Portrait of Francis Browne, taken by Fr. Michael Garahy at Kilnavart, Ireland June1, 1939
Fr Browne SJ Collection–UIG/The Bridgeman Art Library
On April 15, 1912 the Titanic sank. As the Titanic sank that day it took the evidence of what life was like on board of the ship. We would not have any images from this time if it wasn’t for Francis Browne. Browne was a priest who had a hobby of photography thanks to his Uncle Robert who bought him a camera. He sailed with the ship for its first leg of its journey from Southampton, England, to Cobh, Ireland (once called Queenstown). Francis started taking photos from the moment he got on the train to go to the ship and continued to photograph his entire time on board of the Titanic.
Last picture of the Titanic leaving Queenstown (Cobh), Ireland on her maiden voyage to New York, April 12, 1912
Fr Browne SJ Collection–UIG/The Bridgeman Art Library
Upon reaching Cobh he received a telegraph from his clerical superior who ordered him to return to his station immediately. Browne disembarked and because of this his life and his photographs would be saved. The photographs and negatives would be the only images of the Titanic at sea that would survive the shipwreck.
After Browne’s death in 1960 his images were lost until Eddie O’Donnell rediscovered them 25 years later. These images have been edited and been published into a book, “Father Browne’s Titanic Album”. This book has been re-released in honor of the shipwreck’s centenary. His work can also be found in the collection of the Irish Picture Library.
Frist-class dining room on the Titanic, 1912
Fr Browne SJ Collection–UIG/The Bridgeman Art Library
Francis Browne’s Titanic images were also used as a reference for the film Titanic. These images captured both the lifestyle on board along with the grand scale of the ship itself. They showed the exercise room being used, children at play, and the fine dining room to just name a few.
