In early 1912, Albert and Sylvia Caldwell fled Bangkok with their infant son Alden. Albert and Sylvia had been missionaries at a Presbyterian boys’ school for two years, but now they were leaving against their boss’s will. The Caldwells wound up on the Titanic’s maiden voyage, traveling in second class. We all know what happened to the Titanic, but Albert's and Sylvia’s fascinating account of how the entire family survived is little known. They not only had to figure out that the “unsinkable” ship was sinking, but they also had to dodge an agent sent by their boss to pick them up in New York.
Albert was my great-uncle. He was 26 years old at the time and lived to be 91, and he told me the story over and over again.
I offer two programs on the Caldwells’ Titanic experience:
1. An entertaining PowerPoint on the story as Albert told it to me, and then the part that he kept secret until I uncovered it through research. The show features family photos.
2. A one-woman show where I “become” Sylvia Caldwell, who thinks it’s still 1912. She tells the Titanic story from her point of view and shows some family artifacts.
