Italian Steamship Lines: A Legacy of Transatlantic Travel & Immigration (Passenger Lists, Ship Histories, & Ephemera)

Italian Steamship Lines includes Cosulich Line, Italia-Sabaudo, Lloyd Sabaudo, NGI-Italian Line, Societa di Navigazione Italia, Italia Flotte Riunite Cosulich - Lloyd Sabaudo - Navigazione Generale and Soc. per Azioni di Navigazione Genova and Sabaudo.

Voyage by Contract: A 1935 Tourist Class Ticket on the SS Rex from Naples to New York

The passage contract for Dr. Charles Lombardo Bartholomew's journey aboard the majestic SS Rex in Tourist Class offers a captivating snapshot of 1930s ocean travel during the golden age of transatlantic crossings. This vintage document is more than just a ticket—it's a firsthand account of the formalities, expectations, and legal boundaries that shaped a traveler's experience aboard a world-class Italian liner.

🛳️ SS Galilea 1936 Passage Ticket – Trieste to Haifa Amid Geopolitical Shifts

Lloyd Triestino's Route from Trieste to Haifa — A Mediterranean Journey in a Tumultuous Era 🌍📜

This Tourist Class Passage Certificate, issued on 11 September 1936 for M. Freimann, offers an insightful glimpse into a personal voyage from Trieste, Italy to Haifa, British Mandate Palestine aboard the SS Galilea. Though seemingly simple in design, this ticket is steeped in geopolitical complexity, social history, and maritime evolution—making it highly relevant for educators, genealogists, and historians alike.

Cosulich Line - Trieste

Cosulich Line - Trieste or Cosulich Societa Triestina di Navigazione was owned by the Cosulich brothers and operated as Cosulich Line after World War I until it was merged with the Italian Line in 1937. Ports of call included New York, Boston, Azores, Lisbon, Gibraltar, Marseilles, Cannes, Naples, Patras and Trieste.

Cosulich Societa Triestina di Navigazione offers express passenger service to Algiers, Naples, Patras, Venice, Dubrovnik, Trieste and Fiume. Freight service to Venice, Trieste, Fiume and other ports as inducements offer. Taking cargo in connection with Lloyd Triestino Societa di Navigazione a Vapore and other connecting lines for Mediterranean, Levant, Black Sea, Red Sea and Far East destinations.

Italia - Lloyd Sabaudo Line

Formed in 1932, The Italia line was the result of a controlled syndicate of the major Italian steamship lines then in operation. Italia was one of the four surviving companies that served between Italian ports and North and South America. The full name is Italia Flotte Riunite Cosulich - Lloyd Sabaudo - Navigazione Generale and Soc. per Azioni di Navigazione Genova and Sabaudo.

Lloyd Sabaudo

The Lloyd Sabaudo Line was organized in Turin, Italy, on June 21, 1906, with head offices at Genoa. On April 7, 1907, the company celebrated the inauguration of its services by despatching from Genoa the Re D'Italia on her maiden trip to New York. By 1932 the world shipping depression caused the fusion of Lloyd Sabaudo, Cosulich and Navigazione Generale Italiana with the formation of the "Italia" Line.

Review and Summary of the Italian Steamship Lines Archival Collection

Introduction to Italian Steamship Lines

The Italian Steamship Lines played a crucial role in transatlantic travel, immigration, and luxury cruising from the late 19th century to the mid-20th century. Encompassing several major companies—including Lloyd Sabaudo, Navigazione Generale Italiana (NGI), Cosulich Line, and Italia Line—these fleets connected Italy to North and South America, carrying millions of immigrants, tourists, and diplomats across the ocean.

This archival collection is a treasure trove for genealogists, maritime historians, and educators, offering passenger lists, ship brochures, passage contracts, and ephemera that document immigration trends, shipboard life, and the evolution of ocean travel.

 

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Key Highlights from the Collection

1. Passenger Lists – Tracing Italian Immigration to America & Beyond

Passenger lists from 1914-1956 provide a direct link to Italian immigrants and travelers who crossed the Atlantic in search of new opportunities.

Notable Passenger Lists in the Collection:

• SS Principe di Udine (12 August 1914) – Lloyd Sabaudo Line, Genoa to New York.
• SS Colombo (10 April 1926, 16 March 1927) – NGI Line, connecting Italy and the U.S.
• SS Conte Biancamano (30 June 1927, 25 October 1930, 14 September 1950) – First Class and Cabin passengers.
• SS Saturnia & SS Vulcania (1929-1952) – Major transatlantic ships of the Cosulich and Italia Line.
• SS Rex (1935-1939) – A Blue Riband-winning liner, one of Italy’s most prestigious ocean liners.
• SS Roma (1937) – Offered routes to Madeira, Casablanca, and beyond.
• SS Giulio Cesare (22 May 1952) – Transporting passengers from Buenos Aires to Genoa.

