RMS Queen Mary Passenger Lists 1936-1960
The RMS Queen Mary of the Cunard Line. GGA Image ID # 13edc635ec
All Digitized Passenger Lists For the RMS Queen Mary Available at the GG Archives. Listing Includes Date Voyage Began, Steamship Line, Vessel, Passenger Class and Route.
View our RMS Queen Mary Archival Collection for Ephemera including Passenger Lists, Menus, Brochures, Event Programs, Sailing Schedules, Photographs, and more.
1936-08-05 RMS Queen Mary Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin Class
Date of Departure: 5 August 1936
Route: Southampton to New York via Cherbourg
Commander: Captain R. V. Peel, R.D., Commodore, R.N.R.
Notable Passengers (Potential VIPs): Sir Malcolm Barclay-Harvey, MP, Major General A.J. Bowley, The Rt. Hon. Lady Glanusk, Monsignor Charles F. Gibney, Judge Isidor Wasservogel, and Dr. Saburo Kawaguchi.
1936-09-02 RMS Queen Mary Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: Tourist Class
Date of Departure: 2 September 1936
Route: Southampton to New York via Cherbourg
Commander: Captain Sir Edgar Britten, R.D., R.N.R.
Notable Passengers (Potential VIPs): Judge J. R. Booth, Canon A. H. Beer, MBE, Major James Caldwell, JP, Dr. N. S. Bigelow, and Dr. Sven V. Knudsen.
1937-06-09 RMS Queen Mary Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: Third Class
Date of Departure: 9 June 1937
Route: New York to Southampton via Cherbourg
Commander: Captain J. C. Towley, R.D., R.N.R.
Notable Passengers (Potential VIPs): Prof. R. J. Baker, Dr. Mabel Akin, Prof. Karl Lowenstein, Dr. Esther Lovejoy, and Col. S. P. A. Rolls.
1948-05-22 RMS Queen Mary Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: First Class
Date of Departure: 22 May 1948
Route: New York to Southampton via Cherbourg
Commander: Captain C. G. Illingworth, R.D., R.N.R.
Notable Passengers (VIP Travelers): Aristocracy and Diplomacy: Princess Margaret Boncompagni, Lord Inverchapel (Archibald Clark Kerr), Lady Inverchapel (Marjorie Clark Kerr), and Baron Theodore Van Zuylen. Hollywood Royalty: Spencer Tracy and Howard Strickling. Industrial Titans: Conrad N. Hilton and Carle C. Conway. Cultural Icons and Intellectual Luminaries: Dr. Erwin Bretscher, Efrem Kurtz, Svend P. Broby, and David Victor Glass. Art and Publishing Visionaries: Hans P. Kraus and Béla Horovitz. Scientific Innovators: Major Herbert P. Holt (Posthumous Legacy) and Dr. Maurice Campbell.
1938-10-29 RMS Queen Mary Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: Third Class
Date of Departure: 29 October 1938
Route: Southampton to New York via Cherbourg
Commander: Captain R. B. Irving, O.B.E., R.D., R.N.R.
Notable Passengers (Potential VIPs): Flight Lieutenant J. Bullock, Dr. M. Hitschmann, Rev. F. W. Dell, D.D., Mrs. B. Fuchs, and Capt. C. Stuart-Linton.
1938-11-12 RMS Queen Mary Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: Third Class
Date of Departure: 12 November 1938
Route: Southampton to New York via Cherbourg
Commander: Captain G. Gibbons, R.D., R.N.R.
Notable Passengers (Potential VIPs): Dr. R. A. Brown, Dr. Alice Ingram, Rabbi S. Silverman, Dr. S. Wahrhaftig, amd Mrs. H. de Gomez.
1939-07-12 RMS Queen Mary Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: Third Class
Date of Departure: 12 July 1939
Route: Southampton to New York via Cherbourg
Commander: Commodore R. B. Irving, O.B.E., R.D., R.N.R
Notable Passengers (Potential VIPs): Rev. J. McL. Cook, Dr. R. B. Jordan, Prof. M. Kaplan, Lt.-Col. Sophia Harris, and Dr. J. A. Lawson.
