Scandinavian-American Line Archival Collection

Det Forenede Dampskibs-Selskab Aktieselskab - The United Steamboat Company Corporation operates as the Scandinavian-American Line (Skandinavien-Amerika Linien).

In the early years, many immigrants from Scandinavia and the Baltic States crossed the ocean to the New World in ships from the Scandinavian-American Line.

Favored in the early 20th century by those who crossed the Atlantic for pleasure and business, the Scandinavian-American Line- the descriptive name under which the company operated its passenger service between the United States and the Scandinavian countries- typifies everything that made ocean travel a delight.

Explore the history of the Scandinavian-American Line, a key transatlantic carrier for Scandinavian immigrants and travelers from 1866–1931. Discover passenger lists, vintage menus, brochures, and fleet records—an essential resource for historians, genealogists, and maritime enthusiasts.

Quick Links to Topics Covered

1. Passenger Lists (Grouped by Ship in Alpha/Date Order)

(CFT) C.F. Tietgen (F) Frederik VIII (H) Hellig Olav (O) Oscar II (U) United States

2. Brochures & Promotional Materials (Organized by Date)

3. Menus

4. Other Ephemera (Not Digitized)

5. Neutral Flag: The Scandinavian-American Line (1916)

6. Story of the Scandinavian-American Line

7. Bibliography

8. Recap and Summary of the Scandinavian-American Line Archival Collection

Headquarters of the Scandinavian-American Line at Kongens Nytorv 14 in Copenhagen, Denmark, 1914. GGA Image ID # 1d473261b0

1932 Brochure: Excursion to Scandinavia, Scandinavian Fraternity of America, Sponsored by Seattle Lodge No. 61. Leave New York on May 28 on board the Scandinavian-American Line flagship Frederik VIII. 12 Panels (Fold Out). Photographs include: SS Frederik VIII, Cabin on Steamer, and other destination scenes.

1913 Hat Ribbon (Cap Tally) Frederik VIII - Gold Lettering on Black Ribbon with Skandinavien Amerika Linen crest on both sides (Logo with flags of Sweden, US, Norway and Denmark (Clockwise).

The neutral flags, referring to the flags of countries not involved in the war, that sail out of our ports perform an essential service in keeping alive our communications with Europe in these war-torn times.

The various lines operating between New York and Scandinavian points have, with trifling exceptions, kept their service uninterrupted. Their ships are richly laden with freight, and new trade routes spring up overnight.

Even in these perilous days, the passengers of the Scandinavian-American Line have traversed the seas without danger from torpedo or mine, a testament to the safety and security of their service.

Three years ago, in an article in the Review on "The Revival of Norway's Dominion on the Sea," Director Bryde recounted the inception of the Norwegian America Line and the Norway-Mexico Gulf Line.

An editorial in the current issue announces the actual inauguration of a new passenger service under the Swedish flag, a significant development that further expands the network of transatlantic travel.

The present article will sketch in brief outline the history of the pioneer in whose wake these lines have followed—the route whose ships wear the red and white cross of Denmark, a symbol of the Danish flag, painted brightly on their sides. This 'Danish Line' is known officially as the Scandinavian-American Line.

The Scandinavian-American Line, as its name implies, is a vital link between Scandinavia and America. As the pioneer in establishing direct routes for transporting passengers and freight between the Scandinavian countries and the United States, it has played a significant role in fostering the friendly and intimate relations that prevail between these nations, a fact that we can all appreciate and celebrate.

The Scandinavian-American Line is a living testimony to the hundreds of thousands of sturdy immigrants it has brought to America during the thirty-five years of its existence. These immigrants, now counted among the best American citizens, are a testament to the Line's contribution to the growth and prosperity of the Scandinavian-American community, a fact that we can all take pride in.

In the hundreds of thousands of Americanized Scandinavians carried back to their old homes for friendly visits, in the thousands of native American tourists whom the direct route has induced to visit Norway, Sweden, and Denmark and become acquainted with the grandeur and charm of the North.

The Scandinavian-American Line is a name given to the branch of the service of the United Steamship Company of Copenhagen (Det Forenede Dampskibsselskab) engaged in the direct New York-Christiansand, Christiania and Copenhagen route, particularly to the sender of the four-passenger and mail steamers Oscar II, Hellig Olav, United States, and Frederik VIII.

