Ellis Island Passenger Lists - 1909

Passenger lists for 1909 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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• 1908
• 1909
• 1910
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Please help us make our passenger list collection more complete. We would appreciate a digital copy if you have an 1909 souvenir passenger list. Please email us at history@ggarchives.com.

Recap and Summary of the Ellis Island Passenger Lists - 1909 Index Page

The Ellis Island Passenger Lists for 1909 capture a pivotal year in transatlantic and global ocean travel, highlighting the golden era of steamship competition, luxury travel, and mass migration. These souvenir passenger lists provide an invaluable look at the ships, routes, and travelers crossing the Atlantic and beyond.

In 1909, the race for dominance among steamship lines was in full force, with Cunard, White Star, Hamburg-Amerika, and North German Lloyd competing fiercely to attract both elite travelers and immigrant passengers. Ships like the Lusitania, Mauretania, and Deutschland symbolized technological progress, while routes to Canada, South America, and the Mediterranean expanded significantly.

 

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Notable Highlights from 1909 Passenger Lists

 

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1. RMS Lusitania (Cunard Line) – 20 & 31 March 1909

• Route: Liverpool to New York (Westbound) / New York to Liverpool (Eastbound) via Queenstown (Cobh)
• Passenger Class: Saloon
• Commander: Captain W. T. Turner
• Significance:
  • One of the world's most famous ships, known for its speed and luxury.
  • Would become infamous in 1915 when it was sunk by a German U-boat, influencing U.S. entry into World War I.

 

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2. RMS Mauretania (Cunard Line) – 6 October 1909

• Route: New York to Liverpool via Queenstown (Cobh)
• Passenger Class: Saloon
• Commander: Captain John Pritchard
• Significance:
  • The fastest ship in the world at the time, setting records for transatlantic crossings.
  • Cunard's response to White Star’s luxury ships, offering both speed and grandeur.

 

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3. RMS Oceanic (White Star Line) – 8 December 1909

• Route: Southampton and Cherbourg to New York via Queenstown (Cobh)
• Passenger Class: First Class
• Commander: Captain H. J. Haddock C.B., R.D.
• Significance:
  • White Star's “Ship of State” before the Olympic-class liners debuted.
  • A luxury liner known for its elegance, setting the stage for Titanic and Olympic.

 

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4. SS Deutschland (Hamburg-Amerika Line) – 7 October 1909

• Route: Hamburg to New York via Southampton and Cherbourg
• Passenger Class: First and Second Cabin
• Commander: Captain Carl Kaempff
• Significance:
  • One of Germany's premier express steamers, competing with Cunard’s Lusitania and Mauretania.

 

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5. SS Grosser Kurfürst (North German Lloyd) – 10 April 1909

• Route: Genoa to New York via Villafranca
• Passenger Class: First Class
• Commander: Captain Langreuter
• Significance:
  • Carried wealthy Mediterranean travelers and upper-class Europeans.
  • A reflection of increased Italian and Mediterranean migration to the U.S.

 

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6. RMS Empress of Britain (Canadian Pacific Line) – 9 April 1909

• Route: Liverpool to St. John, New Brunswick (via Halifax for mail drop)
• Passenger Class: Saloon
• Commander: Captain J. A. Murray
• Significance:
  • Canada’s immigration boom saw growing demand for routes to Québec, Montréal, and Halifax.

 

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7. RMS Arabic (White Star Line) – 11 June 1909

• Route: Liverpool to New York via Queenstown (Cobh)
• Passenger Class: Second Class
• Commander: Captain W. Finch
• Significance:
  • A popular ship for second-class passengers, balancing affordability with comfort.
  • Would be torpedoed by a German U-boat in 1915, escalating WWI tensions.

 

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8. SS Koning Wilhelm II (Hamburg-Amerika Line) – 20 September 1909

• Route: Boulogne-sur-Mer to Rio de Janeiro and La Plata via Southampton, Vigo, and Lisbon
• Passenger Class: First Class
• Commander: Captain P. Wiehr
• Significance:
  • Reflects growing South American migration and trade routes.

 

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9. TSS Potsdam (Holland-America Line) – 18 September 1909

• Route: Rotterdam to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer
• Passenger Class: First and Second Cabin
• Commander: Captain G. Bruinsma
• Significance:
  • A key ship for Dutch and European migrants.

 

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10. SS Prinz Friedrich Wilhelm (North German Lloyd) – 9 October 1909

• Route: Bremen to New York via Southampton and Cherbourg
• Passenger Class: Cabin
• Commander: Captain E. Prehn
• Significance:
  • One of North German Lloyd’s prominent vessels for upper-class travelers.

 

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Historical Context – Events Impacting Ocean Travel in 1909

 

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1. Cunard and White Star’s Battle for Transatlantic Supremacy

• Mauretania and Lusitania dominated transatlantic travel, setting speed records and redefining ocean luxury.
• White Star focused on comfort and prestige with ships like Oceanic and Arabic, targeting elite travelers and second-class passengers alike.

 

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2. The Rise of Canada as an Immigration Destination

• Ships like Empress of Britain, Dominion, and Grampian reflected Canada’s growing appeal for European settlers.
• The Canadian government actively promoted immigration, leading to a surge of arrivals.

 

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3. Increasing Mediterranean and South American Migration

• Ships like Grosser Kurfürst, Potsdam, and Koning Wilhelm II catered to Italian, Greek, and Spanish migrants heading to New York and Buenos Aires.
• South America became an important migration and business hub, with Germans and Spaniards settling in Argentina and Brazil.

 

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4. Expansion of Second-Class and Cabin Accommodations

• Second-class travel became more popular among wealthier migrants and budget-conscious tourists.
• Ships like RMS Saxonia, Arabic, and Minneapolis offered affordable yet comfortable travel options.

 

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5. Growing Popularity of Round-Trip and Leisure Voyages

• The Lusitania and Mauretania were favorites among wealthy transatlantic travelers who frequently traveled between Europe and America.
• Tourism to South America and the Mediterranean expanded, as seen with SS Koning Wilhelm II’s voyage to Rio de Janeiro.

 

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Final Thoughts

The Ellis Island Passenger Lists for 1909 provide a snapshot of a world on the verge of major geopolitical shifts, including:

• The height of transatlantic migration, especially from Southern and Eastern Europe.
• Fierce competition between British, German, and American steamship lines.
• The last years before World War I would change the landscape of ocean travel forever.

This year marks the pinnacle of pre-war ocean travel, blending luxury, migration, and global commerce.