First Picture, President Cleveland, Queen Mary & Other Liners

New York: City & Its Ports

I have been taking pictures from boyhood, from those long-ago rolls of black & white film on an Agfa camera, which was another gift from dear Aunt Lillian. My subjects were often New York City, its skyline and especially, of course, the harbor and its ships. The Hoboken shoreline was my best vantage point.

As I recall, I was just under ten, in March 1957, when my Father took me down to the Fifth Street pier in Hoboken especially to see the newly repainted Nieuw Amsterdam. That beautiful ship had just returned from a big refit looking quite different. It now had a gray (instead of black) hull. I was excited – and intrigued. Dressed in flags for the occasion, the ship looked immaculate. It was my very first picture – and it has survived in my collection.

Since then, I have collected thousands of photos of the City, its harbor and its ships.

The Nieuw Amsterdam alongside at Hoboken in March 1957, freshly repainted with her distinctive gray hull after a major refit. Photo: William H. Miller. — The *Nieuw Amsterdam* alongside at Hoboken in March 1957, freshly repainted with her distinctive gray hull after a major refit. Photo: William H. Miller.

Master Collector

Finely detailed scale models of Hanseatic and Nieuw Amsterdam from the collection of Wolfgang Ohnes, photographed during a staged shoot on a lake in northern Germany. From the William H. Miller Collection. — Finely detailed scale models of *Hanseatic* and *Nieuw Amsterdam*, from the collection of Wolfgang Ohnes, photographed during a staged shoot on a lake in northern Germany. From the William H. Miller Collection.

Wolfgang Ohnes loves ships, but especially ocean liners. On a trip from his native Germany, we visited together recently here in New Jersey.

Behind the scenes of a staged shoot of Wolfgang Ohnes’ scale models of Hanseatic and Nieuw Amsterdam From the William H. Miller Collection. — Behind the scenes of a staged shoot of Wolfgang Ohnes’ scale models of *Hanseatic* and *Nieuw Amsterdam.* From the William H. Miller Collection.

“Stars” of his collection are brilliantly detailed models of two of Wolfgang’s favorite liners: the Hanseatic and the Nieuw Amsterdam. Both models recently “went to sea” on a lake in northern Germany.

Wolfgang Ohnes' scale model of Hanseatic and Nieuw Amsterdam as the collector briefly surfaces during a lakeside photo shoot in northern Germany. From the William H. Miller Collection. — Wolfgang Ohnes’ scale model of *Hanseatic* and *Nieuw Amsterdam* as the collector briefly surfaces during a lakeside photo shoot in northern Germany. From the William H. Miller Collection.

Out of the Ole’ Shoebox

Michael Park was a fellow guest aboard the Silver Shadow last August. Once back home in the UK, he found some old photos:

Passengers dance the night away aboard Queen Mary during a transatlantic crossing in 1939. From the William H. Miller Collection. — Passengers dance the night away aboard *Queen Mary* during a transatlantic crossing in 1939. From the William H. Miller Collection.

And then his maternal grandparents on a voyage from London to South and East Africa in 1951 on board the Warwick Castle. They are shown during the ship’s fancy dress party.

A postcard of the 600-passenger Warwick Castle of the Union-Castle Line. From the William H. Miller Collection. — A postcard of the 600-passenger *Warwick Castle* of the Union-Castle Line. From the William H. Miller Collection.

Warwick Castle alongside at Funchal, Madeira, as passengers and locals gather on the quay. From the William H. Miller Collection. — *Warwick Castle* alongside at Funchal, Madeira, as passengers and locals gather on the quay. From the William H. Miller Collection.

Greek Royalty

In recent postings, we mentioned the Queen Anna Maria of the otherwise long-gone Greek Line. A very popular cruise ship in its day (1965-75), David Perry noted: “My Aunt Eva sailed on the Queen Anna Maria in the ’70s and her gift, a “floaty pen,” from that voyage was my MOST prized possession for YEARS!”

The Queen Anna Maria began its long career in 1956 as the Empress of Britain

The former Empress of Britain, seen before becoming the Greek Line’s popular Queen Anna Maria. From the William H. Miller Collection. — The former *Empress of Britain*, seen before becoming the Greek Line’s popular *Queen Anna Maria*. From the William H. Miller Collection.

American Style

Marjorie Nelson Thomas was a fellow guest on a recent cruise. She recalled that her late father was in the US diplomatic service, which back in the 1960s included home visits by ship. Recently, on a trip to her attic, she found the passenger list, tickets, etc for first class passages on the President Cleveland of the San Francisco-based American President Lines. “We went across the Pacific twice – to Yokohama and another time to Manila. We took those President liners both ways. And what a treat!”

The President Cleveland of American President Lines alongside at Hong Kong. From the William H. Miller Collection. — The *President Cleveland* of American President Lines alongside at Hong Kong. From the William H. Miller Collection.

“The ships were very American – well-run, well served and immaculate. Yes, you could eat off the floors – which were high gloss linoleum. The stewards and waiters were American and very friendly and very good at their jobs. The ships ran like a well-oiled machine. Each voyage, as I remember, took about two weeks. We had beautiful, very comfortable staterooms. Added highlights were the festive sailings from San Francisco and the arrival and departure at Hong Kong.”

A vintage American President Lines advertisement promotes twice-monthly sailings to the Far East aboard the President Cleveland, President Wilson, and President Hoover. From the William H. Miller Collection. — A vintage American President Lines advertisement promotes twice-monthly sailings to the Far East aboard the *President Cleveland, President Wilson*, and *President Hoover*. From the William H. Miller Collection.

Italian Service

A friend recently told me that her very first cruise (out of “50 or so”) was aboard the Home Lines. The year was 1962 and the ship was the Italia. It was a one-week cruise, a nice beginning for her, from New York to Nassau and return. She told me, “It was an older ship, as I remember [yes, dating from 1928], but it had personality, warmth, a sense of fun. Many of the stewards and waiters were from Italy – and along with lots of food, they served ‘platters’ of rich, creamy charm!”