Ellis Island/NY Barge Office Passenger Lists - 1898

Passenger lists for 1898 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.

Note: The Barge Office was used as New York's immigrant processing center from 19 April 1890 to 31 December 1891 and from 15 June 1897 to 16 December 1900.

Passenger Lists By Year Continued

«
• 1897
• 1898
• 1899
»

Please help us make our passenger list collection more complete. We would appreciate a digital copy if you have an 1898 souvenir passenger list. Please email us at history@ggarchives.com.

Recap and Summary of the Ellis Island Passenger Lists - 1898 Index Page

The Ellis Island Passenger Lists for 1898 provide a detailed snapshot of transatlantic travel during a pivotal year in U.S. and global history. These souvenir passenger lists, often elegantly designed, focus primarily on saloon and second-class passengers, reflecting the highly structured social divisions aboard ocean liners.

At this time, Ellis Island was temporarily closed due to a fire, and immigrants arriving in New York were processed through the Barge Office (1897-1900). This shift made immigration processing slower and more crowded, impacting the experience of steerage passengers, though they are not represented in this collection.

The dominance of Cunard Line, White Star Line, and Dominion Line in this collection highlights the continued competition among major steamship companies for elite and second-class passengers, while routes between Liverpool, New York, and Boston remained the primary transatlantic connections.

Additionally, the presence of notable passengers such as Charles Scribner II (publisher), George Percival Scriven (military officer), and Herbert Mason Sears (prominent businessman) aboard RMS Campania underscores the increasing prestige of transatlantic travel among the wealthy elite.

 

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Notable Highlights from 1898 Passenger Lists

1. SS Canada (Dominion Line) – 15 January 1898
   • Route: Boston to Queenstown (Cobh) and Liverpool
   • Passenger Class: Saloon
   • Commander: Captain Jas. McAuley
   • Significance: This voyage from Boston rather than New York reflects the importance of Boston as a secondary port for British and Irish travel. The stop in Queenstown (Cobh) suggests a continued, though declining, flow of Irish emigrants returning home or traveling to America.
2. RMS Etruria (Cunard Line) – Multiple Voyages
   • Departures: 1 April (New York to Liverpool), 30 April (Liverpool to New York), 27 August (Liverpool to New York - Saloon & Second Cabin)
   • Passenger Class: Saloon and Second Cabin
   • Commanders: Captain Henry Walker, Captain John Ferguson
   • Significance: The repeated voyages of RMS Etruria indicate its popularity as a premier Cunard liner, catering to wealthy business travelers, aristocrats, and professionals. The inclusion of second-cabin passengers in August shows the growing appeal of mid-tier accommodations over crowded steerage.
3. RMS Campania (Cunard Line) – Multiple Voyages
   • Departures: 7 May (Liverpool to New York), 3 September (Liverpool to New York)
   • Passenger Class: Saloon
   • Commander: Captain H. Walker
   • Notable Passengers: Charles Scribner II, George Percival Scriven, Herbert Mason Sears
   • Significance: RMS Campania was one of Cunard’s most luxurious ships, known for speed and comfort. The presence of high-profile passengers highlights the social prestige associated with Cunard voyages.
4. SS Teutonic (White Star Line) – 18 May 1898
   • Route: Liverpool to New York
   • Passenger Class: Saloon
   • Commander: Captain J. G. Cameron
   • Significance: White Star Line’s Teutonic was a key competitor to Cunard’s Campania and Etruria, known for its naval-style design and luxury accommodations. This ship was previously used for military service, reflecting the interplay between naval advancements and civilian travel.
5. RMS Scythia (Cunard Line) – 20 September 1898
   • Route: Liverpool to New York
   • Passenger Class: Saloon
   • Commander: Captain Alexander McKay
   • Significance: The Scythia was another prestigious Cunard liner, carrying upper-class travelers, investors, and professionals.
6. SS Lucania (Cunard Line) – 24 December 1898
   • Route: New York to Liverpool
   • Passenger Class: Saloon
   • Commander: Captain Horatio McKay
   • Significance: The Lucania was Cunard’s most advanced ship at the time, known for holding the Blue Riband speed record for transatlantic crossings.

 

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Historical Context – Events Impacting Ocean Travel in 1898

 

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1. Spanish-American War (April-August 1898)

• The Spanish-American War disrupted transatlantic travel, with ships repurposed for military service and increased security measures on U.S.-bound voyages.
• Some commercial liners were converted for troop transport, though luxury and business travel continued for the wealthy.
• Notable passengers such as military officer George Percival Scriven aboard RMS Campania suggest that military and government personnel were among those traveling transatlantic in 1898.

 

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2. Temporary Closure of Ellis Island & Use of the Barge Office (1897-1900)

• Ellis Island was closed due to fire damage, forcing immigrants to be processed at the Barge Office in lower Manhattan.
• This caused longer wait times and overcrowding, affecting steerage passengers the most (though they are not reflected in this collection).

 

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3. Expansion of Second-Class Travel

• The inclusion of second-class passenger lists (RMS Etruria, 27 August 1898) suggests the growing appeal of second-class travel.
• Second-class accommodations provided a more comfortable experience than steerage while remaining affordable for professionals and skilled workers.

 

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4. Continued Competition Among Steamship Lines

• Cunard, White Star, and Dominion Line were competing fiercely for saloon-class passengers, as seen in the multiple voyages of RMS Campania, RMS Etruria, and SS Teutonic.
• The luxury and speed of ships like RMS Lucania and RMS Campania made transatlantic crossings more attractive for wealthy travelers.

 

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5. Increased Use of Boston as a Major Port

• The SS Canada’s departure from Boston rather than New York highlights Boston’s continued importance for transatlantic travel, particularly for Irish and British emigrants.

 

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Final Thoughts

The Ellis Island Passenger Lists for 1898 showcase a year of significant geopolitical and technological change, as transatlantic travel remained a status symbol for the elite while also expanding to serve the growing middle class.

Key takeaways from this collection include:

• The impact of the Spanish-American War on ocean travel, including military personnel aboard transatlantic liners.
• The temporary closure of Ellis Island and its effect on immigration processing.
• The increasing popularity of second-class accommodations as a comfortable yet affordable alternative to steerage.
• The fierce competition between Cunard, White Star, and other steamship lines for elite passengers.
• The continued use of Boston as a departure port, reflecting shifting migration patterns.

This collection offers a valuable historical record of elite transatlantic travel, competition among steamship companies, and broader migration trends, setting the stage for early 20th-century changes in ocean liner design and U.S. immigration policies.