The Red Star Line: A Gateway for Transatlantic Travel and Immigration (1873-1935)
The Red Star Line began transatlantic passenger service in 1873 and 1935 between European ports and New York. The Belgenland was their most famous ship, and most of the names of their steamships ended with the suffix "land."
Explore the history of the Red Star Line, a key player in transatlantic travel from 1873 to 1935. This collection offers passenger lists, brochures, and travel documents, ideal for genealogists, historians, and maritime enthusiasts researching immigration and ocean travel.
Quick Links to Red Star Line Topics
1. Passenger Lists (Grouped by Ship in Alpha/Date Order)
(A) Arabic (B) Belgenland (F1) Finland (F2) Friesland (G) Gerolstein (L) Lapland (P) Pennland (V) Vaderland (Z) Zeeland
2. Brochures & Promotional Materials (Organized by Date)
3. Passage Contracts & Immigration Documents
4. Onboard Entertainment & Activities
5. Menus
1. Passenger Lists (Grouped by Ship)
1929-08-16 SS Arabic Passenger List
Steamship Line: Red Star Line
Class of Passengers: Tourist Third Cabin
Date of Departure: 16 August 1929
Route: Antwerp to Halifax and New York via Southampton, Cherbourg, and Queenstown (Cobh)
Commander: Captain J. B. Bulman
1924-07-19 RMS Belgenland Passenger List
Steamship Line: Red Star Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin
Date of Departure: 19 July 1924
Route: London to New York via Cherbourg
Commander: Commodore J. Bradshaw
1926-06-26 RMS Belgenland Passenger List
Steamship Line: Red Star Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin
Date of Departure: 26 June 1926
Route: New York to Antwerp via Plymouth and Cherbourg
Commander: Captain T. Howell
1926-09-03 SS Belgenland Passenger List
Steamship Line: Red Star Line
Class of Passengers: Tourist Third Cabin
Date of Departure: 3 September 1926
Route: Antwerp to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Southampton
Commander: Captain Th. Howell
1930-08-08 RMS Belgenland Passenger List
Steamship Line: Red Star Line
Class of Passengers: Tourist
Date of Departure: 8 August 1930
Route: Antwerp to New York via Southampton and Cherbourg
Commander: Captain W. A. Morehouse
1906-05-12 SS Finland Passenger List
Steamship Line: Red Star Line
Class of Passengers: First and Second Cabin
Date of Departure: 12 May 1906
Route: Antwerp to New York via Dover
Commander: Captain G. C. Apfeld
1892-05-07 SS Friesland Passenger List
Steamship Line: Red Star Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin
Date of Departure: 7 May 1892
Route: Antwerp to New York via Dover
Commander: Captain Wm. G. Randle
1895-07-20 SS Friesland Passenger List
Steamship Line: Red Star Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin
Date of Departure: 20 July 1895
Route: Antwerp to New York
Commander: Captain H. E. Nickels
1938-09-24 SS Gerolstein Passenger List
Steamship Line: Red Star Line
Class of Passengers: Tourist Third Cabin
Date of Departure: 24 September 1938
Route: Antwerp to New York
Commander: Captain Friedrich Ahrens
1910-08-27 RMS Lapland Passenger List
Steamship Line: Red Star Line
Class of Passengers: Second Class
Date of Departure: 27 August 1910
Route: Antwerp to New York via Dover
Commander: Captain H. D. Doxrud
1914-10-29 RMS Lapland Passenger List
Steamship Line: Red Star Line
Class of Passengers: Second Class
Date of Departure: 29 October 1914
Route: Liverpool to New York via Queenstown (Cobh)
Commander: Captain J. Bradshaw
1920-04-21 RMS Lapland Passenger List
Steamship Line: Red Star Line
Class of Passengers: Second Class
Date of Departure: 21 April 1920
Route: Antwerp to New York via Southampton
Commander: Captain J. Bradshaw
1923-08-08 SS Lapland Passenger List
Steamship Line: Red Star Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin
Date of Departure: 8 August 1923
Route: Antwerp to New York via Southampton and Cherbourg
Commander: Captain T. Howell
1928-08-31 SS Lapland Passenger List
Steamship Line: Red Star Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin
Date of Departure: 31 August 1928
Route: Antwerp to New York via Southampton and Cherbourg
Commander: Captain H. Harvey
1929-11-02 SS Lapland Passenger List
Steamship Line: Red Star Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin
Date of Departure: 2 November 1929
Route: New York to Antwerp via Plymouth and Cherbourg
Commander: Captain H. Harvey
1930-07-25 SS Lapland Passenger List
Steamship Line: Red Star Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin
Date of Departure: 25 July 1930
Route: Antwerp to New York via Southampton and Cherbourg
Commander: Captain H. Harvey
1930-08-22 SS Lapland Passenger List
Steamship Line: Red Star Line
Class of Passengers: Tourist
Date of Departure: 22 August 1930
Route: Antwerp to New York via Southampton and Cherbourg
Commander: Captain H. Harvey
1926-08-27 SS Pennland Passenger List
Steamship Line: Red Star Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin
Date of Departure: 27 August 1926
