Titanic & Olympic White Star Line Danish Immigrants to North America Brochure

Titanic & Olympic White Star Line Danish Immigrants to North America Brochure

58 pages, 35 pages of the brochure, plus 23 pages of rough English translations

In late 1911 or early 1912 the White Star Line produced a 35-page brochure for Danish immigrants intending on settling in North America, encouraging them to travel there on one of its great Atlantic steamers, the Titanic or the Olympic.

The RMS Olympic was in service from 1911 to 1935. In 1935, it was sold for scrap metal and destroyed in 1937. The Titanic collided with an iceberg on her maiden voyage on April 15, 1912.

The brochure, printed in Danish, begins by saying, "EVERYONE will be able to understand that America, often despite the fact that this country is a near-inexhaustible labor market, is not a country to which Knights of Fortune should travel. On the other hand, any young man with the upbringing which the youth of the working class now receives in this country, and who is either a craftsman or trained in agriculture or horticulture, can only in America get the greatest benefit from energetic diligence."

Since immigrants would mostly be third class passengers the brochure makes certain to highlight improvements to third class travel made by the White Star Line. The brochure states, "However significant changes for the better have been made with regard to the 1st and 2nd class, these are, however, quite significantly surpassed by the changes which have been made in recent years in the 3rd class. The democratic age in which we live demands that the Steamship Companies strive to the utmost to provide the best of the best to the 3rd Class Passengers, and it is also well known that the White Star Line, right from its formation with a view to bring improvements has been the Pioneer in Atlantic shipping, with the result that WHITE STAR LINE in recent years has carried the largest number of 3rd class passengers from Liverpool. Previously, the conveniences of the 3rd class consisted exclusively of the so-called open sleeping places, whereas they now consist of good airy cabins for 2, 4 or 6 Persons respectively, provided with everything required for a comfortably equipped Cabin.”

The brochure includes illustrations of amenities found on the Titanic and the Olympic for second- and third-class passengers, including dining rooms, libraries, cabins, and decks. Includes information about obtaining tickets for White Star Line passages. Includes the menus for the morning, midday, and evening meals offered on each of the seven days of the voyage across the Atlantic.

The glossary at the end of the brochure includes words and expressions provided, in Danish and English, including exchanges such as: “Have you work for me?” “I don’t know, what can you do?” “I am used to digging and farming; I can plough, take care of horses, and can drive both a team and a double team.”






Translation Page 13

"OLYMPIC" and "TITANIC" - The World's Most Magnificent Steamers.

Third Class Dining Room.