SS Minnesota Passenger List – Tourist Third Cabin Voyage, 15 October 1927 (London to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer)

 

Front Cover, SS Minnesota Tourist Third Cabin Passenger List, Departing 15 October 1927 from London to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer.

Front Cover, SS Minnesota Tourist Third Cabin Passenger List, Departing 15 October 1927 from London to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer, Commanded by Captain E. Finch. GGA Image ID # 17348c0b24

 

🚢 Review and Summary of the SS Minnesota Passenger List – 15 October 1927

📍 Ship, Route, and Voyage Details

The SS Minnesota, operated by the Atlantic Transport Line, embarked on a Tourist Third Cabin voyage departing 15 October 1927 from London to New York, with a call at Boulogne-sur-Mer. This voyage was commanded by Captain E. Finch, R.D., R.N.R., supported by a seasoned crew: Chief Engineer: W. C. Donald, Surgeon: Dr. Michael Bulger, M.A., M.D., Purser: H. W. Lagden, Assistant Purser: E. Cordery, and Chief Steward: W. Simkin.

This ship was part of the post–World War I Tourist Third Cabin expansion, designed to serve students, young travelers, emigrants, and budget-conscious middle-class voyagers crossing the Atlantic.

 

🛳 Ship Features and Historical Enhancements

The SS Minnesota was part of the Atlantic Transport Line’s “Minnesota-Class” steamships, notable for their large cargo capacity while still offering passenger services. By the 1920s, many such vessels had been repurposed for Tourist Third Cabin service, emphasizing economy over luxury, but maintaining safety and reliability.

Key Features:

  • Tourist Third Cabin (TTC): Affordable accommodations bridging steerage and second-class.
  • Dining Saloon service with set hours (breakfast, lunch, and dinner served in two sittings).
  • Strict smoking policies, emphasizing public health and decorum.
  • Sunday Divine Service at 11:00 AM, reflecting the religious traditions of ocean liners.
  • Traveler’s Cheques accepted – a nod to financial modernization at sea.

Explore the 15 October 1927 Tourist Third Cabin passenger list of the SS Minnesota, Atlantic Transport Line. Includes ship details, voyage highlights, clergy, doctors, students, and family groups, offering valuable insights for historians, genealogists, and educators.

 

Senior Officers and Staff

  1. Commander: Captain E. Finch, R.D., R.N.R
  2. Chief Engineer: W. C. Donald
  3. Surgeon: Michael Bulger, M.A., M.D
  4. Purser: H. W. Lagden
  5. Assistant Purser : E. Cordery
  6. Chief Steward: W. Simkin

 

