The RMS Titanic sank to the very depths of the Atlantic Ocean almost a hundred years ago while on her maiden voyage from Southampton, England, to New York. But the fascination -- and myths -- associated with the iconic ship are still with us.

The phenomenal tragedy occurred on April 15, 1912, and resulted in the deaths of 1,517 people. The shipwreck was one of the deadliest peacetime maritime disasters in history.

However, it was only through the eyes of Frank Browne that the world learned the true story of the Titanic.

A student of theology who later was to be ordained a Roman Catholic priest, Browne had been sent a ticket for the first leg of the maiden voyage of the Titanic, which went from Southampton to Chergourg, France, to Queenstown (Cobh), Ireland.

During this leg of the voyage, an American millionaire offered to pay Browne's way for the rest of the trip to New York.

Upon being apprised of this offer, however, Browne's Jesuit superior cabled Queenstown saying, succinctly, Get off that ship -- Provincial.

Browne's great collection of photographic negatives of the Titanic -- and other subjects -- lay forgotten for 25 years after his death. In 1986, the Rev. E.E. O'Donnell, another Jesuit, accidentally discovered it in a large metal trunk. He brought the negatives to the attention of the features editor of the London Sunday Times who called them the photographic equivalent to the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls.

Take a look at some of the rare unseen images of the Titanic in the slideshow here:

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Rare Unseen Images of the RMS Titanic Captured by Father Frank Browne
The Odell family on board the tender Ireland after they had disembarked from the Titanic with Frank Browne. Young Jack Odell, in school cap, is accompanied by his mother. Capt. MacVeigh stands on the right. fatherbrowne
Rare Unseen Images of the RMS Titanic Captured by Father Frank Browne
The grand staircase of the Olympic. There were seven flights upstairs similar to this, the topmost one. All the woodwork and carving is in pale oak. The carving on the back wall represents "Honour and Glory crowning Time." fatherbrowne
Rare Unseen Images of the RMS Titanic Captured by Father Frank Browne
The Reading and Writing room on the A-deck of Olympic. The windows of this room were 11 feet high. The bright band at the top of the windows is the portion of the room that arises above the level of the boat deck. fatherbrowne
Rare Unseen Images of the RMS Titanic Captured by Father Frank Browne
Shown is the first-class dining room of the Titanic. Browne thought the photograph was substandard and did not include it in his album. However, it is one of the few surviving photographs taken in this room. fatherbrowne
Rare Unseen Images of the RMS Titanic Captured by Father Frank Browne
Pictured is the bedroom section of Browne's suite, numbered A-37, aboard the Titanic. fatherbrowne
Rare Unseen Images of the RMS Titanic Captured by Father Frank Browne
Third-class passengers thronged the stern of the ship. A sign warning of the danger of the propellers below can also be seen. The tiny dot at the top of the fourth funnel is the grimy face of a stoker who climbed up for a bird's-eye view of the Irish port. To some, it seemed like the black specter of death looking down. The superstitious among the passengers saw this as an ill omen. fatherbrowne
Rare Unseen Images of the RMS Titanic Captured by Father Frank Browne
Taken aboard the Adriatic before Browne's voyage on the Titanic, the photograph shows two wireless operators. The gentleman on the left is Jack Phillips, who would stick to his post aboard the Titanic summoning rescuers for those who, unlike himself, were leaving the ship in lifeboats. One of the undisputed heroes of the disaster, he is honored by memorials erected on both sides of the Atlantic. fatherbrowne
Rare Unseen Images of the RMS Titanic Captured by Father Frank Browne
The gentleman in the white flannels is T.W. McCawley, the 34-year-old physical educator from Aberdeen, Scotland. Another cross-channel passenger would years later recall McCawley as rather strict in general with the passengers, but that he would soften his demeanor while with the children on board. fatherbrowne
Rare Unseen Images of the RMS Titanic Captured by Father Frank Browne
For many years, it was thought that the gentleman on the left with John Jacob Astor perished in the Titanic disaster. In fact, this is his cousin, William Waldorf Astor, who had moved to England from the United States in 1890. fatherbrowne
Rare Unseen Images of the RMS Titanic Captured by Father Frank Browne
Although captioned as the Titanic, this postcard actually shows her sister ship Olympic under construction at the Harland & Wolff Ltd. shipyard in Belfast, Ireland. fatherbrowne
Rare Unseen Images of the RMS Titanic Captured by Father Frank Browne
Travelers board the RMS Titanic. fatherbrowne
Rare Unseen Images of the RMS Titanic Captured by Father Frank Browne
A bugler plays on the pier. fatherbrowne
Rare Unseen Images of the RMS Titanic Captured by Father Frank Browne
Mailbags and trunks are ready for loading after the passengers have boarded. fatherbrowne
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