Ellis Island Passenger Lists - 1937
A View of the Grill Room on the SS Normandie, 1937. GGA Image ID # 205b64cb3e
Passenger lists for 1937 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.
1937-03-06 SS Conte Di Savoia Passenger List
Steamship Line: Italian Line
Class of Passengers: First Class
Date of Departure: 6 March 1937
Route: New York to Gibraltar, Naples, Villefranche, and Genoa
Commander: Captain Antonio Lena
1937-04-15 SS Ile De France Passenger List
Steamship Line: Compagnie Générale Transatlantique CGT - French Line
Class of Passengers: Good Will Tour
Date of Departure: 15 April 1937
Route: Le Havre to New York via Southampton
Commander: Captain Jules Chabot
1937-05-22 SS Roma Passenger List
Steamship Line: Italia Line
Class of Passengers: Tourist
Date of Departure: 22 May 1937
Route: New York to Madeira, Casablanca, Gibraltar, Algiers, Naples, and Genoa
Commander: Captain Attilio Frugone
Note: Annotated by the original owner (passenger)
1937-06-02 SS Bremen Passenger List
Steamship Line: North German Lloyd / Norddeutscher Lloyd
Class of Passengers: Tourist Third Cabin and Third Class
Date of Departure: 2 June 1937
Route: Bremen to New York via Southampton and Cherbourg
Commander: Captain A. Ahrens
1937-06-09 RMS Queen Mary Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: Third Class
Date of Departure: 9 June 1937
Route: New York to Southampton via Cherbourg
Commander: Captain J. C. Towley, R.D., R.N.R.
1937-06-12 SS Roma Passenger List
Steamship Line: Italia Line
Class of Passengers: First Class
Date of Departure: 12 June 1937
Route: Genoa and Villefranche to New York via Naples and Gibraltar
Commander: Alberto Ottino
Note: Includes Color Map with preprinted Transatlantic Route
1937-06-16 SS Empress of Australia Passenger List
Class of Passengers: Cabin and Tourist Class
Steamship Line: Canadian Pacific Line
Date of Departure: 16 June 1937
Route: Québec to Cherbourg and Southampton
Commander: Captain W. G. Busk-Wood
1937-06-19 SS Europa Passenger List
Steamship Line: North German Lloyd / Norddeutscher Lloyd
Class of Passengers: Cabin and Third Class
Date of Departure: 19 June 1937
Route: New York to Bremen via Cherbourg and Southampton
Commander: Captain C. W. Hagemann
1937-07-07 SS Europa Passenger List
Steamship Line: North German Lloyd / Norddeutscher Lloyd
Class of Passengers: Tourist
Date of Departure: 7 July 1937
Route: New York to Bremen via Cherbourg and Southampton
Commander: Captain O. Scharf
1937-07-10 TSS Statendam Passenger List
Steamship Line: Holland-America Line / Netherlands American Steam Navigation Company (NASM)
Class of Passengers: Cabin, Tourist and Third Class
Date of Departure: 10 July 1937
Route: Rotterdam to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Southampton
Commander: Commodore J. J. Bijl
1937-07-16 SS Europa Passenger List
Steamship Line: North German Lloyd / Norddeutscher Lloyd
Class of Passengers: Cabin
Date of Departure: 16 July 1937
Route: Bremen to New York via Southampton and Cherbourg
Commander: Captain O. Scharf
1937-07-21 SS City of New York Passenger List
Steamship Line: American South African Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin
Date of Departure: 21 July 1937
Route: Beira to New York via Lindi, Dar-Es-Salaam, Zanzibar, Tanga, Mombasa, Durban, Port Elizabeth, Capetown, and the Island of Trinidad
Commander: Captain C. W. Schmidt, Lt. Cmdr. USNR
1937-07-21 SS Ile de France Passenger List
Steamship Line: Compagnie Générale Transatlantique / French Line (CGT)
Class of Passengers: Tourist
Date of Departure: 21 July 1937
Route: Le Havre to New York via Southampton
Commander: Captain Jules Chabot
1937-07-24 City Of Baltimore Passenger List
Steamship Line: Baltimore Mail Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin (One Class)
Date of Departure: 24 July 1937
Route: Hamburg and Southampton to Norfolk and Baltimore
Commander: Captain F. E. Cross, Lt. Cmdr., U.S.N.R
1937-07-24 RMS Georgic Passenger List
Steamship Line: White Star Line
Class of Passengers: Tourist
Date of Departure: 24 July 1937
Route: Southampton and Le Havre to New York via Cobh
Commander: Captain B. B. Oram, R.D., R.N.R.
