Edward Kamuda
A
Titanic
legacy
Photo courtesy Merie Wallace/Paramount Pictures
If
it weren’t for Edward Kamuda, much of the
information we have today on Titanic wouldn’t
exist; it would have been lost through time and
neglect which, unfortunately, happens
too frequently because many people
do not value history. A Titanic
survivor’s death and a movie in the
family’s theater was the catalyst that
began a life’s work of preserving the
ship’s history.
Life was fairly ordinary in the early
years, Edward Stephen Kamuda was
born in Ludlow, Massachusetts on
November 10, 1939, son of Henry J.
and Caroline (Belczyk) Kamuda. He
was raised in the Indian Orchard
neighborhood of
Springfield where he
lived until he married.
His lifelong journey
with Titanic began in
junior high school
when he read a short
story, A Great Ship Goes
Down in a book, Sea
Fights and Shipwrecks by
Hanson W. Baldwin.
The narrative grabbed
his attention. Soon after
20 th Century Fox’s
Titanic, starring Clifton
Webb and Barbara
Stanwyck played at his
grandfather’s theater,
The Grand, on Main
Street in Indian
Orchard, where he
worked after school.
The 1953 movie about
the great maritime disaster made a tremendous impact
on the young man––this was to be the theme of his life.
Kamuda studied everything he could find about the
ship––there were only a few books available. In 1955,
he read Walter Lord’s, A Night to Remember and
corresponded regularly with the
author. When J. Arthur Rank’s
version of Lord’s bestseller played in
movie houses in 1958, Rank sent a
promotional book to theater owners
to attract audiences (top right). The
pages had names and addresses of
dozens of Titanic survivors in Great
Britain, Canada and the United
States for theater owners to contact
since there were no big Hollywood
stars to attract an American
audience. Kamuda wrote to all
eighty-seven and seventy-five
responded. They were thrilled that
someone was
interested in their
personal story of a
long ago disaster and
he asked if they
would write down
their recollections.
The majority were
elderly living on
Social Security or
pensions so Kamuda
used his modest
allowance enclosing a
few dollars for postage
for their reply. They
were touched by the
young
m a n ’s
thoughtfulness and
sincerity and many became
lifelong friends.
Kamuda searched for other
people who were interested in
Ti t a n i c b y p l a c i n g a d s i n
newspapers and maritime
magazines. Only a few responded.
In 1963, one of Titanic’s
kitchen personnel that Kamuda
had been corresponding with
passed away; he saw his obituary
in The New York Times. Walter
Belford (right) lived alone in a
small flat in New York. A friend
informed him that Belford’s landlady
tossed out his Titanic keepsakes.
Kamuda was shocked at the
d i s re g a rd f o r h i s t o r y a n d
promised “... from that moment on
I would do everything in my power
to form a group that would preserve
these precious artifacts and
mementoes for future generations.”
He kept his promise. On July 7,
1963, five young men met at Kamuda’s
home (right) and
formed the
T i t a n i c
Enthusiasts of
America (TEA).
Thirty of the
remaining
survivors agreed
to become Honor
Members, the
highest tribute of
the organization.
Later, survivor
Mrs. René Harris
asked Kamuda
“...I mean really,
who can be enthusiastic about a
tragedy?” The TEA was changed
to Titanic Historical Society in
1975.
The organization’s mission is
preserving the history of RMS
Titanic, also Olympic, Britannic
René Harris
and the White Star Line. The
glue that held the group together
was a publication Kamuda began, The Marconigram, its
title changed to The Titanic Commutator, in continuous
publication for more than a half-century.
In the beginning the Commutator was printed on a
mimeograph, a cumbersome process and mostly a oneman operation. Four times a year, as Editor-in-Chief, he
filled its pages about Titanic, survivor accounts and
ocean liners. Members loved reading survivors’
experiences from the handwritten letters Kamuda
possessed. The journal was mailed to members
worldwide, the information was new and original.
