Ellis Island Passenger Lists - 1952
First Class Passage Contract on Italia Line's SS Conte Grande, 21 February 1952. From the Gjenvick-Gjønvik Archives Passage Contract Collection. GGA Image ID # 205c5569f1
Passenger lists for 1952 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.
1952-03-01 SS Constitution Passenger List
Steamship Line: American Export Lines
Class of Passengers: First Class
Date of Departure: 1 March 1952
Route: Naples to New York via Genoa, Cannes, and Gibraltar
Commander: Captain Bernt A. Jacobsen
1952-03-11 SS Saturnia Passenger List
Steamship Line: Italia Soc. An. Di Navigazione
Class of Passengers: Cabin Class
Date of Departure: 11 March 1952
Route: New York to Naples via Gibraltar, Barcelona, and Genoa
Commander: Commanded by Captain Piero Calamai.
1952-03-30 SS Conte Grande Passenger List
Steamship Line: Italia Line
Class of Passengers: First Class
Date of Departure: 30 March 1952
Route: Genoa to Buenos Aires via Villefranche, Barcelona, Dakar, Rio de Janeiro, Santos, and Montevideo
Commander: Captain Pietro Passano.
1952-05-07 RMS Queen Elizabeth Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin Class
Date of Departure: 7 May 1952
Route: New York to Southampton via Cherbourg
Commander: Commodore G. E. Cove
1952-05-22 SS Giulio Cesare Passenger List
Steamship Line: Italia Line
Class of Passengers: Second Class
Date of Departure: 22 May 1952
Route: Buenos Aires to Genoa via Barcelona and Villafranca
Commander: Captain Filippo Rando.
1952-06-05 RMS Queen Mary Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin Class
Date of Departure: 5 June 1952
Route: Southampton to New York via Cherbourg
Commander: Captain C. I. Thompson.
1952-06-18 RMS Queen Elizabeth Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: First Class
Date of Departure: 18 June 1952
Route: New York to Southampton via Cherbourg
Commander: Commodore G. E. Cove, C.B.E.
1952-08-07 RMS Queen Mary Cabin Class Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin Class
Date of Departure: 7 August 1952
Route: Southampton to New York via Cherbourg
Commander: Captain H. Grattidge, O.B.E.
1952-08-07 RMS Queen Mary Tourist Class Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: Tourist Class
Date of Departure: 7 August 1952
Route: Southampton to New York via Cherbourg
Commander: Captain H. Grattidge, O.B.E.
1952-09-25 SS United States Passenger List
Steamship Line: United States Lines
Class of Passengers: Tourist Class
Date of Departure: 25 September 1952
Route: Southampton to New York via Le Havre
Commander: Captain John W. Anderson, USNR.
1952-10-20 MS Italia Passenger List
Steamship Line: Home Lines
Class of Passengers: Tourist Class
Date of Departure: 20 October 1952
Route: New York to Cuxhaven (Hamburg) via Plymouth and Le Havre
Commander: Captain Paul Thormoehlen
1952-10-27 SS Independence Passenger List
Steamship Line: American Export Lines
Class of Passengers: Cabin
Date of Departure: 27 October 1952
Route: Naples to New York via Genoa, Cannes, and Gibraltar
Commander: Captain Hugh L. Switzer
Other 1952 Passenger Lists Not Digitized
- Cunard Line | Queen Elizabeth | First Class | 1952-06-18 | New York to Southampton via Cherbourg | Commodore G. E. Cove, C.B.E.
- Holland-America Line | Veendam | First and Tourist Class | 1952-06-27 | Rotterdam to New York via Le Havre and Southampton | Captain H. Oldenburger
- United States Lines | United States | Tourist | 1952-09-25 | Southampton to New York via Le Havre | Captain John W. Anderson, Capt., U.S.N.R.
Please help us make our passenger list collection more complete. We would appreciate a digital copy if you have an 1952 souvenir passenger list. Please email us at history@ggarchives.com.
Recap & Summary of the Ellis Island Passenger Lists – 1952
The 1952 passenger lists highlight a transformative year in ocean travel, with the maiden voyages of the SS United States, the continued expansion of Tourist Class, and new routes connecting North America, Europe, and South America. This year saw one of the last peak years for ocean liners before commercial aviation gained a stronghold in the transatlantic travel market.
The First-Class Passage Contract on the SS Conte Grande (February 21, 1952), preserved in the archives, provides a unique glimpse into the luxury of ocean travel at the time, as well as the prestige associated with Italian passenger ships.
