Asian Passenger Lists 1900-1932

Recap and Summary of the Asian Passenger Lists (1900-1932)

The GG Archives’ collection of Asian Passenger Lists (1900-1932) is an invaluable historical resource, preserving records from key transoceanic voyages that connected Europe, North America, and Asia. These lists document a time when maritime travel was essential for trade, migration, diplomacy, and exploration, offering insight into the individuals who traveled across these vast distances.

The records include departure dates, shipping lines, vessel names, passenger classes, routes, and ship captains, providing a detailed picture of global maritime movement during the early 20th century.

 

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Highlighting the Most Interesting Passenger Lists

Each list has its own historical significance, but several stand out due to their routes, era, and context in global maritime history.

 

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1. The 4 September 1900 Voyage – A Long-Haul German Trade Route

• Ship: SS Bayern (North German Lloyd)
• Route: Bremen to Hong Kong via Antwerp, Genoa, Colombo, and Singapore
• Commander: Captain H. Bleeker
• Passenger Class: Cabin

🔹 Why It Stands Out:
This voyage reflects Germany’s active role in global trade at the dawn of the 20th century. The North German Lloyd (NGL) was one of the world’s largest steamship companies, and this journey connected Europe’s industrial hubs (Germany, Belgium, and Italy) with Asia’s key colonial trading posts (Sri Lanka, Singapore, and Hong Kong). It highlights the strategic importance of Colombo and Singapore as British-controlled maritime crossroads.

 

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2. The 26 September 1903 Voyage – A Crucial U.S.-Asia Link

• Ship: SS Siberia (Pacific Mail Steamship Company)
• Route: Yokohama to San Francisco via Honolulu
• Commander: Captain J. Tremaine Smith
• Passenger Class: Cabin

🔹 Why It Stands Out:
This voyage was part of the critical Pacific Mail Steamship routes, which connected Japan and the U.S. West Coast via Hawaii. By 1903, Japanese immigration to the United States was increasing, making this one of the key routes for workers and businesspeople heading to California. Honolulu’s inclusion highlights Hawaii’s role as a midway refueling and trade hub.

 

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3. The 30 September 1926 Voyage – A Global Grand Tour

• Ship: SS President Van Buren (Dollar Steamship Line)
• Route: New York to Shanghai via multiple global ports
• Commander: Captain M. Ridley
• Passenger Class: Cabin Class

🔹 Why It Stands Out:
This was a massive, globe-spanning journey that highlights the Dollar Steamship Line’s ambition to dominate transoceanic passenger travel. The ship departed from New York and passed through Havana, the Panama Canal, and major Pacific and Asian cities, including San Francisco, Honolulu, Kobe, Shanghai, Manila, and Singapore.

This was an era of increased U.S. business expansion into Asia, making this voyage significant for merchants, diplomats, and high-profile travelers heading to Asia for commercial ventures. The ship’s call at Alexandria and Port Said (Egypt) also indicates a link between the U.S. and Europe via the Suez Canal.

 

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4. The 20 April 1929 Voyage – The Rise of Canadian Pacific’s Pacific Dominance

• Ship: SS Empress of Asia (Canadian Pacific Line)
• Route: Vancouver and Victoria to Manila via Yokohama, Kobe, Nagasaki, Shanghai, and Hong Kong
• Commander: Captain A. J. Hailey, R.N.R.
• Passenger Class: First and Second Class

🔹 Why It Stands Out:
The late 1920s saw a boom in luxury transpacific travel, and Canadian Pacific’s Empress liners were among the most prestigious vessels operating these routes. This voyage from Canada to the Philippines via Japan and China reflects growing business, tourism, and colonial-era migration. The inclusion of Nagasaki, a key Japanese port city, also points to its role as a refueling and trade station.

 

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5. The 12 June 1930 Voyage – A Prestigious Transpacific Crossing

• Ship: SS Empress of Canada (Canadian Pacific Line)
• Route: Vancouver and Victoria to Manila via Honolulu, Yokohama, Kobe, Shanghai, and Hong Kong
• Commander: Captain A. J. Hailey, R.N.R.
• Passenger Class: First and Second Class

🔹 Why It Stands Out:
Like the 1929 voyage of the Empress of Asia, this trip showcases Canadian Pacific’s dominance in luxury transpacific travel. The inclusion of Honolulu reflects Hawaii’s growing status as a favored stopover for both leisure and business travelers. Shanghai and Hong Kong were major economic hubs under colonial rule, making this a vital route for commerce.

 

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6. The 5 August 1932 Voyage – The Changing Face of Passenger Travel

• Ship: SS Empress of Canada (Canadian Pacific Line)
• Route: Manila to Victoria and Vancouver via Hong Kong, Shanghai, Kobe, Yokohama, and Honolulu
• Commander: Captain A. J. Hailey, R.N.R.
• Passenger Class: First Class and Tourist Third Cabin

🔹 Why It Stands Out:
This voyage highlights the diversity of travelers in the early 1930s. The inclusion of Tourist Third Cabin suggests a mix of business-class passengers, immigrants, and possibly colonial officials returning to Canada. The rise of lower-cost accommodations in ocean travel mirrored broader economic shifts during the Great Depression.

 

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7. The 22 October 1932 Voyage – One of the Last Great Pre-War Voyages

• Ship: SS Empress of Canada (Canadian Pacific Line)
• Route: Vancouver and Victoria to Manila via Honolulu, Yokohama, Kobe, Shanghai, and Hong Kong
• Commander: Captain A. J. Hailey, R.N.R.
• Passenger Class: First and Tourist Class

🔹 Why It Stands Out:
By 1932, tensions in the Pacific were escalating, particularly with Japan’s invasion of Manchuria in 1931. This voyage may have included businesspeople, diplomats, and expatriates navigating the increasingly uncertain geopolitical climate. The continued operation of these routes despite global instability makes this a historically intriguing voyage.

 

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The Value of These Passenger Lists

The GG Archives’ Asian Passenger Lists (1900-1932) provide a crucial look at migration, trade, and luxury travel in the early 20th century. These records preserve a period when steamship routes were the backbone of global connectivity before air travel took over.

Key Takeaways:

✔ Maritime Trade & Migration – These lists highlight major Asian and Pacific migration trends, including European merchants, diplomats, and Asian laborers moving between continents.
✔ Luxury Ocean Travel – The Empress liners and Dollar Steamship voyages reflect the rise of first-class transpacific tourism and business travel.
✔ Strategic Port Cities – Stops at Singapore, Shanghai, Colombo, and Honolulu underscore their historical importance as trade and refueling stations.
✔ Pre-War Geopolitical Shifts – By the early 1930s, political tensions in Asia were rising, making these voyages part of a rapidly changing global landscape.

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Final Thoughts

This collection of passenger lists from Asian ports (1900-1932) captures a golden era of steamship travel, when these voyages were essential for global commerce, migration, and diplomacy. Whether for historical research, genealogy, or maritime history, these records offer a fascinating window into the past, chronicling the movement of people and goods across the world’s oceans.