The United Steamship Company is a Danish organization formed in 1866, amalgamating several smaller concerns. It commenced business with a fleet of twenty-two steamships having a total register tonnage of 4,919 tons.

In the beginning, only the ports of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden were served, but later, other steamship companies were absorbed, and the wise and enterprising management rapidly added more steamers and extended the service to distant ports.

Just before the outbreak of war, this company owned one hundred and forty-four steamers with a registered tonnage of 185,444 tons. It maintained regular service not only to various ports in Denmark and the sister countries of Sweden and Norway but to ports in Germany and Russia on the Baltic, to Iceland and Faroe Islands, to Scotland, England, Holland, Belgium, France, Portugal, and Madeira, and various ports on the Mediterranean extending even to the Levant and the Black Sea.

Routes were also established across the Atlantic to Brazil and Argentina in South America and Galveston, New Orleans, Savannah, Newport News, Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York, and Boston in North America. On the other hand, traffic with the Orient was left to another well-known Danish commercial enterprise, the East Asiatic Company.

Route Map of the Scandinavian-American Line. Scandinavian American Line Passenger Service Brochure, 1920s. GGA Image ID # 21fdc322ef. Click to View a Larger Image.

All American connections are exclusively freight routes, except the Scandinavian-American Line to and from New York, a regular passenger and mail service between New York and Christiansand, Christiania, and Copenhagen.

This direct passenger service was initially begun in 1880 by the Thingvalla Steamship Company. After a somewhat checkered career, it was finally taken over about fifteen years ago by the United Steamship Company, which continued the service under the name of the Scandinavian-American Line.

With its usual enterprise and farsightedness, the company built the steamers SS Oscar II, SS Hellig Olav, and SS United States, each 51.3 feet long and 10,000 tons displacement, equipped with every safety device, modern comfort, and luxury, and particularly adapted to the demands and requirements of the fastidious Scandinavian passenger.

These steamers' first and second cabins are unusually spacious and comfortable. However, the most distinctive feature of their appointment is the third class, which provides a degree of comfort formerly unknown in this class of ocean travel.

The open steerage floorplan was abolished, and instead, small cabins for two or four persons, neat dining rooms, and sitting rooms were introduced for the first time, which resulted in a continually growing patronage.

The SS Frederik VIII of the Scandinavian-American Line. Scandinavian American Line Brochure, 1917. GGA Image ID # 21fdd1f3cf

In 1914, the new steamer Frederik VIII made its maiden trip. It is the largest steamer ever built for the Scandinavian service, being 542 feet long, 62 feet wide, 41 feet deep from the upper deck to the bottom, and displacing 18,000 tons. It is completely equipped with modern appointments, affording a degree of luxury and comfort unsurpassed on any liner of its size afloat.

All of the steamers are particularly well supplied with lifesaving apparatus, providing boats far above the highest number of passengers and crew ever carried; the Frederik VIII even has a motor lifeboat. Two wireless operators are onboard, one always on duty at sea.

Each of the three classes has libraries of selected works in Scandinavian, English, and other European languages. Each steamer carries an orchestra of skilled musicians, and the third class is treated to daily concerts as well as the first. Also, the cuisine is justly famed for its staying powers and novelties, combining wholesomeness and a high degree of artistic excellence.

First Cabin Writing Room on the Oscar II and Helig Olav of the Scandinavian-American Line. Scandinavian American Line Brochure, 1917. GGA Image ID # 21fde16e7f

The Scandinavian-American Line has always chosen its route to please the tourist. The first port of call in Norway is Christiansand, where a stop is made to land passengers and mail, and connections are provided for remote Saetersdal, the Norwegian coast, and Southern Norway; the journey is then continued up the beautiful Christiania Fjord to Christiania.

Here, a several-hour stop is made, allowing ample time for those continuing on the steamer to Copenhagen to see the capital, inspect the exhumed Viking ships, visit the museums, take a trip up the forest-clad mountainside to the delightful Holmenkollen Hotel, and lunch sumptuously while enjoying a most beautiful view of the city, fjord, and surrounding country.