Interesting Highlights from the 1952 Passenger Lists
1. The Debut of the SS United States – The New Champion of Transatlantic Travel
- The SS United States (September 25, 1952) set a new standard for speed and luxury, becoming the fastest ocean liner in history.
- The ship broke the transatlantic speed record on her maiden voyage in July 1952, and was viewed as America’s answer to Cunard’s Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth.
- This voyage marked the beginning of the end for traditional ocean liners, as air travel loomed as a major competitor.
2. The Continued Rise of Tourist Class
- More ships were offering Tourist Class as a main feature, showing the shift toward affordability and mass travel.
- RMS Queen Mary (August 7, 1952) and SS United States (September 25, 1952) both prioritized Tourist Class, making ocean travel more accessible.
- The MS Italia (October 20, 1952) also focused on Tourist Class, reflecting the growing importance of budget-conscious travelers.
3. Expansion of Italian and South American Migration Routes
- SS Conte Grande (March 30, 1952) operated a long-haul migration voyage from Genoa to Buenos Aires, stopping in:
- Villefranche, Barcelona, Dakar, Rio de Janeiro, Santos, and Montevideo.
- This route highlights Italy’s strong migration ties with South America, especially Argentina and Brazil.
- SS Giulio Cesare (May 22, 1952) took the reverse route from Buenos Aires to Genoa, bringing returning migrants and European travelers back to Italy.
4. The Prestige of the Cunard Queens
- RMS Queen Elizabeth and RMS Queen Mary continued to dominate transatlantic luxury travel, but were beginning to feel the pressure from SS United States.
- These voyages illustrate the growing divide between luxurious First Class and the rising demand for Tourist Class.
Most Interesting Voyages of 1952
1. SS United States (September 25, 1952) – A Game-Changer
- This Southampton-to-New York voyage on America’s greatest ocean liner represents the beginning of a new era in ocean travel.
- The SS United States was the fastest liner ever built, setting a record-breaking transatlantic crossing of 3 days, 10 hours, and 40 minutes in July 1952.
2. SS Conte Grande (March 30, 1952) – Italian Migration to South America
- A Genoa-to-Buenos Aires voyage, reflecting the ongoing mass migration from Italy to Argentina.
- With stops in Dakar, Rio de Janeiro, and Montevideo, this voyage captured the global nature of migration in the early 1950s.
3. RMS Queen Mary (August 7, 1952) – The Tourist Class Revolution
- This Tourist Class voyage from Southampton to New York symbolized the growing affordability of transatlantic crossings.
- Middle-class travelers were now filling cabins that had once been reserved for elite passengers.
4. MS Italia (October 20, 1952) – The New Trend in Tourist Class
- This New York-to-Cuxhaven (Hamburg) voyage stopped in Plymouth and Le Havre, showcasing the growing importance of budget-friendly travel options in post-war Europe.
World Events That Affected Ocean Travel in 1952
1. The Rise of Air Travel as a True Competitor
- The Douglas DC-6 and Lockheed Constellation were now operating regular transatlantic flights, reducing demand for ocean travel.
- Boeing was already developing the first commercial jetliner (707), signaling an even bigger shift in the years to come.
- Many business travelers began opting for air travel instead of liners, cutting into the elite passenger market.
2. Migration from Europe to South America and North America Continues
- Economic hardships in Italy and Spain pushed thousands of migrants to Argentina, Brazil, and the U.S.
- Ships like SS Conte Grande and SS Giulio Cesare served this migration wave, connecting Europe with Buenos Aires.
3. The Cold War & Military Advancements
- With the Cold War at its peak, military transportation became a priority, affecting shipbuilding investments and maritime policies.
- Naval advancements influenced ocean liners, with the SS United States being built with military capabilities in mind.
4. The End of the Golden Age of Ocean Liners
- 1952 marked one of the last great years for ocean liners before the decline began.
- The SS United States symbolized both the peak and the turning point, as it was the last truly dominant ocean liner before jet travel took over in the late 1950s.
Conclusion
The Ellis Island Passenger Lists for 1952 document a turning point in maritime history, as air travel rose, Tourist Class expanded, and the SS United States entered the scene.
- Cunard’s Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth still held strong, but the SS United States had changed the game.
- Tourist Class became the new priority, making ocean travel accessible to more people than ever before.
- Migration from Europe to South America and North America continued, with Italian liners playing a key role.
- Airlines were taking over the luxury market, forcing ocean liners to adapt or fade away.
This was one of the last peak years for ocean travel, as by the late 1950s, jet planes would replace ocean liners as the preferred mode of transatlantic transportation.
