What Are Passenger Lists?
Every traveler may have at least one interesting souvenir of the voyage across the Atlantic. The names of the Passengers, and in some cases their home addresses, are neatly printed upon folios along with a blank chart for recording the progress of the voyage, and more or less information about the company, the vessel, and the fleet of which it is a member.
A sufficient number of these passenger lists are printed to assure one at least for every cabin passenger, and the lists are usually distributed in the saloon soon after the vessel leaves her dock. They are not only prized as souvenirs, but they are invaluable in assisting one to make acquaintances—or avoid them, for that matter.
It is the custom of some of the lines to distribute passenger lists at the gang-plank just previous to the sailing of the vessel, so that friends of Passengers may carry away a token of the great journey, and speculate as to how companionable this or another person will prove to the party in which they are especially interested.
On nearly all the larger vessels there is a miniature newspaper printed by the ship's printer, which gives the usual amount of " local " gossip and happenings peculiar to the surroundings; articles are contributed by the Passengers, and sometimes there is a good deal of talent on board. Reports of concerts and domestic entertainments, etc., are given.
- An excerpt from Ocean Passenger Travel 1891
- Put Passenger Lists into social context with this article: Who's Who On Board: The Secrets In The Passenger List
Alternate Names for Passenger Lists
- Ship Manifests
- Ellis Island Passenger Lists
- Ships List
- Ship Lists
- Passenger List
- Ship List
- New York Passenger Lists
- New York Passenger List
- Passenger Manifests
- Ship Passenger Lists
- Passenger Lists Ellis Island
- Immigrant Passenger Lists
- Boston Passenger Lists
- German Passenger Lists
And many more variations. So if your searching for passenger lists and not getting the results you expected, try some of the variations above for other possibilities.
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.