Titanic’s story was being permanently recorded as
Kamuda wanted. He referred to Walter Lord frequently
in its pages and, in June 1964, Lord introduced 3rd
class survivor Frank J. Goldsmith who wrote, “I am one
of the few remaining survivors of the sinking of the Titanic, I
The decade of the 1960s began as a time of social
and civil unrest and there was little concern about the
past. By 1969, membership hadn’t grown, the other
TEA officers’ attention was on marriage and raising
families. Kamuda was virtually alone keeping the
struggling group together, publishing the Commutator
and paying for it mostly from his own pocket. With
less than 200 members and years of hard work, Ed was
discouraged. He decided it was time to pack it in,
apparently there weren’t enough people interested in
Titanic to continue. However, he was determined to go
out with colors flying.
As a last hurrah he’d produce one
more Commutator, a special 65-page
issue devoted to Olympic (right).
Nearly identical to Titanic, this ship
had been mostly forgotten because her
unlucky sister grabbed all the
attention by sinking in 1912. Olympic
had a very successful and lengthy
career until 1935. She held a
sentimental place in Kamuda’s heart.
That final edition contained rare
photographs, original information and
was professionally printed on glossy
The ;irst TEA convention in 1973. Left to right: Anne Tantum, Ed Kamuda, Madeleine Mellinger Mann and her husband, Mrs. James (later discovered a faux survivor), Washington Dodge, Jr. Walter Lord, Edwina Troutt Mackenzie, Frank Goldsmith, Robert Gibbons, Victoria Goldsmith.
would be most
pleased to hear
more of your
organization
and await what you may be able to tell me with deepest
interest”(left). Thus began a friendship with a man
whose true story as a nine-year-old boy who lost his
father and a sixteen-year-old friend in the sinking, is
one of the most poignant Titanic accounts. When
Frank died his wish to be reunited with his dad was
fulfilled when his ashes were cast by the International
Ice Patrol over the wreck site on April 15, 1982.
Frank Goldsmith’s letter to Ed Kamuda introducing himself.
paper. The cost was over $1,100, an
exorbitant sum for the time. There was
little money available. Kamuda was forced
to sell most of his beloved rare book
collection and his Norman Wilkinson
painting to pay the printer. He gave it his
all, now it was gone. Ed didn’t know it at
the time but his labor of love saved the
organization.
Never before was there anything of
this caliber published by a small, relatively
unknown group. The Commutator caught
the maritime community’s attention
especially William H. Tantum IV, (opposite page, lower
right) owner of 7C’s Press and, a man with many
contacts. Through Tantum’s guidance and Kamuda’s
collection, the organization gained needed visibility
and grew. The first TEA convention
was held in Greenwich, Connecticut
i n 1 9 7 3 m a r k i n g i t s 1 0th
anniversary. Six Titanic survivors
attended: Frank Goldsmith, Edwina
Troutt Mackenzie, Madeleine
Mellinger Mann, Margaret Devaney
O’Neill, Bertha Marshall and
Washington Dodge. Reporters came
from Paris, the BBC, The New York
Times and CBS.
Within a year
there were 1,000
members.
Frank
Goldsmith
became the
T H S ’s r o v i n g
ambassador
presenting slide
programs on
Ti t a n i c w h i l e
handing out
membership
applications. He
a c t i v e l y
searched for
survivors and
introduced
Kamuda to
Olaus Abelseth,
Marshall Drew,
Mrs. John Pillsbury Snyder (all left)
and Martin Swenson, a crew member. Kamuda
continued corresponding with his large circle of
survivor friends, and some were kind enough to donate
personal artifacts they saved. Lookout Fred Fleet sent
his sketch of the iceberg and photos of some of his
mates (middle). 1st class saloon
steward Frederick Dent Ray
sent a square of carpet from
the ship and his razor “…so I
might have a shave in the
morning” (artifacts-bottom
left). Selena Rogers Cook
donated clothing items she wore on board including a
tooth that was extracted. Springfield’s Milton Long, a
passenger in 1st class who perished, had left his pocket
watch with his chauffeur; he was the only son of Judge
and former Mayor of Springfield, Charles Long. His
body was returned and buried in Springfield Cemetery.
There are numerous other
examples. Because there is a
distinct connection to a
particular officer, passenger or
crew, the Titanic Historical
Society’s collection of survivor
artifacts is uniquely precious.
Portions of the collection are
displayed at
the Titanic
Museum, 208
Main Street,
I n d i a n
O rc h a rd
while other artifacts are on loan at
Titanic Branson in Missouri and
Titanic Pigeon Forge in Tennessee.
