Titanic Fatality Reports, Passenger Lists, Diary Now Online

Published by the Department of Communities, Culture and Heritage

Friday, March 30, 2012

The Nova Scotia Archives is making significant records related to the Titanic available online to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the ship's sinking. The public will be able to access a complete set of fatality reports and passenger lists and a seaman's diary via the archives' online RMS Titanic Resource Guide.

Quotes

Halifax's central role in the aftermath of the Titanic disaster is clearly reflected in the archives' online resource. Minister of Communities, Culture and Heritage David Wilson

Having this material online allows Nova Scotians and Titanic researchers around the world to access these important records. Minister of Communities, Culture and Heritage David Wilson

The Titanic fatality reports speak volumes about those whose bodies were brought back to Halifax. Lois Yorke, Provincial Archivist

From third-class passengers to millionaires, these reports document their lives through what they had on their person that fateful night. Lois Yorke, Provincial Archivist

Quick Facts

  • Fatality reports were created for 328 people whose bodies were recovered at the site of the disaster
  • Documents were needed to record distinguishing physical characteristics and to keep track of personal papers, clothing and other items to identify each person and ensure that next-of-kin were contacted
  • Fatality reports can be found for well-known passengers such as John Jacob Astor and Sidney Leslie Goodwin, formerly referred to as the unknown child
  • On the website is a short diary belonging to Clifford Crease, a crew member on the Mackay-Bennett, one of the ships that helped in retrieving bodies at the wreck site . He recorded each day's work with comments on the number of people pulled from the ocean and burials held at sea.

Learn More

Media Contacts

Lauren Oostveen
Nova Scotia Archives
902-424-5377
E-mail:

Images

Titanic Passenger List
Download high-res version
Fatality report for Titanic passenger John Jacob Astor
Download high-res version
Page from the diary of Clifford Crease, a crew member of a ship that helped retrieve bodies at the site
Download high-res version

Videos

Garry Shutlak, Senior Reference Archivist at the Nova Scotia Archives, talks about the archives' Titanic material, including the Titanic fatality reports which are now available online.