After my visit last week to the Titanic exhibit over in Schenectady, I wondered if there were any Trojans affected by the disaster.

The disaster has been told many times around the world, but its human aspects are best understood locally. In Troy, a city that thrived in the 19th century through global trade and migration, the tragedy of April 15, 1912, was not just news; it was personal. Families awaited word that never came. Businesses felt the loss of familiar faces.

A community known for its resilience had to confront unexpected loss from across the ocean.

Unlike larger cities, Troy did not have a lot aboard the Titanic. However, the few connected to the city had stories that shed light on the immigrant and industrial networks of the early 20th century. These were not stars or wealthy elites from the Gilded Age, but rather individuals linked to Troy’s working and middle classes.

One intriguing element of Troy’s Titanic connections is how many ties were indirect. Some passengers had moved to Troy and were returning from a trip.

Others were moving here for the first time, while some were part of the broader Capital District network and passed through Troy during their........

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