Ellis Island Passenger Lists - 1938
Passengers Dancing in the Verandah Café on a United States Lines Ocean Liner, 1938. USL Spring and Summer Brochure, 1938. GGA Image ID # 205bab09c5
Passenger lists for 1938 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.
1938-01-15 RMS Carinthia Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin and Tourist Class
Date of Departure: 15 January 1938
Route: Liverpool to Boston and New York via Greenock
Commander: Captain P. A. Murchie, O.B.E., R.D., R.N.R.
1938-03-18 SS Excalibur Passenger List
Steamship Line: American Export Lines
Class of Passengers: One
Date of Departure: 18 March 1938
Route: Genoa to New York
Commander: Captain S. N. Groves
1938-04-11 SS City of Newport News Passenger List
Steamship Line: Baltimore Mail Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin (One Class)
Date of Departure: 11 April 1938
Route: Bremen to Norfolk and Baltimore via Southampton
Commander: Captain Robert H. Wright, Lt. Cmdr., U.S.N.R
Note: Annotated by the original owner (passenger)
1938-04-20 SS Manhattan Passenger List
Steamship Line: United States Lines
Class of Passengers: Cabin Class
Date of Departure: 20 April 1938
Route: New York to Hamburg via Cobh, Plymouth and Le Havre
Commander: Captain Albert B. Randall, U.S.N.R.
1938-04-20 SS Washington Passenger List
Steamship Line: United States Lines
Class of Passengers: Tourist Class
Date of Departure: 20 April 1938
Route: Hamburg to New York via Le Havre, Southampton, and Cobh
Commander: Captain Giles C. Stedman, Lt. Comm., U.S.N.R.
1938-05-03 SS Bremen Passenger List
Steamship Line: North German Lloyd / Norddeutscher Lloyd
Class of Passengers: Cabin Class
Date of Departure: 3 May 1938
Route: Bremen to New York via Southampton and Cherbourg
Commander: Captain A. Ahrens
1938-05-21 SS Columbus Passenger List
Steamship Line: North German Lloyd / Norddeutscher Lloyd
Class of Passengers: Tourist Class
Date of Departure: 21 May 1938
Route: New York to Bremen via Cobh, Plymouth and Cherbourg
Commander: Captain C. W. Hagemann
1938-06-01 RMS Aquitania Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: Third Class
Date of Departure: 1 June 1938
Route: New York to Cherbourg via Southampton
Commander: Captain J. C. Townley, R.D., R.N.R.
1938-06-18 SS Montcalm Passenger List
Steamship Line: Canadian Pacific Line
Class of Passengers: Cruise Members
Date of Departure: 18 June 1938
Route: Atlantic Isles and Seaboard Cruise from Tilbury. (London - Gibraltar - Casablanca - Madeira - Lisbon - London)
Commander: Captain D. Pert
1938-06-24 SS Bremen Passenger List
Steamship Line: North German Lloyd / Norddeutscher Lloyd
Class of Passengers: Tourist Third Cabin and Third Class
Date of Departure: 24 June 1938
Route: Bremen to New York via Southampton and Cherbourg
Commander: Captain C. W. Hagemann
1938-06-29 SS Manhattan Passenger List
Steamship Line: United States Lines
Class of Passengers: Tourist Class
Date of Departure: 29 June 1938
Route: Hamburg to New York via Le Havre, Southampton and Cobh
Commander: Captain Albert B. Randall, U.S.N.R.
1938-07-12 SS Bremen Passenger List
Steamship Line: North German Lloyd / Norddeutscher Lloyd
Class of Passengers: Tourist and Third Class
Date of Departure: 12 July 1938
Route: Bremen to New York via Southampton and Cherbourg
Commander: Captain A. Ahrens
1938-07-13 SS Rex Passenger List
Steamship Line: Italia Line
Class of Passengers: Tourist
Date of Departure: 13 July 1938
Route: Genoa to New York via Cannes, Naples, and Gibraltar
Commander: Captain Attilio Frugone
1938-07-14 SS Vulcania Passenger List
Steamship Line: Italia Line
Class of Passengers: First Class
Date of Departure: 14 July 1938
Route: Trieste to New York via Dubrovnik, Patra, Naples, Palermo, Algiers, Gibraltar, Lisbon, and Azores
Commander: Captain William Lazzari
1938-07-19 SS Europa Passenger List
Steamship Line: North German Lloyd / Norddeutscher Lloyd
Class of Passengers: Tourist Third Cabin and Third Class
Date of Departure: 19 July 1938
Route: Bremen to New York via Southampton and Cherbourg
Commander: Captain C. W. Hagemann
1938-07-22 TSS California Passenger List
Steamship Line: Anchor Steamship Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin and Tourist
Date of Departure: 22 July 1938
Route: Glasgow to Boston and New York via Dublin
Commander: Captain Robert W. Smart
1938-08-04 SS Hamburg Passenger List
Steamship Line: Hamburg Amerika Linie / Hamburg American Line (HAPAG)
Class of Passengers: Cabin and Tourist Class
Date of Departure: 4 August 1938
Route: Hamburg to New York via Southampton and Cherbourg
Commander: Captain Th. Koch
1938-08-09 SS Rex Passenger List
Steamship Line: Italia Line
Class of Passengers: Tourist
Date of Departure: 9 August 1938
Route: Naples to New York via Genoa, Cannes, and Gibraltar
Commander: Captain Giorgio Cavallini
1938-08-10 RMS Aquitania Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin Class
Date of Departure: 10 August 1938
Route: Southampton to New York via Cherbourg
Commander: Captain J. C. Townley, R.D., R.N.R.
