By Kaitlin Vaughan, Columbia University Museum Anthropology Intern
Title: General Slocum Newspaper Clippings, 1894-1954
Extent: 2.0 Boxes
Arrangement: Alphabetical/ Chronological
Subjects: American Newspaper, Boston Sunday Post, Caronia (Cruise ship), Carpathia, Cunard Line, Evening Mail Illustrated, General Slocum, Harper's Magazine, Leslie's Weekly, Marine Engineering Magazine, Maritime Disaster, Mauretania, Munsey's Magazine, New Yorker, New York Herald Tribune, New York Journal, New York Times, Slocum, Henry Warner, Van Schaik, William H.
Forms of Material: Newspaper Clippings
Languages: English
This collection is comprised of newspaper and magazine clippings regarding the tragic burning and sinking of the ship the General Slocum on June 15, 1904. The content of these clippings range from biographical information, obituaries, photojournalistic images to technical specifications and scientific qualifications, court proceedings, opinion pieces, and anniversary articles.The biographical information involves personal accounts of the disaster, as well as brief anecdotes about General Henry Warner Slocum, the Civil War general for whom the infamous ship was named. The obituaries within this collection are for the heroes and heroines who rescued the members of the sinking General Slocum. The earliest clippings come from just a few days after the tragedy and include photographs of the burning ship, bodies that washed up on the shore, rescue missions, and the gathering of bystanders around covered bodies to identify their deceased loved ones.
Also included are articles which discuss the malfunctioning elements of the ship’s safety equipment including faulty life jackets and boats, and articles which contain scientific and technical explanations for the disaster. Other clippings remark on the negligence of the crew and captain and describe the court proceedings and eventual arrest of Captain Van Schaik.
The collection also includes lengthy opinion pieces concerning the complete accountability of the captain and crew and corruption within New York City’s regulations committees. Within the collection there also exist many articles written as commemoration and anniversary pieces, which recount the disaster and pay homage to the dead. These anniversary articles were written on the 20th, 30th, and 50th anniversaries. Lastly, there are a few small clippings containing information about the annual memorial held in Queens.
This collection arrived at Green-Wood in the same box as several other folders of newspaper clippings regarding Cunard Line ships, the Mauretania, Carpathia, and Caronia. In addition to information about specific ships, the collection also has folders dedicated to the business history of the Cunard Line.
American Newspaper
Boston Sunday Post
Caronia (Cruise ship)
Carpathia
Cunard Line
Evening Mail Illustrated
General Slocum
Harper's Magazine
Leslie's Weekly
Marine Engineering Magazine
Maritime Disaster
Mauretania
Munsey's Magazine
New Yorker
New York Herald Tribune
New York Journal
New York Times
Slocum, Henry Warner
Van Schaik, William H.
