SS Ile De France Ephemera Collection
All Digitized Ephemera for the SS Ile De France available at the GG Archives. Common items of ephemera in our maritime collection include passenger lists, brochures, event and entertainment programs, and other memorabilia produced for a voyage or ship.
1931-02-22 Charity Gala Program - CGT French Line
Program of the Charity Fete to be held on board the SS Ile de France for the benefit of the Several Benevolent Institutions of which the CGT French Line is a patron.
1935-08-22 SS Ile de France Luncheon Menu
Vintage Luncheon Bill of Fare from 22 August 1935 on board the SS Ile de France of the CGT French Line featured Stewed Chicken Chasseur, Broiled Mutton Chop, and Chocolate, Lemon Ice Cream for dessert. Featured wine was Vin Rouge et Vin Blanc des Caves de la Compagnie Générale Transatlantique.
1937-04-15 SS Ile De France Passenger List
- Steamship Line: Compagnie Générale Transatlantique CGT - French Line
- Class of Passengers: Good Will Tour
- Date of Departure: 15 April 1937
- Route: Le Havre to New York via Southampton
- Commander: Captain Jules Chabot
Third Class on the French Line - 1938
The Normandie, Ile de France, Paris, Champlain and Lafayette combine economy and efficiency in fulfilling the most discriminating requirements. Their Third Class accommodations cannot help but bring you all satisfaction.
1939-07-15 SS Ile De France Passenger List
- Steamship Line: Compagnie Générale Transatlantique CGT - French Line
- Class of Passengers: Tourist
- Route: Le Havre to New York via Southampton
- Commander: Captain Albert Fontaine
French Line SS Ile de France Cabin Class Deck Plan - 1951
Illustrated brochure from 1951 provides colorful deck plans for areas occupied by cabin-class passengers and numerous interior and exterior photographs of the SS Ile de France of the CGT French Line.
The SS Ile de France
The 43,153 grt, 792.9-ft., steamship Ile De France was built in 1926 by Chantiers & Ateliers de St. Nazaire for the French Line (Compagnie Générale Transatlantique). When she was launched, she was CGT's biggest ship and the sixth largest in the world.
She sailed on her maiden voyage from Havre to New York via Plymouth on June 22, 1927. In July 1928 she was fitted with a seaplane catapult. On November 8, 1940 she was requisitioned as a troopship by the Royal Navy.
She commenced her first post war commercial voyage on October 22, 1946, but from April 1947 to July 1949 was completely reconditioned and rebuilt to 44,356 tons and funnels reduced to two.
On July 26, 1956 she rescued 750 survivors from the sinking liner Andrea Doria. On November 10, 1958 she started her last voyage from New York to Plymouth and Havre and on February 26, 1959 sailed from Havre for Osaka as the Faransu Maru for scrapping.
In 1959 she was leased at $4,000 a day by a film company and renamed Claridon, amidst protest from the French public, she became the central prop of the film "The Last Voyage". A tense drama with on board explosions and a controlled sinking, later re-floated and scrapped at Osaka.
Ephemera contained in the GG Archives collection represent the souvenirs provided to the passengers of each voyage. Many of these souvenir ephemeral items have disappeared over the years.
Our selection varies considerably by ship, and likely contains only a sampling of what was originally produced and printed by the steamship lines.
Bookmark pages you're researching and check back periodically for additions as we continue to digitize our extensive ephemera materials.