1937-07-24 TSS Veendam Passenger List
Steamship Line: Holland-America Line / Netherlands American Steam Navigation Company (NASM)
Class of Passengers: Cabin, Tourist and Third Class
Date of Departure: 24 July 1937
Route: Rotterdam to New York and Boston via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Southampton
Commander: Captain A. Filippo
1937-07-27 SS Bremen Passenger List
Steamship Line: North German Lloyd / Norddeutscher Lloyd
Class of Passengers: Tourist Third Cabin and Third Class
Date of Departure: 27 July 1937
Route: Bremen to New York via Southampton and Cherbourg
Commander: Captain A. Ahrens
1937-07-28 RMS Aquitania Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin
Date of Departure: 28 July 1937
Route: Southampton to New York via Cherbourg
Commander: Captain R. B. IRVING, O.B.E., R.D., R.N.R.
1937-08-06 TSS Statendam Passenger List
Steamship Line: Holland-America Line / Netherlands American Steam Navigation Company (NASM)
Class of Passengers: Cabin, Tourist and Third Class
Date of Departure: 6 August 1937
Route: Rotterdam to New York and Boston via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Southampton
Commander: Commodore J. J. Bijl
1937-08-07 RMS Ausonia Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin Class
Date of Departure: 7 August 1937
Route: Southampton to Montréal and Québec via Le Havre
Commander: Captain W. C. Battle, D.S.C., R.D., R.N.R.
1937-08-07 RMS Britannic Passenger List
Steamship Line: White Star Line
Class of Passengers: Tourist Class
Date of Departure: 7 August 1937
Route: Southampton to New York via Le Havre and Cobh
Commander: Captain A. T. Brownm, R.D., R.N.R.
1937-08-11 TSS Rotterdam Passenger List
Steamship Line: Holland-America Line / Netherlands American Steam Navigation Company (NASM)
Class of Passengers: Cabin and Tourist Class
Date of Departure: 11 August 1937
Route: Rotterdam to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Southampton
Commander: Captain G. J. Barendse
1937-08-15 SS City of Norfolk Passenger List
Steamship Line: Baltimore Mail Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin Class
Date of Departure: 15 August 1937
Route: Bremen to Norfolk and Baltimore via Le Havre
Commander: Captain Reginald Rose, Lt. Cmdr. USNR
1937-08-17 SS Duchess of Richmond Passenger List
Steamship Line: Canadian Pacific Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin and Tourist Class
Date of Departure: 17 August 1937
Route: Southampton to Québec and Montréal via Cherbourg
Commander: Captain H. A. Moore
1937-08-19 SS Europa Passenger List
Steamship Line: Norddeutscher Lloyd (North German Lloyd)
Class of Passengers: Tourist and Third Class
Date of Departure: 19 August 1937
Route: Bremen to New York via Southampton and Cherbourg
Commander: Captain O. Scharf
1937-08-24 SS Empress of Australia Passenger List
Steamship Line: Canadian Pacific Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin
Date of Departure: 24 August 1937
Route: Southampton to Québec via Cherbourg
Commander: Captain W. G. Busk-Wood
1937-08-31 SS Berlin Passenger List
Steamship Line: North German Lloyd / Norddeutscher Lloyd
Class of Passengers: Cabin, Tourist, and Third Class
Date of Departure: 31 August 1937
Route: Bremen to New York via Southampton and Galway and Halifax
Commander: Captain F. Krone
1937-09-01 SS President Harding Passenger List
Steamship Line: United States Lines
Class of Passengers: Cabin Class
Date of Departure: 1 September 1937
Route: Hamburg to New York via Le Havre, Southampton, and Queenstown (Cobh)
Commander: Captain James E. Roberts, Lt., Cmdr. U.S.N.R.
1937-09-02 SS Hamburg Passenger List
Steamship Line: Hamburg Amerika Linie / Hamburg American Line (HAPAG)
Class of Passengers: Class Not Stated
Date of Departure: 2 September 1937
Route: Hamburg to New York via Southampton and Cherbourg
Commander: Captain Th. Koch
1937-09-03 RMS Franconia Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: Tourist
Date of Departure: 3 September 1937
Route: Liverpool to Boston and New York via Belfast and Greenock
Commander: Captain B. H. Davies
1937-09-04 TSS Veendam Passenger List
Steamship Line: Holland-America Line / Netherlands American Steam Navigation Company (NASM)
Class of Passengers: Cabin, Tourist and Third Class
Date of Departure: 4 September 1937
Route: Rotterdam to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Southampton
Commander: Captain A. Flippo
1937-09-11 RMS Laconia Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: Third Class
Date of Departure: 11 September 1937
Route: Liverpool to Boston and New York via Dublin and Galway
Commander: Captain C. H. Bate, R.D., R.N.R.