Tourist Third Cabin Passengers

  1. Mr. J. Ackermans
  2. Mr. B. Amey
  3. Mr. W. Amey
  4. Mr. A. Amey
  5. Mrs. G. Atkinson
  6. Mr. A. H. Bangert
  7. Mr. W. Bartell
  8. Mrs. G. Bartell
  9. Mr. J. Bartlett
  10. Mrs. M. P. Baughman
  11. Mr. M. St. G. Baughman
  12. Mrs. A. C. Bedal
  13. Mr. G. Begg
  14. Mrs. Begg
  15. Mr. Benis
  16. Mrs. F. P. Benis
  17. Mrs. R. Bernstein
  18. Mr. D. D. Biglow
  19. Mr. J. B. Bisset
  20. Mr. S. Brantner
  21. Mrs. M. Brantner
  22. Mr. P. Brinley
  23. Mrs. K. Brinley
  24. Mr. J. F. Bryne
  25. Mrs. Bryne
  26. Miss M. P. Bryne
  27. Mr. T. W. Carpenter
  28. Mrs. H. Carrington
  29. Miss T. Carter
  30. Miss V. Carter
  31. Miss E. Codling
  32. Mr. M. Connor
  33. Mrs. A. Crabtree
  34. Miss Crabtree
  35. Miss M. Curtiss
  36. Miss E. J. Daniels
  37. Miss M. De Bruyn Kops
  38. Mr. J. A. Deening
  39. Mr. A. De Sena
  40. Mrs. D. Douglas
  41. Master. F. N. Douglas
  42. Mr. C. Dumbolton
  43. Mrs. M. S. Eaton
  44. Mr. T. Edgerton
  45. Mr. N. Farkas
  46. Mrs. M. Farkas
  47. Mr. A. Feckelsberg
  48. Mrs. L. Feckelsberg
  49. Mr. D. D. Fernandez
  50. Miss D. N. Ferrier
  51. Mrs. M. Findlay
  52. Mr. C. Firlin
  53. Mrs. Firlln
  54. Mr. G. W. Gardner
  55. Mrs. S. Gold
  56. Mrs. D. Goodacre
  57. Miss G. Grace
  58. Miss A. Greely
  59. Mrs. G. Grimes
  60. Mrs. O. L. Grimes
  61. Mrs. E. C. Harrall
  62. Mr. B. F. Harrall
  63. Miss J. Hay
  64. Mrs. E. Heins
  65. Mrs. A. M. Hermanson
  66. Mr. T. Hernandez
  67. Miss M. Hickie
  68. Rev. T. S. Higgins
  69. Mrs. Higgins
  70. Miss G. Hitchcock
  71. Miss M. Hitchcock
  72. Miss J. Holoham
  73. Mr. W. Hooper
  74. Mrs. M. R. Horn
  75. Miss E. Howell
  76. Mrs. M. F. Irish
  77. Miss M. Irwin
  78. Miss M. Jeffers
  79. Mrs. G. Jordan
  80. Mr. E. Karman
  81. Mrs. H, Keeley
  82. Miss M. Kent
  83. Mr. H. Kleefkins
  84. Mr. L. Kwtchin
  85. Miss L. A. Langdon
  86. Mrs. E. Laurence
  87. Miss E. Laurence
  88. Mr. H. Lee
  89. Mr. J. T. Lines
  90. Miss M. Livingstone
  91. Miss M. Lubin
  92. Mr. C. Lucknow
  93. Mrs. E. A. Lyons
  94. Mrs. E. Martin
  95. Miss M. McCarthy
  96. Mr. A. S. McKee
  97. Miss E. McKnight
  98. Dr. J. McNamara
  99. Mr. I. McQuaid
  100. Miss B. T. Meaney
  101. Miss H. Mears
  102. Miss E. Milton
  103. Mr. N. Molmar
  104. Miss M. Morrison
  105. Mrs. J. F. Morse
  106. Dr. J. Murphy
  107. Miss E. Nash
  108. Mr. F. B. Neilsen
  109. Mr. S. Newburger
  110. Mrs. E. Newburger
  111. Mrs. J. A. Nightingale
  112. Mr. V. Parenty
  113. Miss T. Patlagan
  114. Miss O. G. Peasey
  115. Miss F. Peebles
  116. Mr. C. A. Pertzoff
  117. Mr. R. Phillips
  118. Mrs. S. Pimm
  119. Miss E. M. Ponsford
  120. Master K. H. Prelle
  121. Miss H. Preuss
  122. Mrs. J. Ramus
  123. Miss Y. Ramus
  124. Master A. Ramus
  125. Mr. T. Rawlings
  126. Mrs. H. Rawlings
  127. Mr. G. Reeve
  128. Mrs. A. Reeve
  129. Mr. H. Roden
  130. Mr. A. H. Rogers
  131. Mrs. A. H. Rogers
  132. Mr. H. B. Rogers
  133. Mr. Q. U. A. Ross
  134. Mrs. M. A. W. Ross
  135. Mr. W. B. Rouse
  136. Mrs. W. B. Rouse
  137. Mrs. W. M. Ryan
  138. Mr. A. Schaller
  139. Mr. M. L. Schein
  140. Mr. J. Schron
  141. Mrs. J. Schron
  142. Mr. M. Schwartz
  143. Mr. W. S. Semple
  144. Mrs. W. R. Sherwood
  145. Mr. G. Shurtz
  146. Mr. A. Smith
  147. Mr. D. Stanford
  148. Miss B. Stokel
  149. Miss J. Stoical
  150. Mr. Tardy
  151. Mrs. L. Tardy
  152. Mrs. R. Taylor
  153. Mr. L. Thatcher
  154. Mr. B. G. Thiele
  155. Mr. R. G. A. Thiele
  156. Mr. L. I. Thompson
  157. Mrs. S. J. Thompson
  158. Miss R. Thompson
  159. Mr. Todd
  160. Mrs. Todd
  161. Mr. D. M. Van Lessen
  162. Mr. G. M. Van Lessen
  163. Mr. C. Velten
  164. Miss J. Visser
  165. Mr. D. Vivier
  166. Mr. I. C. Vos
  167. Mrs. E. Walker
  168. Mrs. J. A. Warner
  169. Mr. J. G. Welch
  170. Mrs. L. M. Wells
  171. Mrs. S. White
  172. Mr. C. Whitehead