Picturesque Telemarken may be reached from Christiania. Tourists who intend to visit the North Cape or the mountains in western and northern Norway proceed from Christiania to Bergen over the scenic Bergen-Christiania Highland Railway. After having visited the North Cape, it will not be necessary to retrace steps, as the journey may be continued by rail through the wooded hills and across the rushing rivers of northern Sweden to Stockholm.

After inspecting the many places of historical interest and visiting the numerous art galleries and museums of Sweden's aristocratic and beautiful capital, and after making short but interesting trips to Uppsala and Dalarna or across the Baltic to ruined Visby, the tourist may continue the journey by most comfortable steamers straight across Sweden, past hills and lakes on the Gota Canal to Gothenburg.

This unique trip, which permits many small excursions on foot while the steamers are going through the locks to old churches and other points of interest, takes two and a half days. From modern Gothenburg, Sweden's busiest port, to Copenhagen, it is but a seven-hour rail journey.

The passenger who elects to continue on his steamer from Christiania arrives after a night's run in Copenhagen, the largest city in Scandinavia. Copenhagen has art galleries and museums, and Denmark has castles and manors, prosperous farms and leafy beech woods, hotels for tourists, and bathing resorts by the sea. Christiania offers rail connections with Finland and Russia, and Copenhagen opens the door to the Continent.

To the dean of the Scandinavian passenger service in this country, Mr. A. E. Johnson, it is due more than to any other person the awakening of American interest in the possibilities of the North as a tourist land. It was no doubt in recognition that he was chosen in 1911, with Consul C.A. Smith of Minnesota and California, as one of the two Swedish-born trustees of the American-Scandinavian Foundation.

For over twenty-five years, Messrs. A. E. Johnson & Co. has been in charge of the passenger department in America. The firm comprises Hon. A. E. Johnson, former Swedish Consul in New York, and Mr. Max Straus. In 1914, Mr. Halvor Jacobsen, a Dane by birth but in America since early childhood, formerly General Passenger Agent at San Francisco, entered the firm, the name of which was changed to A. E. Johnson & Co., Inc.

Since Mr. Johnson was taken ill in November 1914, the passenger department has been under Mr. Jacobsen's exclusive management. The Line Arts maintains general offices in New York, Boston, Chicago, Minneapolis, San Francisco, and Seattle in Toronto, Ontario, and representatives are found in almost every town and city in the United States and Canada.

The Frederik VIII of the Scandinavian-American Line, 12,000 Tons Register, is a Luxurious and Deservedly Popular Passenger Vessel. GGA Image ID # 141ebbee4c

SERVICE has been the constant keynote of the United Steamship Company of Copenhagen since its inception. The growth and steadily perfected development of this ideal of Service are strikingly shown in its present Important position.

Today, those who cross the Atlantic for pleasure and business favor the Scandinavian-American Line, the descriptive name under which the company operates its passenger service between the United States and the Scandinavian countries. It typifies everything that makes ocean travel a delight.

For those whose destination lies in the Scandinavian countries—Denmark, Sweden, and Norway—or Germany, Finland, Russia, and the other adjacent European countries, and for those who seek to travel by a route that has everything to commend it from the standpoint of convenience, scenic attraction, historical association, and new sensations, this company offers exceptional service and equipment.

The United Steamship Company of Copenhagen Amalgamating several smaller shipping firms, the United Steamship Company of Copenhagen was formed in 1866 and began business the following year.

With a fleet of 22 steamships, with a total register tonnage of 4,919 tons net, regular routes were maintained between the various ports in Denmark and, in addition, to Kiel, Stettin, Konigsberg, Antwerp, London, Hull, several Norwegian ports, the Faroe Islands, and Iceland.

Expansion was rapid, and the Company steadily enlarged its fleet and business area, increasing its facilities by fusing with other companies. As a natural result of this aggressive, definite, foresighted policy, by 1872, this company was the principal factor in the water shipping traffic between Copenhagen and other Danish Ports.

1875 saw the completion of the harbor of Esbjerg, on the| west coast of Jutland, and with it, the regular operation of a line of steamships between that port and England.

Further expansion began in 1880, when the important export routes for agricultural products between Copenhagen and Newcastle, England, were taken over.

This was followed closely by the acquisition of still other routes between Danish provincial ports and Newcastle. It is noteworthy that since 1884, this company has solely handled Danish agricultural exports to England (with the exception of the route between Copenhagen and Leith).

