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Titanic & Lifeboats

RMS Titanic & Lifeboats

Focus: The tragedy of the lack of Titanic Lifeboats and the call for new safety regulations

Databases

U.S. Congressional Serial Set, 1817-1980
Reports, documents, and journals of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. Coverage: 1817-1980. For online content beyond 1980, try ProQuest Congressional

Titanic Serial Set
Examples of documents from Serial Set on Titanic, lifeboats, and vessel safety. These can be found online or in print here at the CT State Library (CSL)

HeinOnline
Comprehensive historical collection of legal and law-related material, including many North American legal journals. Coverage: From 1800s to present. Continually adding new content.
U.S. Congressional Documents
A HeinOnline digitized collection of the bound and daily versions of the Congressional Record, and its predecessors. Coverage: 1789-.
Congressional Legislative & Executive Publications
Public policy issues from Congressional Research Service. Coverage: CRS reports, 1916 - ; Committee Prints, 1830 -. Updated continuously. National and international.
ProQuest Congressional
Comprehensive index and selected full-text source for Congressional publications. Coverage: 1819-
researchIT CT

General reference, homework help, newspapers, biographies, health and business databases, downloadable audio books, and more!
U.S. Documents Masterfile: 1774-2023
Find U.S. Federal government information from 1744 to present that aggregates foundational governmental document indexes and current collections to create a single index to U.S. government publications. Many collections include links to full text. Includes GPO and non-GPO distributed publications.
Fold3 Library Edition
Searchable original, historical documents ranging from major historical events to personal accounts and family histories. Users can also share their own content and insights. Formerly known as "Footnote.com"
HeritageQuest Online
Family histories, genealogical serials, local histories, and primary sources, including U.S. Federal Census, 1790-1940, and Private Relief Actions, Memorials and Petitions from the U. S. Serial Set. Coverage: All 50 states, Canada and the British Isles.
JSTOR
Extensive backfile volumes of more than 2,500 full text, core scholarly journals in History, Political Science and other disciplines. The backfiles begin with the very first issues, many of which reach back to the 1800s.
The Connecticut State Library participates in JSTOR Public Library Collections I and II which include:
- Arts & Sciences I Collection
- Arts & Sciences II Collection
- Arts & Sciences III Collection
- Arts & Sciences IV Collection
- Arts & Sciences IX Collection
- Arts & Sciences V Collection
- Arts & Sciences VI Collection
- Arts & Sciences VII Collection
- Arts & Sciences VIII Collection
- Arts & Sciences X Collection
- Arts & Sciences XI Collection
- Arts & Sciences XII Collection
- Business III Collection
- Ecology & Botany II Collection
- Life Sciences Collection

Internet Archive
Online full text access to books, documents, and so much more. Includes the Wayback Machine
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Site description: "Internet Archive is a non-profit library of millions of free books, movies, software, music, websites, and more."

Newspapers

Use our guides to learn about the newspaper collection at CSL.

Some newspapers are on microfilm, others online, and a few have certain years with both.

Using newspapers from Chronicling America might make a project eligible for additional prize.

Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers
Search America's historic newspaper pages from 1789-1924 or use the U.S. Newspaper Directory to find information about American newspapers published between 1690-present. Chronicling America is sponsored jointly by the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Library of Congress.
NewspaperARCHIVE.com : Connecticut
Historical newspaper database covering over 100 newspaper titles from cities and towns in Connecticut from 1786 to 2005. You may find newspaper articles, births, deaths, and more with browse by location, date and publication.
Early American Newspapers, 1690-1922, Series 1 through 7, 10, 18 and Custom CT Historical Newspapers
Full-text of American newspapers, 1690-1922.
Hartford Courant (1764-1922)

Newspaper. Coverage: 1764 to 1922.
Hartford Courant (1764-1998)
Newspaper. Coverage: Access to 1764 - 1998 is a separate subscription provided by the Connecticut State Library and requires a CT State Library card.
New York Times (1851-2019) with Index (1851-1993)
Historical New York Times with Index.Coverage: Full-text: 1851-2019. Index: 1851-1993.

Books, Documents, etc.

These are only some of the items available. Not all are online. Please also check our library catalog.

Liability for damages arising in the navigation of vessels : hearing before the Committee on Commerce, United States Senate, Sixty-second Congress, third session on S. 7208 ... by Committee on Commerce, United States Senate
Call Number: online and Y 4.C 73/2:D 18/
Publication Date: 1913
Online at Hathi Trust and in our subscription databases
"Titanic" Disaster: Hearings Before a Subcommittee of the Committee on Commerce... by United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Commerce,
Call Number: Federal Documents Y 4.C 73/2:T 53 Item does not circulate.
Publication Date: 1912
Online in Hathi Trust and our subscription databases.
Print: also Y 1.1/3:62-726
Full Title: "Titanic" disaster: hearings before a subcommittee of the Committee on Commerce, United States Senate, Sixty-second Congress, second session, pursuant to S. Res. 238, directing the Committee on Commerce to investigate the causes leading to the wreck of th...

