Ellis Island/NY Barge Office Passenger Lists - 1899

Passenger lists for 1899 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

«
• 1898
• 1899
• 1900
»

Please help us make our passenger list collection more complete. We would appreciate a digital copy if you have an 1899 souvenir passenger list. Please email us at history@ggarchives.com.

Recap and Summary of the Ellis Island/NY Barge Office Passenger Lists - 1899 Index Page

The Ellis Island/Barge Office Passenger Lists for 1899 provide a detailed look at transatlantic and global ocean travel at the turn of the 20th century, reflecting the increasing role of steamship lines in both immigration and elite passenger transport. These souvenir passenger lists, which focused on saloon and cabin-class travelers, offer a glimpse into the social structure of transoceanic voyages, where business professionals, government officials, and wealthy tourists traveled alongside middle-class emigrants who could afford better accommodations than steerage.

Notably, Ellis Island remained closed due to fire damage, and immigrants were processed at the Barge Office in New York from 1897 to 1900. This created longer wait times and processing difficulties, particularly for steerage-class passengers, though this collection primarily documents higher-class travelers.

This collection features major transatlantic and global steamship lines, including Cunard Line, American Line, Holland-America Line, Dominion Line, and the Atlantic Transport Line, with routes connecting New York, Boston, London, Liverpool, Rotterdam, and Australian ports.

A unique feature of this year’s collection is the inclusion of a long-haul voyage from London to Australia (RMS Orient), reflecting global ocean travel beyond the traditional transatlantic routes.

 

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Notable Highlights from 1899 Passenger Lists

1. RMS Orient (Orient Line) – 28 April 1899
   • Route: London (Tilbury) to Australian Ports (Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, and Albany) via Plymouth
   • Passenger Class: Cabin
   • Commander: Lt. A. T. Pritchard, R.N.R.
   • Significance: This is the only voyage in this collection that does not focus on transatlantic travel, highlighting the importance of long-haul British-Australian routes. The extensive route with multiple Australian stops suggests this voyage carried British emigrants, business officials, and colonial administrators heading to Australia.
2. SS New England (Dominion Line) – 18 May & 12 October 1899
   • Route: Liverpool to Boston via Queenstown (Cobh)
   • Passenger Class: Saloon
   • Commander: Not Stated
   • Significance: The Liverpool-Boston route remained important for British and Irish emigrants, and the stop in Queenstown (Cobh) indicates that Irish migration was still ongoing, though declining compared to previous decades. Boston was a key immigration and trade port for Irish and British travelers.
3. SS Marquette (Atlantic Transport Line) – 1 June 1899
   • Route: London to New York
   • Passenger Class: Saloon
   • Commander: Captain Thomas F. Gates
   • Significance: The Atlantic Transport Line was primarily focused on cargo but also carried elite passengers, reflecting the dual role of ocean liners in commerce and passenger transport.
4. RMS Lucania (Cunard Line) – 17 June 1899
   • Route: Liverpool to New York
   • Passenger Class: Saloon
   • Commander: Captain Horatio McKay
   • Significance: One of Cunard’s fastest and most luxurious liners, RMS Lucania was a Blue Riband winner for transatlantic speed records. This voyage represents the elite class of transatlantic travel, catering to business magnates, aristocrats, and high-ranking officials.
5. SS Spaarndam (Holland-America Line) – 7 September 1899
   • Route: Rotterdam to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer
   • Passenger Class: Cabin
   • Commander: Captain G. Stenger
   • Significance: The Holland-America Line played a major role in transporting Dutch and German emigrants, and the stop in Boulogne-sur-Mer suggests additional passengers from France. Rotterdam was a key departure point for Central and Eastern European migrants traveling via the Netherlands.
6. RMS Campania (Cunard Line) – 23 September 1899
   • Route: Liverpool to New York
   • Passenger Class: Saloon
   • Commander: Captain J. B. Watt
   • Significance: A sister ship to RMS Lucania, the Campania was another of Cunard’s elite ocean liners, representing the height of luxury transatlantic travel at the time.
7. SS St. Paul (American Line) – 18 October 1899
   • Route: New York to Southampton
   • Passenger Class: Saloon
   • Commander: Captain John C. Jamison
   • Significance: The American Line’s St. Paul was a U.S.-owned ship competing with British giants Cunard and White Star, reflecting the expansion of American-controlled transatlantic travel.
8. SS St. Louis (American Line) – 21 October 1899
   • Route: Southampton to New York
   • Passenger Class: Saloon
   • Commander: Captain William G. Randle
   • Significance: Another American Line vessel, the SS St. Louis reinforced the growing reputation of U.S. ocean liners in the competitive North Atlantic route.

 

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Historical Context – Events Impacting Ocean Travel in 1899

 

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1. Continued Use of the Barge Office as the Immigration Processing Center

• With Ellis Island still under reconstruction, immigrants arriving in New York were processed at the Barge Office.
• This led to overcrowding and processing delays, especially for steerage-class passengers, though they are not reflected in this collection.

 

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2. Growth of American-Owned Steamship Companies

• The presence of multiple American Line voyages (SS St. Paul, SS St. Louis) reflects the increasing competition from U.S.-owned shipping companies.
• The U.S. government encouraged investment in domestic ocean liners, allowing the American Line to compete with British and German shipping firms.

 

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3. Expansion of Transpacific and Colonial Routes

• The RMS Orient voyage from London to Australia highlights the importance of long-distance passenger travel to British colonies.
• This route likely carried British government officials, military personnel, and emigrants seeking opportunities in Australia.

 

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4. Declining Irish Migration, but Continued Routes via Queenstown (Cobh)

• Ships like SS New England continued to stop in Queenstown (Cobh), reflecting the continued—though diminished—Irish migration to America.
• By 1899, the Irish population in America was well-established, reducing the need for mass emigration.

 

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5. Increasing Popularity of Luxury Ocean Liners

• Cunard’s RMS Lucania and RMS Campania represented the height of luxury travel, catering to wealthy Americans and Europeans.
• These ships featured fine dining, elegant accommodations, and high-speed crossings, making transatlantic travel more comfortable and exclusive for the elite.

 

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Final Thoughts

The Ellis Island/Barge Office Passenger Lists for 1899 reflect a changing landscape in transatlantic and global ocean travel, with luxury travel growing alongside large-scale immigration.

Key takeaways include:

• The continued use of the Barge Office for immigrant processing in New York.
• The increasing presence of American-owned ocean liners competing with Cunard and White Star.
• The expansion of transpacific and colonial routes, as seen with RMS Orient’s voyage to Australia.
• The persistence of Irish and Dutch migration, though Irish emigration was declining.
• The rise of luxury transatlantic travel, with elite passengers favoring Cunard’s Lucania and Campania.

This collection provides a valuable historical record of ocean liner travel just before the 20th century, reflecting shifting immigration patterns, technological advancements, and the growing prestige of transatlantic voyages.