Photographs

Please note that all the following photographs are only available in black and white.

  • Starboard bow view at Belfast with the Olympic (Titanic on the right, Olympic on the left), on 1 March 1912. C4695
  • Starboard bow view at Belfast with Olympic on 1 March 1912. 8170
  • Starboard bow view leaving Belfast on 2 April 1912. 61/501 and 61/502A (poor quality)
  • Starboard quarter leaving Belfast on 2 April 1912. 61/502 and 61/503 (poor quality)
  • Starboard beam under tow leaving Belfast 2 April 1912. 9292
  • At the quayside, Southampton. Bow view taken from the quay on 3–10 April 1912. P19539
  • Starboard beam under way at Queenstown on 11 April 1912. Copy of a snapshot. 3794
  • A profile plan drawing of the ship. 3798
  • One of Titanic's 16-ton anchors at the start of its journey from the manufacturer (Hingley’s Works, Netherton, Dudley) on 1 May 1911. A3830
  • The Reading and Writing Room. Copy of half-tone that appeared in the supplement to The Sphere, dated 27 April 1912. 9897
  • Titanic sinking. Copy of an artist's impression from the supplement to The Sphere on 27 April 1912. 9898
  • Copy of a drawing from The Sphere titled: How the boats were lowered down the steel wall of the Titanic compared to a city office building. 27 April 1912. 9899
  • Starboard side looking forward showing lifeboats leaving - drawing by Charles Dixon from the supplement to The Sphere of 27 April 1912. 3795
  • The undoing of the Titanic - nature of damage wrought by the iceberg - drawing by G F Morrell from the supplement to The Sphere of 27 April 1912. 3796
  • The stern of Titanic protruding above the water - drawing by Charles Dixon from the supplement to The Graphic of 27 April 1912. 3694
  • Photograph of brass plaque in St Keverne Church, Lizard, Cornwall, dedicated to the memory of John R Jago Smith of the Transatlantic Post Office who died on duty in the foundering of the Titanic, taken in 1973. C9890/6
  • Black and white drawing of the Restaurant Reception on B Deck in 1912 (artist’s impression). G10671 This is a large glass-plate negative and the Museum can only supply a 12 x 10 inch contact print from it (charged as 16 x 12 inch).
  • Californian: port broadside view, under way in the Mediterranean with troops during the early part of the First World War. A3844
  • Carpathia: port side view, under way in the Mersey, c.1905–1914. P15994

Paintings & models

Paintings

  • The steamship Titanic, oil painting by Harry J Jansen. Signed and dated 1913. NB: this is not an accurate representation of the ship, and copyright is restricted. BHC3667
  • Atlantic liner Titanic sinking, bow first, 1912, with eight full lifeboats nearby and an iceberg in the distance, watercolour by W Pearson produced in 1912. Signed and dated. Drawings (Assorted) Box 2. PY5224.DF

Silk picture

Broken column in the foreground, with weeping angel, British and American flags and a life belt. Inscription on the column: In memory of those who perished at sea 15.4.1912 from Titanic RIP; and on life belt: To the heroes of the Titanic. In the background Titanic and two icebergs. Item no: TXT0050

Model

A miniature waterline model by Charles Hampshire, scale 1/64 of an inch to the foot; approximately 6 inches long. Item no: SLR1409

Artefacts

  • Lifesaving award: Bronze badge fitted with ring and plum-coloured ribbon. Obverse side shows a border composed of two dolphins, Neptune's head, and a crossed anchor and staff, a starboard view of the Carpathia with life-boats standing by in search, icebergs in the background. Reverse side inscribed: Presented to the captain, officers & crew of RMS Carpathia in recognition of gallant & heroic services from the survivors of the SS Titanic, April 15th 1912. Made by Dieges & Clust, New York. A2614; Item no: MED0597
  • White Star line houseflag. item nos: RP/28/34A AAA0991 (Please note that this item has no direct association with RMS Titanic)
  • Gold pocket watch (engine-turned case) belonging to Robert Douglas Norman of Edinburgh, passenger who died in the Titanic. Watch, stopped at 3.05, was recovered with his body. Newspaper cutting from The Scotsman (April 1912) accompanies item. D8137; Item no: ZBA0004
  • Daily Graphic newspaper, 20 April 1912, commemorating the sinking of the Titanic.
  • Song sheet: The Wreck of the Titanic, 1912.
  • Star Music Publishing Co 78rpm record in memory of the Titanic. With songs Be British and Stand to Your Post, by Ernest Gray. Item no ZBA0559
  • Edison Bell label 78rpm record as above, but with original sleeve. Item no ZBA0471

Ceramics

(Please note that none of these items has a direct association with SS Titanic)

  • White earthenware chamber pot with handle. Transfer printed on one side with the White Star line house flag, with the words White Star Line printed in brown on a scroll beneath the flag. D364/6; Item no: AAA5949
  • Porcelain saucer made by Copeland, monogram SNC in centre, inscription White Star Line - Stonier & Co.Ltd, Liverpool. Rd.No.461740 on base. Item no: AAA5950
  • Large porcelain soup plate, similar to the saucer, but with Rd.No.876504 on base. Item no: AAA5951

Manuscripts

  • Diary of Frederick A Hamilton, cable engineer of the Mackay Bennett, 1912. Includes a printed copy of Captain Stanley Lord's statement. Manuscript nos: JOD/221/1 and JOD/221/2
  • Cabin passenger's contract ticket for the Titanic, dated 10 April 1912. Manuscript no: MSS/76/064
  • Letter received by W. T. Kerley, Assistant Steward on the Titanic, includes leather wallet and press cutting. Manuscript no: MSS/94/025

Miscellaneous

The Walter Lord and William Macquitty Titanic Collection

Walter Lord(1917–2002)

Walter Lord published his most famous work, A Night to Remember in 1955. Over the years he had talked to and corresponded with survivors, rescuers and others connected with the disaster. He also amassed a large collection of books, manuscripts and memorabilia which he bequeathed to the National Maritime Museum, encouraged by his close friend William Macquitty, the producer of the film A Night to Remember. The collection also includes items previously owned by Macquitty.

William Macquitty(1905-2004)

Born in Belfast, William Macquitty was six when he watched the launch of the Titanic on 30 May 1911 and saw her depart on her fateful maiden voyage a year later. During World War II he worked in film production for the Ministry of Information but it was only in the 1950s that his interest in the Titanic was rekindled. His wife had been reading Lord's A Night to Remember and he realized that here was the film he had been waiting for. He took an option on the film rights, met Walter Lord and together they developed a screenplay based on the book. The film (directed by Roy Ward Baker) had its premiere on 3 July 1958. Walter Lord also acted as consultant on James Cameron's film Titanic which came out in 1998.

The Lord-Macquitty collection of manuscripts and books can be accessed on the museum's online catalogue.

Next steps

Other guides in the series which may be useful for researching the Titanic are:

For general research help see:


Although care has been taken in preparing the information contained in this document, anyone using it shall be deemed to indemnify the National Maritime Museum from any and all injury or damage arising from such use.