Web Sites

The Titanic Disaster, Steamship Lanes, and the Establishment of the Ice Patrol. The 1912 Report of the Hydrographer, U.S. Navy.
The 1912 Report of the Hydrographer, U.S. Navy from Naval History and Heritage Command
Daily Memorandum from the Hydrographic Office Reporting Titanic Disaster
From National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). Side navigation may lead to additional resources.
In the Matter of the Petition of the Oceanic Steam Navigation Company, Limited, for Limitation of its Liability as owner of the steamship TITANIC
NARA Site: "This File Unit contains records, some of which may not be available online...
This case was initiated to limit the liability of the Oceanic Steam Navigation Company, Ltd., for loss of life and property resulting from the sinking of the Titanic on its maiden voyage. The case file contains court papers, evidence, and claims of survivors and representatives of the deceased."
Inventory of the "Titanic" Lifeboats
National Archives and Records (NARA) image of the inventory of lifeboats
Search in NARA
I did a search in the National Records (NARA) and there are lots of documents that have been digitized. For examples, survivors' claims.
R.M.S Titanic - Legislation (NOAA)
Archived NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) page in the WayBack Machine.
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https://www.gc.noaa.gov/gcil_titanic-legislation.html
They Said It Couldn’t Sink. NARA Records Detail Losses, Investigation of Titanic’s Demise
Prologue Magazine. By Alison Gavin and Christopher Zarr.
Spring 2012, Vol. 44, No. 1
Titanic Traveling Trunks Available
Titanic, 100 years on
UK Archives
The Titanic in Documents and Photographs
Building the Titanic: Topics in Chronicling America (LOC)
Library of Congress (LOC) research guide for Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers.
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Library of Congress (LOC) research guide: "The Titanic was designed to be the most luxurious passenger steamship in the world. This guide provides information for researching the topic of the "building the Titanic" in the Chronicling America digital collection of historic newspapers."
Sinking of the Titanic: Topics in Chronicling America (LOC)
Library of Congress (LOC) research guide for Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers
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Library of Congress (LOC) research guide: "On April 15, 1912, over 1,300 people died in one of the worst maritime disasters in history. This guide provides information on researching the topic of the "sinking of the Titanic" in the Chronicling America digital collection of historic newspapers."

Titanic - Additional Resources

Additional Resources

Web Sites

Titanic Belfast
Museum site: "Titanic Belfast is the world's largest Titanic visitor experience, exploring the Titanic story in a fresh and insightful way.
Make your way through the 9 interactive galleries of the Titanic Experience, explore the symbolism of our iconic building with The Discovery Tour, dine in Bistro 401 or browse for an exclusive gift in our Titanic Store. Walk the decks of the last remaining White Star vessel - SS Nomadic or immerse yourself in the historic Slipways as you uncover the true legend of Titanic, in the city where it all began."
How the Titanic Changed Maritime Law
From The Krist Law Firm, P.C.

Online Books, Documents, Reports, etc.

These are only examples.

The Lowell Sun Monday April 15, 1912
Internet Archive: "The Monday April 15, 1912 issue of The Lowell Sun. Includes articles on the sinking of the Titanic."
The Lowell Sun Tuesday April 16, 1912
Internet Archive: "The Tuesday April 16, 1912 issue of The Lowell Sun. Includes articles on the sinking of the Titanic."
The Lowell Sun Wednesday April 17, 1912
Internet Archive: "The Wednesday April 17, 1912 issue of The Lowell Sun. Includes articles on the sinking of the Titanic."
The Lowell Sun Thursday April 18, 1912
Internet Archive: "The Thursday April 18, 1921 issue of The Lowell Sun. Includes articles about the sinking of the Titanic."
The Lowell Sun Friday April 19, 1912
Internet Archive: "The Friday April 19, 1912 issue of The Lowell Sun. Includes articles about the sinking of the Titanic."
The Lowell Sun Saturday April 20, 1912
Internet Archive: "The Saturday April 20, 1912 issue of The Lowell Sun. Includes articles about the sinking of the Titanic."

Great Britain

Shipping casualties (Loss of the steamship "Titanic.") Report of a formal investigation into the circumstances attending the foundering on 15th April, 1912, of the British steamship "Titanic." of Liverpool, after striking ice in or near latitude 41⁰ 46' N
Great Britain. Court to investigate loss of steamship "Titanic.", Arthur Gough-Calthorpe, and John Charles Bigham Mersey. Shipping Casualties (Loss of the Steamship "Titanic."): Report of a Formal Investigation Into the Circumstances Attending the Foundering On 15th April, 1912, of the British Steamship "Titanic." of Liverpool, After Striking Ice In Or Near Latitude 41⁰ 46' N., Longitude 50⁰ 14' W., North Atlantic Ocean, Whereby Loss of Life Ensued ... London: Pub. by H. M. Stationery off., 1912.
Formal investigation into the loss of the S.S. "Titanic" : evidence, appendices, and index / Wreck Commissioner's Court
Loss of the steamship "Titanic" ; report of a formal investigation into the circumstances attending the foundering on April 15, 1912, of the British steamship "Titanic", of Liverpool, after striking ice in or near latitude 41 ̊46' N., longitude 50 ̊14' W.

Video, Audio, Visual, etc.

NOTE: Not all of these can be authenticated, although anything that was truly questionable would be omitted.

Titanic Footage (1912)
Internet Archive: "Monochrome footage of the Titanic docked."
Titanic 1912 Original Film
Internet Archive film footage.