🚢 The SS Conte Biancamano: A Transatlantic Legacy in Migration, Travel, and History
SS Conte Biancamano, Commanded by Capt. Giuseppe Turchi. SS Conte Biancamano Passenger List 30 June 1927. | GGA Image ID # 1eb1d9adad
🧭 Table of Contents
🚢 Ship Overview
Conte Biancamano (1925) (a) Lloyd Sabaudo Line, (b) Italia Line
- Built by Wm. Beardmore & Co., Glasgow, Scotland.
- Tonnage: 24,416.
- Dimensions: 626' x 76' (650' o.l.).
- Propulsion: Twin-Screw, 20 Knots. Four steam turbines.
- Masts and Funnels: Two masts and two funnels.
- Launched: April 23, 1925.
- Maiden voyage: Genoa-Naples-New York, November 20, 1925.
- Services: Transferred to South American service in 1932. Placed in the Far East service of Lloyd Triestino prior to WConte Biancamanoorld War II. Seized by United States at Colon in December 1941.
- Renamed: (a) Hermitage (1942), (b) Conte Biacamano (1947).
- Post World War II Service: Since World War II has been used in both the North Atlantic and South American trade.
- Fate: Sold to Italian shipbreakers in 1960.
- Sister ship: Conte Grande.
🧭 Review and Summary
🚢 The SS Conte Biancamano: A Transatlantic Legacy in Migration, Travel, and History
The SS Conte Biancamano is more than just a ship—it is a vessel of stories that intersect with world history, transatlantic migration, and 20th-century travel. The GG Archives’ detailed collection on this ship offers a rich repository for researchers, educators, genealogists, and students, providing insights into the lives of passengers, maritime operations, and immigration processes.
Whether examining first-class travel experiences of elite families in the 1920s, or exploring second-class immigrant journeys during the Great Depression, the documents connected to the Conte Biancamano showcase both luxury ocean liner culture and mass migration realities. The materials offer excellent case studies for curriculum units in:
- U.S. and European immigration
- Maritime history
- Genealogical methods and resources
- Primary source evaluation in historical research
📘 Summary About the Ship
Name: SS Conte Biancamano
Line: Lloyd Sabaudo / Italia Line
Launched: April 23, 1925 (Glasgow)
Tonnage: 24,416 tons
Service History:
- Genoa–New York (initial route)
- South America (1932 transfer)
- Far East with Lloyd Triestino (pre-WWII)
- Seized by U.S. (1941) and renamed Hermitage
- Returned and renamed Conte Biancamano (1947)
Retired: 1960 (scrapped)
Notable: Sister ship of Conte Grande
Its dynamic history through war, migration, and postwar transatlantic revival makes it a compelling topic of research.
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Passenger Lists
1927-06-30 SS Conte Biancamano Passenger List
First Cabin Passenger List from the SS Conte Biancamano of Lloyd Sabaudo, Departing Thursday, 30 June 1927 from New York to Genoa via Gibraltar and Naples, Commanded by Captain Giuseppe Turchi.
1950-08-11 SS Conte Biancamano Passenger List
Cabin Class Passenger List from the SS Conte Biancamano of the Italian Steamship Lines, Departing 11 August 1950 from Genoa to New York via Naples, Gibraltar, and Lisbon, Commanded by Captain Pasquale Pezzuto.
1950-05-26 SS Conte Biancamano Passenger List
SS Conte Biancamano First Class Passenger List, Departing 26 May 1950 from New York to Genoa via Lisbon, Gibraltar, and Naples, Commanded by Captain Luigi Gulinelli.
1950-09-14 SS Conte Biancamano Passenger List
Cabin Passenger List for the SS Conte Biancamano of the Italia Line, Departing 14 September 1950 from Genoa to New York via Nables, Gibraltar and Lisbon, Commanded by Captain Pasquale Pezzuto.
1951-08-12 SS Conte Biancamano Passenger List
Cabin Class Passenger List from the SS Conte Biancamano of the Italia Line, Departing 12 August 1951 from Genoa to Halifax and New York via Naples and Gibraltar, Commanded by Captain Pasquale Pezzuto.
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Passage Contracts, Tickets, and Receipts
The Lloyd Sabaudo First-Class Ticket for the SS Conte Biancamano, dated June 30, 1927, is a rare and valuable historical document that provides a glimpse into high-end transatlantic travel during the golden age of ocean liners. This first-class passage, reserved for Frank Pinto, his wife Emma, and their two young children, offers insights into elite ocean travel, ticketing policies, and the luxurious experience aboard one of Italy’s premier steamships.
For historians, genealogists, educators, and students, this passenger contract offers a window into the upper-class transatlantic experience, including fare pricing, onboard accommodations, and the legal framework governing ocean travel in the 1920s.