Why This is Important for Researchers::

• Genealogists can track family migration patterns from Italy to America, Argentina, and beyond.
• Historians can analyze Italian immigration waves, particularly those affected by the Quota Laws of 1924.
• Students & educators can explore firsthand accounts of life aboard Italian steamships.

 

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2. The Role of Italian Lines in Transatlantic Immigration

By the early 20th century, millions of Italians were emigrating to America, often traveling in third class or steerage aboard NGI, Cosulich, and Lloyd Sabaudo liners.

Key Immigration Documents in the Archive:

• 1928 Second Class Passage Contract – SS Roma – Marked “Quota,” referencing the 1924 Immigration Act that limited Italian immigrants to 4,000 per year.
• 1930 Immigrant ID & Vaccination Certificate – Required for Italian immigrants arriving in the U.S.
• 1931 Third Class Passage Contract – SS Duilio – Genova to Buenos Aires, showcasing Italian migration to Argentina.
• 1938 Italian Line Third Class Rates Brochure – Essential for understanding costs, regulations, and ship accommodations for immigrants.

Why This Matters:

• Provides firsthand accounts of immigration regulations and policies affecting Italians in the early 20th century.
• Shows how steamship companies adapted to restrictive immigration laws by promoting tourism and luxury cruises.
• Offers genealogists key details on ancestors’ migration journeys.

 

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3. Luxury & Prestige – The Rise of Italian Ocean Liners

Beyond immigrant transport, Italian steamship companies competed with Cunard, White Star, and French Lines to offer luxury transatlantic voyages.

Iconic Ships in the Collection:

• SS Rex (1935-1939) – Italy’s fastest and most famous ocean liner, winner of the Blue Riband in 1933 for the fastest Atlantic crossing.
• SS Conte di Savoia (1937) – Rivaled Cunard’s Queen Mary in elegance and speed.
• SS Saturnia & SS Vulcania – Popular ships for first-class leisure travel.
• SS Roma – Known for its elaborate first-class accommodations and exotic routes.

Luxury Ocean Travel Highlights:

• 1925 SS Colombo Brochure – Showcased the lavish interiors of Cabin and Third Class accommodations.
• 1935-1938 SS Rex Passenger Lists – Demonstrated Italy’s prestige in international ocean travel.
• 1937 SS Roma Annotated Passenger List – A firsthand look at high-profile passengers and destinations.

Why This is Interesting:

• These documents reveal how Italian shipping companies marketed themselves as symbols of national pride.
• Italy’s fascist regime under Mussolini used ocean liners like SS Rex to project Italy’s power.
• The shift from immigrant transport to luxury cruising highlights the evolution of ocean travel.

 

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4. Mediterranean & South American Routes – A Global Impact

Italian steamship lines didn’t just serve Italy-U.S. routes—they also played a major role in Mediterranean and South American travel.

Examples from the Collection:

• SS Duilio (1931) – Genova to Buenos Aires via Rio de Janeiro, Montevideo, and Barcelona.
• SS Conte Grande (1952) – Genoa to Buenos Aires, stopping in Barcelona, Dakar, Rio de Janeiro, Santos, and Montevideo.
• SS Galilea (1936) – Trieste to Haifa, showcasing Italian presence in the Middle East.

Why This Matters:

• Illustrates Italy’s deep ties to South America—many Italians settled in Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay.
• Documents Italy’s Mediterranean influence, including its connections to Haifa, Egypt, and North Africa.
• Shows how passenger routes evolved from immigration-focused to tourism-focused after World War II.

 

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Who Would Benefit from This Collection?

For Genealogists & Family Historians:

• Provides passenger lists, passage contracts, and immigrant ID documents for tracing Italian ancestors who traveled between 1914-1956.
• Helps reconstruct family migration stories using original ship manifests and travel documents.

 

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For Maritime & Immigration Historians:

• Showcases the evolution of Italian steamship lines—from immigrant transport to luxury liners.
• Offers insight into how the 1924 U.S. Immigration Act shaped Italian migration patterns.

 

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For Educators & Students Studying Global Migration:

• Primary source documents illustrate real-world examples of transatlantic immigration.
• Highlights Italy’s role in global ocean travel, connecting Europe, America, and Africa.

 

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Final Thoughts

The Italian Steamship Lines Archival Collection offers a rich historical perspective on transatlantic travel, immigration, and luxury cruising.

From early 20th-century steerage passengers seeking a new life in America to the grandeur of the SS Rex, these documents preserve the legacy of Italian maritime heritage.

For genealogists, historians, educators, and maritime enthusiasts, this collection is an invaluable resource that brings Italian ocean travel to life through authentic passenger lists, travel brochures, and immigration records.