Titanic Historical Society facts for kids
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| Founded | July 7, 1963 |
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| Founders | Edward S. Kamuda (1939–2014) and five others |
| Focus | Preservation of the history of the famous ocean liner RMS Titanic |
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Members
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5,000 (as of 1997) |
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Historian
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Don Lynch |
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Vice President
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Paul Phaneuf |
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Formerly called
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Titanic Enthusiasts of America |
The Titanic Historical Society, Inc. (THS) is a special group that works to keep the history of the famous ship RMS Titanic alive. It is a non-profit organization, which means it doesn't aim to make money. The society was started on July 7, 1963.
The Titanic was a huge ocean liner that sank in 1912. This was one of the biggest ship disasters ever. The Society helps people learn about the ship, its passengers, and what happened. They publish a magazine and have a museum with items from the Titanic.
Contents
How the Society Started
The Titanic Historical Society began in Indian Orchard, Massachusetts, USA. It was founded on July 7, 1963, by Edward S. Kamuda and five other people. At first, it was called the Titanic Enthusiasts of America.
Many people became interested in the Titanic after reading Walter Lord's book, A Night to Remember. By 1968, the group had 125 members. These members ranged from teenagers to people almost 90 years old.
The group grew slowly at first. By 1977, it had changed its name to the Titanic Historical Society. At that time, there were 1,476 members. This included 35 people who had actually survived the Titanic disaster. By 1997, the Society had grown to 5,000 members!
For many years, Titanic survivors were special guests at the Society's yearly meetings. In 1992, the Society marked the 80th anniversary of the sinking in Boston, Massachusetts. Several survivors, like Eva Hart and Michel Marcel Navratil, shared their amazing stories. They told everyone what it was like on the night the Titanic sank.
Other famous guests at these meetings have included artist Ken Marshall. Also, Robert Ballard, who found the wreckage of the Titanic in 1985, has spoken there.
What the Society Does Today
The Titanic Historical Society does many important things:
- It publishes an online magazine four times a year called The Titanic Commutator.
- It runs the Titanic Museum in Indian Orchard. This museum has a huge collection of items. Many of these items were given by Titanic survivors. The Tampa Tribune newspaper called it "the largest collection of non-salvaged Titanic artifacts and memorabilia in the world."
- It holds a yearly meeting for members. At these meetings, experts share lots of information about the Titanic. Members can also find special items related to the ship.
The Society also helps preserve the history of other famous ocean liners. This includes the Titanic's sister ships, the Olympic and Britannic. The Britannic sank during World War I after hitting an enemy mine. They also study ships like the Cunard ship Lusitania.
News reporters often ask the Society for information when the Titanic is in the news. In 1994, the Society's founder, Edward Kamuda, and historian Don Lynch appeared in a TV show called Titanic: The Complete Story. In 1997, the Society helped with the filming of James Cameron's popular movie Titanic. Some members even appeared in the movie as extras!
The Society believes it's okay to explore the Titanic wreck. However, they are against taking items from the ship. They say the wreck is a "gravesite" for those who died. They believe it should be treated as a memorial to remember the lives lost.
The Titanic Museum
The Society has the Titanic Museum in Indian Orchard, Massachusetts. It has a large collection of items given by Titanic survivors. Edward Kamuda started this collection. The Tampa Tribune newspaper has said it is "the largest collection of non-salvaged Titanic artifacts and memorabilia in the world".
The Titanic Commutator Magazine
Since 1963, the Society has sent a magazine to its members called The Titanic Commutator. It started as a small newsletter. Over the years, it grew into a full-color magazine with about 50 pages. It shares new information about the Titanic and stories about its passengers. It also covers other famous ships from the "Golden Age" of ocean travel.
When the movie Titanic was made, the Commutator shared many behind-the-scenes details. These were things not shown in the final movie. Today, the magazine is available online for members. Karen Kamuda, Edward Kamuda's widow, is still the editor.
See also
In Spanish: Sociedad Histórica del Titanic para niños
- Titanic International Society
