Steerage Passage Contracts / Tickets

The GG Archives has an assortment of extremely rare steerage class contracts, steamship tickets, and agent receipts that can assist you in identifying the type of document you have. These can also be used to illustrate your family history book as an example of what your ancestor's passage contract may have looked like.

North German Lloyd Prepaid Passage Certificate - 17 February 1883

Received from Carl Nutchen the sum of Seventy-Two Dollars for the passage of Bealle Nutchen & party, as one in the steerage of one of the Steamers of the North German Lloyd from Bremen to New York.

RMS Lucania Passage Contract - 29 May 1895

Original steamship contract for passage for a German Immigrant, Heinrich Hermes, a 21-year-old laborer who undertook the voyage in steerage.

RMS Celtic Contract Ticket - 14 November 1902

Original Steamship Contract from Gothenburg, Sweden to New York, 3rd Class Steerage Immigrant Ester Hilma Maria Magnuson of Stockholm on the White Star Line. The ensemble includes the detachable receipt located on the right-hand side (panel).

SS Arundel Castle Contract Ticket - 8 October 1904

1904-10-08 Steamship Ticket Record - Union-Castle Mail Steamship Company, Limited - Counterpart of Steerage Passenger's Contract Ticket, RMS Arundel Castle, Southampton to Cape Town.

SS Halmer Castle Passage Contract - 17 November 1906

Original Steerage Passenger's Contract Ticket for a 27-year-old man from Southampton, England for passage to Natal, South Africa in 1906. It provides rich details of the requirements of the steamship company regarding food, water, and other items supplied.

SS President Lincoln Prepaid Passage Contract - 20 November 1907

Steerage Prepaid Passage Contract issued by the Hamburg America Line for passage from Hamburg, Germany to New York and a Train from New York to Ellsworth, Minnesota for a German Immigrant Family.

SS President Lincoln Prepaid Passage Contract - 13 January 1912

Receipt for the purchase of passage from Hamburg to New York via the Hamburg America Line with inland passage to McFreesport, Pennsylvania dated 13 January 1913.

RMS Zeeland Passage Contract - 10 August 1912

Original steamship ticket for a voyage undertaken on 10 August 1912. The 24-Year-Old Immigrant left Belgium in 1912 for New York in Third Class (Steerage).

RMS Carmania Passage Contract - 10 April 1914

Passenger contract for a voyage from Gothenburg, Sweden to Boston, Massachusetts for Alfred Person, 19 years of age, traveling alone. He paid SEK 178.50 for Steerage / third class accommodations.

Conclusion

The compilation illustrates the diverse and often restrictive nature of steerage passage agreements. It underscores the importance of these documents in understanding the immigrant experience, highlighting the varied conditions and regulations across different steamship companies and routes.

Key Points

📜 Historical Documents: Contracts from 1883 to 1914.

💵 Ticket Prices: Varying costs based on route and time.

🌍 Diverse Routes: Includes Atlantic and other voyages.

📅 Date Range: Late 19th to early 20th century.

🔒 Terms and Conditions: Specific regulations for passengers.

🧳 Luggage Rules: Restrictions on baggage and belongings.

🚢 Steerage Conditions: Reflections of the varying travel conditions.

🛂 Immigrant Controls: Impact of immigration laws on passage.

👥 Passenger Diversity: Contracts for a wide range of nationalities.

📚 Educational Value: Useful for historical research and genealogy.

Summary

1. Overview: The collection provides original contracts and tickets for steerage passengers, offering a window into the past.

2. Ticket Variations: Documents show the cost and specifics of passage, which varied widely based on the steamship line and destination.

3. Regulations and Conditions: Contracts outline the terms, including baggage allowances and onboard conduct.

4. Historical Context: Reflects the diverse experiences of immigrants during this period, highlighting the economic and social factors at play.

5. Travel Conditions: Documents indicate the often harsh conditions faced by steerage passengers.

6. Immigrant Documentation: Emphasizes the importance of proper documentation in the immigration process.

7. Geographic Diversity: Covers routes from Europe to the Americas, as well as other destinations.

8. Research Utility: Valuable for historians and genealogists studying immigration patterns and conditions.

9. Cultural Insights: Provides insights into the lives and experiences of immigrants.

10. Preservation of History: Ensures that the stories and conditions of past immigrants are not forgotten.