Ellis Island Passenger Lists - 1924

Passenger lists for 1924 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.

Other 1924 Passenger Lists Available at the GG Archives

• CGT-French Line SS La Savoie, 1924-05-24, Le Havre to New York, Commanded by Captain Aubert
• CGT-French Line SS France, 1924-09-06, Le Havre to New York via Plymouth, Commanded by Captain L. Roch

Passenger Lists By Year Continued

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• 1923
• 1924
• 1925
»

Please help us make our passenger list collection more complete. We would appreciate a digital copy if you have an 1924 souvenir passenger list. Please email us at history@ggarchives.com.

Recap and Summary of the Ellis Island Passenger Lists - 1924

The Ellis Island Passenger Lists for 1924 reflect a new era in ocean liner travel as the United States Immigration Act of 1924 (also known as the Johnson-Reed Act) came into effect. This law severely restricted immigration, particularly from Southern and Eastern Europe, and marked a dramatic decline in third-class steerage passengers.

With mass migration slowing down, ocean liners shifted their focus to cabin-class travel, luxury tourism, and business travelers. The major transatlantic shipping companies—Cunard, White Star, United States Lines, and the French and German lines—responded by upgrading their ships, adding more spacious accommodations, and marketing to a wealthier clientele.

Key Themes in 1924 Ocean Travel

1. The Decline of Mass Immigration:
   • The 1924 U.S. Immigration Act established strict national quotas, nearly eliminating immigrant steerage travel from Europe.
   • Steamship companies rebranded their third-class accommodations into "tourist class" or "cabin class" to attract middle-class travelers.
2. The Rise of American Shipping:
   • The United States Lines continued expanding, with ships like SS America, SS George Washington, and SS Leviathan competing with European luxury liners.
   • The U.S. sought to break the British and German dominance of transatlantic travel.
3. Germany’s Rebuilding Effort in Ocean Travel:
   • The North German Lloyd Line and Hamburg-America Line slowly regained prominence after the losses of World War I.
   • Ships like SS Stuttgart and SS Bremen reentered the transatlantic market under tight financial constraints.
4. Canadian Routes Gain Popularity:
   • With U.S. immigration restricted, Canada became an alternative for European migrants.
   • Canadian Pacific operated several transatlantic routes to Québec and Montréal, including ships like SS Montroyal, SS Marloch, and RMS Antonia.

Notable Passenger Ships from 1924

1. RMS Majestic (White Star Line) – 7 May 1924

• Route: Southampton to New York via Cherbourg
• Class of Passengers: First Class
• Commander: Captain Sir Bertram Hayes, K.C.M.G., D.S.O., R.D.
• Significance:
  • The Majestic was the largest ship in the world at the time and was a symbol of British luxury travel.
  • It catered primarily to wealthy tourists, diplomats, and business travelers.

2. SS Leviathan (United States Lines) – 5 August 1924

• Route: Southampton to New York via Cherbourg
• Class of Passengers: First and Second Class
• Commander: Captain Herbert Hartley, U.S.N.R.F.
• Significance:
  • The Leviathan was originally the German liner Vaterland, seized by the U.S. during World War I.
  • It became the flagship of United States Lines, symbolizing America’s growing ambitions in ocean liner travel.

3. RMS Aquitania (Cunard Line) – Multiple Voyages

• Routes:
  • June 18: New York to Southampton via Cherbourg (Second Class)
  • July 26: Southampton to New York via Cherbourg (Saloon)
• Commander: Captain Sir James Charles, K.B.E., C.B., R.D., R.N.R.
• Significance:
  • The Aquitania was one of the last great four-funnel ocean liners and remained in service for decades.
  • It competed with White Star’s Olympic and U.S. Lines’ Leviathan.

4. RMS Berengaria (Cunard Line) – 24 May 1924

• Route: Southampton to New York via Cherbourg
• Class of Passengers: Second Cabin
• Commander: Captain W. R. D. Irvine
• Significance:
  • Originally built as the German Imperator, the Berengaria was another former German liner taken by Britain.
  • It was one of Cunard’s premier luxury ships, catering to affluent Americans and Europeans.

5. SS France (CGT-French Line) – 27 September 1924

• Route: Le Havre to New York via Plymouth
• Class of Passengers: First and Second Class
• Commander: Captain Louis Roch
• Significance:
  • The France was one of the most luxurious French ocean liners, rivaling British and American ships.
  • It symbolized France’s strong position in transatlantic tourism and business travel.

6. SS Pittsburgh (White Star Line) – 4 September 1924

• Route: Hamburg to New York via Southampton, Cherbourg, and Halifax
• Class of Passengers: Cabin
• Commander: Captain W. A. Morehouse
• Significance:
  • The Pittsburgh represented White Star’s shift away from immigration transport toward luxury travel.
  • It was later renamed SS Pennland under Red Star Line.

7. SS Andorinha (Yeoward Line) – 27 August 1924

• Route: Liverpool to Tenerife, Madeira, The Canary Islands, Return to Liverpool
• Class of Passengers: Tourist Class
• Commander: Captain G. F. Pope
• Significance:
  • This was a specialty cruise route, reflecting the growing popularity of pleasure cruises.
  • The Canary Islands and Madeira became popular tourist destinations for upper-class travelers.

Key Historical Events That Affected Ocean Travel in 1924

1. The U.S. Immigration Act of 1924 (Johnson-Reed Act)

• Drastically reduced immigration from Southern and Eastern Europe.
• Asian immigration was effectively banned altogether.
• Shipping lines lost thousands of potential passengers, forcing them to adapt by promoting tourism and business travel.

2. The Expansion of American Shipping

• United States Lines became a serious rival to British and German carriers.
• The Leviathan, George Washington, and America were among the largest ships in operation.
• The U.S. promoted its own ocean liners for national pride and economic power.

3. Germany’s Return to Ocean Travel

• German liners like SS Stuttgart and SS Bremen reentered the market, but German shipping was still limited by postwar restrictions.
• Former German liners, such as Berengaria and Leviathan, were now operated by Britain and the U.S.

4. Canada as an Alternative to U.S. Immigration

• With the U.S. severely restricting immigration, many Europeans entered through Canada.
• Canadian Pacific ships (SS Montroyal, RMS Antonia, SS Marloch) brought immigrants to Québec and Montréal.
• Canada’s government welcomed immigrants, especially from the British Isles and Western Europe.

Conclusion – 1924: The Year of Transition

• 1924 marked the end of mass immigration to the U.S., forcing ocean liners to redefine their purpose.
• Luxury travel, tourism, and business voyages became the new focus.
• The U.S. became a major player in the transatlantic shipping industry, competing with British and German lines.
• Canadian routes gained importance as an immigration alternative.
• The golden age of ocean liners was now centered on comfort, prestige, and exclusivity rather than mass transport.

By the end of 1924, the great steamships were no longer just vessels of migration—they were floating palaces for the wealthy, business elites, and tourists.