Titanic Historical Society

The Titanic Historical Society, Inc. (THS) is a non-profit organization founded on July 7, 1963, whose purpose is the preservation of the history of the famous ocean liner RMS Titanic, which sank in 1912, in one of the greatest maritime disasters in history.

THS logo

Headquartered in Indian Orchard, Massachusetts, (United States), its co-founder and president until his death in April, 2014, was Edward S. Kamuda.[1] Principal activities of the Titanic Historical Society include:

  • Quarterly publication of an online magazine, The Titanic Commutator.
  • The Titanic Museum in Indian Orchard featuring an extensive collection of artifacts donated by Titanic survivors.
  • An annual membership convention where experts present in-depth information about various aspects of the Titanic catastrophe and memorabilia is available.

For many years, the remaining survivors of the Titanic's ill-fated maiden voyage were honored guests at society's conventions. In 1992, the Society commemorated the 80th anniversary of the disaster in Boston, Massachusetts. The event brought together several living survivors, including Eva Hart, Louise Pope, Michel Marcel Navratil, and Beatrice Sandstrom, who enthralled those in attendance with their vivid first-person accounts of the night the Titanic foundered in the north Atlantic Ocean. Walter Lord, author of his seminal Titanic work, A Night to Remember, was another featured guest.

The Society also works to preserve the history of other ocean liners, especially the Titanic 's sister ships, the White Star Line's RMS Olympic and HMHS Britannic (which sank after hitting an enemy mine in World War I), and the Cunard ship RMS Lusitania. The society also publishes articles about various other famous ships, such as the RMS Queen Mary and SS Normandie, in The Titanic Commutator.

The Titanic Historical Society has long been a strong supporter of Robert Ballard's exploration of the wreckage of Titanic in 1985 and he frequently speaks at the society's conventions.[1] In 1997, the Society participated in the filming of James Cameron's film Titanic and some members appeared on-screen as extras.[1]

Although the Society supports exploration of the Titanic wreck site, it opposes salvage of items from the ship, stating in a 2005 Commutator issue, "the wreck is a gravesite to those that died that night and should be treated as a memorial" to the lives lost.

The Titanic Historical Society participates with the U.S. Coast Guard and the International Ice Patrol in the annual April 15th wreath-drop ceremony over the Atlantic Ocean where the Titanic now rests.

Titanic Commutator magazine
The Titanic Commutator

Since its founding in 1963, the Society has regularly distributed a journal to members, The Titanic Commutator. Initially a mimeographed newsletter sent to 200 subscribers, the publication steadily increased in scope and depth over the years, eventually printed quarterly as a full-color illustrated magazine of some 50 pages, reporting on Titanic research and passenger stories, along with other notable ships from the "Golden Age" of transatlantic steamship travel.

At the time of the production of James Cameron's film, Titanic, the Commutator provided extensive, behind-the-scenes coverage of set construction and details not shown in the final movie release.

With the final 2019 issue, the Society discontinued the print edition of the Commutator, although an online version continues to be available behind a paywall to members.

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References
  1. Johnson, Patrick (April 14, 2014). "Edward Kamuda, founder of Titanic Historical Society in Indian Orchard, dies at 74". The Republican (Springfield, Massachusetts). Retrieved 2020-02-11.
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