The Titanic Historical Society’s (THS) collection, one of its greatest strengths, is its collected works of rare Titanic survivor artifacts, one of the finest anywhere. Many were donated by the survivors themselves to THS’s founder and president, Edward S. Kamuda in the 1960s through the 80s, the organization’s early years.
The collection covers a broad scope of Titanic’s rich history, from original blueprints of her tank top donated by her builders, Harland & Wolff, to the 21st century where the ship has become a popular icon from movies and TV. From merchandise to movies, you will see souvenirs and sheet music produced right after the sinking to colorful film posters illustrating the drama from the 1950s to the present.
Titanic’s brave officers, crew and all the passenger classes are represented; stories of courage, adventure and even humor about other times and other places and people like our grandparents.
Titanic’s collision with an iceberg is a chronicle of “What Ifs” and you will see a very important artifact in Titanic history––the Wireless Message received by Titanic stating the location of the fatal iceberg that never made it to the bridge!
Our Collection includes:
The ice message that never made it to the bridge
Lookout Fred Fleet’s rendition of the fatal iceberg
Mrs. Astor’s lifejacket
A rivet punching from Titanic’s hull
Titanic’s Launching luncheon and dinner menus
A square of first-class stateroom carpet
Titanic officers’ and passengers’ personal effects
3rd class passenger Einar Karlsson’s Inspection card
Letters and postcards written onboard including Selena R Cook, Edwina Troutt, Mrs. Frank Goldsmith and George Thorne (Rosenshine)
Titanic passenger 1st class Milton Long’s pocket watch
Bread board from Titanic
Lifeboat seat support from Titanic
Bronze White Star burgee from a Titanic lifeboat
Railing section from Titanic retrieved by Rev. Henry Cunningham on the cable ship Mackay-Bennett
The crow’s nest bell of the Mackay-Bennett
Wood/cane chair from Titanic recovered by the Minia
Titanic menu (3rd class) from passenger Tom Theobald
Titanic lookout Fred Fleet’s discharge book
Registered letter; envelope stamped TITANIC
Titanic blueprint presented by Harland & Wolff.
Titanic survivor 3rd class Gus Cohen’s account of disaster handwritten on Carpathia stationery
Autographed photograph of Carpathia’s officers.
Carpathia medals in bronze and gold from Molly Brown
Key from dispensary cabinet on Carpathia
Lifeboat badge from Carpathia
Carpathia menu 2nd class Tea 4/13/1912
Carpathia menu 1st class Dinner, 4/14/1912
Captain Rostron’s watch
Olympic’s bridge bell
Olympic 1st class dining saloon Jacobean-style chair
Olympic: carved oak newel post from the grand staircase and a carved capitol [top of a column]; Britannic artifacts, White Star Line china and silverplate, a diary and letter signed by Joseph Bruce Ismay, original paintings, sheet music, survivor keepsakes and association pieces, other shipping line memorabilia, Titanic in popular culture displaying modern artifacts, including an Englehardt collapsible lifeboat, a 27 foot reproduction loaned by 20th Century-Fox used in the James Cameron film TITANIC
One of the most famous and the wealthiest were the John Jacob Astors. Mrs. Astor’s lifejacket is one of THS’s treasured mementos.