Ellis Island Passenger Lists - 1915

Passenger lists for 1915 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

«
• 1914
• 1915
• 1916
»

Please help us make our passenger list collection more complete. We would appreciate a digital copy if you have an 1915 souvenir passenger list. Please email us at history@ggarchives.com.

Recap and Summary of the Ellis Island Passenger Lists - 1915

The Ellis Island Passenger Lists for 1915 reflect the continued impact of World War I on transatlantic travel. By this time, ocean liners operated under extreme caution, as the war had intensified at sea. German U-boats posed a significant threat to both military and civilian vessels, particularly in the North Atlantic. The sinking of the RMS Lusitania on May 7, 1915, by a German submarine marked a turning point in wartime maritime policy and had a chilling effect on passenger travel.

Despite these dangers, passenger ships continued to operate, particularly those belonging to neutral countries, such as the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden. American, British, and other Allied ships had to take additional security measures, including zigzagging at sea, traveling under darkened conditions, and sometimes carrying neutral markings to avoid attack.

 

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Notable Highlights from the 1915 Passenger Lists

1. TSS Nieuw Amsterdam (Holland-America Line) – 29 May 1915

• Route: Rotterdam to New York
• Class of Passengers: First and Second Cabin
• Commander: Captain J. Baron
• Significance:
  • The Nieuw Amsterdam was a Dutch vessel, operating under the flag of neutral Netherlands, making it one of the few transatlantic liners relatively safe from German attacks.
  • As the war raged on, neutral shipping lines like Holland-America became vital for passengers still needing to cross the Atlantic without direct involvement in the conflict.

 

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2. SS St. Louis (American Line) – 29 May 1915

• Route: Liverpool to New York
• Class of Passengers: Second Class
• Commander: Captain John C. Jamison
• Significance:
  • This voyage took place just three weeks after the sinking of the Lusitania, an event that had severely impacted civilian confidence in transatlantic travel.
  • The SS St. Louis had to travel under strict security measures, as Germany had warned that British and American liners were considered fair targets.

 

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3. SS Finland (Red Star Line, Chartered by Panama-Pacific Line) – 31 July 1915

• Route: New York to San Francisco via the Panama Canal and San Diego
• Class of Passengers: First Class
• Commander: Captain R. Prager
• Significance:
  • This voyage is historically notable for passing through the recently completed Panama Canal, which opened fully for commercial travel in 1914.
  • As Atlantic travel became more dangerous, routes like this provided an alternative for passengers traveling to the U.S. West Coast without having to sail around South America.

 

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4. SS Bergensfjord (Norwegian America Line) – 18 August 1915

• Route: Oslo to New York via Kristiansand, Stavanger, and Bergen
• Class of Passengers: Cabin
• Commander: Captain K. S. Irgens
• Significance:
  • This was another neutral ship traveling from Norway, showing how Scandinavian nations remained a critical lifeline for wartime transatlantic travel.
  • Many European refugees and displaced persons began using neutral Scandinavian routes to escape wartime conditions in Germany, Austria, and Russia.

 

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Key Historical Events That Affected Steamship Travel in 1915

1. The Sinking of the Lusitania (May 7, 1915)

• The most significant maritime event of 1915 was the German U-boat attack on the RMS Lusitania, which killed 1,198 passengers, including 128 Americans.
• This dramatically increased tensions between Germany and the United States, pushing America closer to entering the war.
• Following this tragedy, many American passengers avoided British and French ships, choosing neutral or American-flagged vessels instead.

 

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2. The Rise of Unrestricted Submarine Warfare

• In response to British naval blockades, Germany declared unrestricted submarine warfare in February 1915, meaning any ship, including civilian liners, could be attacked without warning.
• This led to passenger ships taking extreme precautions, including:
  • Traveling under darkened conditions to avoid detection.
  • Taking zigzag courses to make targeting more difficult for submarines.
  • Flying neutral flags to deter German attacks.

 

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3. The Expansion of the Panama Canal as a Safer Route

• With the North Atlantic becoming increasingly dangerous, the Panama Canal (opened in 1914) became a key alternative route for travel between U.S. coasts.
• The SS Finland’s voyage in July 1915 reflects this trend, as it was among the early liners to take advantage of the canal for intercontinental travel.

 

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4. The Role of Neutral Countries in Transatlantic Travel

• With British and German ships at risk, neutral Dutch, Norwegian, and Swedish liners became a safer choice for travelers.
• Ships like the Nieuw Amsterdam (Holland-America Line) and Bergensfjord (Norwegian America Line) continued operating while many European ships were repurposed for war.

 

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Conclusion – 1915 as a Year of Transition in Ocean Travel

• Transatlantic travel in 1915 was heavily impacted by World War I, with dangers at sea increasing due to unrestricted submarine warfare.
• The Lusitania disaster deeply shook public confidence, leading to more cautious travel on neutral ships like those from Holland-America and Norwegian America Line.
• The Panama Canal provided a valuable new alternative for ships like the SS Finland, helping avoid Atlantic war zones.
• By the end of 1915, the Atlantic was no longer just a trade and migration route—it had become a war zone, where even civilian passengers were at risk.

This year marked the final full year before the U.S. entered the war in 1917, setting the stage for even greater disruptions to civilian travel.