Ellis Island Passenger Lists - 1951
A Young Couple Watches the Waves Created by the SS Ile de France Propellers. Deck Plan and Cabin Class Travel Brochure, February 1951. GGA Image ID # 205c4cf276
Passenger lists for 1951 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.
1951-01-10 SS Washington Passenger List
Steamship Line: United States Lines
Class of Passengers: Cabin Class
Date of Departure: 10 January 1951
Route: New York to Hamburg via Cobh, Southampton, Le Havre and Bremerhaven
Commander: Captain Harold Milde, U.S.N.R.
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.
1951-05-25 SS Vulcania Passenger Lists
Steamship Line: Italia Line
Class of Passengers: First Class
Date of Departure: 25 May 1951
Route: Genoa to Halifax and New York via Cannes, Naples, Palermo, and Gibraltar
Commander: Captain Giovanni Giurini
1951-07-31 Empress of Canada Passenger Lists
Steamship Line: Canadian Pacific Line
Class of Passengers: First Class and Tourist Class
Date of Departure: 31 July 1951
Route: Liverpool to Québec and Montréal
Commander: Captain C. E. Duggan, R.D., R.N.R.
1951-08-12 SS Conte Biancamano Passenger List
Steamship Line: Italia Soc. An. Di Navigazione
Class of Passengers: Cabin
Date of Departure: 12 August 1951
Route: Genoa to Halifax and New York via Naples and Gibraltar
Commander: Captain Pasquale Pezzuto
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.
1951-08-21 Empress of Canada Passenger Lists
Steamship Line: Canadian Pacific Line
Class of Passengers: First Class
Date of Departure: 21 August 1951
Route: Liverpool to Québec and Montréal
Commander: Captain J. P. Dobson, D.S.C., R.D., R.N.R.
1951-10-05 SS Nieuw Amsterdam Passenger List
Steamship Line: Holland-America Line / Netherlands American Steam Navigation Company (NASM)
Class of Passengers: First Class, Cabin, and Tourist Class
Date of Departure: 5 October 1951
Route: Rotterdam to New York via Le Havre and Southampton
Commander: Commodore C. N. Kleyn
1951-11-13 RMS Mauretania Passenger Lists
Steamship Line: Cunard Line
Class of Passengers: First Class
Date of Departure: 13 November 1951
Route: Southampton to New York via Havre
Commander: Captain D. W. Sorrell
Please help us make our passenger list collection more complete. We would appreciate a digital copy if you have an 1951 souvenir passenger list. Please email us at history@ggarchives.com.
Recap & Summary of the Ellis Island Passenger Lists – 1951
The 1951 passenger lists capture a critical transition in transatlantic and global travel as ocean liners continued to be the dominant mode of transport, but commercial aviation was rapidly growing as a competitor. During this period, luxury travel thrived, migration surged, and Tourist Class expanded, making transatlantic crossings more accessible to middle-class travelers.
This year also saw a rise in post-war migration, with significant voyages between Europe and North America, and continued migration from Italy, the UK, and Canada.
A notable visual highlight is the deck plan and cabin class travel brochure from the SS Ile de France (February 1951), featuring a young couple watching the waves created by the ship’s propellers. This image embodies the romance and grandeur of ocean travel, which was still at its peak before aviation fully overtook the industry.
Interesting Highlights from the 1951 Passenger Lists
1. The Growing Presence of Tourist Class
- Cunard recognized the importance of affordable travel, offering Tourist Class voyages on its most famous ships:
- RMS Queen Mary (August 15, 1951) – Southampton to New York.
- SS Nieuw Amsterdam (October 5, 1951) – First, Cabin, and Tourist Class, showing a broader passenger demographic.
- Tourist Class was becoming the largest category on ocean liners, signaling a shift toward mass-market transatlantic travel.
