Steerage - The Immigrant's Journey
Steerage (or Tween Decks) and Third Class was the default choice of many immigrants from the 1850s through the 1930s. The conditions varied by steamship line and was likely to be fairly harsh compared to modern standards. Early steerage often housed hundreds of immigrants in one large room.
Articles about voyages in Steerage
- 1879 - Steerage Accommodations on the Cunard Steamship Line - A British reporter takes a voyage in steerage and reports on the horrible conditions endured by immigrants.
- 1888 - The Immigrant Journey: A Sham Immigrant's Voyage to New York
- 1890 - Life in Steerage, A Transatlantic Voyage
- 1898 - Steerage Conditions in 1898 - A First-Hand Account - Lavishly illustrated article provides an historical account of what a transatlantic voyage in steerage was like.
- 1905 - The Immigrant Journey : The Fellowship of the Steerage - Illustrated with photographs and illustrations. 8 Chapters.
- 1906 - Urgency of Improved Steerage Conditions - A First Hand Account
Steerage and Immigration Articles
- 1871 Steamship Lines from Northern Europe to the United States Various steamship lines are enumerated; with details concerning their management as far as steerage passengers, that is, emigrants, are concerned. Includes Ports of Call and Rates Charged for Steerage.
- 1881 Observation of Steerage on the Cunard Line If our naval architects who seek distinction in rendering vessels shot-proof, would give attention to rendering them discomfort, proof for the emigrants who crowd the steerage, it would be a great blessing.
- 1890 America's Open Gate: Castle Garden May Cease To Be The Immigrant's Landing
- 1904 Immigrants and the Steamship Steerage Rate Wars - Steerage fares reduced from $25 to $10 from several European ports
- 1906 An Interview with The Commissioner of Immigration - Includes tables of facts of Admitted, Rejected and Debarred immigrants.
- 1907 Improvements in Conditions in Steerage Class and Increased Head Tax - With the improvement in the steerage, which has taken place within the last few years, many companies have dropped the name steerage and now designate it as the "third class."
- 1909 Women in Steerage - Conditions called Appalling - Newspaper account provides insight of traveling in Steerage a the turn of the century.
- 1910 Abuses Among Emigrant Passengers - Brief but informative report
- 1911 Steerage Conditions - A Report of the Immigration Commission - Excellent summary of the conditions and history of steerage.
- 1913 Steerage Conditions on Steamships - The Cotterill Report offers an in depth look at conditions at the time of the Titanic
- The Steerage Passenger - Conditions circa 1913 Contrasted with Old Steerage Conditions.
- 1916 Immigrants to the Melting Pot - The Hopes of the Hyphenated - Richly illustrated report offers and extensive look at immigrants and steerage.
Steerage Passenger List (Example)
- 1894-08-28 Steerage Passenger List, North German Lloyd S. S. Lahn, Bremen to New York
Other articles in the Archives Collection not yet uploaded
- 1878 A Spring Jaunt in Staten Island - Covers the old Quarantine Station for New Immigrants.
