SS Merion Cabin Passenger List – Liverpool to Philadelphia, 27 August 1913: Scholars, Clergy, and Literary Legends Aboard

Front Cover of a Cabin Passenger List for the SS Merion of the American Line, Departing Wednesday, 27 August 1913 from Liverpool to Philadelphia, Commanded by Captain J. Beattle Hill. From the Estate of Alice S. Dunning. GGA Image ID # 1fc71899a3. Front Cover Contains Unique Signature of Alice. S. Dunning.

🚢 Review & Summary — SS Merion Passenger List, 27 August 1913

• Ship: SS Merion
• Operator: American Line
• Voyage Date: Wednesday, 27 August 1913
• Route: Liverpool ➡ Philadelphia
• Class Covered: Cabin Passengers
• Master: Captain J. Beattie Hill

Explore the 27 August 1913 SS Merion passenger list—featuring English professor William Strunk Jr., ophthalmologist Dr. Robert C. Moon, pioneering physician Mary Preston, and clergy Rev. E. H. Eckels and Rev. J. P. McCabe. A vivid snapshot of pre-WWI transatlantic life.

🛳 The Ship — SS Merion

The SS Merion was a steel twin-screw passenger liner built in 1902 by John Brown & Company of Clydebank, Scotland, for the American Line, a subsidiary of the International Mercantile Marine Co. At 11,621 gross tons, she was designed for steady, comfortable crossings between Philadelphia and Liverpool, accommodating both leisure travelers and business passengers.

Key features:

• Twin-screw propulsion for reliable transatlantic speeds (~15 knots).
• Known for comfortable Cabin and Second Cabin accommodations, aimed at the professional middle class and affluent families seeking affordable elegance.
• On occasion, served as a troop transport, illustrating her versatility.

By 1913, the Merion was a familiar presence on the Liverpool–Philadelphia run, often carrying academics, clergy, physicians, and well-traveled social figures.

🌍 Historical & Social Context of the Voyage

In late August 1913, transatlantic crossings were at their seasonal height. Summer travelers returning from European tours mixed with businesspeople finalizing deals before autumn. Liverpool was a gateway for both British and continental European travelers, while Philadelphia was the American Line’s key U.S. port.

This voyage reflects a microcosm of Edwardian society—well-educated professionals, religious leaders, pioneering women, and socially connected families—many of whom would later witness a changing world with the outbreak of World War I just one year later.