1937-09-11 SS Stavangerfjord Passenger List
Steamship Line: Norwegian America Line / Den Norske Amerikalinje (NAL)
Class of Passengers: Cabin, Tourist and Third Class
Date of Departure: 11 September 1937
Route: Oslo to New York via Stavanger and Bergen
Commander: Captain Ole Bull
1937-09-14 SS Stuttgart Passenger List
Steamship Line: Hamburg Amerika Linie / Hamburg American Line (HAPAG)
Class of Passengers: Cabin, Tourist, and Third Class
Date of Departure: 14 September 1937
Route: Hamburg to New York via Southampton and Cherbourg
Commander: Captain A. Kinkel
1937-09-17 RMS Georgic Passenger List
Steamship Line: White Star Line
Class of Passengers: Third Class
Date of Departure: 17 September 1937
Route: Le Havre and Southampton to New York via Cobh
Commander: Captain B. B. Oram, R.D., R.N.R.
1937-09-24 SS Duchess of Atholl Passenger List
Class of Passengers: Cabin and Tourist Class
Steamship Line: Canadian Pacific Line
Date of Departure: 24 September 1937
Route: Montréal to Glasgow, Belfast, and Liverpool
Commander: Captain W. B. Coyle
1937-09-25 SS Normandie Passenger List
Steamship Line: Compagnie Générale Transatlantique / French Line (CGT)
Class of Passengers: Third Class
Date of Departure: 25 September 1937
Route: Le Havre To New York via Southampton
Commander: Pierre Thoreux
1937-09-25 RMS Scythia Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: Third Class
Date of Departure: 25 September 1937
Route: Liverpool to Boston and New York via Dublin and Galway
Commander: Captain E. Edkin, O.B.E., R.D., R.N.R.
1937-10-08 SS Europa Passenger List
Steamship Line: North German Lloyd / Norddeutscher Lloyd
Class of Passengers: Tourist Third Cabin and Third Class
Date of Departure: 8 October 1937
Route: Bremen to New York via Southampton and Cherbourg
Commander: Captain C. W. Hagemann
1937-10-16 RMS Georgic Passenger List
Steamship Line: White Star Line
Class of Passengers: Members of the American Legion (First, Tourist and Third Class)
Date of Departure: 16 October 1937
Route: Southampton to New York via Le Havre and Cobh
Commander: Captain B. B. Oram, R.D., R.N.R
1937-10-19 SS Bremen Passenger List
Steamship Line: North German Lloyd / Norddeutscher Lloyd
Class of Passengers: Tourist and Third Class
Date of Departure: 19 October 1937
Route: Bremen to New York via Southampton and Cherbourg
Commander: Commodore L. Ziegenbein
1937-11-03 SS Normandie Passenger List
Steamship Line: Compagnie Générale Transatlantique CGT - French Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin
Date of Departure: 3 November 1937
Route: Le Havre to New York via Southampton
Commander: Captain Paul AUGARDE
1937-12-10 SS Santa Rosa Passenger List
Steamship Line: Grace Line
Class of Passengers: Not Stated
Date of Departure: 10 December 1937
Route: San Francisco and Los Angeles for Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Panama Canal, Colombia, Havana, and New York
Commander: Captain Curt Zastrow
Please help us make our passenger list collection more complete. We would appreciate a digital copy if you have an 1937 souvenir passenger list. Please email us at history@ggarchives.com.
Recap and Summary of the Ellis Island Passenger Lists – 1937
The 1937 Ellis Island Passenger Lists provide a fascinating look into the golden age of ocean travel, with luxury liners, elite voyages, and expanding global routes. This was a year of intense competition between the great transatlantic liners, with the Normandie, Queen Mary, Bremen, and Europa leading the way.
Additionally, political tensions in Europe began influencing passenger travel, with N**i Germany using its liners for propaganda and Italy’s shipping industry growing in strength. Meanwhile, air travel was slowly emerging as an alternative to steamship travel, though it had not yet overtaken the dominance of ocean liners.
Key Themes in 1937 Ocean Travel
1. The Normandie vs. Queen Mary Rivalry Intensifies
- SS Normandie (September 25, November 3, 1937) remained the most elegant and luxurious ship afloat. Its Art Deco interiors, showcased in images from this year, symbolized French supremacy in transatlantic travel.
- RMS Queen Mary (June 9, 1937), however, continued to challenge for the Blue Riband, setting records for speed across the Atlantic.
- These two ships represented the pinnacle of ocean liner luxury, carrying celebrities, diplomats, and elite travelers.
Why It Matters: The rivalry between Normandie and Queen Mary defined the era, with both ships competing for speed and luxury until the outbreak of WWII.
2. The German Liner Dominance and Political Influence
- Germany’s Bremen and Europa continued to be major players in transatlantic travel.
