usl dsm & dsa

For thirty years – from 1934 to 1964 – United States Lines awarded its employees a pair of decorations called the United States Lines Distinguished Service Medal and the United States Lines Distinguished Service Award.  Both were primarily awards for heroism in lifesaving; and among American steamship companies, they were the first of such ongoing […]

usl cap badge history

Upon taking command of the SS Leviathan in the Spring of 1923, Captain Herbert Hartley wore the earliest known cap badge of United States Lines.  The badge’s design was novel for the era; whereas most passenger lines opted for a flag flanked by laurels, United States Lines (USL) used an eagle’s bust in profile ringed […]

usl chapman flag

CHAPMAN TAKES OVER LEVIATHAN FOR $4,000,000 The S. S. Leviathan, pride of the United States Shipping Board, has officially changed hands. The new house flag of the United States Lines, Inc. a white field, [five-pointed] red star and blue triangle now flaps from its mainmast. Ceremonies on its hoisting attracted officials of the shipping board […]

usl uniform buttons

United States Lines Uniform Buttons Usually, when a steamship company of any gravitas incorporates itself, it assumes all the trappings of a maritime organization. It usually invests in stock certificates depicting sea-borne commerce, a house flag flown from the masts of its vessels, cap devices for its officers and stewards, and buttons to adorn its […]

usl 1927 ab cap badge mockup

This cap badge never existed. In 1927, new a cap badge appeared for officers serving aboard USL ships – they featured an eagle over the house flag of the company. In later years, the eagle would denote membership in the USNR. Hense, as would commonly be seen – officers would wear badges with eagles and […]

ss leviathan maiden voyage july 1923

Crew Photographs, July 1923 Selected photographs from the Library of Congress with SS Leviathan crew members. Date of photographs are noted as from 1923; given the subject matter, this is most probably from SS Leviathan‘s maiden voyage on 7 July 1923. Harris & Ewing are the photographers. “The morning of Independence Day found the S. […]