Senator William Alden Smith
Senate Titanic Investigation Resolution
Leads the move for a Senate investigation immediately after news of Titanic's loss reaches the United States.
Titanic quick answer
What did the U.S. Senate Titanic inquiry investigate?
The Senate investigation examined the causes of the loss and testimony about ice warnings, lifeboats, speed, distress communications and the response of nearby ships.
Answer in context
The 1912 hearings, witnesses, evidence and safety recommendations. The supporting records below are selected directly from the current 617-record Titanic archive.
Archive records supporting this answer
20 matching archive records are rendered directly in this static page.
Senator William Alden Smith
Titanic Inquiry Resolution Authorized
Leads the Senate effort after passage of the resolution authorizing an investigation into the Titanic disaster.
Joseph Bruce Ismay
Titanic United States Testimony
Gives evidence on the opening day of the United States Senate investigation into the disaster.
Senator William Alden Smith
United States Titanic Inquiry Opens
Leads the United States Senate inquiry into the Titanic disaster as hearings begin.
Senator William Alden Smith
Titanic Senate Hearings Opened
Opens the Senate investigation at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel and begins taking testimony about Titanic's loss.
Joseph Bruce Ismay
Senate Inquiry Opening Testimony
Gives testimony on the opening day of the Senate inquiry about White Star management and Titanic's voyage.
Captain Arthur Henry Rostron
Senate Rescue Evidence
Explains Carpathia's response to Titanic's distress call and the rescue of survivors to the Senate inquiry.
Guglielmo Marconi
Senate Wireless Evidence
Gives evidence about Marconi wireless operations and shipboard communications during the Titanic disaster.
Charles Herbert Lightoller
Senate Officer Evidence
Gives evidence about Titanic's officers, navigation, lifeboats and evacuation on the inquiry's opening day.
Harold Thomas Cottam
Senate Carpathia Wireless Evidence
Describes receiving Titanic's distress traffic and Carpathia's subsequent wireless work for the Senate inquiry.
Herbert John Pitman
United States Senate Testimony
Gives evidence to the United States Senate inquiry about Titanic's officers, lifeboats and the evacuation.
Harold Sydney Bride
Senate Titanic Wireless Testimony
Describes Titanic's wireless distress work and the final communications sent before the ship sank.
Herbert John Pitman
Senate Lifeboat Testimony
Gives Senate evidence about Titanic's lifeboats, evacuation procedures and his experience after leaving the ship.
Senator William Alden Smith
Titanic Senate Hearings in Washington
Continues the Senate investigation after hearings move from New York to Washington.
Senator Duncan U. Fletcher
Titanic Senate Inquiry Service
Serves on the Senate investigation examining crew testimony and the circumstances of Titanic's loss.
Senator Francis G. Newlands
Titanic Senate Inquiry Service
Participates in the Senate inquiry into the causes of the Titanic disaster and related safety issues.
Senator Furnifold McLendel Simmons
Titanic Senate Inquiry Service
Serves on the Senate subcommittee reviewing evidence concerning Titanic's sinking.
Senator George Clement Perkins
Titanic Senate Inquiry Service
Serves on the Senate Commerce subcommittee and participates in the investigation of Titanic's loss.
Senator Jonathan Bourne
Titanic Senate Inquiry Service
Serves on the Senate Commerce subcommittee examining testimony about the Titanic disaster.
Senator Theodore E. Burton
Titanic Senate Inquiry Service
Participates in the Senate investigation and questions witnesses about Titanic and maritime safety.
Sources and further reading
- United States Senate — Titanic investigation
Official Senate historical account of the investigation. - United States Senate — Final Report of the Titanic investigation
Contemporary committee report and recommendations.