1882. Shortly after the opening of the St. Petersburg Ship Canal, the company again broadened its activities, and a line of steamships was put in operation between Antwerp and St. Petersburg.

1883 was likewise an important development year. It saw the company’s service to Havre as a port of regular call and a further extension of its service to Mediterranean ports.

1886 was another progressive year when a route to Hamburg and between Antwerp and Riga was established.

In 1887, it opened up still other new routes—one to Hango (Finland) and one to Oporto-Lisbon, which was extended to Madeira in 1893.

1895 marked an epoch in the company’s history. As busy as they had been up to this time developing their many European routes, attention was now turned to developing the company’s first route between Copenhagen and United States ports.

Six big steamships were built, named Kentucky, Arkansas, Louisiana, Florida, Alabama, and Texas. These steamships plied between Copenhagen and New Orleans, and in addition to their great cargo capacities, they provided accommodations for a limited number of cabin passengers.

The Scandinavian-American Liner Oscar II, 10,000 Tons Register, is a Splended, Modern, Twin-Screw Steamer. GGA Image ID # 141ec77c17

1898 witnessed even more important developments. This year, the company took over the “Thingvalla Line,” a long-established passenger service line between Copenhagen and New York.

With the accession of this line, immediate steps were taken to put its trans-oceanic service on the highest plane of efficiency. New twin-screw steamers of the most modern type were built expressly for this service between Scandinavian ports and New York. This service is known as the Scandinavian-American Line.

1899, the company established a regular service between Boston and Copenhagen.

In 1903-1904, regular sailings between Scandinavian ports and Philadelphia, Newport News, and Baltimore were initiated.

1907 saw another addition to the company’s service: the establishment of the line to Buenos Aires, South America.

As a result of this steady progress, of this Intelligent expansion of its service, by the end of 1913, the company’s fleet Included 130 steamships and 14 seagoing lighters, with a total gross tonnage of 177,290 tons.

In 1914, the service of the Company’s Lines was further augmented with the commissioning of several new ships. The most notable of these were the “California,” the largest vessel afloat driven by Diesel motor engines, and the magnificent passenger steamer “Frederick VIII.”

No more popular steamers sail the broad Atlantic than the splendid modern twin-screw steamers of the Scandinavian-American Line, which maintain a regular direct service between New York and Scandinavian ports. The fleet comprises:

The Frederick VIII, 12,000 tons register, 18,000 tons displacement, 542 feet long, 62 feet wide, 42 feet from keel to upper deck, built by the renowned Vulcan Shipbuilding Company at Stettin.

The Oscar II, the Heilig Olav, and the United States, each 10,000 tons registered, 16,000 tons displacement, 515 feet long, 58 feet wide, 42 feet from keel to upper deck, were built at the famous shipyards of Alexander Stephen & Sons on the Clyde.

Designed and built expressly for the Scandinavian-American Line, with every known contrivance for safety, speed, and comfort, these twin-screw steamers, constructed of steel throughout, are equipped with double cellular bottoms, watertight compartments, and bilge keels to ensure maximum steadiness at sea.

Passengers can reach the Scandinavian countries and neighboring Baltic ports with unexcelled ease and convenience by any of these exceedingly popular steamers.

The voyage takes about 9% of the time, except on the steamer Frederick VIII, which takes only 8 1/2 days. It offers an attractive, quick, and comfortable way to travel, whether the ultimate destination is Scandinavia or one of the adjacent continental countries.

First Class Dining Saloon on the Frederik VIII. GGA Image ID # 141ef0218b

Scandinavian-American Line steamers sail from the Company’s dock in New York Harbor. The route takes the ships north of Scotland to Christiansand, Norway, the first port of call.

Then, up the beautiful Christiania Fjord to Christiania, where sufficient time is allowed for short visits to the Norwegian Capitol and its environs. (Tourists going to the North Cape to see the Midnight Sun or to make the Fjord cruises may stop over to see Southern Norway before proceeding.

Passengers booked to Bergen receive complimentary transportation from Christiania via the world-famed scenic Christiania-Bergen Highland Railway. Fast and comfortable trips can be made from Christiania by railway to Northern Sweden, to Gothenburg, Stockholm, and by steamer from Stockholm to Finnish points.) And finally, the steamers make an overnight run from Christiania to Copenhagen, Denmark.

