In preparing this book, I was blessed with access to the vast photo files of one of the master maritime historians and model-builders ever, the late Frank Cronican. These photos, stored in steel cabinets for decades and seemingly used only as guidance for his miniature passenger ship recreations, are now beginning to see the light of day. Hopefully, through this book and others, they will be enjoyed by thousands. All photos should be shared. But a great deal of thanks goes to one of Cronican's dearest friends, the ever-supportive, ever-generous Emest Arroyo. A longtime friend and fellow member of the New York Branch of the World Ship Society, he prepared, on another note, the slide reproductions of historic photos for my first shipboard lectures some twenty years ago. After Cronican's passing, Ernie saved his photographic collection and much else, 200 passenger ship models, for example, which might otherwise just have been trashed. lt is a noble story. The artifacts have gone to museurns, printed materials to other collectors and dealers, and the photos mostly far use in future books. Without question, Emest AlToyo has dane a very great deed. A great many other people have been extremely generous in helping to create this title, in sharing not onIy other photos, but prized collectibles, printed items such as sailing schedules and newspaper clippings, and, of course, additional photos. I am particularly grateful to the splendid Anthony Cooke and his vety fine Carmania Press for accepting the project and encouraging it all the way. It was sparked in the first pIace by long-ago recollections of America's once-sizeable passenger fIeet - and perhaps by a dash of patriotic feeling. I visited many of these ships and sailed on a few as well the Brasil, but as the Liberte, the Emerald Seas, ex-La Guardia, etc, the lndependence, the President Cleveland and a string of ex-Matson liners: the 1927 Matsonia (bm as Queen Frederiea), the Lurline (as Ellinis), the 1932 Momerey-Matsonia-Lurline (as Briranis), the 1931 Mariposa (as Hornerie) and finally the 1952 Monterey (but while under the Mediterranean Shipping Cruises banner). Some of the great collectors, photographers and historians have assisted as well. The list is headed by two great icons of ocean liner lore, the ever-dynamic Frank Braynard and the encyclolpedic Everett Viez. These two men are giants within the subject of passenger ship history. I would also like to thank Cecil S. Ashdown, Tom Cangialosi, Michael Cassar, Luis Miguel Correia, Frank Duffy, Alex Duncan, Peter Eisele, Laurence Dunn, Richard Faber, John Gillespie, Alan Goldfinger, Clive Harvey, Andres Hemandez, David Hyman, Eric Johnson, the great Al;nold Kludas, Peter Knego, Erhard Koehler, Peter Lancaric, Michael D. J. Lennon, Fred Rodriguez, Antonio Scrimali, Roger Sherlock, Stephen L. Tacey, Vie Young, and the late Len Sawyer, Steffen Weirauch and Richard I. Weiss. Helping to bring these ships to further life through anecdote and recollection has been greatly help ed by Captain Robert Brooks, John Cusick, Ioannis Dourambeis, Lewis A. Fraser, Herb Malerz, the late Captain Joseph Mazzotta, Thomas Murphy, Hisashi Noma, Richard Pollack, Bill Reagan, Captain Tahir Sariouglu, Alan Scott, Lawrence Sipk.in, Captain Edward Squire, Cees H. M. Tesselaar and Captain Hans van Biljouw. Existing companies and organizations that have assisted include American Hawaii Cruises, Farrell Lines, Matson Lines, Moore-McConnack Lines (now MooreMcCormack Resources), Moran Towing & Transportation Company, the National Archives, Norshipco, the Orient Overseas Line, the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey, Ramada Hotels, Sea-Land Serviee, the Steamship Historical Society of America, the United States Department of Commerce and the World Ship Society. Other help carne from finns whieh, alas, are no more: American Banner Lines, American Export Lines, FIying Camera Inc., Home Lines, Regency Cruises, United States Lines and Yannouth Cruise Lines. Of course, my thanks go to Stephen Card for his brilliant painting on the front cover of this book and to Raymond Kane far his pennission to reproduce it. And last, but by no means least, my very warmest thanks go to my family, to my business partner Abe Michaelson and to dear friend Tom Cassidy.