Steamship Certificate of Health - 1904
This is a Certificate of Health - indicating a steamship has been cleaned and fumigated and passed inspection in the Port of Havre, France from June of 1904. Certificate is in Spanish with French Notifications on reverse side.
Certificado de Sanidad por Limpieza, Rasgueo y Fumigación de los Vapores. Health Certificate for Cleaning, Scraping and Fumigation of Vapors. 1904. GGA Image ID # 119949c95f
Health Certificate for Cleaning, Scraping and Fumigation of the Vapors
I certify that: The steam French Campinas his Captain Mr Beñard to reached this port on June 19, 1904 with general cargo from Dun Kerque and that the cargo was unloaded totally l port of Havre.
And also certify that after downloading, this side has steam scraping and neat everywhere interioremente painted and also externally, either purified, fumigade and subject them all to Health Regulations of the port, after having taken a new shipment free of any infection and to my satisfaction.
As in the Hàvre to June 20, 1904
Agent Maritimo,
/ S / Unreadable signiture
V. B. The Spanish consul
Reverse Side
Back Side of Certificado de Sanidad por Limpieza, Rasgueo y Fumigación de los Vapores. GGA Image ID # 11997c37e0
English Translation
The Haire of the city Harvre certify what Signed to pass on that basis. M Chancerel Ent. Hôtel de Ville du Havre on June 20, 1904
/ S / Unreadable Signiture
Seal of Mairir Du Havre - Seine-Lower
Review and Summary of "Steamship Certificate of Health - 1904"
The 1904 Steamship Certificate of Health is a historically significant document that provides insight into sanitation regulations, maritime health practices, and early public health measures in ocean travel. This certificate, issued in Havre, France, verifies that the French steamship Campinas underwent cleaning, scraping, and fumigation after unloading its cargo. It confirms that the vessel was free of any contamination before taking on new cargo and passengers.
For teachers, students, genealogists, historians, and maritime enthusiasts, this document serves as a valuable artifact that illustrates the rigorous hygiene and safety protocols implemented in the early 20th century to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.
Relevance to Different Fields of Study
1. For Educators & Students: A Case Study in Maritime Sanitation and Public Health
📌 Key Themes: Early Public Health Regulations, Sanitation in Ocean Travel, Maritime Law
This certificate serves as an excellent primary source document for studying:
- The importance of ship sanitation and disease prevention in the early 1900s.
- The role of international ports in enforcing hygiene standards.
- How global trade and immigration influenced the development of public health protocols.
🔎 Classroom Discussion Ideas:
- How did sanitation regulations on steamships prevent disease outbreaks among passengers and crew?
- Compare these historical health measures to modern sanitation protocols on cruise ships today.
- Discuss the role of consulates and maritime agents in verifying steamship hygiene compliance.
2. For Genealogists: Understanding the Health and Safety of Passenger Travel
📌 Key Themes: Shipboard Health Regulations, Immigration Travel Conditions
For those researching ancestors who immigrated via steamship, this document provides:
- Insight into the sanitation measures aboard ships that carried passengers across the Atlantic.
- Verification that health inspections were conducted, ensuring ships were free from disease before taking on new passengers.
- An understanding of port procedures and the role of maritime agents in confirming ship sanitation.
📖 Genealogy Tip:
- If your ancestors traveled on steamships in the early 1900s, they likely benefited from these sanitation measures, which reduced the spread of infectious diseases.
- Check port health records for similar certificates that may have been issued for passenger ships.
3. For Historians: Examining Early Maritime Health Regulations
📌 Key Themes: International Health Protocols, Maritime Trade and Sanitation, Disease Control
This document offers a rare glimpse into early 20th-century maritime health regulations, revealing:
- The procedures used to fumigate and sanitize steamships after unloading cargo.
- The collaboration between port authorities, shipowners, and foreign consulates to maintain public health standards.
- The importance of disease control measures in preventing the spread of illnesses across international shipping routes.
📖 Historical Research Tip:
- Compare this certificate to quarantine and health inspection records from Ellis Island, which also enforced disease control for immigrants arriving in the U.S.
- Look at other port cities, such as Liverpool, New York, or Hamburg, to see if similar health certification documents existed.
Most Interesting and Unique Content in the Article
1. Certification of Ship Sanitation
🛳 Why It’s Interesting:
- The certificate confirms that steamships were inspected, cleaned, and fumigated before they could take on new cargo or passengers.
- It demonstrates early efforts in maritime public health long before modern disease control regulations.
- The certification process included scraping and painting the ship’s interior and exterior, ensuring thorough cleaning.
📖 Why It’s Useful:
- Shows the logistical and administrative efforts required to maintain sanitary conditions on ocean liners.
- Helps explain how steamships complied with port health regulations to avoid disease outbreaks.
2. Multilingual Documentation and International Oversight
🌍 Why It’s Interesting:
- The certificate was issued in Spanish and French, reflecting the international nature of maritime travel and the need for multilingual records.
- It was signed by both a maritime agent and the Spanish consul, confirming official diplomatic oversight of ship sanitation.
📖 Why It’s Useful:
- Demonstrates how multiple countries collaborated to enforce maritime health standards.
- Provides insight into how international trade, immigration, and shipping were regulated at major ports.
3. Role of the Port of Havre in Maritime Health
⚓ Why It’s Interesting:
- The Port of Havre (Le Havre, France) was a major shipping hub for transatlantic trade and immigration.
- The document shows that even cargo steamers were held to high sanitation standards, not just passenger liners.
📖 Why It’s Useful:
- Offers a historical snapshot of Le Havre’s importance in regulating steamship hygiene.
- Provides an example of how ports functioned as gatekeepers for public health.
Final Thoughts: An Important Document in Maritime Public Health
This 1904 Steamship Certificate of Health is more than just a piece of paperwork—it represents a turning point in maritime sanitation, disease control, and international collaboration. For those interested in maritime history, genealogy, or public health regulations, this document provides a valuable glimpse into how steamships were kept clean and safe for both passengers and cargo.
✔ For educators, it serves as an excellent primary source on early public health and sanitation policies.
✔ For genealogists, it offers context on health regulations affecting immigrant steamship travel.
✔ For historians, it showcases the evolution of maritime disease control measures.
✔ For maritime enthusiasts, it provides insight into the challenges of maintaining hygiene aboard transatlantic steamships.
Ultimately, this certificate is an early example of international cooperation in disease prevention, setting the foundation for the modern health and safety standards seen on today’s cruise ships and cargo vessels.