This home port is the ideal connection for the principal cities of Europe, particularly those in Germany, Austria, and the eastern countries of the continent.

For the sightseer on pleasure bent and for the traveler who desires a combination of restful ease and rare enjoyment in his traveling, the facilities and superiorities of this route are many and time proven.

First Class Ladies' Lounge on the Frederik VIII. GGA Image ID # 141efac94b

The photographs reproduced on these pages illustrate the refinements of luxury and comfort. The lack of space prevents a more detailed description.

The First Cabin Staterooms (for one, two, three, or four passengers) are situated amidships on the four upper decks. There are also two attractive suites: a sitting room, bedroom, and bath on Frederick VIII.

Grand Stairway, Frederik VIII. GGA Image ID # 141f539877

The Second Cabin Staterooms (for two, three, or four passengers) are pleasantly located on the upper and saloon decks, which also house the Ladies’ Saloons, Writing Rooms, Lounges, Smoking Rooms, etc.

These cabins, as well as the staterooms, are all furnished in the same comfortable style as the first cabin. Cabin travelers on Oscar II have the entire ship at their disposal without restriction; this ship is limited to a One Cabin Service (second) in addition to the third class. There is a superbly furnished chambre-deluxe on the promenade deck.

Big, roomy decks afford space for casual strolls, exhilarating walks, and dancing to the music of an orchestra whose daily concerts are a delightful attraction.

First Class Smoking Room on the Frederik VIII. GGA Image ID # 141f72859e

The wireless telegraph service to all parts of the world makes it possible to have a regularly published newspaper of the world's news to supplement the ships' libraries. The snug nooks on deck encourage restful reading outdoors in the sea air.

Each steamer carries a physician and trained nurse, and the photographers' dark room, barber shops, and numerous baths are but a few of the conveniences provided. Constant, thorough inspection keeps all the many safety appliances efficient.

The choicest delicacies and staple foods from the markets of Europe and America, prepared by skilled chefs, afford a cuisine unexcelled by even the finest hotels. This result of forty years of experience In culinary service is the pride of the Scandinavian-American Line.

The ships' officers are experienced men whose rare qualities as gentlemen and skilled navigators have helped them win the friendship and confidence of many hundreds of thousands of travelers.

In addition to their fitness, the Chief Steward's forces are schooled in Courtesy, politeness, and the immaculate cleanliness that constitutes the ideal of service.

In the whole world, there are no lands that surpass Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. The lands of charm, romance, and tradition; of hospitality; of scenic grandeur; of sports and pastimes of the great outdoors.

To the traveler seeking an ideal vacation realm, the seeker after health and vigor, the lover of the picturesque, the hunter and fisherman— these beautiful countries of the North extend a hearty invitation.

With the countless thousands who cross the Atlantic each year, the Scandinavian-American Line continues to grow in favor. Every year, more and more travelers select the steamers of this line because of their extreme steadiness, comfortable accommodations, and high standard of service.

The Scandinavian-American Line's New Building at 27 Whitehall Street, New York. GGA Image ID # 141f7a12aa

The Scandinavian-American Line recently moved into a new seven-story building at 27 Whitehall Street, New York. The structure, which cost $400,000 to erect, is considered an architectural gem.

The Scandinavian-American Line occupies the first floor, the basement, and the mezzanine. At the same time, the other offices have been leased to other tenants. The Danish consulate occupies one of the seven floors.

The first floor is chiefly used by the cabin department, although Halvor Jacobson, the general manager of the line in the United States, has his office in the front. The scheme of austere simplicity has been followed, with the fixtures in mahogany and the walls and floors in marble.

The third-class department is located in the basement. On the mezzanine, there is a meeting room for general conferences and other smaller offices.

7. Bibliography

“Neutral Flags: The Scandinavian-American Line,” in The American-Scandinavian Review, Volume IV, Number 2, March-April 1916, New York: The American-Scandinavian Foundation, P. 106-110.

"Story of the Scandinavian-American Line," in Shipping, Marine Transportation, Construction, Equipment, and Supplies, New York: Shipping Publishing Company, Inc., Vol. XIV, No. 8, 25 October 1921 p. 7-10

8. Recap and Summary of the Scandinavian-American Line Archival Collection

Introduction: The Scandinavian-American Line & Its Significance

The Scandinavian-American Line (Skandinavien-Amerika Linien), operated by Det Forenede Dampskibs-Selskab (United Steamship Company), played a critical role in transatlantic migration and passenger travel between Scandinavia and the United States from the late 19th to early 20th century.

