Ellis Island Passenger Lists - 1918

Passenger lists for 1918 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

«
• 1917
• 1918
• 1919
»

Please help us make our passenger list collection more complete. We would appreciate a digital copy if you have an 1918 souvenir passenger list. Please email us at history@ggarchives.com.

Recap and Summary of the Ellis Island Passenger Lists - 1918

The Ellis Island Passenger Lists for 1918 reflect a critical phase of World War I, when transatlantic civilian travel was nearly nonexistent, and the majority of ocean liners were used exclusively for war transport. By this time, military convoys dominated the Atlantic, and most civilian travel was either essential diplomatic transport, refugee movement, or supply chain logistics for the war effort.

As 1918 marked the final year of World War I, the Allies intensified their use of ocean liners for troop deployment, and German U-boats continued to pose a major threat. However, the introduction of armed convoys and anti-submarine warfare significantly reduced shipping losses compared to the devastating numbers of 1917.

 

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Notable Highlight from the 1918 Passenger List

1. SS Rochambeau (CGT French Line) – 3 February 1918

• Route: Bordeaux to New York
• Class of Passengers: Cabin
• Commander: Captain Brevet
• Significance:
  • The SS Rochambeau was one of the few remaining civilian passenger ships still operating during the war.
  • French passenger vessels like the Rochambeau were often used to transport war refugees, diplomats, and essential personnel.
  • By early 1918, the Allied convoy system was improving transatlantic safety, but passenger voyages were still highly restricted and dangerous.

 

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Key Historical Events That Affected Ocean Travel in 1918

1. The Final Year of World War I (January–November 1918)

• By 1918, nearly all major passenger ships were converted into troop carriers or hospital ships.
• Massive troop movements from the U.S. to Europe made passenger voyages nearly impossible for civilians.
• Many ships transported American soldiers under General Pershing to fight on the Western Front.

 

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2. The Decline of German U-Boat Warfare (Mid-1918)

• The peak of unrestricted submarine warfare had passed by 1918, as Germany struggled to maintain its naval blockade.
• New anti-submarine tactics, including depth charges and increased convoy protection, led to fewer ships being lost.
• While transatlantic travel remained dangerous, the worst of the U-boat threat was fading.

 

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3. The Spanish Flu Pandemic (1918–1919)

• The Spanish Flu pandemic began in early 1918 and spread rapidly via troop ships and ocean liners.
• Ships arriving in New York were heavily screened for illness, and Ellis Island became a major quarantine checkpoint.
• This further restricted civilian passenger travel, as outbreaks on ships led to delays, detentions, and increased health inspections.
• Learn more about the Spanish Flue Pandemic of 1918-1919

 

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4. The End of World War I (November 11, 1918)

• The Armistice on November 11, 1918, marked the end of active warfare and began the process of returning ships to civilian use.
• Many passenger liners that had been used for war transport were converted back into commercial service, but this transition was slow.
• Transatlantic immigration resumed cautiously, but ocean travel was still under heavy military control.

 

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Conclusion – 1918: The Last Year of Wartime Ocean Travel

• Passenger travel was extremely limited, with most transatlantic ships serving military purposes.
• The SS Rochambeau was one of the very few ships still carrying civilian passengers, likely diplomats, refugees, or essential personnel.
• The war’s final months saw a shift from troop transport to post-war recovery efforts, setting the stage for ocean liner travel to slowly return to civilian operations in 1919.
• However, the Spanish Flu pandemic created new challenges for ocean travel, leading to quarantine measures and health inspections that would continue into the post-war years.

The Ellis Island Passenger Lists of 1918 provide a rare look at civilian voyages in a time when nearly all transatlantic travel was dominated by the war effort.