The Grace Line: A Maritime Legacy in Transpacific and Caribbean Travel (1882-1969)
The Grace Line (Started by W. R. Grace & Company) operated as a steamship line from 1882 until 1969. Beginning in the 1930s, Grace Line established passenger service between New York and Seattle via the Panama Canal. By the late 1930s, they concentrated on the route between New York and Haiti.
Discover the history of the Grace Line, a prominent steamship company operating between New York, the West Coast, and the Caribbean from 1882 to 1969. This archival collection includes passenger lists, memorabilia, and personal accounts, offering valuable insights for historians, genealogists, and ocean travel enthusiasts.
1937-12-10 SS Santa Rosa Passenger List
- Steamship Line: Grace Line
- Ship: SS Santa Rosa
- 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
Other Ephemera of the Grace Line
- 1937-12-20 Receipt for Medial Services (Prophylactic Inoculation) Mrs. H. "Bolivia" Keegan, Room 101, SS Santa Rosa.
- 1937-12-06 Insurance Contract, St. Paul Fire and Marine Insurance Company - Grace Line - Personal Effects Insurance $400.00 Premium for Voyage, $4.00 For Mrs. Harry Keegan.
Passengers on board the SS Santa Rosa, 25 December 1937. GGA Image ID # 21fd9ea953
1937-12-25 Photograph of Passengers on board the SS Santa Rosa. Five passengers in photograph; 8 autographs of fellow passengers on the reverse side. Endorsed : To a good scout and pal. A Merry Xmas & A Happy New Year. A. N. Nettles, Joan Pratt Johnson, Alia Yoe, Mr. & Mrs. Clark Burnham, Thanks - Paul Joucs Farish, Joe (Napoleon) Sheurch, Adins, "Dey" De Maettine
Review and Summary of the Grace Line Archival Collection
Introduction to the Grace Line
The Grace Line, originally founded by W. R. Grace & Company in 1882, played a significant role in maritime travel, cargo shipping, and passenger transport across the Americas. Initially focused on trade, the company expanded into passenger services in the early 20th century, offering luxurious ocean voyages between the East and West Coasts of the United States via the Panama Canal, as well as routes to Haiti and Latin America.
By the 1930s, Grace Line was renowned for its elegant ships, including the Santa Rosa, which provided premier service to destinations including Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Panama, Colombia, and Havana before docking in New York. The company played a pivotal role in the movement of business travelers, tourists, diplomats, and expatriates.
This archival collection provides rich historical value to multiple audiences:
- Historians and ocean travel enthusiasts can explore the evolution of intercoastal and Caribbean travel before air travel became dominant.
- Genealogists can find valuable records of passengers who traveled aboard Grace Line ships, uncovering new family history connections.
- Teachers and students can analyze primary sources related to maritime commerce, luxury travel, and social history in the early 20th century.
Key Highlights from the Collection
1. Passenger Lists and Ship Records
The passenger list from December 10, 1937, for the SS Santa Rosa provides critical insights into international travel routes during this period.
Voyage Route: Departing from San Francisco and Los Angeles, the SS Santa Rosa made stops at: Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, The Panama Canal, Colombia, Havana, Cuba, New York.
Commander: Captain Curt Zastrow
Why It’s Interesting: This route showcases the importance of ocean liners as a primary means of travel between North and South America before commercial air travel became widespread. The stops at key Central American and Caribbean ports highlight the economic and cultural exchanges facilitated by the Grace Line.
2. Unique Ephemera and Personal Memorabilia
Beyond passenger lists, the collection features fascinating ephemera that provide a personal touch to the history of ocean travel:
December 20, 1937 – Medical Receipt for Inoculation
- Issued to Mrs. H. “Bolivia” Keegan for a prophylactic inoculation.
- Illustrates health and safety procedures aboard ships during this time, a topic that remains relevant today.
December 6, 1937 – Travel Insurance Contract
- Issued by St. Paul Fire and Marine Insurance Company for personal effects insurance valued at $400 ($4.00 premium).
- Highlights the importance of travel insurance even in the early 20th century, showing concerns about luggage safety and financial protection on long voyages.
Why It’s Interesting: These documents reveal the daily concerns of ocean travelers—from health precautions to the financial protection of their belongings. They also reflect how passenger safety and insurance policies have evolved over time.
3. Rare Passenger Photograph and Autographs (December 25, 1937)
A Christmas Day photograph taken aboard the SS Santa Rosa captures five passengers.
The reverse side contains eight autographs with personal messages, including:
- "To a good scout and pal. A Merry Xmas & A Happy New Year."
- Names such as A. N. Nettles, Joan Pratt Johnson, and Alia Yoe appear in the signatures.
Why It’s Interesting: This heartwarming snapshot of shipboard camaraderie is a rare personal glimpse into life at sea. The social aspect of ocean travel was a defining feature of these voyages, creating friendships among passengers from different backgrounds.
Why This Collection is Valuable to Different Audiences
For Historians and Ocean Travel Enthusiasts:
- Offers insight into the development of intercoastal and Caribbean passenger shipping.
- Showcases how luxury and business travel shaped transcontinental connections.
- Highlights the importance of the Panama Canal in maritime commerce.
For Genealogists and Family Historians:
- Passenger lists may help trace family members who traveled for work, migration, or tourism.
- Ephemera like insurance contracts and medical receipts provide personal details rarely found in standard records.
- The passenger photograph and autographs serve as a rare personal artifact for those seeking ancestors who may have traveled aboard the SS Santa Rosa.
For Teachers and Students:
- Primary source documents can be used in lessons on international trade, travel history, and migration patterns.
- Provides first-hand accounts of early 20th-century travel logistics, including health precautions, insurance needs, and passenger experiences.
- Encourages historical analysis of how ocean liners influenced global connections before air travel became dominant.
Final Thoughts
The Grace Line Archival Collection offers a comprehensive and humanizing look at ocean travel in the 1930s. The passenger lists, unique personal ephemera, and rare autographed photograph from Christmas 1937 paint a vivid picture of life aboard a transcontinental liner.
For historians, genealogists, and travel enthusiasts, this collection is a valuable research tool, capturing the economic, social, and cultural significance of the Grace Line’s voyages. It serves as a reminder of a time when steamships were the pinnacle of luxury and adventure, bridging the Americas with elegance and efficiency.