1938-08-10 SS Normandie Passenger List
Steamship Line: Compagnie Générale Transatlantique / French Line (CGT)
Class of Passengers: Tourist
Date of Departure: 10 August 1938
Route: Le Havre to New York via Southampton
Commander: Captain Jules Duchesne
1938-08-16 SS Bremen Passenger List
Steamship Line: North German Lloyd / Norddeutscher Lloyd
Class of Passengers: Tourist Third Cabin and Third Class
Date of Departure: 16 August 1938
Route: Bremen to New York via Southampton and Cherbourg
Commander: Captain A. Ahrens
1938-08-19 TSS California Passenger List
Steamship Line: Anchor Steamship Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin and Tourist
Date of Departure: 19 August 1938
Route: Glasgow to Boston and New York via Dublin and Cobh
Commander: Captain Robert W. Smart
1938-08-19 SS Duchess of Bedford Passenger List
Steamship Line: Canadian Pacific Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin and Tourist Class
Date of Departure: 19 August 1938
Route: Liverpool to Québec and Montréal via Belfast and Greenock
Commander: Captain A. R. Meikle, R.D., R.N.R.
1938-08-19 RMS Franconia Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: Tourist Class
Date of Departure: 19 August 1938
Route: Liverpool to Boston and New York via Belfast and Greenock
Commander: Commanded by Captain P. A. Murchie, O.B.E., R.D., R.N.R.
1938-08-20 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: 20 August 1938
Route: Rotterdam to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Southampton
Commander: Commander G. J. Barendse
1938-08-24 RMS Aquitania Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: Third Class
Date of Departure: 24 August 1938
Route: Southampton to New York via Cherbourg
Commander: Captain J. C. Townley, R.D., R.N.R.
1938-08-24 SS Normandie Passenger List
Steamship Line: Compagnie Générale Transatlantique CGT - French Line
Class of Passengers: Tourist
Date of Departure: 24 August 1938
Route: Le Havre to New York via Southampton
Commander: Captain Paul AUGARDE
1938-08-26 SS Caledonia Passenger List
Steamship Line: Anchor Steamship Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin and Tourist
Date of Departure: 26 August 1938
Route: Glasgow to Boston and New York via Belfast and Londonderry
Commander: Captain Alexander Collie
1938-08-27 RMS Alaunia Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: Tourist Class
Date of Departure: 27 August 1938
Route: Southampton to Québec and Montréal via Le Havre
Commander: Captain J. Foyster
1938-08-27 TSS Nieuw Amsterdam Passenger List
Steamship Line: Holland-America Line / Netherlands American Steam Navigation Company (NASM)
Class of Passengers: All Classes
Date of Departure: 27 August 1938
Route: Rotterdam to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Southampton
Commander: Commodore J. J. Bijl
1938-08-31 SS President Roosevelt Passenger List
Steamship Line: United States Lines
Class of Passengers: Cabin
Date of Departure: 31 August 1938
Route: Hamburg to New York via Havre, Southampton, and Cobh
Commander: Captain William Dougherty
1938-09-02 SS Athenia Passenger List
Steamship Line: Donaldson Atlantic Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin and Tourist
Date of Departure: 2 September 1938
Route: Glasgow to Québec and Montréal via Belfast and Liverpool
Commander: Captain James Cook
1938-09-07 RMS Aquitania Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: Third Class
Date of Departure: 7 September 1938
Route: Southampton to New York via Cherbourg
Commander: Captain J. C. Townley, R.D., R.N.R.
1938-09-10 RMS Laconia Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: Tourist Class
Date of Departure: 10 September 1938
Route: Liverpool to Boston and New York via Dublin and Galway
Commander: Captain W. C. Battle, D.S.C., R.D., R.N.R.
