Ellis Island Passenger Lists - 1895

Passenger lists for 1895 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

«
• 1894
• 1895
• 1896
»

Please help us make our passenger list collection more complete. We would appreciate a digital copy if you have an 1895 souvenir passenger list. Please email us at history@ggarchives.com.

Recap and Summary of the Ellis Island Passenger Lists - 1895 Index Page

The Ellis Island Passenger Lists for 1895 provide a valuable look into transatlantic ocean travel during a period of mass immigration and technological advancements in steamship travel. These souvenir passenger lists, issued by the steamship companies, highlight the experience of saloon, cabin, second-class, and steerage passengers, reflecting the social hierarchy aboard ocean liners.

By 1895, Ellis Island had been processing immigrants for three years, with hundreds of thousands arriving annually, particularly from Germany, Ireland, Italy, and Eastern Europe. This collection features a rare steerage-class passenger list (SS Ems, 7 September 1895), which provides insight into the experiences of lower-class emigrants, who made up the majority of Ellis Island arrivals.

Several major European and American steamship lines are represented, including Cunard Line, North German Lloyd, Anchor Line, Red Star Line, and the American Line, with voyages departing from Liverpool, Southampton, Antwerp, Glasgow, and Bremen.

 

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Notable Highlights from 1895 Passenger Lists

1. RMS Campania (Cunard Line) – Multiple Voyages
   • Departures: 18 May (Liverpool to New York), 29 June (New York to Liverpool), 31 August (New York to Liverpool via Queenstown), 12 October (Liverpool to New York)
   • Passenger Class: Saloon
   • Commander: Captain W. H. P. Hains / Captain Henry Walker
   • Significance: The RMS Campania was one of Cunard's most famous ocean liners, known for its speed and luxury. The repeated voyages of Campania in 1895 illustrate its dominance in high-class transatlantic travel. This ship attracted wealthy travelers, business professionals, and high-ranking officials, as saloon-class accommodations included fine dining, luxurious cabins, and entertainment.
2. SS Furnessia (Anchor Line) – 8 June 1895
   • Route: New York to Glasgow via Moville
   • Passenger Class: Second Cabin
   • Commander: Captain James Harris
   • Significance: This voyage from New York to Glasgow indicates that many returning immigrants and business travelers were aboard. The stop in Moville, Ireland, suggests that Irish passengers were a significant part of this route, reflecting continued Irish migration patterns.
3. SS Kensington (American Line) – 15 June 1895
   • Route: Philadelphia to Liverpool
   • Passenger Class: Cabin
   • Commander: Captain Robert Bond
   • Significance: Unlike many transatlantic passenger lists, which focus on New York arrivals, this list documents a voyage from Philadelphia to Liverpool, showing that other U.S. ports played a role in transatlantic migration and commerce.
4. SS Friesland (Red Star Line) – 20 July 1895
   • Route: Antwerp to New York
   • Passenger Class: Cabin
   • Commander: Captain H. E. Nickels
   • Significance: The Red Star Line was a major carrier of Belgian, Dutch, and Eastern European emigrants. Antwerp was a key departure point for Jewish, Polish, and Russian emigrants seeking better opportunities in America.
5. RMS Cephalonia (Cunard Line) – 22 August 1895
   • Route: Liverpool to Boston
   • Passenger Class: Saloon
   • Commander: Captain Seccombe
   • Significance: While most transatlantic routes focused on New York, this voyage highlights Boston as an important immigration hub, particularly for Irish and Italian immigrants.
6. SS Ems (North German Lloyd) – 7 September 1895
   • Route: Bremen to New York
   • Passenger Class: Steerage
   • Commander: Captain W. Reimkasten
   • Significance: One of the few steerage-class passenger lists in this collection, the SS Ems voyage represents the experience of thousands of emigrants arriving in America with limited resources. The North German Lloyd was a major carrier of German and Eastern European emigrants, and Bremen was a key departure point for Polish, Russian, and Jewish emigrants.
7. SS Paris (American Line) – 7 September 1895
   • Route: Southampton to New York
   • Passenger Class: Second Cabin
   • Commander: Captain Frederic Watkins
   • Significance: Second-class accommodations were becoming more popular as middle-class emigrants and professionals sought better conditions than steerage. The American Line was competing with British and German liners for this growing market.
8. SS Rhynland (American Line) – 11 September 1895
   • Route: Liverpool to Philadelphia
   • Passenger Class: Cabin
   • Commander: Captain F. Loesewitz
   • Significance: This voyage highlights Philadelphia as an alternative immigration and business destination, emphasizing the growth of American-owned steamship lines.
9. SS St. Louis (American Line) – 14 September 1895
   • Route: Southampton to New York
   • Passenger Class: Saloon
   • Commander: Captain William J. Randle
   • Significance: The SS St. Louis was a flagship of the American Line, designed to compete with Cunard and White Star Line in luxury transatlantic travel.

 

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Historical Context – Events Impacting Ocean Travel in 1895

 

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1. Immigration Continues to Rise

• By 1895, Ellis Island was processing over 400,000 immigrants per year, with most coming from Germany, Italy, Ireland, and Eastern Europe.
• The presence of steerage-class passengers aboard SS Ems reflects the wave of working-class emigrants seeking opportunities in the U.S.

 

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2. Expansion of American-Owned Steamship Lines

• The American Line increased its presence, as seen with SS Kensington, SS Paris, SS Rhynland, and SS St. Louis, reflecting U.S. competition against British and German liners.

 

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3. Rise of Second-Class Travel

• Ships like SS Furnessia and SS Paris demonstrate the growth of second-class accommodations, as middle-class emigrants and professionals sought better conditions than steerage.

 

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4. Boston as a Major Immigration Hub

• The RMS Cephalonia voyage from Liverpool to Boston highlights Boston’s role as a key immigration port, particularly for Irish and Italian immigrants.

 

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5. Growing Influence of Luxury Liners

• The repeated voyages of RMS Campania showcase the competition between Cunard, White Star, and American Line for saloon-class passengers.

 

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Final Thoughts

The Ellis Island Passenger Lists for 1895 provide a rich historical snapshot of transatlantic migration and ocean liner competition, capturing both elite and working-class travel experiences.

Key takeaways include:

• The steady increase of immigrants processed at Ellis Island.
• The rise of American-owned steamship lines competing with British and German companies.
• The expansion of second-class travel for middle-class emigrants.
• Boston and Philadelphia emerging as alternative immigration and business hubs.
• Luxury travel becoming more refined, with elite passengers favoring ships like RMS Campania.

This collection offers a valuable perspective on late 19th-century ocean travel, showcasing the social divisions, economic conditions, and technological advancements that shaped the transatlantic migration experience.