Ellis Island Passenger Lists - 1893

Passenger lists for 1893 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 primarily covers North American and European ports and ports in Australia and South Africa.

Our collection contains samples of passenger lists produced and printed by the steamship lines. These lists are often used to illustrate family history books for immigrants from this period.

Coveted by collectors and genealogists, souvenir passenger lists often offered beautiful graphical covers and information not found in official manifests because they focused on the journey rather than the destination.

Passenger Lists By Year Continued

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• 1892
• 1893
• 1894
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Please help us make our passenger list collection more complete. We would appreciate a digital copy if you have an 1893 souvenir passenger list. Please email us at history@ggarchives.com.

Recap and Summary of the Ellis Island Passenger Lists - 1893 Index Page

The Ellis Island Passenger Lists for 1893 document a crucial period in transatlantic migration and luxury ocean travel, reflecting the continued rise in immigration and business travel between the United States and Europe. These souvenir lists, issued by steamship companies rather than immigration authorities, highlight the experiences of cabin, second-class, and saloon passengers, offering a glimpse into the social hierarchy aboard ocean liners.

By 1893, Ellis Island had been operating for over a year, processing hundreds of thousands of immigrants, particularly from Germany, Ireland, Italy, and Eastern Europe. However, this collection primarily features higher-class passengers, rather than steerage travelers who represented the majority of Ellis Island arrivals.

The index showcases major European and American steamship lines, including North German Lloyd, Anchor Line, Cunard Line, and the American Line, with voyages departing from Glasgow, Liverpool, Southampton, and Genoa.

 

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Notable Highlights from 1893 Passenger Lists

1. SS Kaiser Wilhelm II (North German Lloyd) – 28 January 1893
   • Route: New York to Genoa via Gibraltar
   • Passenger Class: Cabin
   • Commander: Captain L. Stoermer
   • Significance: This voyage is unique because it documents a west-to-east transatlantic journey, showing Americans and European expatriates returning to Europe. The route to Genoa via Gibraltar suggests that Italian and Mediterranean travelers were on board, reflecting the increasing number of Italians traveling between the U.S. and their homeland.
2. SS Furnessia (Anchor Line) – 16 March 1893
   • Route: Glasgow to New York via Moville
   • Passenger Class: Second Class
   • Commander: Captain James Harris
   • Significance: The Glasgow to New York route was crucial for Scottish and Irish emigration, and the stop in Moville (Ireland) suggests a large Irish presence on board. Unlike steerage-class travel, second-class passengers often included artisans, skilled laborers, and middle-class emigrants who had saved for a better journey.
3. RMS Umbria (Cunard Line) – 29 April 1893
   • Route: Liverpool to New York
   • Passenger Class: Saloon
   • Commander: Captain Horatio McKay
   • Significance: The RMS Umbria was one of Cunard’s fastest and most prestigious transatlantic liners, catering to wealthy business travelers and elite passengers. Saloon-class voyages like this one reflected the expanding luxury market in transatlantic travel, where high-paying customers enjoyed fine dining, private cabins, and entertainment.
4. SS New York (American Line) – 3 June 1893
   • Route: Southampton to New York
   • Passenger Class: Saloon
   • Commander: Captain John C. Jamison
   • Significance: The SS New York was one of the flagship vessels of the American Line, reflecting the growth of U.S.-owned steamship companies competing with British and German lines. The Southampton route was significant for English and American travelers, and the emphasis on saloon-class travel underscores the increasing wealth of transatlantic passengers.
5. SS New York (American Line) – 19 August 1893
   • Route: Southampton to New York
   • Passenger Class: Second Cabin
   • Commander: Captain John C. Jamison
   • Significance: The second-class passenger list suggests a broader range of travelers, including wealthier emigrants, skilled workers, and tourists. The repeated documentation of SS New York’s voyages demonstrates American Line’s growing role in transatlantic trade and migration.

 

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Historical Context – Events Impacting Ocean Travel in 1893

 

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1. Economic Turmoil – The Panic of 1893

• A major economic depression hit the United States in 1893, leading to widespread unemployment, bank failures, and a stock market crash.
• Immigration patterns were somewhat disrupted, as job opportunities in the U.S. became uncertain. However, many Europeans still sought a better life in America, fueling continued migration.

 

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2. Expansion of Ellis Island Immigration Processing

• In 1893, Ellis Island processed over 300,000 immigrants, as it solidified its role as America’s primary gateway for newcomers.
• The U.S. government increased medical inspections and began discussing stricter immigration laws to regulate the mass influx of newcomers.

 

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3. Growth of Second-Class Travel

• Ships like the SS Furnessia and SS New York reflect the increasing popularity of second-class travel, a middle ground between luxurious saloon-class and crowded steerage accommodations.
• Many skilled laborers, professionals, and wealthier emigrants traveled second-class to avoid the harsh conditions of steerage.

 

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4. Competition Between Steamship Lines

• Cunard, North German Lloyd, Anchor Line, and American Line were competing for both luxury and emigrant passengers, leading to:
  • Improved saloon-class accommodations with better food and entertainment.
  • Expanded second-class options for emigrants willing to pay more for comfort.
  • More aggressive marketing to attract travelers to specific routes.

 

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5. Growing Italian and Southern European Migration

• The SS Kaiser Wilhelm II’s route to Genoa via Gibraltar highlights the significant number of Italian and Mediterranean passengers traveling between Europe and the U.S.
• Many Italians, Spaniards, and Greeks immigrated to America for work in construction, factories, and farming, contributing to the expansion of ethnic communities in cities like New York, Chicago, and Boston.

 

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Final Thoughts

The Ellis Island Passenger Lists for 1893 offer a valuable glimpse into transatlantic travel during a turbulent economic period, highlighting the various classes of passengers who crossed the Atlantic.

Key themes from this collection include:

• The impact of the Panic of 1893 on immigration and transatlantic travel.
• The growing significance of second-class travel for skilled laborers and middle-class emigrants.
• The increasing competition between American, British, and German steamship companies.
• The continued rise of Southern European migration, especially from Italy and Spain.

This collection serves as a historical record of transatlantic travel, capturing the final years of the 19th century’s mass migration era before more restrictive U.S. immigration laws took effect in the early 20th century.