1938-09-14 SS President Harding Passenger List
Steamship Line: United States Lines
Class of Passengers: Cabin
Date of Departure: 14 September 1938
Route: Hamburg to New York via Le Havre, Southampton, and Cobh
Commander: Captain James E. Roberts (Lt. Cmdr. USNR)
1938-09-17 SS Champlain Passenger List
Steamship Line: Compagnie Générale Transatlantique CGT - French Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin
Date of Departure: 17 September 1938
Route: Le Havre to New York via Southampton
Commander: Captain William Vogel
1938-09-17 SS Monarch of Bermuda Passenger List
Steamship Line: Furness Bermuda Line
Class of Passengers: Cruise
Date of Departure: 17 September 1938
Route: New York to Bermuda
Commander: Captain A. R. Francis
1938-09-24 SS Gerolstein Passenger List
Steamship Line: Arnold Bernstein / Red Star Line
Class of Passengers: Tourist Third Cabin
Date of Departure: 24 September 1938
Route: Antwerp to New York
Commander: Captain Friedrich Ahrens
1938-09-30 SS Washington Tourist Class Passenger List
Steamship Line: United States Lines
Class of Passengers: Tourist Class
Date of Departure: 30 September 1938
Route: Le Havre to New York via Southampton and Cobh
Commander: Captain Giles C. Stedman, Lt. Comm., U.S.N.R.
1938-09-30 SS Washington Third Class Passenger List
Steamship Line: United States Lines
Class of Passengers: Third Class
Date of Departure: 30 September 1938
Route: Le Havre to New York via Southampton and Cobh
Commander: Captain Giles C. Stedman, Lt. Comm., U.S.N.R.
1938-10-01 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: 1 October 1938
Route: Rotterdam to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Southampton
Commander: Commander G. J. Barendse
1938-10-05 SS Normandie Passenger List
Steamship Line: Compagnie Générale Transatlantique CGT - French Line
Class of Passengers: Tourist
Date of Departure: 5 October 1938
Route: Le Havre to New York via Southampton
Commander: Captain Pierre THOREUX
1938-10-15 RMS Ausonia Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin and Tourist Class
Date of Departure: 15 October 1938
Route: Southampton to Montréal and Québec via Le Havre
Commander: Captain C. H. Bate, R.D., R.N.R.
1938-10-15 RMS Britannic Passenger List
Steamship Line: White Star Line
Class of Passengers: Members of the American Legion (First, Tourist and Third Class)
Date of Departure: 15 October 1938
Route: Southampton and Le Havre to New York via Cobh
Commander: Captain A. T. Brown, R.D., R.N.R.
1938-10-22 SS Bremen Passenger List
Steamship Line: North German Lloyd / Norddeutscher Lloyd
Class of Passengers: Cabin, Tourist and Third Class
Date of Departure: 22 October 1938
Route: Bremen to New York via Southampton and Cherbourg
Commander: Captain A. Ahrens
Note: Two Separate Passenger Lists Were Prepared for This Voyage.
1938-10-29 RMS Queen Mary Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: Third Class
Date of Departure: 29 October 1938
Route: Southampton to New York via Cherbourg
Commander: Captain R. B. Irving, O.B.E., R.D., R.N.R.
1938-11-03 SS New York Passenger List
Steamship Line: Hamburg Amerika Linie / Hamburg American Line (HAPAG)
Class of Passengers: Cabin, Tourist, and Third Class
Date of Departure: 3 November 1938
Route: Hamburg to New York via Southampton, Cherbourg, and Cobh
Commander: Captain B. Majewski
1938-11-12 RMS Queen Mary Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: Third Class
Date of Departure: 12 November 1938
Route: Southampton to New York via Cherbourg
Commander: Captain G. Gibbons, R.D., R.N.R.
Other 1938 Passenger Lists Available at the GG Archives
- CGT-French Line SS De Grasse, 1938-07-02, Le Havre to New York, Commanded by Captain Louis Blanquie
- CGT-French Line SS Paris, 1938-08-16, Le Havre to New York via Southampton and Cobh, Commanded by Captain Etienne Payen de la Garanderie
- Cunard Line RMS Franconia, 1938-08-19, Liverpool to Boston and New York via Belfast and Greenock, Commanded by Captain P. A. Murchie, O.B.E., R.D., R.N.R.
- CGT-French Line SS Champlain, 1938-10-22, New York to Le Havre via Plymouth, Commanded by Captain Jules Duchesne
Please help us make our passenger list collection more complete. We would appreciate a digital copy if you have an 1938 souvenir passenger list. Please email us at history@ggarchives.com.
