Newly Published Titanic Court Documents are Released

By: Oct. 08, 2014
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LOS ANGELES, Oct. 8, 2014 /PRNewswire/ BACM Research/PaperlessArchives.com has announced the publishing of admiralty case files from the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, related to the RMS Titanic, including court papers filed from 1912 to 1916 by the owners of the Titanic, survivors of the sinking, and relatives of the deceased.

Details can be found at

http://www.paperlessarchives.com/titanic-court-documents.html

At the National Archives and Records Administration facility in New York City can be found a box labeled "Admiralty Case Files A55-279." What's inside?

According to archivist Bonnie Sauer, "The National Archives at New York City holds records in the admiralty case files related to Titanic, specifically the petition filed by the Oceanic Steam Navigation Company, as the owner of Titanic, for limitation of liability."

The scope and content of these files according to William Roaka, a volunteer researcher at the National Archives, "These are the claims for the loss of property and life or injury sustained during the sinking."

According to PaperlessArchives.com research director Jerry Spencer, "The unadorned labels on the grey acid-free conservation boxes holding the documents do not convey the true value of the treasures inside."

The case file contains court papers, evidence, depositions from surviving passengers and claims of survivors and representatives of deceased passengers. The documents include the White Star Line's defense against liability. Some documents from survivors tell in the first person the story of the sinking in dramatic detail.

National Archives education specialist Christopher Zarr finds a particular document to be of special note. "The deposition of Emily Ryerson," says Zarr, "is another really interesting piece of testimony given during the Titanic case; she talks about her experience getting off the ship which is pretty harrowing."

The documents reads, "...Stout, the second steward; he was at the foot of the stairs as we came from the boat deck, and he put his hand in front of my little boy, who is 13, and said 'He can't go.' My husband said 'Of course that boy goes with his mother.' The man said 'Very well, sir, but no more boys.' And some woman rushed forward and took her hat off and put it on her little boy's head, so he could go as a little girl..."

A video giving an overview of this collection has been posted at:

http://www.paperlessarchives.com/titanic-court-documents.html

About BACM Research

BACM Research through PaperlessArchives.com publishes documentary historical research collections.

Materials cover Presidencies, Historical Figures, Historical Events, Celebrities, Organized Crime, Politics, Military Operations, Famous Crimes, Intelligence Gathering, Espionage, Civil Rights, Civil War, World War I, World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, and more.

Contact:
Jerry Spencer,Research Director
BACM Research www.PaperlessArchives.com
134 Talmade Rd #5
Edison, NJ 08817
(310) 289-2320
Email

SOURCE BACM Research



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