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1947-09-19 RMS Queen Mary Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: Tourist
Date of Departure: 19 September 1947
Route: Southampton to New York
Commander: Commodore C. G. Illingworth, R.D., R.N.R
Notable Passengers (Potential VIPs): Dr. H. Heynemann, Prof. C. C. Fry, Dr. N. Zinner, Lt.-Col. Sophia Harris, and Mrs. Nazar-Anchorena.
1948-07-02 RMS Queen Mary Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin Class
Date of Departure: 2 July 1948
Route: Southampton to New York via Cherbourg
Commander: Captain J. D. Snow, R.D., R.N.R.
Notable Passengers (Potential VIPs): Cmdr. H. W. Ackworth, R.N., Rev. Mother Aquinas, Dr. J. Apley, Mr. Jose V. Ariza y Lopez, and Col. A. P. Lyons.
1948-08-07 RMS Queen Mary Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin Class
Date of Departure: 7 August 1948
Route: Southampton to New York via Cherbourg
Commander: Captain C. G. Illingworth, R.D., R.N.R.
Notable Passengers (Potential VIPs): Lieut.-Col. J. C. Astwood, Right Rev. M. E. Peabody, Dr. A. S. Lyons, Canon C. E. Whipple, Group-Captain W. M. L. Macdonald, and Bishop O. L. Loring.
1949-10-22 RMS Queen Mary Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: Tourist Class
Date of Departure: 22 October 1949
Route: Southampton to New York via Cherbourg
Commander: Captain H. Grattidge, O.B.E.
Notable Passengers (Potential VIPs): Captain H. Grattidge, O.B.E., Rev. W. Deslongchamps, Dr. Hester Curtis, Mr. F. M. Bankowski, and Miss S. Aadney.
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1950-01-28 RMS Queen Mary Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin
Date of Departure: 28 January 1950
Route: New York to Southampton via Cherbourg
Commander: Captain G. E. Cove
Notable Passengers (Potential VIPs): Col. Carlos E. Angarita, Count and Countess Mario Macola, Rabbi Saul Rubenfeld, LCDR H. C. N. Goodhart, R.N., and Rev. Romwald K. Edenhofer.
1950-02-08 RMS Queen Mary Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: Tourist
Date of Departure: 8 February 1950
Route: Southampton to New York via Cherbourg
Commander: Captain G. E. Cove
Notable Passengers (Potential VIPs): Lieutenant Colonel The Hon. H. A. C. Howard, Dr. H. Van Zile Hyde, Dr. Laura Cottrell, Mrs. J. M. Abbe and Master J. Abbe, and Mr. T. Armour.
1950-05-24 RMS Queen Mary Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: Tourist Class
Date of Departure: 24 May 1950
Route: New York to Southampton via Cherbourg
Commander: Captain H. Grattidge, O.B.E.
Notable Passengers (Potential VIPs): Captain H. Grattidge, OBE, Rabbi Max Leader, Rev. J. Russell Chandran, Prof. D. Grant, Major A. Miller, and Dr. A. J. C. Vaurie.
1950-10-07 RMS Queen Mary Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: Tourist
Date of Departure: 7 October 1950
Route: Southampton to New York via Cherbourg
Commander: Captain H. Dixon
Notable Passengers (Potential VIPs): Dr. W. R. Amberson, Colonel W. Stewart-Roddie, Flight-Lieutenant J. Walker, Rev. L. M. Blundell, Miss G. Lubetzki, and Dr. B. L. Williams.
1950-10-14 RMS Queen Mary Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: Tourist
Date of Departure: 14 October 1950
Route: New York to Southampton via Cherbourg
Commander: Captain H. Dixon
Notable Passengers (Potential VIPs): Dr. P. E. Belliveau, Father D. Flynn, Prof. W. H. Trethewey, Dr. S. Habib, and Miss Pamela Howard.
1951-04-07 RMS Queen Mary Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin
Date of Departure: 7 April 1951
Route: Southampton to New York via Cherbourg
Commander: Captain H. Grattidge, O.B.E.
Notable Passengers (Potential VIPs): Lieut.-Col. D. M. L. Gordon-Watson, O.B.E., Commander (E.) Sir John S. W. Walsham, Dr. W. R. Werelius, Professor Halit Evliya, Rev. R. J. McCarthy, Major P. Drake-Wilkes.