Recap & Summary of the 1938 Passenger Lists Index
The Ellis Island Passenger Lists for 1938 showcase a collection of souvenir passenger lists from major steamship lines, preserving a snapshot of transatlantic and other long-distance maritime travel in the late 1930s. These lists were given to passengers and provided details about the ship, voyage, and fellow travelers. Many have disappeared over time, making this collection particularly valuable for historians, genealogists, and collectors.
These records include routes covering North America, Europe, Australia, and South Africa, with a focus on transatlantic voyages between New York, Boston, Liverpool, Southampton, Hamburg, and Le Havre. Several cruises and lesser-known routes—such as Mediterranean sailings—are also featured.
What makes this collection interesting is its reflection of ocean travel just before World War II, including the presence of German, British, Italian, French, and American ships, many of which would soon be repurposed for war efforts.
Notable Voyages of 1938
Several voyages in 1938 stand out, either due to their historical significance, luxurious experiences, or unusual routes:
- Luxury & Prestige Voyages
- RMS Queen Mary (Cunard Line) – Departed October 29 & November 12, 1938
- One of the most famous liners of its time, offering premier transatlantic service.
- SS Normandie (French Line) – Departed August 10 & October 5, 1938
- The most luxurious ocean liner of the era, competing with the Queen Mary for speed and elegance.
- TSS Nieuw Amsterdam (Holland-America Line) – Departed August 27, 1938
- A newly built liner showcasing Dutch maritime excellence.
- RMS Queen Mary (Cunard Line) – Departed October 29 & November 12, 1938
- Unique & Scenic Routes
- SS Montcalm (Canadian Pacific Line) – June 18, 1938
- A cruise voyage from London to Gibraltar, Casablanca, Madeira, Lisbon, and back.
- SS Monarch of Bermuda (Furness Bermuda Line) – September 17, 1938
- A New York to Bermuda cruise, a favored escape for the elite.
- SS Vulcania (Italia Line) – July 14, 1938
- A Mediterranean-heavy route from Trieste to New York, stopping in Dubrovnik, Patra, Naples, Palermo, Algiers, and Lisbon.
- SS Montcalm (Canadian Pacific Line) – June 18, 1938
- Noteworthy Immigrant & Passenger Voyages
- SS Bremen (North German Lloyd) – Multiple Departures (May 3, June 24, July 12, August 16, October 22, 1938)
- One of the most active ships of 1938, frequently carrying German and European passengers to the U.S.
- SS Athenia (Donaldson Atlantic Line) – September 2, 1938
- This ship would later become the first British passenger ship torpedoed in WWII (1939).
- SS Bremen (North German Lloyd) – Multiple Departures (May 3, June 24, July 12, August 16, October 22, 1938)
- Rare or Historical Ships
- RMS Britannic (White Star Line) – October 15, 1938
- White Star's last remaining ocean liner, carrying American Legion members on this voyage.
- SS City of Newport News (Baltimore Mail Line) – April 11, 1938
- A U.S. mail and passenger liner, making a rare transatlantic trip.
- RMS Britannic (White Star Line) – October 15, 1938
Historical Events Impacting Ocean Liner Travel in 1938
While ocean liners remained the dominant mode of long-distance travel in 1938, several geopolitical and economic events affected maritime routes, passenger movement, and ship operations:
- The Rise of Air Travel
- Transatlantic air travel, while still in its infancy, was gaining ground. Pan Am’s “Clipper” flying boats made regular crossings, appealing to business executives and high-profile passengers.
- The Growing Tensions in Europe
- The Munich Agreement (September 30, 1938) heightened fears of war, affecting travel plans for many.
- German and Italian steamship lines, such as North German Lloyd, HAPAG, and Italia Line, saw increasing restrictions due to global tensions.
- The Flight of Jewish Refugees
- With N**i persecution escalating, Jewish refugees sought passage on ships like the SS Bremen, SS Columbus, and SS Washington to escape Europe.
- Economic Considerations
- The lingering effects of the Great Depression meant fewer wealthy travelers, leading to more “tourist-class” offerings on major liners to make up for revenue losses.
- Naval Militarization
- Many liners that appear in this collection—Queen Mary, Normandie, Bremen, and Athenia—would be requisitioned for military use in World War II within a few years.
Conclusion
The Ellis Island Passenger Lists for 1938 offer a rich, detailed snapshot of ocean travel in a pivotal year. The voyages reflect a mix of luxury, immigration, leisure, and historical significance, with ships that would soon be caught in the tides of World War II. The collection is particularly valuable for understanding the state of global travel before major disruptions reshaped maritime history.