Senior Officers and Staff

1. Commander: Captain J. Beattie Hill
2. Surgeon:: J. M. Wood, M,B.C.M. (Edinburgh)
3. Chief Steward:: R. F. Connor

List of Passengers

1. Mr. Rowland Allen
2. Miss M. Allman
3. Mr. George Anderman
4. Mrs. Anderman
5. Mr. R. M. Anderson
6. Mrs. Anderson
7. Mrs. J. M. Ash
8. Miss Margaret Ash
9. Mr. P. A. Barba
10. Mrs. C. Barrow
11. Miss Iris Barrow
12. Mr. J. C. Bechtel
13. Mrs. Bechtel
14. Miss Annie Beers
15. Miss C. Beneke
16. Mr. John Bennett
17. Mr. M A. Bennett
18. Miss D. Bennett
19. Miss G. Benson
20. Miss F. Bibby
21. Mr. George F. Bishop
22. Mrs. George F. Bishop
23. Miss O. A. Bishop
24. Miss Mary K. Blaikie
25. Mr. C. T. Bagby
26. Mr. J. H. Botwright
27. Mrs. Botwright
28. Mrs. Jane Breffitt
29. MissWinifred M. Breffitt
30. Miss E. L. Brown
31. Mr. Benjamin Browne
32. Miss D. Browning
33. Miss L. O. Burronghs
34. Mr. Edward Callison
35. Mrs. Callison
36. Mr. Robert Callison
37. Master Joseph Callison
38. Master Steward A. Callison
39. Master Edward S. Callison
40. Mr. William Cannall
41. Mr. E. W. Cook
42. Miss S. J. Cook
43. Miss Mary L. Cook
44. Miss M. Cook
45. Mrs. Elizabeth Cooke
46. Miss Flora Cooke
47. Miss Dorothy Cooke
48. Miss Carrie A. Cooke
49. Miss Eliz. Coulter
50. Miss A. L. T. Crawford
51. Miss E. L. Crawford
52. Miss S. Davis
53. Dr. J. K. Dozier
54. Mrs. Dozier
55. Mr. John Desmond
56. Miss Sarah A. Donnelly
57. Mr. P. C. Donohue
58. Mr. John B. Downs
59. Mr. Watson Downs
60. Mr. H. W. Draper
61. Miss Anna Dunegan
62. Miss Grace C. Dunn
63. Miss Alice S. Dunning
64. Rev. E. H. Eckels
65. Mr. E. H. Eckels, Jr.
66. Mrs. Edward H. Eckels
67. Miss Elizabeth Eckels
68. Miss Jane Edmunds
69. Miss C. Eilenburgh
70. Miss Susie A. Farr
71. Miss M. G. Fischer
72. Miss Dorothy M. Flinn
73. Miss Lillian M. Flinn
74. Mrs. A. S. Flowers
75. Miss Caroline Fogel
76. Miss J. D. Fout
77. Mr. H. D. Fruit
78. Mr. Wesley Gadd
79. Miss Mary E. Gaston
80. Mrs. Clara F. Ged and Infant
81. Miss S. Gerdine
82. Miss Mary Gerdine
83. Miss Marion Gerdine
84. Mr. Harry Goldstone
85. Mrs. Anna B. Goodman
86. Mr. A. Green
87. Mrs. F. Green
88. Miss A. L. Harkness
89. Miss Margaret A. Harrison
90. Miss Sue P. Hartridge
91. Miss E. Henderson
92. Mr. J. M. Henry
93. Miss A. M. Herbert
94. Miss Alice A. Herr
95. Mrs. J. Herron
96. Mrs. Nellie Hickey
97. Miss Julia A. Hickey
98. Miss A. Hillman
99. Miss A. A. Hinkel
100. Miss M. W. Hoover
101. Mr. W. D. Horne
102. Miss Grace Howard
103. Miss Kate Howson
104. Miss Harriet Hulley
105. Miss Louise Hulley
106. Miss Sarah S. Huston
107. Mrs. R. C. Hutchison
108. Miss A. Hyde
109. Miss C. Jackson
110. Miss M. F. Jennings
111. Mrs. A. L. Johnson
112. Miss M. C. Johnson
113. Mrs. L. Jordan
114. Miss S. Jordan
115. Miss F. JOst
116. Miss Nettie S. Kaighn
117. Mr. George F. Kearney
118. Mrs. J. M. Keeney
119. Miss A. I. Kern
120. Mr. W. P. Killen
121. Mrs. Killen
122. Miss Sara J. Killen
123. Miss Maud Knight
124. Miss F. Larzelere
125. Miss Bessie Le Gierse
126. Dr. Frederick Lutz
127. Mr. Joseph Lutz
128. Mrs. Amelia Lutz
129. Miss E. Lutz
130. Miss Elsie Lutz
131. Mrs. F. W. Martin
132. Miss Ellen W. Martien
133. Mrs. Ella Marson
134. Miss R. Marson
135. Dr. M. F. Matthews
136. Mrs. Matthews
137. Miss M. Matthews
138. Mrs. D. M. Matthews
139. Rev. J. P. McCabe
140. Mrs. Kate C. McGinnis
141. Miss B. McMillan
142. Prof. W. PcPherson
143. Mrs. McPherson
144. Master Heston McPherson
145. Miss Agnes Miller
146. Dr. Robert C. Moon
147. Mr. J. P. Mullally
148. Mrs. J. P. Mullally
149. Miss Mary S. Musselman
150. Mrs. L. B. Newman
151. Mrs. I. Newton
152. Miss M. Newton
153. Miss H. G. Nichols
154. Mr. W. Nicholson
155. Miss M. Offutt
156. Mr. John C. Orr
157. Miss K. S. Outwater
158. Mrs. A. Pannill
159. Mr. Robert S. Parker
160. Mr. Douglas N. Parker
161. Mr. W. J. Parrish, Jr.
162. Mrs. S. D. Payne
163. Miss Ella Lee Pippin
164. Mr. C. C. Plitt
165. Dr. E. W. Powell
166. Mrs. Powell
167. Miss E. Powell
168. Dr. Mary Preston
169. Mrs. S. Price
170. Miss M. Price
171. Mr. Harry Reid
172. Dr. W. Q. Resselle
173. Mrs. Resselle
174. Miss M. Resselle
175. Mr. John Rothwell
176. Miss Irene B. Sayre
177. Mr. W. M. Scott
178. Mr. W. Sensenig
179. Mr. P. F. Sheppard
180. Miss Nellie Sheppard
181. Miss Emma L. Shorey
182. Miss E. S. Siewright
183. Miss M. S. Sipple
184. Miss Mildred D. Small
185. Miss M. Snyder
186. Miss Annnie R. Storts
187. Mr. Oliver Strunk
188. Mr. William Strunk, Jr.
189. Mrs. Strunk
190. Miss Catherine Strunk
191. Master John Strunk
192. Mrs. R. Stuart
193. Miss S. Stuart
194. Miss M. Switzer
195. Miss E. Swoope
196. Miss L. Tate
197. Mr. S. A. Taylor
198. Miss M. A. Taylor
199. Mr. J. J. Vanston
200. Mrs. Vanston
201. Master Muller Vanston
202. Master Rourke Vanston
203. Miss A. E. Walker
204. Mr. J. J. Wicker, Jr.
205. Mr. Sam. Wiener
206. Mrs. Helen R. Westlake
207. Miss M. White
208. Miss M. E. White
209. Miss Celia C. Whitney
210. Mrs. Mary Willan
211. Miss E. Wilson
212. Dr. Matthew Woods
213. Dr. W. A. Wray
214. Miss M. G. Wright

