The following sources may help those who wish
to continue researching the Eastland disaster. Then
again, they may not for the simple reason that they disagree on so
many important facts. Where one source claims that the
Eastland fell on its starboard side, others tell of the ship falling on its
port side. Sources vary on the time the Eastland actually rolled,
anywhere from 7:20 to 7:30 a.m. There are variances in the spelling
of names of the ship's officers. Different sources also list
completely different ships as those which were to take part in the
Western Electric excursion that day. Death toll statistics range from
835 to 844. There may be even more discrepancies yet to be
discovered. In any case, researching the Eastland disaster is no
easy task. Regardless, any source will provide slightly different
accounts and perspectives, and some relate eyewitness testimonials
that cannot be found in other sources. Below is a list recommended sources. There may be other resources, but these
are the most comprehensive encountered to date.
Hilton, George W.
EASTLAND: Legacy of the TITANIC. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 1995. ISBN 0-8047-2291-9 | G530.EI8H55 1995 | 977.3'II-dc20.
To call this book thorough
and detailed would be a great understatement. Hilton's book is so
thoroughly researched that readers will be inundated with more
details about the EASTLAND than they will ever remember or care
about. However, I believe this source to be the most accurate and I
would recommend it to anyone who wants to develop a strong sense of
the ship's history. While the naval technical jargon is difficult to
understand at times, it is not insurmountable to a tenacous reader.
The most notable characteristic of this book, other than the
photographs of the ship before, during, and after the disaster, is a
list of the names, ages, and occupations of the victims.
The Eastland Disaster - Southport Video of Kenosha, Wisconsin 1999.
Southport Video has produced a 55 minute
documentary about the Eastland disaster. It is titled "The Eastland
Disaster" and it covers the background of the vessel, information on the actual disaster, and the story of the ship following its salvage and restoration. The film shows many different pictures of the ship, the disaster scene, and the individuals involved. Most notably, the video features testimonials from several people who have researched the Eastland extensively, including Dr. George Hilton, author of "Eastland: Legacy of the Titanic." You can find out more information or order this video by going to Southport Video's site.
These books each contain chapters on the
Eastland:
Bowen, Dana T. Lore of the Lakes.
Daytona Beach: Dana Thomas Bowen, 1940.
Boyer, Dwight.
True Tales of the Great Lakes. New York: Dodd, Mead, and Co., 1971.
Caesar, Pete.
Lake Michigan Wreck! Green
Bay: Great Lakes Marine Research, 1979.
This source contains most
of the major discrepancies. Either the author had access to
information that no other writer has, or was just really
confused. The reliability of this source is in doubt.
Ratigan, William.
Great Lakes Shipwrecks and Survivals. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company,
1977.
Visiting your local library to check out
microfilm of newspaper articles from the week following July 24, 1915
can be very fruitful, especially if you live in the vicinity of the
Great Lakes!
The Eastland Disaster Museum, Wheaton, IL; David Nelson, curator.
The museum has the most extensive collection of Eastland artifacts in the world. The artifacts are available for viewing by appointment. Call (630) 690-4220 to arrange an appointment, or write David at 1N579 Augusta Court, Winfield, IL 60190. This collection will become part of the permanent exhibit to be shown by the Chicago Maritime Society. The Museum has also produced a video entitled 'Remember the Eastland', which is available through interlibrary loan from these public libraries: Wheaton (IL), Glen Ellen (IL), Downers Grove (IL) and Michigan City (IN).
The Chicago Maritime Society, Chicago, IL.
The Society has a permanent Eastland display at their museum at 310 S. Racine in downtown Chicago. Look for more information about the Chicago Maritime Society here, coming soon!