 

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Notable Passengers and Social Highlights

Rev. T. S. Higgins & Mrs. Higgins – A religious leader traveling with his wife, Rev. Higgins represents the continuation of pastoral ministry at sea, where clergymen were frequently invited to conduct Sunday Divine Services. His presence underscores the Atlantic Transport Line’s effort to maintain a sense of community and morality aboard ship.

Dr. J. McNamara and Dr. J. Murphy – Two medical professionals aboard suggest a strong representation of educated professionals and academics. Their inclusion also highlights the role of physicians in transatlantic cultural exchange.

Mrs. W. R. Sherwood and Mrs. L. M. Wells – Representing well-established social families, such passengers often connected Anglo-American ties, reinforcing the social networking aspect of tourist travel.

Mr. B. G. Thiele & Mr. R. G. A. Thiele – Two male travelers of the same surname, possibly brothers, illustrate how family units frequently used the Tourist Third Cabin for affordable Atlantic crossings.

Students and Educators: Numerous Misses listed, including Miss M. De Bruyn Kops, Miss M. Morrison, Miss E. Nash, Miss E. Ponsford, and others, suggest a strong showing of student travelers, many likely tied to the Student Travel Club movement of the 1920s.

 

Information for Passengers

Breakfast at 7.30 am and 8:30 am
Lunch at 12 noon and 1:00 pm
Dinner at 6 p.m, and 7:00 pm,

Divine Service will be held on Sundays at 11:00 am

Smoking.—Passengers are kindly requested not to smoke in either the Dining Saloon or in the Reading and Writing Room.

Seats at Table.—Passengers who have not previously arranged for seats at table to be reserved should apply to the Second Steward.

Upper Berths.—Passengers occupying upper berths can obtain steps for getting in or out on applying to the Steward or Stewardess.

Medical Attendance. The Surgeon is Authorised To Make Customary Charges, Subject in Each Case To The Approval of The Commander, for Treating Passengers at Their Request for Any Illness Not Originating On The Voyage. in The Case of Sickness Originating On The Voyage No Charge WILL Be MADE, and MEDICINE WILL Be PROVIDED Free in ALL CIRCUMSTANCES.

The Purser's Office is situated on Deck B, where Letters, Cables, Telegrams and Marconigrams are received or delivered, and Postage Stamps can be purchased.

None of the ship's staff other than those on duty in the Purser's Office are authorized to accept Letters or Telegrams for despatch.

Charges Collected on Board. Passengers are requested to ask for a Receipt on the Company's Form for any additional Passage Money, Chair or Steamer Rug Hire, charges collected for Marconigrams Cablegrams or Telegrams or Freight paid on board.