Route: Antwerp to Halifax and New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Southampton
Commander: Captain William A. Morehouse
1928-07-27 SS Pennland Passenger List
Steamship Line: Red Star Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin
Date of Departure: 27 July 1928
Route: Antwerp to Halifax and New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Southampton
Commander: Captain V. L. Making
1932-08-26 SS Pennland Passenger List
Steamship Line: Red Star Line
Steamship Line: Red Star Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin
Date of Departure: 26 August 1932
Route: Antwerp to New York via Le Havre and Southampton
Commander: Captain V. L. Making
1934-08-24 SS Pennland Passenger List
Steamship Line: Red Star Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin
Date of Departure: 24 August 1934
Route: Antwerp to New York via Le Havre and Southampton
Commander: Captain H. Harvey
1936-09-05 SS Pennland Passenger List
Steamship Line: Red Star Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin
Date of Departure: 5 September 1936
Route: Antwerp to New York via Southampton
Commander: Captain Walter Sengpiel
1904-08-13 SS Vaderland Passenger List
Steamship Line: Red Star Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin
Date of Departure: 13 August 1904
Route: Antwerp to New York via Dover
Commander: Captain R. C. Ehoff
1904-09-10 RMS Vaderland Passenger List
Steamship Line: Red Star Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin Class
Date of Departure: 10 September 1904
Route: Antwerp for New York via Dover
Commander: Captain R. C. Ehoff
1911-09-16 RMS Vaderland Passenger List
Steamship Line: Red Star Line
Class of Passengers: First Class
Date of Departure: 16 September 1911
Route: Antwerp to New York via Dover
Commander: Captain R. Prager
1908-08-08 SS Zeeland Passenger List
Steamship Line: Red Star Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin
Date of Departure: 8 August 1908
Route: Antwerp to New York via Dover
Commander: Captain J. S. Ball
1924-06-26 SS Zeeland Passenger List
Steamship Line: Red Star Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin
Date of Departure: 26 June 1924
Route: New York to Antwerp via Plymouth and Cherbourg
Commander: Captain A. J. Thomas
1925-07-30 SS Zeeland Passenger List
Steamship Line: Red Star Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin
Date of Departure: 30 July 1925
Route: New York to Antwerp via Plymouth and Cherbourg
Commander: Captain A. J. Thomas
2. Brochures & Promotional Materials
1904 - About Antwerp and the Red Star Line Brochure
50-page brochure from the Red Star Line provides extensive information on the harbor of Antwerp, the history of the city, and the Red Star Line transatlantic fleet. Many photographs help to illustrate this rare booklet from 1904.
1924 - Red Star Line SS Belgenland Into Europe Brochure
The Triple Screw Steamer Belgenland, Queen of the Red Star Line Ships 1924 18-page Brochure entitled "Into Europe Through Belgium," produced by the New York Office. Great photographs capture the luxury and opulence of the first class in this magnificent ship.
1924 - Red Star Line SS Belgenland Brochure
A 1924 brochure from the Red Star Line features their flagship, the SS Belgenland and her many amenities available for first-class passengers. Numerous photographs and illustrations document the opulence and service provided by the Red Star Line.
1926-01 Red Star Line Second Class Rates Brochure
January 1926 brochure containing second class rates for the Red Star Line steamships Belgenland and Lapland for routes between New York and Antwerp. European Rail and Steamer Fares and interior and exterior photographs for both ships are included.
3. Passage Contracts & Immigration Documents
RMS Zeeland Passage Contract - 10 August 1912
Well-preserved original steamship ticket for a voyage undertaken on 10 August 1912 undertaken by a 24 Year Old Immigrant who left Belgium in 1912 for New York.
4. Onboard Entertainment & Activities
1924-06-26 Sports and Entertainments Program - SS Zeeland
Sports and Entertainment Program for the Eastbound Voyage of the SS Zeeland of the Red Star Line beginning 26 June 1924. Activities included shoe and sack races, bottle driving, dancing, wheel barrel races, and a costume ball.
5. Menus
1929-11-08 SS Lapland Farewell Dinner Menu
Vintage Farewell Dinner Bill of Fare Card from 8 November 1929 on board the SS Lapland of the Red Star Line featured Fillet of Sole, Vin Blanc, Lobster Cutlets, Canopère, and Chocolate Eclairs for dessert. A page of Autographs were included with this Menu.
6. Books About the Red Star Line
1988 - The Red Star Line and International Mercantile Marine Company
The Red Star Line, one of the oldest and best known shipping lines ever to send ships out to sail the oceans, was founded in 1872 and liquidated in 1935. All of the Red Star ships, bearing such famous names as the VADERLAND, NEDERLAND, BELGENLAND, RHYNLAND, WESTERNLAND and PENNLAND, sailed under the Belgian flag, although the Company was financed by Americans.
