Ellis Island Passenger Lists - 1894

Passenger lists for 1894 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 primarily covers North American and European ports and ports in Australia and South Africa.

Our collection contains samples of passenger lists produced and printed by the steamship lines. These lists are often used to illustrate family history books for immigrants from this period.

Coveted by collectors and genealogists, souvenir passenger lists often offered beautiful graphical covers and information not found in official manifests because they focused on the journey rather than the destination.

Passenger Lists By Year Continued

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• 1893
• 1894
• 1895
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Please help us make our passenger list collection more complete. We would appreciate a digital copy if you have an 1894 souvenir passenger list. Please email us at history@ggarchives.com.

Recap and Summary of the Ellis Island Passenger Lists - 1894 Index Page

The Ellis Island Passenger Lists for 1894 provide a valuable snapshot of transatlantic travel in the late 19th century, highlighting the variety of passengers—ranging from wealthy cabin travelers to steerage immigrants—who crossed the ocean. These lists, often issued as souvenirs by steamship lines, focused on the journey rather than official immigration records. Many of these lists have disappeared over time, making this collection particularly valuable for genealogists, historians, and collectors.

This selection primarily includes transatlantic voyages between North America and Europe, with stops in key ports such as Glasgow, Bremen, and Naples. The inclusion of both cabin and steerage passengers provides insight into the social and economic divisions of the era.

Notable Highlights from 1894 Passenger Lists

1. SS State of California (Allan Line & State Line) – 6 July 1894
   • Route: New York to Glasgow
   • Passenger Class: First and Second Cabin
   • Commander: Captain A. G. Braes
   • Significance: This voyage represents an important transatlantic corridor for Scottish emigration. The Allan Line was a key player in shipping, and its merger with the State Line expanded its reach. The inclusion of both first and second cabin classes indicates the appeal of this route for wealthier travelers and middle-class emigrants.
2. SS Lahn (North German Lloyd) – 28 August 1894
   • Route: Bremen to New York
   • Passenger Class: Steerage
   • Commander: Captain H. Hellmers
   • Significance: The North German Lloyd was a dominant force in German and Central European emigration to America. This list is significant because it is exclusively for steerage passengers, offering insight into the mass migration of lower-class Europeans seeking new opportunities in the U.S. The SS Lahn was one of the faster steamships of its time, reducing travel time across the Atlantic.
3. SS Werra (North German Lloyd) – 14 December 1894
   • Route: Naples to New York via Gibraltar
   • Passenger Class: Cabin
   • Commander: Captain G. Pohle
   • Significance: This voyage reflects the growing wave of Southern European immigration, particularly from Italy. The inclusion of Naples as a departure point highlights the increasing number of Italian immigrants arriving in the U.S. via Ellis Island in the 1890s. The stop in Gibraltar suggests additional passengers from Spain or North Africa may have been aboard.

Historical Context – Events Impacting Ocean Travel in 1894

• Ellis Island Immigration Processing Expands:
  • By 1894, Ellis Island had become the primary processing center for millions of immigrants entering the United States. The surge in Italian, German, and Eastern European immigrants was reshaping the U.S. workforce and urban centers.
• Economic Hardship and Political Instability in Europe:
  • Germany and Italy experienced economic downturns and political unrest, fueling mass emigration. Many of the steerage-class passengers on the SS Lahn and SS Werra were likely escaping poverty and limited opportunities.
• Advancements in Steamship Travel:
  • The 1890s saw a continued shift to faster, larger, and more comfortable ocean liners, making transatlantic voyages more accessible to a wider range of travelers. Ships like SS Lahn were known for their speed, while vessels like SS Werra catered to wealthier passengers with luxurious cabins.
• Heightened Competition Between Steamship Lines:
  • The North German Lloyd, Allan Line, and Cunard Line were in fierce competition for passengers. Companies improved marketing, onboard amenities, and ticketing options, with some offering deferred payment plans for emigrants.

Final Thoughts

The Ellis Island Passenger Lists for 1894 capture a critical moment in transatlantic migration, documenting the movement of Scottish, German, and Italian passengers in both steerage and cabin classes. The rise of Southern European immigration, reflected in the SS Werra’s Naples departure, signals the shifting demographics of U.S. immigration during this time.

This collection is particularly valuable for understanding the diversity of passengers, from wealthy travelers on the SS State of California to steerage immigrants aboard the SS Lahn. These documents serve as important historical records of mass migration, social class divisions in travel, and the technological evolution of ocean liners in the late 19th century.