👥 Notable Individuals on Board

🎓 Academics & Professionals

Dr. Robert C. Moon – Prominent ophthalmologist and medical writer, known for his work on blindness prevention and his association with institutions for the blind.

Dr. Mary Preston – A rare female physician of the period, possibly engaged in public health or women’s medical networks; her voyage may have included professional observation in European clinics.

Dr. Matthew Woods – Esteemed Philadelphia physician, historian, and author, well-known for his writings on medical history.

⛪ Religious Leaders

Rev. E. H. Eckels – Traveling with his family, indicating either a pastoral exchange, participation in a church conference, or extended missionary work.

Rev. J. P. McCabe – Catholic clergyman whose transatlantic travel suggests engagement with the Irish-American community and possibly ecclesiastical duties in both the U.S. and Ireland.

🖋 Literary & Cultural Figures

Mr. William Strunk, Jr. – Cornell University English professor, celebrated for authoring The Elements of Style (later expanded by E. B. White). His presence makes this voyage historically remarkable, as his concise writing guide has influenced generations of writers.

💼 Prominent Social Travelers

Mrs. Clara F. Ged and Infant – Representative of well-to-do family travel, often combining leisure with cultural enrichment.

Miss Alice S. Dunning – The source passenger list comes from her estate; her signature on the cover personalizes this archival document.

Highlights & Biographies

Prof. W. McPherson

Likely a university academic; the presence of his family suggests travel for academic exchange or research tours in Europe. A staple of transatlantic intellectual circulation.

William Strunk Jr. – Professor of English, Cornell University

Born 1869 in Cincinnati; earned his B.A. at the University of Cincinnati (1890) and Ph.D. from Cornell (1896). Taught English at Cornell for 46 years, becoming famed for his classic guide, The Elements of Style (1918), later expanded by E. B. White. A founding figure in U.S. composition; his appearance aboard the Merion captures his scholarly travels at the height of his influence.

 

 

Prof. William Oliver Strunk – Musicologist; son of William Strunk Jr.

Oliver became a renowned musicologist and longtime head of the Music Division at the Library of Congress. Their family’s inclusion provides a compelling multi-generational snapshot of academic life and mobility.

Dr. Robert C. Moon – Ophthalmologist, Philadelphia

Born 1844 in England, son of William Moon (inventor of Moon type for the blind). Practiced in London before emigrating to Philadelphia—where he built a distinguished career in ophthalmology and blind‑care philanthropy. His presence aboard reflects professional ties between U.S. and British medicine and the health-conscious travel of the era.

Dr. Mary Preston – Female Physician

One of the few women doctors in 1913 to cross the Atlantic, likely in route to engage with European medical circles. Though details are limited, her listing among cabin passengers marks her as a pioneering figure in women’s medical professional communities.

Dr. Matthew Woods – Physician

A well-established Philadelphia practitioner (census and directories list him), likely in internal or general practice. His travel highlights transatlantic engagement in medical practice and continuing education.

