Cunard White Star History and Ephemera

The Cunard White Star Line (1934-1949) was formed as a merger of the two once giant steamship lines - The Cunard Steam Ship Company and the White Star Line. The depression years had taken their toll on a number of transatlantic steamship lines. After World War II, traffic, especially tourist traffic had recovered and the Cunard line purchased the remaining assets of White Star Line in 1949.

Ships with Names that eneded in "ia" were part of Cunard Line and if the name ended in "ic" - the ship was part of White Star Line (originally).

Note: For ease of researching, we have placed documents for ships ending in "ia" OR beginning with "Queen" with the Cunard Line collections. Documents pertaining to vessels ending in "ic" will be found with the White Star Line collections.

Cunard White Star Line Passenger Manifests

The Cunard White Star Line was formed as a merger of the two once giant steamship lines - The Cunard Steam Ship Company and the White Star Line and operated from 1934-1949.

Menus

Vintage Menus from the Cunard White Star Line

The Cunard White Star Line (1934-1949) was formed as a merger of the two once giant steamship lines - The Cunard Steam Ship Company and the White Star Line.

Brochures

Cunard White Star Tourist Class on the "Big Four" - 1949

This 1949 booklet is your gangplank. Step aboard and see for yourself the spacious public rooms and tasteful cabins wherein relaxation and recreation are the rules of the day. Tourist Class on the "Big Four" of the Cunard White Star Line.

Other Cunard White Star Line Documents of the Archives

Photographs

• 1937-09-02 Photograph: Cunard White Star Docks, Southampton. RMS Queen Mary docks on right.
• 1937-09-02 Photograph: Prize Fiths on RMS Aquitania, August 1937 showing 4 lums - smoke stacks.
• 1937-09-02 Photograph: RMS Aquitania , Deck with a view of the Bow, August 1937.
• 1937-09-02 Photograph: 4 Smoke Stacks of the RMS Aquitania in August 1937
• 1937-09-02 Photograph: View of Southampton harbor, leaving on the RMS Aquitania, 25 August 1936
• 1937-09-02 Photograph: View of Southampton harbor, leaving on the RMS Aquitania with two tugboats in view, 25 August 1936
• 1937-09-02 Photograph: RMS Aquitania. Passengers looking at the Docks at Southampton
• 1937-09-02 Photograph: View of Lifeboats, RMS Aquitania, looking aft, from August 1937
• 1937-09-02 Photograph: RMS Aquitania Looking down on the deck towards the bow - from August 1937

Brochures

• 1938: Booklet: RMS Queen Elizabeth Guide to Accommodation and General Information for Passengers: First Class. 36 Pages.

Miscellaneous Documents

• 1930s Horse Racing Race Card, RMS Laconia, Captain B. B. Oram, R.D., R.N.R. - Passengers were able to place bets on racing from New York Stakes, Boston Handicap, Delaware Plate and Belmont Park Cup. (1934-39)
• 1935 Atlantic Track Chart, Used, Voyage 11/3 to 11/11 (Eastbound). Brief article on Cunard White Star, The Largest Fleet on the Atlantic.
• 1936-05-27 RMS Queen Mary Maiden Voyage Cover , Southampton to New York Cover - Postmarked in Southampton with Original Envelope and Signed Insert (Marshall H. Hancock).
• 1936-05-27 RMS Queen Mary Postcard: Philatelic Greeting per RMS Queen Mary, Published by Steamship Collecting Ltd, London. In original protective casing.
• 1936-10-14 Luggage Tag, RMS Queen Mary, complete with string and stamp label for two bags, Cabin Class Passenger - Mrs. F. F. Wallin, Southampton to New York; Room B-78.
• 1938 Landing Arrangements, RMS Franconia. General Information - Landing Arrangements for Boston and New York.
• 1939-07-17 Order for Collection of Baggage, Compagnie Nord Atlantique Agents for Cunard White Star, Paris - 2 Suitcases. Transferred from Hotel in Paris to The Georgic in Havre.
• 1939-07-21 Bon de Livraison - Compagnie Nord Atlantique - Cunard White Star - 2 Valise