2. Increased Migration from Europe to North America
- Canada and the U.S. received thousands of migrants from Europe, reflecting post-war recovery and economic opportunities:
- SS Washington (January 10, 1951) – Carried migrants and travelers from New York to Germany, Ireland, the UK, and France.
- SS Conte Biancamano (August 12, 1951) – An Italian migration voyage from Genoa to Halifax and New York, stopping in Naples and Gibraltar.
- SS Vulcania (May 25, 1951) – Another key Italian migration route, connecting Genoa to Halifax and New York via Naples and Palermo.
- Empress of Canada (July 31 & August 21, 1951) – Liverpool to Québec and Montréal, reinforcing Canada’s vital role in transatlantic migration.
- These voyages highlight the continuation of post-war migration patterns, as thousands of European migrants sought new opportunities in North America.
3. The Legacy of British and Italian Shipping Lines
- Cunard remained a leader in luxury ocean travel, with RMS Queen Mary and RMS Mauretania maintaining their reputation for elegance and reliability.
- Italia Line’s ships, including SS Vulcania and SS Conte Biancamano, played a key role in Italian migration, particularly to New York and Canada.
- Holland-America Line’s SS Nieuw Amsterdam (October 5, 1951) operated one of the most diverse voyages, carrying First, Cabin, and Tourist Class passengers from Rotterdam to New York via Le Havre and Southampton.
Most Interesting Voyages of 1951
1. RMS Queen Mary (August 15, 1951) – The Expansion of Tourist Class
- One of Cunard’s most famous ships, this voyage marked the growing importance of Tourist Class, making transatlantic crossings more affordable.
2. SS Vulcania (May 25, 1951) – The Italian Migration Route
- This voyage from Genoa to Halifax and New York via Naples and Palermo was a key route for Italian immigrants heading to North America.
3. Empress of Canada (July 31 & August 21, 1951) – The Canada Migration Boom
- These Liverpool to Canada voyages highlight Canada’s increasing role as a migration destination, with Montréal and Québec serving as major entry points.
4. SS Nieuw Amsterdam (October 5, 1951) – Multi-Class Transatlantic Voyage
- This ship carried First, Cabin, and Tourist Class passengers, showcasing the diverse passenger makeup of transatlantic liners in the early 1950s.
World Events That Affected Ocean Travel in 1951
1. The Rise of Commercial Aviation
- The Douglas DC-6 and Lockheed Constellation expanded long-haul flight capabilities, making transatlantic flights faster and more attractive for business travelers.
- Airlines like Pan Am, BOAC, and Air France began offering regular commercial flights across the Atlantic, marking the beginning of the decline of ocean liners as the primary mode of travel.
2. Post-War Migration Continues
- Europe’s recovery from World War II created new migration waves, especially from Italy, Germany, and the UK to Canada and the U.S..
- The Displaced Persons Act (1948-1952) allowed thousands of European refugees to enter the U.S. and Canada, increasing demand for ships like SS Vulcania and Empress of Canada.
3. The Korean War (1950-1953) and Its Effect on Travel
- The Korean War increased military transportation across the Pacific, shifting focus away from luxury ocean travel to troop transport on some routes.
4. The Strengthening of Canada’s Immigration Policy
- Canada encouraged British and European migration, making Québec and Montréal major points of entry for thousands of new arrivals.
- Ships like Empress of Canada played a vital role in this migration surge.
Conclusion
The Ellis Island Passenger Lists for 1951 document a dynamic year in ocean travel, where ocean liners still dominated but faced growing challenges from commercial aviation.
- Cunard remained a major player, particularly in Tourist Class expansion on RMS Queen Mary.
- Migration from Europe to North America was at an all-time high, with ships like SS Conte Biancamano, SS Vulcania, and Empress of Canada serving thousands of immigrants.
- The rise of affordable travel options allowed middle-class travelers to make transatlantic crossings.
- Air travel was starting to challenge ocean liners, marking the beginning of a shift that would accelerate throughout the 1950s.
