Objekt des Monats
Jedes Objekt in der Sammlung des Deutschen Auswandererhauses erzählt eine ganz persönliche Auswanderungs- oder Einwanderungsgeschichte. In dieser Rubrik stellen wir Ihnen jeden Monat ein anderes Objekt vor – eine Fotografie, ein Dokument oder ein persönliches Erinnerungsstück.
July 2016
Acceptance certificate for the crossing to New York (Norddeutscher Lloyd) from the year 1872
Historical Context
At the beginning of the 19th century, it was common for German emigrants to travel to the port ‘on luck’ along with their luggage. Upon arrival, they needed to inquire about departing ships with their desired destination, negotiate the crossing costs with the respective captains, and then patiently wait for the ship’s departure. For the travelers, this was both a time-consuming and costly undertaking. With the steady increase in the number of emigrants from the 1830s onward, an overarching organization for passenger acceptance became necessary. A separate business sector emerged, which organized the mediation of emigrants to shipowners. Initially, ship brokers in Bremen took the initiative, and from 1849, non-brokers were also allowed to act as agents. The ongoing competition for travelers led to an expansion of the business and the creation of a network of agents who connected the agents with the emigration regions and advertised for travel via Bremen/Bremerhaven through pamphlets, posters, and newspaper ads.
Short biography
Wilhelm Wrampelmeyer is presumed to be born in 1850 in Vorwalde, Lower Saxony. The young man later works there as a carpenter’s assistant, but the demand for work is poor and the pay is low. Thus, the 22-year-old bachelor decides in 1872 to seek his fortune in the USA. With a down payment of 20 thalers, he acquires a boarding pass for the crossing to New York from an agent of the Norddeutscher Lloyd, securing a spot in the steerage of the steamship “Rhein.” In December 1872, Wilhelm travels to Bremen and receives his crossing ticket after paying the remaining fare of 25 thalers. He then continues by train to Bremerhaven, where he boards the “Rhein” on December 14. His arrival in New York is registered on December 31, after which his trail goes cold. What happened to Wilhelm in his new homeland, and whether he was able to realize his dream of “striking it rich” – remains uncertain.
Significance of the Object
Historical documents like this boarding pass are important sources of information for migration research. They not only provide biographical data such as name, age, occupation, ship of emigration, and destination port, which are often scant in family records, especially for emigrants in the 19th century, but also offer insights into historical conditions. The present boarding pass, for instance, provides additional information about the routes and departure times of the Norddeutscher Lloyd, ticket prices, and particularly luggage regulations for passengers in 1872.
Do You Also Have …
… a story of emigration or immigration in your family that you would like to share with the German Emigration Center together with the related objects and documents for its collection? Then please contact Dr. Tanja Fittkau by phone at +49 471 / 90 22 0 – 0
or by e-mail at: t.fittkau@dah-bremerhaven.de