1951-08-15 RMS Queen Mary Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: Tourist
Date of Departure: 15 August 1951
Route: Southampton to New York via Cherbourg
Commander: Captain R. G. Thelwell, O.B.E., R.D., R.N.R.
Notable Passengers (Potential VIPs): Professor T. J. Wertenbaker, Dr. (Mrs.) R. C. Lancefield, Captain R. E. Ikerd, Dr. Virginia Congleton, and Rev. H. Parr-Armstrong.
1952-06-05 RMS Queen Mary Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin Class
Date of Departure: 5 June 1952
Route: Southampton to New York via Cherbourg
Commander: Captain C. I. Thompson.
Notable Passengers (VIPs): Professor R. A. Fisher, Sc.D., F.R.S., Commander Pilot R. A. Peters, R.N., Lieut.-Colonel G. H. Milne, Dr. Margaret A. Norton, and Mr. James Garfield and Mrs. Garfield.
1952-08-07 RMS Queen Mary Cabin Class Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin Class
Date of Departure: 7 August 1952
Route: Southampton to New York via Cherbourg
Commander: Captain H. Grattidge, O.B.E.
Notable Passengers (VIPs): Professor H. Ten Eyck Perry, Dr. C. E. Steen, Jr., Lieut.-Commander M. R. Morgan, Dr. Eleanor M. Delfs, and Professor J. W. Linnett.
1952-08-07 RMS Queen Mary Tourist Class Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: Tourist Class
Date of Departure: 7 August 1952
Route: Southampton to New York via Cherbourg
Commander: Captain H. Grattidge, O.B.E.
Notable Passengers (VIPs): Professor W. H. Gould, Dr. A. C. Gottenborg, Colonel S. P. Rolls, Professor G. E. Brinton, and Rev. J. W. Barclay.
1953-03-28 RMS Queen Mary Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: Tourist Class
Date of Departure: 28 March 1953
Route: New York to Southampton via Cherbourg
Commander: Captain C. I. Thompson
Notable Passengers (VIP Travelers): Dr. Timothy A. Des Iles, Rev. Kenneth Goodman and Rev. Mrs. June Goodman, and Mr. Solomon Hochoy.
1953-07-01 RMS Queen Mary Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin Class
Date of Departure: 1 July 1953
Route: Southampton to New York via Cherbourg
Commander: Captain D. W. Sorrell
Notable Passengers (VIP Travelers): Dr. E. R. Faies, Rabbi B. Birstein and Mrs. Birstein, Rev. W. J. Harris and Mrs. Harris, Sgn. Cdr. Snit Poshakrishna and Mrs. Poshakrishna, and Mrs. M. Michela.
1953-08-12 RMS Queen Mary Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: Tourist Class
Date of Departure: 12 August 1953
Route: New York to Southampton via Cherbourg
Commander: Captain C. I. Thompson
Notable Passengers (VIP Travelers): Dr. Benjamin J. Bedell, Rev. J. M. Gardner, Dr. Alva Graham, Mr. Winslow Ames, and Mrs. Emma R. Kern.
1953-09-16 RMS Queen Mary Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: Tourist Class
Date of Departure: 16 September 1953
Route: Southampton to New York via Cherbourg
Commander: Captain D. W. Sorrell
Notable Passengers (VIP Travelers): Professor G. H. Estabrooks, Dr. A. Dudden, Professor E. Heller, Mrs. M. S. Berger, and Dr. W. Levi.
1954-07-01 RMS Queen Mary Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin Class
Date of Departure: 1 July 1954
Route: Southampton to New York via Cherbourg
Commander: Captain D. W. Sorrell
Notable Passengers (VIP Travelers): Dr. A. C. K. Yates, D.S.C., F.R.C.S., Dr. P. F. Eckman, Rev. Father D. F. Heilman, Dr. W. A. George, and Mrs. R. M. Zimmerman.
1954-07-07 RMS Queen Mary Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin Class
Date of Departure: 7 July 1954
Route: New York to Southampton via Cherbourg
Commander: Captain D. W. Sorrell
Notable Passengers (VIP Travelers): Rabbi Benjamin Birnbaum, Prof. Fred B. Hutt, Dr. Norman E. Fisher, Dr. Margaret Clark, and Rev. George Weyand.
