Titanic Stewardesses?

Question

What were the exact duties of a stewardess on board the Titanic or any other ocean liner of the era? It's a given that they would tend to the passengers, but to what extent?

I've looked online and all I can find are biographies of two Titanic stewardesses, Violet Jessop and Mary Sloan, but not the job descripton.

Answer 1

The stewardesses were quite few in number and nearly all assigned to First Class. They could be summoned by a system of electric bells. The short answer to what was expected of them was anything within reason, ranging from the usual housekeeping and room service duties of hotel staff to the more personal tasks involved in looking after 'their' passengers, which might include providing advice or just a sympathetic ear. Many of the ladies in First Class, however, had their own maids on board and no doubt kept them busy too. If you want to know more about the life and work of a stewardess, the ideal source is the book: Titanic Survivor - the memoirs of Violet Jessop Stewardess.

Answer 2

I've read the autobiography of Violet Jessop. I believe the stewards and stewardesses of that time were somehow assigned to a couple of first class passengers, and waited on them hand an foot for anything. They helped the women with their hair, corsets, etc., fetched food and tea, telling stories, practically anything that the passenger wanted to make ships fell like home.

Ps- Isn't Mary Sloan's name spelled as "Sloane"? With an 'e' at the end?

Answer 3

Violet Jessop was perhaps a nurse. If u read the Wikipedia article you will find it.
Mary Sloan's work was serving people. Perhaps she was a waitress. ANd so other stewardesses wuld also work as waitresses. The ususal Jobs.

TW K

Answer 4

the stewardesses would help the richer ladies getting dressed, getting their hair done, makeup, cleaning after them in their rooms, giving tea and whatever the ladies have asked.

i know only about what the stewardesses have done for the ladies, the men have a different story.

Answer 5

I imagine that ladies of that day still wore corsets and might need someone to help them get dressed, but I'm not sure. They might also have been ladies maids, to help them with their hair. Why don't you read the biographies?