Titanic Historian Shares Decades of Passion and Discovery
By: Lauren Ramsey – Wise News Network
Cherryville, NC (WNN)- Titanic historian Melinda Ratchford has devoted more than 60 years to studying one of history’s most famous sea disasters, the Titanic. Her fascination started with a book and has taken her across lands and seas. Ratchford recently sat down with our Wise News Network team to share her journey, standout moments, and the lasting impact of the Titanic’s story.
A Childhood Spark that Inspired a Lifelong Passion
Ratchford’s Journey started in 1958. At age 10, when she discovered Walter Lord’s “A Night to Remember.” She calls the book a “keystone” to read, stressing its importance since Lord interviewed so many of the survivors.” Ratchford said, “I highly recommend it if you like the Titanic at all.”
Her interest in the ship grew when she was a teacher in Greensboro, NC, in the early 1970s. She taught seventh, eighth, and ninth graders, whom she called “reluctant learners” as they were reluctant to be in the classroom. One day, Ratchford had an idea; she decided to do a complete study of the Titanic through Science, Math, English, and History. “They got hooked on the Titanic,” she remembered. “It helped them connect to learning.”
From the Classroom to the Wreck Site
Ratchford’s dedication has led her well past her work in the classroom. In 1996, she became part of the Discovery Channel’s first mission to explore the Titanic’s resting place in the North Atlantic. She recalled, “I got a letter in the mail saying, Would you like to go see this? I told my husband, and he said, Why would you want to do that, Melinda? It sank. I thought, well, that’s true. It did. But he said, Why don’t you go? So I called two of my girlfriends”.
The trip was a week-long cruise. Ratchford and her friends flew from Charlotte, NC, to Boston, MA. While there, they were on the ship with astronaut Buzz Aldrin. Aldrin went down to the wreck in a submersible. Ratchford recalls asking Aldrin a question when he came back up. “I asked what is the difference between you going to the Titanic and seeing the moon being on the moon? And he said, You see the moon every night, we just take it for granted. There’s the moon. He said it. You can’t compare the two.
Aldrin also said, “When you go two and a half miles down in the dark and you see nothing, it’s total blackness until they put the lights on what’s left of the Titanic, it takes your breath.” He ended by saying, “I just know that I have seen two wonders of this world.”
Ratchford has also visited key places tied to the Titanic, such as Belfast in Northern Ireland, Southampton in England, New York City, and Washington, D.C. She said, “I feel like my mission is to tell her stories, and that’s what I do.”
Presentations That Bridge Generations
Ratchford has delivered over 300 presentations about the Titanic in all kinds of places, from big auditoriums to small libraries in tiny towns. One time, she spoke in a small mountain county where six people showed up.
After the talk, a woman came to her saying she believed her old neighbor from South Dakota had survived the Titanic disaster. When Ratchford looked into it, she found the story to be true. The man, a Swedish immigrant, made it through the sinking and later settled in South Dakota. “It’s amazing—you never know when you’ll uncover something new,” she shared.
Ratchford designs her programs to include an interactive and personal feel. She shares items from her collection, such as a first-edition book printed 30 days after the sinking, a French pillbox decorated with the ship’s design, a large liquor bottle shaped like the Titanic, and even a piece of coal taken from the ship’s bunkers. “During every presentation, I always pass that piece of coal around and tell people, ‘you have now touched a piece of history,’” she said.
Her collection of memorabilia holds both variety and significance. “Everywhere I go, I look for something related to the Titanic,” Ratchford explained. To her, the importance of every object is not about cost but stems from the stories and bonds it symbolizes. Each item acts as a link connecting history to today and uniting those fascinated by the Titanic.
Exploring History and Busting Myths
Ratchford’s curiosity fuels the research she carries out. She is wrapping up a book with the History Press in Gloucestershire, England. The book tells the stories of 16 women who were on board the Titanic. “Some are famous, while others are not known much at all. I just think that you find the connection. Why were those people on the Titanic? What was the rest of their life like, and what was their life like before the Titanic?
She talks about Titanic conspiracy theories, exploring ideas like the ship being replaced with its sister ship, Olympic, to commit insurance fraud, or the rumor about an Egyptian mummy being on board. “I’ve checked every single bill of lading for Titanic, and not one of them lists a mummy on that ship,” she said with a grin.
Many pop culture myths still exist. People often ask Ratchford if Jack and Rose from James Cameron’s 1997 movie “Titanic” were actual people. She has to disappoint them by explaining that neither Rose nor Jack existed in real life. James Cameron invented them, she said. Still, she points out that a real John Dawson worked on the ship, and fans now visit his grave in Nova Scotia to leave tributes.
Lessons from the Titanic
Ratchford views the Titanic as a strong symbol of human society. She hopes people can see themselves within the ship’s story and gain a better understanding of what it represents.
We are all like the people represented on the Titanic. The Titanic was, yes, a floating palace, but perhaps more importantly, it was a microcosm of society. It was the only place in the world, an ocean liner at that time, where you would have people of first class and people of steerage, third class who were actually on the same ship. And the interaction among those people was very stilted.
She says the class divisions on the ship were strict, but the disaster brought everyone together. “It proves the saying, ‘We’re all in the same boat,’ is true in that moment. I don’t believe anyone cared about what class you were from as the ship sank.”
As she continues her research, Ratchford encourages people to dive into the Titanic’s story and what it teaches. “Read every Titanic book you can get your hands on,” she said.
Get In Contact
If you are interested in learning more about Ratchford’s Titanic research or presentations, she can be reached via email at [email protected] or by phone at 704-678-5595.
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