Ellis Island Passenger Lists - 1922

Passenger lists for 1922 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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• 1921
• 1922
• 1923
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Please help us make our passenger list collection more complete. We would appreciate a digital copy if you have an 1922 souvenir passenger list. Please email us at history@ggarchives.com.

Recap and Summary of the Ellis Island Passenger Lists - 1922

The Ellis Island Passenger Lists for 1922 reflect a period of major transformation in transatlantic travel, as strict immigration laws and shifting priorities in passenger services shaped ocean liner operations. Following the Emergency Quota Act of 1921, which limited the number of immigrants allowed into the U.S., steamship companies continued adjusting their services to attract tourists, business travelers, and middle-class passengers rather than large numbers of third-class immigrants.

Luxury travel became more prominent, with ships like the RMS Majestic, RMS Olympic, and RMS Aquitania continuing their high-end services, while lines like United States Lines and Holland-America Line focused on middle-class travelers with expanded cabin-class offerings.

 

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Notable Passenger Ships from 1922

1. RMS Olympic (White Star Line) – 23 August 1922

• Route: Southampton to New York via Cherbourg
• Class of Passengers: Second Class
• Commander: Captain A. E. S. Hambelton, C.B.E., R.D.
• Significance:
  • The Olympic was one of the most famous liners of its time, being the sister ship of the Titanic.
  • It continued to operate as White Star’s premier liner, offering luxury travel and comfortable accommodations for wealthier passengers.

 

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2. RMS Majestic (White Star Line) – 6 September 1922

• Route: Southampton to New York via Cherbourg
• Class of Passengers: Second Class
• Commander: Captain Sir Bertram Hayes
• Significance:
  • The Majestic was the largest ship in the world at the time, originally built for Germany but given to Britain after WWI as war reparations.
  • It catered to elite travelers and was a direct competitor of the RMS Aquitania and RMS Olympic.

 

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3. RMS Aquitania (Cunard Line) – 12 August 1922

• Route: Southampton to New York via Cherbourg
• Class of Passengers: Cabin
• Commander: Captain Sir James Charles, K.B.E., C.B., R.D., R.N.R.
• Significance:
  • Known as the "Ship Beautiful," the Aquitania was one of Cunard’s most luxurious ocean liners.
  • It remained in service longer than its competitors, ultimately serving until 1950.

 

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4. SS President Harding (United States Lines) – 4 October 1922

• Route: Bremen to New York via Southampton and Cherbourg
• Class of Passengers: First Cabin
• Commander: Captain Paul C. Grening
• Significance:
  • This was part of United States Lines’ efforts to establish itself as a dominant American transatlantic carrier.
  • The ship was named after U.S. President Warren G. Harding, reflecting nationalistic pride in American ocean liners.

 

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5. SS Lafayette (French Line) – 5 August & 16 September 1922

• Route: Le Havre to New York
• Class of Passengers: First and Second Cabin
• Commander: Captain Victor Brevet, Knight of the Legion of Honor
• Significance:
  • The Lafayette served the French transatlantic route, reflecting strong U.S.-France ties.
  • The French Line promoted a blend of luxury and culture, attracting affluent American and French travelers.

 

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6. RMS Baltic (White Star Line) – 1 April 1922

• Route: Liverpool to New York via Queenstown (Cobh)
• Class of Passengers: Second Class
• Commander: Captain F. E. Beadnell
• Significance:
  • The Baltic was a well-known liner that had once carried survivors from the Titanic disaster.
  • Its continued operation signaled White Star’s resilience in the face of declining immigration traffic.

 

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7. SS Resolute (United American Lines) – 5 September 1922

• Route: Hamburg to New York via Southampton and Cherbourg
• Class of Passengers: First and Second Class
• Commander: Captain D. Malman
• Significance:
  • United American Lines was a newcomer to transatlantic shipping, competing with Cunard and White Star.
  • Many German ships had been taken over after WWI, and this voyage reflected Germany’s slow return to ocean liner service.

 

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Key Historical Events That Affected Ocean Travel in 1922

1. The Emergency Quota Act of 1921 (Still in Effect in 1922)

• This law sharply restricted immigration from Southern and Eastern Europe, reducing Ellis Island traffic.
• Steamship companies had to shift their focus from carrying thousands of immigrants to attracting wealthier, cabin-class passengers.
• Third-class travel, once the largest category, was now in steep decline.

 

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2. The Rise of U.S.-Owned Shipping Companies

• United States Lines expanded its fleet, competing with the dominant British, French, and German carriers.
• Ships like the SS President Harding and SS President Monroe reflected America’s push for maritime independence.
• This shift was partly political, as the U.S. wanted less reliance on foreign shipping.

 

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3. Germany’s Return to Transatlantic Shipping

• After losing most of its ships as WWI reparations, Germany was slowly rebuilding its ocean liner industry.
• Ships like SS Resolute and SS President Harding (originally German ships) were now being used by new companies.
• Hamburg remained an important departure point, despite postwar restrictions.

 

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4. The Expansion of Cabin Class and Luxury Travel

• With fewer immigrants, ocean liners upgraded their accommodations to attract middle-class and business travelers.
• "Cabin Class" became the new focus, replacing third-class steerage.
• Ships like RMS Aquitania, RMS Olympic, and SS Lafayette emphasized comfort, fine dining, and leisure.

 

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5. The Increasing Importance of Canadian Ports

• With the U.S. restricting immigration, many immigrants began choosing Canada as an alternative.
• Ships like SS Corsican and RMS Scythia served Montréal and Québec.
• This reflected a geopolitical shift in transatlantic migration.

 

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Conclusion – 1922: The Year of Reinvention for Ocean Liners

• 1922 marked a major shift in transatlantic travel, with immigration restrictions forcing steamship companies to rethink their strategies.
• Luxury and middle-class travel replaced mass third-class immigration, leading to an expansion of "Cabin Class" services.
• The U.S. began asserting itself in ocean liner travel, challenging European dominance.
• Germany started regaining its shipping presence, while Canada emerged as a key destination for European migrants.
• The world of ocean travel was no longer about mass migration but about exclusivity, leisure, and business-class transportation.

By 1922, the era of "steerage class" travel was effectively over, and the golden age of luxury liners was taking its place.