RMS Majestic Passenger Lists 1905-1935

RMS Majestic (1890) of the White Star Line. 10,000 Tonnage, 582 Feet Length, 57'8" Breadth, 17,000 IHP. Rotary Photo, E.C. # 3559. GGA Image ID # 1d3e3f1169

RMS Majestic (1921) of the White Star Line. GGA Image ID # 1d3e2bd3a0

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.

Majestic, Formerly the German Liner Bismarck, was the pride of the White Star and affiliated lines when the White Star Line printed this brochure a generation ago. White Star and the United States Lines fought for years over whether the Majestic or the American Leviathan was the largest ship in the world. Ocean Liners of the 20th Century, 1963. GGA Image ID # 1d4167c3d7

Recap and Summary of the RMS Majestic Passenger Lists (1905-1935)

Introduction

The RMS Majestic was one of the most significant ocean liners of the early 20th century, serving as a flagship of the White Star Line and later competing for the title of the largest ship in the world. Originally built as the German liner Bismarck, Majestic was seized as war reparations after World War I and became the largest ship in British service for over a decade.

The passenger lists from 1905 to 1935 document an era of transatlantic grandeur, featuring wealthy industrialists, politicians, scientists, artists, and military figures, making these voyages a window into the elite travelers of the time. The final years of Majestic, however, show a decline in ocean travel due to the Great Depression and increasing competition from aviation.

 

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Key Highlights & Notable Voyages

1. Early Years & American Business Elites (1905-1922)

• 1905-08-30 (Liverpool to New York) – A notable voyage featuring Maximilian Charles Fleischmann (yeast magnate), Clifford Stanton Heinz (of Heinz family), and Samuel Insull (business tycoon), reflecting the strong economic ties between American and British industrialists.
• 1922-09-06 (Southampton to New York) – This voyage included Commodore Sir Bertram Hayes, the ship’s commander, as well as Professor Charles E. Bennett (linguist) and Stanwood Cobb (educator and author), marking a transition toward more intellectual and academic travelers.

Why It’s Interesting: These voyages highlight how Majestic was the preferred vessel for business leaders, financiers, and early American industrialists during a booming transatlantic economy.

 

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2. Golden Age of Ocean Travel (1924-1929)

• 1924-05-07 (Southampton to New York) – This first-class voyage carried Governor Percival Clement, boxing champion Georges Carpentier, and Countess Fedeli Nesi, showcasing the ship’s continued role in transporting both political figures and celebrities.
• 1927-08-24 (Southampton to New York) – Featuring Lady Louis Mountbatten, Bishop William T. Manning, and the Auchincloss family (later linked to Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis), this voyage reflected the aristocratic and high-society connections of transatlantic travel.
• 1929-04-20 (New York to Southampton) – This luxurious voyage included The Marquess and Marchioness of Queensberry, Mrs. R. C. Vanderbilt, and Miss Gloria Vanderbilt, cementing Majestic’s reputation as a floating palace for the wealthy elite.
• 1929-09-04 (Southampton to New York, Second Cabin) – Unlike the first-class voyages, this list included Dr. P. F. Burke, Professor Henry R. Hatfield, and Rabbi S. Felix Mendelsohn, highlighting a shift towards academics and middle-class professionals using Majestic for travel.

Why It’s Interesting: These years saw Majestic at the peak of its popularity with aristocrats, celebrities, and business magnates, but also its increasing accessibility to scholars and professionals.

 

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3. The Great Depression & Decline of Luxury Liners (1930-1935)

• 1930-10-01 (Southampton to New York, Second Class) – This voyage carried Professor Archibald V. Hill (Nobel Prize-winning physiologist) and Rev. Father Thomas J. Farrell, showing the growing importance of intellectuals over traditional aristocrats in transatlantic travel.
• 1932-08-10 (Southampton to New York, Tourist Class) – Notable travelers included Professor C. R. Crosby, economist Wassily Leontief (who later won the Nobel Prize), and Joseph Pulitzer (publisher), emphasizing a shift in passenger demographics from luxury to intellectual and academic figures.
• 1934-08-08 (Southampton to New York, Tourist Class) – The presence of Professor Theodore Crane, Judge R. M. Cluer, and Dr. Harry Bettauer reflects how Majestic was adapting to the growing demand for affordable travel during the economic crisis.
• 1935-09-04 (Southampton to New York, Tourist Class) – One of the final voyages before Majestic was retired, this voyage included Rabbi A. M. Ashinsky, Dr. Hans Brunner, and Dr. Mildred Clark, signifying the end of the era for transatlantic ocean liners as air travel gained popularity.

Why It’s Interesting: These voyages show the decline of first-class dominance and the increasing number of scholars, clergy, and middle-class professionals traveling in tourist and second-class accommodations.

 

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Key Takeaways from the RMS Majestic Passenger Lists (1905-1935)

1. A Vessel for the Elite: Majestic was the preferred ship for aristocrats, celebrities, and business tycoons, especially during the Golden Age of transatlantic travel.
2. Shift Towards Intellectual & Academic Travelers: As the Great Depression reduced luxury travel, Majestic increasingly served scientists, authors, religious leaders, and scholars.
3. Impact of Economic Decline: The stock market crash of 1929 and the Great Depression forced White Star Line to shift focus from elite passengers to affordable travel, eventually leading to Majestic’s retirement in 1936.
4. End of the Ocean Liner Era: As air travel became faster and cheaper, the era of grand ocean liners like Majestic came to an end, marking a significant shift in global transportation.

 

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Conclusion

The RMS Majestic was one of the most prestigious transatlantic liners of its time, serving as a floating symbol of luxury, power, and global commerce. Its passenger lists provide a fascinating record of the shifting trends in travel— from aristocrats and industrialists to intellectuals and middle-class professionals.

By the early 1930s, the economic downturn, changing demographics, and rise of aviation meant that Majestic’s days were numbered. While it remained a beloved White Star Line vessel, it was ultimately retired in 1936, closing the chapter on an era when ocean liners ruled the Atlantic.