and Second Class Passenger List, 23 May 1905. GGA Image ID # 210802ae4c

Souvenir Postal Cards, SS Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse First and Second Class Passenger List, 23 May 1905. GGA Image ID # 2108047009

Senior Officers and Staff, General Agents, and Sea Post Officer. An Bord Befindet Sich Ein Deutsch-Amerikanisches See-Postamt / There Is a German-American Maritime Post Office on Board. SS Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse First and Second Class Passenger List, 23 May 1905. GGA Image ID # 210830eff3

Sailing Schedule, Bremen-New York, from 16 May 1905 to 7 November 1905. Ships Included the Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse, Kaiser Wilhelm II, and Kronprinz Wilhelm. SS Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse First and Second Class Passenger List, 23 May 1905. GGA Image ID # 21083b4d39

Sailing Schedule, Bremen-New York, Bremen-Baltimore, and Bremen-Galveston, from 11 May 1905 to 2 November 1905. Ships Included the Barbarossa, Brandenburg, Bremen, Breslau, Cassel, Chemnitz, Frankfurt, Friedrich der Grosse, Gneisenau, Grosser Kurfürst, Hannover, Köln, Main, Neckar, and Prinzess Alice. SS Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse First and Second Class Passenger List, 23 May 1905. GGA Image ID # 21087c14bc

Sailing Schedule, Bremen-Cuba, Bremen-Brazil, Bremen-La Plata, Bremen or Hamburg-East Asia, from 27 May 1905 to 17 August 1905. Ships Included the Aachen, Bayern, Coblenz, Crefeld, Erlangen, Gneisenau, Halle, Heidelberg, Helgoland, Mainz, Norderney, Preussen, Prinz Eitel Friedrich, Prinz Heinrich, Roon, and Scharnhorst. SS Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse First and Second Class Passenger List, 23 May 1905. GGA Image ID # 2108ab3381

Sailing Schedule, Bremen-Australia, Genoa-New York-Genoa, Marseille-Naples-Alexandria-Naples-Marseille, from 17 May 1905 to 18 November 1905. Ships Included the Hohenzollern, König Albert, Königin Luise, Neckar, Prinzess Irene, Schleswig, Seydlitz, Stuttgart, Weimar, and Zieten. SS Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse First and Second Class Passenger List, 23 May 1905. GGA Image ID # 2108ac16c3

Table of Distances in Nautical Miles, SS Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse First and Second Class Passenger List, 23 May 1905. GGA Image ID # 2108ca86a6

Norddeutscher Lloydm, Bremen Logo, 1905. SS Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse First and Second Class Passenger List, 23 May 1905. GGA Image ID # 21090d9f04

Back Cover, SS Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse First and Second Class Passenger List, 23 May 1905. GGA Image ID # 210936202a

Passenger List Information

SS Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse First and Second Cabin Passenger List for 23 May 1905

A Masterpiece of Maritime Prestige
Commanded by Captain O. Cüppers

This First and Second Cabin Passenger List, dated 23 May 1905, represents a defining artifact from the zenith of early 20th-century transatlantic travel. The SS Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse, operated by the Norddeutscher Lloyd line, was an engineering marvel of its era, renowned for its speed, luxury, and the social prominence of its passengers. This passenger list captures the essence of a bygone age, providing an intimate glimpse into the elite society aboard this celebrated ocean liner.

Historical Significance

The SS Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse was the first ocean liner to boast four funnels, a symbol of power and technological superiority. As a holder of the Blue Riband for the fastest Atlantic crossing, it attracted affluent travelers, aristocrats, diplomats, and industrialists. This artifact not only records the passengers but also represents the social dynamics and aspirations of the Edwardian era.

Notable Passengers and VIPs

1. Herr J. N. Bonaparte

• Connection to Royalty: Likely a descendant of the Bonaparte family, his presence aboard underscores the liner’s status as a vessel for European aristocracy.

2. Gen. Alfred Elliot Bates

• Prominent Military Leader: His inclusion speaks to the high-level networking that transpired during transatlantic voyages.

3. Hon. Graf James Pourtales and Gräfin Pourtales

• Noble Heritage: Members of a prominent European aristocratic family, the Pourtales represent the upper echelons of European society.

4. Herr George W. Guthrie and Frau Guthrie

• American Political Elite: Guthrie was a significant figure in American political and legal circles, later serving as the U.S. Ambassador to Japan.

5. Herr Reginald Foster

• Financial Magnate: A leading figure in banking, his presence symbolizes the business opportunities afforded by transatlantic travel.

6. Baron de Leyssac

• Diplomatic Prestige: His title and role as a diplomat underscore the liner’s appeal to international statesmen.

7. Herr Charles Duntze

• Shipping Tycoon: A key player in maritime logistics, Duntze’s voyage reflects the importance of such crossings for global trade.

8. Herr Sydney Stern

• Prominent Jewish Philanthropist: Stern’s inclusion highlights the diversity of elite passengers who traveled aboard.

9. Herr John R. Meeker and Family

• Industrialist Dynasty: Meeker’s family represents the interconnected business empires of the time, extending influence across continents.

10. Frau Bertha Knaack-Leroux

• Cultural Icon: Known for her contributions to European art and society, her journey signifies the cultural exchange enabled by such voyages.

Rarity and Appeal

This passenger list is an exceedingly rare artifact from a historic vessel that epitomized early 20th-century luxury travel. Its association with the SS Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse, a ship synonymous with innovation and exclusivity, makes it a centerpiece for collectors of maritime and social history. Its well-preserved condition enhances its desirability.

Conclusion

The SS Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse First and Second Cabin Passenger List from 23 May 1905 is a remarkable testament to the grandeur and cultural significance of early ocean liners. With its distinguished roster of passengers and historical context, it offers genealogists a profound connection to the golden age of transatlantic travel. This passenger list encapsulates an era of elegance, progress, and international camaraderie.