One of several early projects
involving the THS was the first
recording (top right) of Titanic
survivors in a 33 rpm record.
Titanic model kits that we all take
for granted didn’t have interest
during this period. Ed wrote to the
Revell company that replied they
didn’t believe there was enough
interest in a disaster to develop one.
With input from Ken Marschall,
Entex (bottom right) made the first
kit and since then, many companies
h a v e
created their own versions.
In 1976, Bill Tantum
contacted his neighbor,
Jacques Cousteau, (middle
right) asking if he’d be
interested searching for
Britannic, Titanic’s other
sister while he was in the
Aegean searching for
Atlantis. The reply was
yes. With the aid of
Kamuda’s photos, plans
and maps,
Tantum, then
president of
the THS,
accompanied
Cousteau on a
dive and
f o u n d
Britannic; it
was a proud
moment for
Kamuda. At
the same time,
Tantum was
working with
his friend,
Robert Ballard
to locate
T i t a n i c ,
however,
technology hadn’t developed to the point where
exploring the ocean at that depth was possible.
By 1978, the THS was supplying Titanic material for
early television programs such as, In Search of (top left);
soon the THS became a primary resource for the media.
The Society had 2,000 members in 1980, the size
and quality of the Commutator (middle left) increased
and attracted professionals with knowledge of ships
and the sea and the ranks of THS swelled with
historians, scientists, artists and authors. THS’s historian
Don Lynch and maritime artist, then unknown, Ken
Marschall were early members.
Tantum died suddenly that year and shortly
afterwards Kamuda’s mother and father passed away.
The THS lost a key person and it drifted for a period as
Ed worked hard to keep the family business afloat
where he made his living as a watchmaker. During this
time he met and married Karen, who took over
publishing the Commutator. Now the THS had a new
team. A member since 1972, Karen’s creative
background in art, shipping history, ship model making
and twenty years in show business was an asset. Titanic
always had been part of Karen’s life. Her grandfather
emigrated from Liverpool to Boston on Cunard’s new
Franconia in May 1911, the custom for the husband to
come first and get settled. Titanic’s sinking made a deep
impression in England as her grandmother, then a
young mother sailing from
Liverpool to Boston with two babies
(one baby was her father and the
other, her aunt), in October 1912.
Her grandmother bought a book
Sinking of the Titanic published in
1912 that was sold door-to-door
a c ro s s t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s t o
thousands of people. Years later this
same book attracted young Karen
and, after reading it, she was
captivated by the Titanic story.
On September 1,
1985, Titanic’s status
changed forever when Dr.
Ballard and his group of
French and American
scientists discovered the
wreck; the find was an
international sensation.
The Commutator featured
four issues of underwater
color photos. Ballard’s
second expedition, in
1986, placed a bronze
marker on behalf of THS
and his friend, Bill
Tantum on Titanic’s stern.
This was the first time a
memorial plaque was left
on the ship in
remembrance of those
who died (bottom right).
Membership reached
3,500 in 1986. Eleven
survivors––Philip Aks, Eva Hart, Marjorie Newell
Robb, Bertram Dean, Michel Navratil, Edith Brown
Haisman, Ruth Becker Blanchard, Louise Kink Pope,
Eleanor Johnson Shuman and 1,000 members attended
the Society’s 1987 Convention in Wilmington, Delaware
(top right) with Dr. Ballard as the featured speaker.
Titanic passengers, Eileen Lenox-Conyngham
Schefer, Beatrice Sandstrom and Millvina Dean joined
the other previously named survivors with Walter Lord
in 1988 in Boston honoring THS’s 25th anniversary
(middle right with Eva Hart).
THS conventions in the U.S. included Springfield,
Mass, Denver and Long Beach; also Halifax, Nova Scotia
and overseas in London and Belfast.
In 1993, another THS first, Titanic Heritage Tours
were organized by THS member Mike Rudd, to
experience history in person at dozens of Titanic-related
locations in England, Scotland, No. Ireland, France,
Ireland, Canada and the U.S. All the known Titanic and
related sites were visited in a span of several years.
Top left: Ed Kamuda addressing the people at Cobh for the unveiling of the Cobh Titanic Memorial (middle).
Top right: Fred Fleet’s grave is dedicated at Holyrood Cemetery in Southampton.
