RMS Adriatic Passenger Lists 1919-1931

The SS Adriatic (1906) of the White Star Line. Facts for Travelers, 1908. GGA Image ID # 1d2a87baf4

White Star Line RMS Adriatic (1906). Bain News Service, circa 1910. Library of Congress LCCN 2014698689. GGA Image ID # 1d2bc1f763

First Class Reading and Writing Room on the SS Adriatic of the White Star Line. Facts for Travelers, 1908. GGA Image ID # 1d2a8e7c12

First Class Lounge on the SS Adriatic of the White Star Line. Facts for Travelers, 1908. GGA Image ID # 1d2abe1f5a

First Class Dining Saloon on the SS Adriatic of the White Star Line. Facts for Travelers, 1908. GGA Image ID # 1d2ac348a8

Passenger Lists contained in the GG Archives collection represent the souvenir list provided to the passengers of each cabin class (and other classes). Many of these souvenir passenger lists have disappeared over the years. Our collection contains a sampling of what was originally produced and printed by the steamship lines.

Recap and Summary of the RMS Adriatic Passenger Lists (1919-1931)

The RMS Adriatic (1906) was one of the largest and most luxurious ocean liners of the White Star Line, serving transatlantic passengers in both peacetime and post-war travel. This collection of digitized passenger lists from 1919 to 1931 showcases the ship’s role in reestablishing global travel after World War I and carrying some of the most influential individuals of the early 20th century across the Atlantic.

Each of these lists provides a unique window into different periods of maritime history, reflecting changes in social classes, travel trends, and global mobility. The Adriatic’s voyages connected New York, Liverpool, Southampton, Alexandria, Naples, and other major European ports, bringing together a diverse group of political figures, aristocrats, scholars, religious leaders, and celebrities.

 

---

 

Noteworthy and Most Interesting Passenger Lists

1. June 19, 1919 – The Post-War Aristocracy and Political Leaders

📌 What makes it interesting?

• This was one of the earliest transatlantic voyages post-World War I, signifying the return of civilian maritime travel.
• Lady Duff Gordon (renowned fashion designer and Titanic survivor), Brigadier General A. C. Cutchlee, and Colonel Guillaume Vanderheyden highlight the presence of high-profile individuals from military, aristocracy, and society.
• The list includes Canon Masterman, a religious leader who influenced post-war British spirituality.

 

---

 

2. November 14, 1919 – A Ship Filled with Influential Thinkers

📌 What makes it interesting?

• Among the most intellectually and socially significant voyages, this trip included Sir Joseph Duveen and Lady Duveen, leading figures in the art world, as well as Sir Waldemar Kaempffert, a famous science journalist.
• Bishop W. W. Beckett and Rev. Dr. Arthur J. Brown reflect the influence of religious figures traveling between Europe and America.
• Colonel Nicholas Biddle, a prominent military figure, and Baroness Alice de Schoenhalf, a European aristocrat, add to the list’s prestige.

 

---

 

3. April 7, 1920 – The Intellectual and Cultural Exchange

📌 What makes it interesting?

• Dr. Jose Blanco and Dr. Walter Burger, both noted physicians, emphasize the role of the ship in academic and medical exchanges between Europe and America.
• Henry W. Nevinson, an influential British journalist and war correspondent, was onboard, making this voyage historically significant for early 20th-century media and political journalism.
• James Bond—though not the fictional spy, his name alone is enough to capture interest!

 

---

 

4. February 8, 1929 – An Egyptian Voyage with Royalty

📌 What makes it interesting?

• This was a highly luxurious Mediterranean voyage departing from Alexandria, Egypt—a rare itinerary that included Syracuse, Naples, Monaco, and Gibraltar.
• Princess Joachim Albrecht de Prusse, of German royal descent, was among the elite travelers.
• Other notable travelers included Lt.-Col. S. G. Goldschmidt (1875–1935), Dr. A. Panneton (1868–1944), and Lady Marshall Hall, making this voyage a blend of aristocracy, military leadership, and academia.

 

---

 

5. August 22, 1931 – The Adriatic’s Final Years in Service

📌 What makes it interesting?

• This late-career voyage of the RMS Adriatic captures a fascinating mix of European nobility, high-ranking judges, and prominent scientists.
• Passengers included Brigadier-General Moreton F. Gage, Judge Herbert L. Luques, and Dr. Henry H. Goddard, a psychologist known for early studies in intelligence testing.
• Princess Di Poggio Suasa, adding another layer of aristocratic prestige to this historic sailing.

 

---

 

Historical Significance of the RMS Adriatic’s Passenger Lists

These passenger lists provide a record of the post-war recovery of maritime travel, the growing influence of transatlantic connections, and the movement of some of the world’s most prominent figures.

• Social Class Evolution: The shift from First and Second-Class dominance to Cabin and Tourist Class voyages in the late 1920s reflects changes in economic accessibility to transatlantic travel.
• Royalty & Aristocracy: European aristocrats, princesses, baronesses, and nobles frequently traveled aboard the Adriatic, making these lists valuable historical records of international diplomacy and elite migration.
• Journalists & Thinkers: Figures such as Sir Waldemar Kaempffert, Henry W. Nevinson, and Dr. Henry H. Goddard illustrate how transatlantic travel shaped early 20th-century intellectual and cultural exchanges.
• Military & Religious Leaders: The presence of brigadier generals, bishops, and commanders shows how ships like the Adriatic played a critical role in global military and religious diplomacy.

 

---

 

Conclusion: Why This Collection Matters

• A Time Capsule of Post-WWI Travel: These passenger lists represent the transition from wartime to civilian luxury travel, capturing the movement of high-profile individuals across the Atlantic.
• Historical Research & Collecting Value: Many of these souvenir passenger lists have been lost, making this collection invaluable for genealogists, historians, and maritime enthusiasts.
• The Adriatic as a Cultural Hub: The RMS Adriatic was more than a ship—it was a floating society of elite travelers, world leaders, intellectuals, and pioneers of industry and culture.

Through these passenger lists, we gain a richly detailed account of the people and events that shaped transatlantic history, offering a fascinating glimpse into an era when ocean liners were the only bridge between continents.