Deck Chairs and Steamer Rugs can be hired on application to the Deck Steward, at a charge of $1 each for the voyage

Valuables. For the convenience of Passengers, the Line has provided in the Purser's office a safe in which money, jewels, ornaments, documents or other valuables may be deposited by Passengers. A receipt for any articles so deposited will be issued by the Purser, but the Line does not, having regard to the ticket conditions and to the provisions of Section 502 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, and of Section 4281 of the Revised Statutes of the United States, accept any responsibility for the safe custody of any such articles. Passengers are accordingly advised to protect themselves by insurance.

Exchange of Money. The Purser is prepared, for the convenience of Passengers, to exchange a limited amount of English and American money at rates which will be advised on application.

Baggage. Questions relating to Baggage should be referred to the Second Steward, who is the Ship's Baggage Master.

Wardrobe Trunks. Passengers are advised that it is not Always possible to arrange for the placing of Wardrobe Trunks in the passenger accommodation in a position where they are easily accessible, also that there is frequently difficulty with regard to the landing, of such packages owing to their exceptional size. They are therefore recommended to use steamer trunks in preference.

Baggage Room. For Passengers' special convenience all heavy baggage not placed into state rooms is stored in the baggage room, where it is available to the owner twice daily at hours as stated on the ship's notice board.

Dogs. Passengers are notified that dogs should be handed over to the care of the live-stock attendant, and cannot be landed in Great Britain unless a license has previously been procured from the Board of Agriculture, London. Forms of license must be obtained by direct application to the Department before the dog is taken on board.

Travellers' Cheques. I. M. M. Company's Travellers Cheques payable in all parts of Europe can be purchased at all the principal offices of the Atlantic Transport Line. These Cheques in small denominations are accepted on board Atlantic Transport steamers in part payment of accounts, but the Pursers have not sufficient funds to enable them to cash these or any other Cheques.

 

🌍 Relevance for Teachers, Students, Genealogists, and Historians

Teachers & Students: This passenger list offers a glimpse into educational travel and cultural exchange in the 1920s, when student clubs and university groups frequently crossed the Atlantic.

Genealogists: Provides family groupings (e.g., the Brinleys, Brynes, Thieles, Van Lessens, and Ramuses) useful for reconstructing kinship and migration patterns.

Historians: Demonstrates the postwar democratization of travel, when tourism became accessible to middle-class families, students, and professionals.

Religious & Cultural Studies: The presence of clergy and Sunday services reflects the enduring link between faith and transatlantic life.

 

✨ Final Thoughts – Why This Passenger List Matters

The SS Minnesota passenger list from 15 October 1927 is more than a record of names; it is a social snapshot of interwar Atlantic travel. With its blend of clergy, doctors, students, families, and professionals, the document embodies the democratization of ocean travel in the late 1920s.

For researchers, genealogists, and educators, it serves as a rich source of migration history, social mobility, and cultural exchange, encapsulating the hopes and rhythms of life at sea during the twilight years of the great ocean liners before aviation redefined transatlantic journeys.

 

Curator’s Note

For over 25 years, I've been dedicated to a unique mission: tracking down, curating, preserving, scanning, and transcribing historical materials. These materials, carefully researched, organized, and enriched with context, live on here at the GG Archives. Each passenger list isn't just posted — it's a testament to our commitment to helping you see the people and stories behind the names.

It hasn't always been easy. In the early years, I wasn't sure the site would survive, and I often paid the hosting bills out of my own pocket. But I never built this site for the money — I built it because I love history and believe it's worth preserving. It's a labor of love that I've dedicated myself to, and I'm committed to keeping it going.

If you've found something here that helped your research, sparked a family story, or just made you smile, I'd love to hear about it. Your experiences and stories are the real reward for me. And if you'd like to help keep this labor of love going, there's a "Contribute to the Website" link tucked away on our About page.

📜 History is worth keeping. Thanks for visiting and keeping it alive with me.

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