1954-07-28 RMS Queen Mary Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin
Date of Departure: 28 July 1954
Route: New York to Southampton via Cherbourg
Commander: Captain D. W. Sorrell
Notable Passengers: Miss Jean Kennedy, Prof. A. R. Rogowski, Rev. Dr. Harold N. Smith, Col. M. Boisen, Rev. Frank Shalloe, S.J., Prof. Max Von Der Porten, Miss Winifred Amos, and Miss Mary E. Bitzer.
1955-02-19 RMS Queen Mary Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin and Tourist
Date of Departure: 19 February 1955
Route: Southampton to New York via Cherbourg
Commander: Captain D. W. Sorrell
Notable Passengers (VIP Travelers): Count Eric Lewenhaupt, Lieut.-Colonel D. McV. Reynolds, Professor R. Haferkorn, Dr. A. C. K. Yates, F.R.C.S., Rev. Mother Margarita Mir, Midshipman G. W. Smith, R.N., and Dr. M. R. Droop.
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1960-02-26 RMS Queen Mary Passenger List
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: Tourist Class
Date of Departure: 26 February 1960
Route: Southampton to New York via Cherbourg
Commander: Captain J. W. Caunce, R.D., R.N.R.
Notable Passengers (VIP Travelers): The Vicomtesse R. de Veau, Rabbi I. H. Finkelstein, Dr. G. Berrettini, Rev. P. C. Balaram, Mrs. M. Harris, and Dr. P. J. Fitzpatrick.
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Passenger Lists contained in the GG Archives collection represent the souvenir list provided to the passengers of each cabin class (and other classes). Many of these souvenir passenger lists have disappeared over the years. Our collection contains a sampling of what was originally produced and printed by the steamship lines.
Recap and Summary
The Storied Voyages of the RMS Queen Mary (1936–1960)
The RMS Queen Mary, a jewel of the Cunard Line, was more than just a transatlantic liner—it was a floating microcosm of the world's elite. From aristocrats and business moguls to Hollywood stars and intellectual luminaries, the passenger lists spanning 1936 to 1960 paint a vivid picture of an era when ocean liners were the epitome of luxury, diplomacy, and global travel.
The GG Archives collection of digitized passenger lists preserves the memory of those who walked the grand corridors of the Queen Mary, offering a glimpse into the most fascinating travelers, legendary figures, and historic voyages.
Most Remarkable Passenger Lists & Their Significance
1. 1936-08-05 | Cabin Class | Maiden Year Voyage | Southampton to New York
- Why It Stands Out: One of the earliest documented crossings of the Queen Mary, this voyage boasted a distinguished roster of military leaders, politicians, and legal experts.
- Notable Travelers:
- Sir Malcolm Barclay-Harvey, MP – British politician and later Governor of South Australia.
- Major General A.J. Bowley – A high-ranking military officer, likely involved in strategic post-war planning.
- The Rt. Hon. Lady Glanusk – A prominent noblewoman from a respected British family.
- Judge Isidor Wasservogel – A New York Supreme Court judge, possibly traveling for judicial conferences or diplomatic engagements.
- Dr. Saburo Kawaguchi – A noted Japanese intellectual, highlighting the international reach of Queen Mary’s voyages.
2. 1937-06-09 | Third Class | The Intellectuals' Crossing | New York to Southampton
- Why It Stands Out: A remarkable assembly of scholars, scientists, and medical professionals, showcasing how the Queen Mary served as a conduit for academic exchange.
- Notable Travelers:
- Prof. Karl Lowenstein – A German-American political scientist, influential in constitutional law and democracy studies.
- Dr. Esther Lovejoy – A trailblazing female physician and public health advocate.
- Col. S. P. A. Rolls – Likely a British military strategist, involved in pre-WWII planning.
3. 1948-05-22 | First Class | The Ultimate Celebrity Voyage | New York to Southampton
- Why It Stands Out: This voyage was an extraordinary convergence of royalty, Hollywood icons, and industrialists, making it one of the most prestigious in Queen Mary’s history.