- Notable crossings:
- SS Bremen (June 2, July 27, October 19, 1937) – One of the fastest liners in service.
- SS Europa (June 19, July 7, July 16, August 19, October 8, 1937) – A flagship of German pride.
- These liners, owned by North German Lloyd, prominently displayed N**i flags and hosted pro-German events onboard.
- With Europe inching closer to WWII, these ships played a growing role in Germany’s political image.
Why It Matters: These ships were not just for travel—they were symbols of national power and prestige in the buildup to WWII.
3. Expansion of Mediterranean and Global Routes
- Several liners expanded their itineraries beyond the transatlantic route, linking Europe, Africa, and the Americas.
- Key voyages:
- SS Conte di Savoia (March 6, 1937) – Connected New York to the Mediterranean, including Gibraltar, Naples, and Genoa.
- SS Roma (May 22, June 12, 1937) – Offered Italian luxury on its route from New York to North Africa and the Mediterranean.
- SS City of New York (July 21, 1937) – An African voyage linking ports from Beira, Zanzibar, and Mombasa to New York.
Why It Matters: These voyages reflected an increasingly interconnected world, where ocean liners linked continents beyond just the transatlantic routes.
4. The Shift Toward Tourist and Third-Class Travel
- As the effects of the Great Depression lingered, more ships focused on economy-class passengers.
- Examples of economy-focused voyages:
- RMS Queen Mary (June 9, 1937) – Third-class passenger voyage, signaling the need for more affordable travel.
- SS Bremen (June 2, 1937) – Focused on Tourist Third Cabin and Third Class passengers.
- SS Europa (October 8, 1937) – Catered to working-class and budget travelers.
Why It Matters: The shift toward tourist and third-class accommodations reflected economic realities and the democratization of ocean travel.
Most Interesting Voyages of 1937
1. The Prestige of Normandie (September 25, November 3, 1937)
- The French liner continued to dominate luxury travel, with its Grill Room, Grand Salon, and Art Deco elegance making it the most glamorous ship afloat.
- Passengers included socialites, celebrities, and diplomats.
Why It Matters: Normandie represented the height of pre-WWII luxury, a ship that combined speed, style, and status.
2. RMS Queen Mary’s Third-Class Voyage (June 9, 1937)
- Unlike its luxury crossings, this voyage focused on third-class passengers, showing how even the grandest ships had to cater to budget-conscious travelers.
Why It Matters: Even the most prestigious liners had to adapt to changing economic conditions.
3. The Political Role of German Liners (Bremen, Europa, and Columbus)
- These ships were no longer just passenger liners; they became part of N**i Germany’s public relations strategy.
Why It Matters: Ocean liners were now being used for political purposes, signaling tensions that would soon erupt into WWII.
Historical Events That Affected Ocean Travel in 1937
1. The Hindenburg Disaster (May 6, 1937) and the Future of Air Travel
- The Hindenburg explosion shocked the world and dealt a severe blow to airship travel.
- Before this, some thought airships would replace ocean liners for transatlantic crossings.
- After the disaster, ocean liners remained the safest and most luxurious way to cross the Atlantic.
Why It Matters: The Hindenburg disaster solidified ocean liners as the premier mode of transatlantic travel—at least until airplanes advanced further.
2. The Spanish Civil War’s Impact on Mediterranean Travel (1936–1939)
- Several ships avoided Spanish ports due to the ongoing civil war.
- The SS Roma and SS Conte di Savoia adjusted routes to bypass war zones.
- Some ships were used for refugee transport, as many fled Spain.
Why It Matters: The Spanish Civil War disrupted Mediterranean travel, forcing ships to adjust itineraries and avoid conflict zones.
3. The Continued Rise of the United States in Transatlantic Travel
- While European liners dominated, American ships like SS Manhattan, SS Washington, and SS President Harding were gaining popularity.
- This reflected the growing influence of the U.S. in global travel.
Why It Matters: The United States was becoming a serious contender in the global shipping industry.
Conclusion – 1937: A Year of Elegance, Competition, and Political Tension
- Normandie and Queen Mary continued to dominate transatlantic travel, symbolizing elegance and speed.
- German liners like Bremen and Europa played a dual role in both passenger transport and N**i propaganda.
- Affordable third-class travel became more common as the global economy adapted to the lingering effects of the Great Depression.
- The Hindenburg disaster confirmed that ocean liners would remain the preferred method for transatlantic crossings—at least for the time being.
- The Spanish Civil War disrupted Mediterranean routes, affecting travel between Europe and Africa.
- American ships grew in influence, reflecting the rising power of the United States in international travel.
As 1937 ended, the world was on the brink of major changes. The glamorous era of ocean liners was still at its peak, but tensions in Europe hinted at an uncertain future.