Review and Summary of the Red Star Line Archival Collection
Introduction: A Key Player in Transatlantic Travel
The Red Star Line was one of the most significant transatlantic shipping lines, operating between Antwerp and New York from 1873 to 1935. It was crucial in transporting immigrants to the United States, particularly those from Belgium, Germany, and Eastern Europe.
The collection includes passenger lists, travel brochures, passage contracts, and entertainment programs, offering a rich resource for historians, genealogists, and maritime enthusiasts. These documents shed light on early immigration waves, ocean travel conditions, and the luxury liners of the era.
Key Highlights from the Collection
1. Passenger Lists: Tracing Immigrant Journeys
The passenger lists in this archive provide valuable insights into who traveled on Red Star Line ships, where they departed from, and their final destination.
Notable Entries:
- 1892-05-07 SS Friesland – Cabin class passengers traveling from Antwerp to New York via Dover.
- 1912-08-10 RMS Zeeland – A third-class passage contract, a rare document that details an immigrant’s journey from Belgium to New York.
- 1929-08-16 SS Arabic – Tourist Third Cabin passengers, reflecting the evolution of class-based travel in the late 1920s.
🔹 Why This Matters:
- Genealogists can use these lists to trace family members who emigrated from Europe to the U.S.
- Historians can study the migration trends and demographics of passengers in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
2. Travel Brochures: Marketing Transatlantic Voyages
The Red Star Line produced detailed brochures to promote travel on its luxury liners, often showcasing first-class accommodations and highlighting the company’s strong Belgian heritage.
Key Brochures in the Collection:
- 1904 - About Antwerp and the Red Star Line – A 50-page guidebook detailing Antwerp’s port and the Red Star Line’s fleet.
- 1924 - Red Star Line SS Belgenland Brochure – A lavishly illustrated booklet showcasing Belgenland, the company’s flagship liner.
- 1926 - Second-Class Rates Brochure – Details fares for Red Star Line voyages, showing the pricing structure for different classes.
🔹 Why This Matters:
- Marketing historians can analyze how ocean liners promoted luxury and affordability in the early 20th century.
- Educators can use these brochures to illustrate how travel evolved from necessity-driven migration to leisure tourism.
3. Passage Contracts: A Rare Look at Individual Journeys
Passage contracts were official documents issued to passengers, detailing ticket purchases, travel conditions, and destinations.
Notable Contracts:
- 1912 - RMS Zeeland Third-Class Passage Contract – A well-preserved original ticket for a 24-year-old immigrant traveling from Belgium to New York.
🔹 Why This Matters:
- Genealogists and immigration researchers can study these contracts to understand the logistical aspects of emigration.
- Social historians can analyze ticket prices, travel class distinctions, and passenger obligations.
4. Sports & Entertainment at Sea
The collection includes sports and entertainment programs, illustrating how Red Star Line made long transatlantic voyages more enjoyable for passengers.
Key Entertainment Documents:
- 1924 - Sports and Entertainment Program (SS Zeeland) – A detailed itinerary of onboard activities, including shoe and sack races, bottle driving, and a costume ball.
🔹 Why This Matters:
- Cultural historians can study how entertainment at sea evolved over time.
- Maritime enthusiasts can explore how liners adapted to keep passengers entertained during long voyages.
5. Ship-Specific Passenger Lists and Travel Records
The collection covers many of the most famous Red Star Line ships, including the SS Belgenland, SS Friesland, and SS Zeeland.
Notable Ships:
- SS Belgenland – The largest and most luxurious Red Star Line ship, often used for leisure cruises and high-end travel.
- SS Vaderland – One of the earlier transatlantic passenger ships, serving from the 1890s through the early 1900s.
- SS Lapland – A popular liner that operated into the 1930s, featuring tourist and second-class travel options.
🔹 Why This Matters:
- Ship historians can track the development of transatlantic liners over time.
- Collectors and researchers can study ship-specific trends and passenger demographics.
Final Thoughts: Why This Collection is Essential
The Red Star Line Archival Collection offers a comprehensive look at transatlantic travel between Europe and the United States from 1873 to 1935.
✅ Preserves vital immigration records for genealogists.
✅ Provides rare brochures and marketing materials for historians.
✅ Highlights onboard entertainment and social experiences.
✅ Tracks ship evolution and passenger demographics over decades.
🔹 Who Should Explore This Collection?
- Genealogists tracing European ancestors who emigrated to the U.S.
- Historians studying transatlantic migration patterns.
- Maritime enthusiasts researching historic steamships.
- Educators illustrating early 20th-century travel experiences.
From steerage class immigrants to first-class luxury travelers, the Red Star Line’s story is deeply woven into the fabric of transatlantic history—and this collection brings that history to life.