- Notable Travelers:
- Princess Margaret Boncompagni – European royalty, signaling the ship’s high status among nobility.
- Lord & Lady Inverchapel (Archibald & Marjorie Clark Kerr) – British diplomatic elites, crucial in post-war negotiations.
- Spencer Tracy – One of Hollywood’s most celebrated actors, bringing star power to the voyage.
- Conrad N. Hilton – The hotel magnate and founder of Hilton Hotels, marking Queen Mary’s connection to global business powerhouses.
- Efrem Kurtz – A world-renowned conductor, highlighting the ship’s influence in cultural and artistic circles.
4. 1949-10-22 | Tourist Class | The Diplomatic Mission | Southampton to New York
- Why It Stands Out: This voyage carried prominent military officers, religious leaders, and international scholars, reflecting the ship’s role in diplomatic and global affairs.
- Notable Travelers:
- Captain H. Grattidge, O.B.E. – A distinguished naval officer, potentially involved in British-American military coordination.
- Rev. W. Deslongchamps & Dr. Hester Curtis – Religious and academic figures, showing Queen Mary’s role in intellectual and humanitarian exchange.
5. 1950-02-08 | Tourist Class | The Aristocrats’ Voyage | Southampton to New York
- Why It Stands Out: This list includes high-ranking nobility, distinguished doctors, and political figures, a blend of old-world aristocracy and modern scientific minds.
- Notable Travelers:
- Lieutenant Colonel The Hon. H. A. C. Howard – A member of the British nobility, adding a touch of royal prestige to the voyage.
- Dr. H. Van Zile Hyde – A renowned medical researcher, underscoring Queen Mary’s importance to the scientific community.
- Mr. T. Armour – A renowned professional golfer, further demonstrating the ship’s draw to the sporting elite.
6. 1952-06-05 | Cabin Class | The Scientific Voyage | Southampton to New York
- Why It Stands Out: This voyage gathered some of the most brilliant scientific and military minds of the era, emphasizing transatlantic knowledge exchange.
- Notable Travelers:
- Professor R. A. Fisher, Sc.D., F.R.S. – A pioneering statistician and geneticist, a true intellectual titan of the 20th century.
- Commander Pilot R. A. Peters, R.N. – Likely involved in aerospace or naval innovations.
- Lieut.-Colonel G. H. Milne – A British officer, potentially returning from post-WWII military operations.
7. 1955-02-19 | Cabin & Tourist Class | The Distinguished Guests Voyage | Southampton to New York
- Why It Stands Out: This voyage brought together European aristocracy, military strategists, and religious figures, indicating a blend of diplomacy, academia, and high society.
- Notable Travelers:
- Count Eric Lewenhaupt – A Swedish aristocrat, marking Queen Mary’s continued role as a hub for European nobility.
- Lieut.-Colonel D. McV. Reynolds – A distinguished British military leader, further linking the ship to defense and strategy discussions.
- Professor R. Haferkorn – Likely a scholar in political science or history, adding to the academic prestige of the voyage.
8. 1960-02-26 | Tourist Class | The Last Great Crossing | Southampton to New York
- Why It Stands Out: As one of Queen Mary’s final noteworthy voyages, this journey carried a mix of European aristocracy, diplomats, and theologians, showing the ship’s continued influence in high society even as air travel was taking over.
- Notable Travelers:
- The Vicomtesse R. de Veau – French nobility, representing the lingering presence of European aristocrats on the Queen Mary.
- Rabbi I. H. Finkelstein – A leading religious scholar, underscoring the ship’s role in transatlantic theological discussions.
- Dr. P. J. Fitzpatrick – A prominent scientist, cementing the ship’s legacy in academic and scientific communities.
Conclusion
The RMS Queen Mary was more than just an ocean liner—it was a stage for the most powerful, influential, and brilliant figures of the 20th century. Whether carrying Hollywood legends, military strategists, European nobility, or world-renowned scientists, the Queen Mary bridged continents and ideas, serving as a floating salon of diplomacy, innovation, and high society.
Through these painstakingly preserved passenger lists, we see a snapshot of a world in flux, where the elite still ruled the transatlantic waves, just as the jet age loomed on the horizon.