Primarily known for carrying Scandinavian and Baltic immigrants to the New World, the line also attracted business travelers, tourists, and diplomats. It was famous for its comfort, safety, and hospitality, and its routes connected Copenhagen, Christiania (Oslo), and Kristiansand with New York.

This archival collection is a treasure trove for researchers, educators, and maritime enthusiasts, offering a rich array of passenger lists, brochures, menus, and promotional materials that shed light on immigrant experiences, ocean travel, and early 20th-century transatlantic commerce.

Most Interesting Highlights & Key Content

1. Passenger Lists: A Genealogical Goldmine

The passenger lists (1905–1931) are grouped by ship and offer a unique historical record of Scandinavian migration.

Ships such as SS C.F. Tietgen, SS Frederik VIII, SS Hellig Olav, SS Oscar II, and SS United States transported thousands of passengers seeking new opportunities in America.

The lists provide detailed passenger information, including names, travel class, and routes, making them invaluable for genealogists tracing Nordic ancestors who emigrated to the U.S.

2. Brochures & Promotional Materials: Marketing Ocean Travel

The 1912 Brochure titled “Scandinavia to America” specifically targeted third-class passengers, encouraging Scandinavian immigrants to cross the Atlantic.

The 1917 Brochure showcased luxurious accommodations in First, Second, and Third Class, featuring photographs of the fleet, cabins, and dining areas—offering a detailed glimpse into the golden age of transatlantic travel.

The 1928 Tourist Third Cabin Brochure highlighted affordable travel for American tourists heading to Europe, reflecting the rise of leisure travel in the interwar period.

3. Menus: Culinary Traditions on the High Seas

The 1912 SS Oscar II Dinner Menu featured Scandinavian favorites such as Roast Duck with Potatoes and Cream Cake, blending Nordic and continental European influences.

The 1920 SS Frederik VIII Second Cabin Dinner Menu included Frankfurter with German Potato Salad and Carbonnade de Boeuf, illustrating how passenger class influenced meal offerings.

The 1923 SS Hellig Olav Dinner Menu even included a music program, demonstrating the effort to provide a cultured and refined dining experience.

4. “Neutral Flag: The Scandinavian-American Line” (1916): Navigating WWI

This article explores how the Scandinavian-American Line remained operational during World War I, avoiding German U-boats and naval conflicts.

It highlights the role of neutral Scandinavian countries in maintaining trade and communication during wartime, making it valuable for historians studying WWI-era maritime history.

5. History of the Scandinavian-American Line: Expansion & Growth

Founded in 1866, the United Steamship Company of Copenhagen rapidly expanded its passenger and cargo services across the Atlantic.

By 1898, it had acquired the Thingvalla Line, rebranding it as the Scandinavian-American Line, bringing modern twin-screw steamers like SS Oscar II, SS Hellig Olav, and SS Frederik VIII into service.

By 1914, the Frederik VIII was the largest liner in Scandinavian service, boasting luxurious accommodations and state-of-the-art safety features.

6. Fleet & Routes: A Gateway Between Scandinavia & America

The fleet connected Copenhagen, Christiania (Oslo), and Kristiansand to New York, offering the fastest and safest passage for Scandinavian immigrants and tourists.

The route north of Scotland offered passengers spectacular views while ensuring a shorter, smoother journey compared to southern routes.

Over time, the Scandinavian-American Line became a preferred carrier for tourists heading to Norway’s fjords, Sweden’s lakes, and Denmark’s cultural landmarks.

Why This Collection is Valuable

This archival collection is a priceless historical resource for multiple audiences:

• Teachers & Students: Offers a detailed case study of Scandinavian migration, maritime commerce, and early 20th-century ocean travel.
• Genealogists: The passenger lists are invaluable for tracing Nordic-American family histories.
• Historians: Provides primary sources on immigration, WWI-era neutral trade, and transatlantic shipping companies.
• Maritime Enthusiasts: The fleet history, brochures, and menus offer a detailed view of early 20th-century steamship travel.