The SS Conte Biancamano Passage Contract from 25 October 1930 is a historically significant document that captures the financial, legal, and logistical realities of transatlantic migration in the early 20th century. Issued by Lloyd Sabaudo, one of Italy’s premier steamship lines, this second-class passage ticket belonged to Salvatore Milluzzo, a 16-year-old Italian immigrant traveling from Naples, Italy, to New York.
This contract offers incredible value for teachers, students, genealogists, and historians studying transatlantic migration, maritime history, and U.S. immigration policies during the Great Depression. It also provides valuable genealogical details, including ticketing procedures, travel costs, and restrictions placed on passengers.
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Immigrant Documents
Immigrant ID & Vaccination Certificate – A Glimpse into 1930s Immigration Processes
The "Immigrant ID & Vaccination Certificate – 1930" page provides a fascinating and rare historical artifact documenting the immigration process for an Italian immigrant in the early 20th century.
This highly relevant resource captures:
✅ The importance of official documentation for immigrants
✅ The strict health regulations required before entering the U.S.
✅ A deeply personal immigration story, tracing an individual's journey
✅ A historical perspective on how immigrants were processed at ports like Naples
This article is especially useful for:
✔ Teachers & Students – Studying early 20th-century immigration, health regulations, and Ellis Island procedures
✔ Genealogists – Understanding ancestral migration patterns and historical documentation
✔ Historians – Researching immigration laws and public health measures of the era
✔ Anyone interested in immigration history – Examining the challenges and protocols faced by immigrants
📌 Encourage students to use this page when writing essays on historical immigration practices, Ellis Island health screenings, or the significance of immigrant documentation.
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Books
The First Great Ocean Liners in Photographs - 1983
Sumptuous volume recalls the glorious early years of elegant transatlantic travel. Over 190 historic photographs depict exterior and interior views of 101 great ocean liners, including the Virginian, Imperator, Vaterland, Bismarck, Lusitania, Mauretania, Balmoral Castle, Titanic, Olympic, Aquitania and dozens more. Full captions.
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Photographs
The Three Counts (Conte Rosso, Conte Biancamano, and Conte Verde), Riding at Anchor in Their Home Port -- Genoa, Italy circa 1927. | GGA Image ID # 131509e0b1
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Back Cover Images
Back Cover, Lloyd Sabaudo SS Conte Biancamano First Cabin Passenger List - 30 June 1927. | GGA Image ID # 1315fbafb3
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🎯 Relevance to Key Audiences
👩🏫 For Teachers and Educators
Immigration Lesson Plans: Use 1930s tickets and vaccination records to explore Ellis Island procedures.
Primary Source Literacy: Contrast a 1927 First-Class Ticket vs. 1930 Second-Class immigrant document.
Social History: Examine how class, nationality, and global events impacted migration.
📌 Teaching Prompt: “Compare and contrast the travel conditions and legal frameworks for elite and immigrant passengers on the Conte Biancamano.”
🧬 For Genealogists and Family Historians
- Detailed Passenger Lists (with names, classes, destinations)
- Ticket Records (including berth numbers and fares)
- Health/Vaccination Certificates (rare artifacts for tracing ancestors)
These resources can be used to:
- Confirm family migration timelines
- Locate surname variants or companions in transit
- Understand medical or travel requirements for ancestors
🏛️ For Historians and Archivists
- Contextualize the ship’s transformation from an Italian luxury liner to a wartime vessel and back
- Evaluate changes in ticketing policies and travel regulations
- Study broader migration trends and Italy–America relations during the interwar and postwar periods
✍️ Encourage Students to Use GG Archives
📢 Tip for Students: Instead of just citing generic Wikipedia articles, explore real primary sources from the GG Archives like boarding passes, ship manifests, and ID cards to add depth to your essays on:
- Immigration through Ellis Island
- Class and travel conditions on ocean liners
- The effects of the Great Depression on transatlantic travel
🧠 Sample Essay Question: “How did the experience of an Italian immigrant traveling on the SS Conte Biancamano in 1930 reflect larger global migration trends?”
🔗 Related Links for This Page
🚢 Related Ship & Voyage Pages
Passenger Lists by Year
- Ellis Island Passenger Lists - 1927
- Ellis Island Passenger Lists - 1950
- Ellis Island Passenger Lists - 1951
Italia Line History
🧾 Related Primary Documents
Immigration Tickets & Contracts
- SS Conte Biancamano First-Class Ticket (1927): A Luxurious Transatlantic Voyage from New York to Genoa
- SS Conte Biancamano - 1930: An Italian Immigrant’s Journey to America & The Reality of Transatlantic Travel
Vaccination & Inspection Records
Other Interesting Items Pertaining to the SS. Conte Biancamano
