The first third of the 20th century were the peak years of immigration to the US. But in a backlash against immigrants, in 1924 the US passed a law that cut by 90% the number of Italians who could enter the country. Fortunately, Luigi Giansante and Corradino Rosati began their journeys in 1920 and 1921.
Most immigrants arrived on steamships from Naples or Genoa. The ships had first, second, and third class (steerage) passengers. Steerage was the least expensive. On this page are the ships that Corradino Rosati and Luigi Giansante and their families traveled on to the US.
SS CANADA Corradino Rosati sailed on this ship from Marseilles to the US in 1920. The Canada was French, built in 1911. It could carry 120 first class, 196 second class, and 1850 third class passengers. During World War II it was used as a hospital ship. It ended service in 1952.
SS COLOMBO Both Corradino Rosati and Luigi Giansante traveled on this ship to the US in 1925. Rosati disembarked at Philadelphia on May 19; Giansante disembarked at New York on May 20. This was an Italian passenger and cargo ship built in 1917. It was scuttled in 1941.
SS SAN ROSSORE Luigi Giansante traveled on this ship on his first trip to the US in 1921. The ship was built in Italy in 1901. Later it was renamed the Piemonte. It was scrapped in 1931.
SS CONTE BIANCAMANO (Count of the White Hand) Maria Di Pronio and her daughter Angela traveled on this to the US in 1929.
The ship was built in Scotland in 1925. It carried 15,898 passengers (280 first class, 420 second class, 1050 third class). During World War II it was seized by the US Navy and converted into a troop transport and recommissioned as The USS Hermitage.
In 1947 it was sold to Italia Linea and reverted to the name Conte Biancamano. It was scrapped in 1960.
SS ROMA Luigi Giansante traveled on this ship to the US in 1930.
This ship was an Italian liner christened in 1926. It carried 1700 passengers (375 first, 300 second, 300 intermediate, 700 third class).
When World War II broke out, she was taken over by the Italian Navy and transformed into an aircraft carrier named Aquila.
SS REX Antonietta Di Giovanni and her children Antonio and Anna Marie traveled on this ship to the US in 1939. This was Italy’s most famous ocean liner. It was launched in 1931. Between 1933 and 1935 it held the Blue Ribbon for westbound speed across the Atlantic. The ship was elegant, had beautiful public rooms, and was considered one of the most beautiful liners in the world. During World War II the ship was not being used. But on September 6, 1944, as it was being towed to a new dock in Trieste, it was bombed by the Britain's Royal Air Force and sank.
SS CONTE DI SAVOIA Sixteen-year-old Agostino Giansante traveled on this ship in 1937.
It was built for Italia Linea in 1932. It carried 2,200 passengers: 500 first class, 366 second class, 412 tourist class, 922 third class. Conte di Savoia was pulled from passenger service in 1940 for wartime use. She was sunk in 1943 and, despite being refloated and rebuilt in 1945, was scrapped in 1950.