Middle left: 2nd class survivor, Louise Laroche, Ed and the Mayor of Cherbourg, unveil a memorial to those who sailed from France.
Middle: In Paris on the Seine, Ed is photographed on the top deck of the former White Star tender Nomadic.
Middle right: Ed with Ed Coughlin of the Irish Titanic Society, ready to drop a wreath at the Outer Anchorage in Cobh Harbor where Titanic sailed into Destiny. This was the ;irst time a memorial wreath drop was held at this location.
Bottom left: The THS group at the head of the quay in Southampton. Titanic was tied up approximately where the large ship is shown in the background. Bottom right: The Titanic Centennial Memorial in Oak Grove Cemetery, Spring;ield, Massachusetts. Photos: THS collection or Kamuda collection unless noted otherwise
Through THS’s combined activities, Ed Kamuda
succeeded beyond his wildest dreams promising to
preserve Titanic and sharing that history. With over fifty
years of publications, a fine collection of survivor
memorabilia and personal documents, he opened the
doors in 1963 eventually introducing thousands to his
passion. Titanic’s legacy is worldwide, people
everywhere, like a young Edward Kamuda, became
captivated about Titanic and many are carrying on
work he began.
Kamuda succeeded in spreading the word. His
mission to remember the Titanic has been fulfilled––
today the ship is remembered everywhere. What a
difference in attitude since 1963 when Belford’s
landlady discarded his mementoes!
Another mission accomplished is the magnificent
Titanic Centennial Memorial made of polished black
granite unveiled on April 21, 2012, at Oak Grove
Cemetery in Springfield, Massachusetts with a weekend
convention for the 100th anniversary.
Top left: Ed and Anne Tantum deliver the THS plaque to Dr. Ballard at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution to place on Titanic on the 1986 expedition.
Top right: Onboard a ferry from Cherbourg to Cobh, the THS traces Titanic’s second day. Roches Point is in the background, same as photo of Titanic’s stern.
Left top middle: Ed stands by a bollard where Titanic was tied up––South Western Hotel in background.
Left middle: Halifax’s Maritime Museum of the Atlantic loaned the THS on its 30th anniversary, wood paneling, stair railing and a newel post retrieved from Titanic as a thank you for funding its conservation.
Middle right: THS Heritage group at the Engineer’s Memorial in Southampton.
Left bottom middle: Millvina Dean, Mike Rudd, Don Lynch, Karen and Ed Kamuda in a Q&A session on the QE2 retracing Titanic’s ports of call.
Bottom right: Millvina Dean’s ;irst voyage since Titanic. A cruise to Mexican ports after the THS convention on the Queen Mary in Long Beach.
Bottom left: Don Lynch and Ed hold a photo of Harland
& Wolff’s Engine Works with Tom McCluskie as they stand in the same location.
In addition to
being the home
of the Titanic
Historical
Society, Titanic’s
link
with
Springfield is Milton Long. The Long
family memorial in Springfield Cemetery
has a bronze plaque (top left) placed by
THS Advisory Board member, Paul
Phaneuf and the THS in 1996.
Top right: A memorable group photo taken in 1993 at Harland & Wolff on the location where Titanic was built.
Middle left: Ed and Karen at the White Swan hotel in Alnwyck, wood paneling and light ;ixtures from Olympic’s 1st class lounge.
Middle right: Ed with Eileen Lenox-­‐Conyngham Schefer, Bertram Dean and Eva Hart at the THS 25th anniversary convention.
Bottom: Jim Cameron’s editing (thankfully) kept this scene in with Ed and Karen who appear for a few seconds in the ;ilm.
A Memorial Garden and Walkway is being created
for the Titanic Centennial Memorial in the summer of
2014 from the generosity of donations from THS
officers, members and friends and will be dedicated on
September 20, 2014.
Ed Kamuda came full circle in the Titanic story
with his and Karen’s appearance in the second
production of 20th Century Fox/Paramount, TITANIC
Photo courtesy 20th Century Fox/Paramount Pictures
(1997)––the first film made by Fox that captured the
imagination of the young man in 1953, that it began
his life odyssey.
On the movie set, Jim Cameron paid tribute to
Kamuda’s immense influence when he called the actors
together to introduce, “Here’s the man who made it all
possible.”✪