Rev. E. H. Eckels – Clergyman

Traveling with his family, presumably connected with Methodist or Presbyterian networks. Clergy on such voyages often attended conferences, exchanged preaching ideas, or strengthened transatlantic denominational ties.

Rev. J. P. McCabe – Catholic Priest

Likely involved in pastoral or Irish-American ecclesiastical networks, his transatlantic journey symbolizes the movement of clergy and faith across the ocean, supporting immigrant communities and church organization.

Final Thoughts — Why This List Matters

The 27 August 1913 SS Merion voyage stands out as a rich archive of an era on the brink of global transformation. Aboard were:

• Literary heritage (William Strunk Jr.),
• Medical and philanthropic pioneers (Dr. Moon),
• Scholarly families (the Strunks),
• Women professionals (Dr. Mary Preston),
• Clerics shaping spiritual life (Rev. Eckels and Rev. McCabe).

These biographies transform a simple passenger roster into a portrait of pre-WWI transatlantic society—where ideas, faith, medicine, and culture flowed across waves.

Information for Passengers

Detailed onboard procedures and amenities, including dining times, baggage handling, currency exchange, and safety of valuables—giving modern readers a glimpse into early 20th-century shipboard life.

Notice.

Landing Arrangements at Philadelphia.

Should The Steamer Arrive at The Philadelphia Wharf After 8:00 pm. Passengers Have The Option of REMMNIRG on Board Overnight and Landing After Breakfast On The Following Morning.

• Breakfast at 8:00 am
• Lunch at 12:30 pm
• Dinner at 6:00 pm and 7:15 pm
• Supper at 9 p.m

The Bar closes at it pm Lights are extinguished in the Saloon at 11:00 pm and the Smoking Room at 11:30 pm

Please apply to the Second Steward for Seats at Table .

Inquiries regarding Baggage will be attended to by the Second Steward, to whom all Baggage which Passengers wish to leave in the Company's care should be handed, properly labelled, and with full instructions as to disposal.

Deck Chairs and Steamer Rugs can be obtained for use on the voyage at a charge of 4.s. each. upon application to the Second Steward.

Valuables: The Company will not be responsible for Money, jewellery, and other valuables of Passengers. Passengers are warned not to keep such articles in their staterooms but arerecoMmended to hand same sealed, and marked with the owner's name, to the purser for deposit in his safe, but as no charge is made for carriage, the Company can accept :no responsibility for loss or Vantage however arising.

The Surgeon is authorized to make customary charges, subject, in each case, to the approval of the Commander, for treating any Passengers at their request for any illness not originating on board the:ship. In the case of sickness developed on board, no charge will be made and medicine will be provided free in all circumstances.

The Purser is prepared for the convenience of Passengers to exchange a limited amount of English and American money, and he will allow at the rate of $4.80 to the Li when giving American money lot English currency, Or .41 to $4.95 when giving English for American money.

Persons hoisting Return Certificates should give as eariy notice as possible of the date. upon which they desire to sail from Philadelphia, to the American Line, 3t9, Walnut Street, Philadelphia.

Letters may be addressed to the care of any of the Offices named below. and they will be retained until called for, or forwarded according to instructions. All such letters should bear the address to which they should be sent if not called for.

Travellers Cheques, payable in all parts of Europe, can be purchased at all the principal offices of the American Line.

🎯 Relevance of the SS Merion’s Voyage

For teachers, students, historians, and genealogists, this passenger list is valuable because it:

Links names to historical records, allowing genealogists to trace ancestors’ movements and social circles.

Provides cultural context, illustrating the travel habits of academics, clergy, and socially prominent individuals.

Offers maritime history insights, showing how ships like the SS Merion served as both cultural bridges and business corridors between Europe and America.

Includes literary heritage, with William Strunk, Jr.’s presence making this voyage notable in the history of English literature.

📌 Final Thoughts — Why This Passenger List Matters

The 27 August 1913 voyage of the SS Merion is more than a list of names—it’s a snapshot of an era on the cusp of transformation. The roster includes influential academics, respected physicians, religious leaders, and literary giants, all sharing the same sea passage in a world soon to be reshaped by global conflict. Its survival, complete with a personally signed cover, makes it a rich resource for historical, genealogical, and cultural study.