How to Find a Cousin (With Only Breadcrumbs and Sheer Stubbornness)

 

You don’t really find ancestors—you negotiate with them. They toss you crumbly clues; you show up with a magnifying glass, date math, and a sense of humor, and eventually the records agree to line up. 

This is a quick case study in clue-stacking that runs from a Prussian cradle to a Berlin obituary—and lands on a living cousin you can actually wave at. 

The mission isn’t just names on a chart: it’s reconnecting long-lost family so we can share the really old photos hiding in shoeboxes and, when it matters for a surname line, run a Y-DNA test to lock the paper trail to the genetic one.

The Cast

• The Maaß/Maass family of Märkisch Friedland: I’ve traced the line back to Moshe Favish Maaß (aka Moses Feivel Maass) of Märkisch Friedland (now Mirosławiec, Poland), circa 1730.
  
  

  
  
  

• Adolf Maass (Adolph Maaß) — the gentleman of interest

• Parents: Moses Maaß & Johanna Orbach of Märkisch Friedland

• Wife: Hulda Rosenheim

• Known Children:

• Johanna Maass (1873–1940) — b. Königsberg; d. Hannover
• Luise Maass (1875–1943) — b. Königsberg; d. Riga Ghetto
• Albert Maass (1876–1911) — b. Königsberg; d. Charlottenburg (Berlin)
• Gertrud Maass (1883–1887) — b. Königsberg; d. Königsberg
• Toni Maass (1885–1941) — b. Königsberg; m. Salomon Georg Glücksmann (Berlin, 1919); d. Riga Ghetto

• Known Grandchildren: 

• [Unknown] grandchild mentioned in Adolf Maass' 30 Sept 1920 death notice
• Hanna Glücksmann (born 11 Nov 1920 in Berlin)

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Clue 1 — Start with a Birth You Can Point At

5 July 1843, Märkisch Friedland (today Mirosławiec, Poland): a civil record names Adolph Maaß, son of Moses Maaß and Johanna Orbach.
Why it matters: It anchors our guy with a date, a place, and parents. That trio is a genealogist’s holy trinity.

Receipts: 1843 birth of Adolph MAASS in Märkisch Friedland

 

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Clue 2 — End with a Death That Talks Back

25 Sept 1920, Schöneberg (Berlin): a death record for Adolf Maass, age 77, born in Märkisch Friedland.

Do the date math: from 5 Jul 1843 to 25 Sep 1920 is 77 years, 2 months, 20 days—which is exactly what the certificate rounds to 77.

Why it matters: Age, birthplace, and timeline all snap into place. The death doesn’t just rhyme with the birth—it locks to it. Circle closed; the baby from Märkisch Friedland is the gentleman who died in Berlin.

But wait—what if there were two?
In theory, there could have been two different Adolf Maass born in Märkisch Friedland in 1843. In practice, that’s unicorn-rare here. We have the scanned Jewish birth registers for that town and year, and they show one entry: Adolph Maaß, son of Mose Maaß and Johanna Orbach (see birth certificate). Same name, same place, same exact birth date. Unless a duplicate Adolf materialized off-ledger and never touched a synagogue or civil book, our man is the man.

Receipts: 1920 death of Adolf MAASS in Berlin (born 1843 in Märkisch Friedland)

 

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Clue 3 — Newspapers: Where Families Quietly Shout

30 Sept 1920, Berliner Tageblatt: a family notice announces that Adolf Maaß passed away, “our dear father, father-in-law, and grandfather.”

Why it matters: “Grandfather” is not just sentimental—it’s a data grenade. At this point, the only known grandchild (Hanna) was born 11/11/1920, weeks after Adolf’s death. Conclusion: there must be another grandchild or an already-pregnant-counts family logic—or both. Either way, the notice tells us to keep digging for other children and earlier grandchildren.

Receipts: 1920 Sep 30 Adolf MAASS death notice in Berliner Tageblatt

 

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Clue 4 — Marriages Are Mini-Censuses

1 Sep 1919, Berlin: Toni Maass marries Salomon Georg Glücksmann. The entry gives us multiple payloads:

• Father status & location: Toni’s father Adolf Maass is still living in Berlin (vital pre-death timestamp).

• Bride’s birthplace: Königsberg (not just color—this becomes a search beacon).

• Witness line twist: Instead of Dad, we see “Dr. Johanna Maass,” age 46. Given Adolf dies a year later, a reasonable inference is illness/absence, with Johanna stepping in.

• Name normalization: Confirms the Maass/Maaß spelling range you must search under.

• Timeline fit: Places the family in Berlin by 1919, consistent with later deaths (Adolf 1920; Hulda 1914 Berlin already ties the migration arc).

Why it matters: One document verifies Adolf alive in 1919 (Berlin), hands us Königsberg as Toni’s birthplace, and drops a likely older sister (Dr. Johanna Maass, 46) into the frame—all of which tighten identity, place, and relationships right before Adolf’s 1920 death.

Receipts: 1919 marriage of Toni MAASS and Salomon Georg GLÜCKSMANN in Berlin

 

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Clue 5 — Königsberg Records Sweep

Once the marriage says “born in Königsberg,” you raid Königsberg registers for the rest of the crew. Immediate hits that cluster around Adolf Maass & Hulda (née Rosenheim):

• Johanna Maass — b. 25 Aug 1873, Königsberg → age 46 in 1919 matches the marriage witness “Dr. Johanna Maass”.  

• Luise Maass  — b. 17 May 1875, Königsberg. While records from Königsberg have come up blank so far, she's listed with her sisters in the 1939 Minority Census in Hannover. 

• Albert Maass — b. 2 Sep 1876, Königsberg; d. 4 Apr 1911, Charlottenburg-Berlin; parents listed as Adolf & Hulda → stitches Königsberg to Berlin and confirms the parents.

• Gertrud Maass — b. Jul 1883, d. 12 Jun 1887, Königsberg → another child in the same household timeframe.

• Toni Maass — b. 12 Jun 1885, Königsberg → independently matches the marriage birthplace.

Why it matters: The Königsberg cluster proves this isn’t a lone bride wandering into Berlin; it’s a family migration with consistent parent names, repeated locales, and a witness whose age, name, and birthplace lock in. That cohesion upgrades “plausible” to probable for Johanna-as-sister and cements the Adolf + Hulda household. This creates a sturdy family cluster that marches to Berlin by the 1910s. Once you can move a family unit through space and time, you’re not guessing—you’re reconstructing. 

Receipts:

• 1885 birth of Toni MAASS in Königsberg to Adolf and Hulda
• 1876 birth of Albert MAASS in Königsberg son of Adolf and Hulda
• 1887 death of Gertrud MAASS in Königsberg

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Clue 6 — Hulda’s Death  

(Expanding the “other” side, because we’re completists)

18 May 1914, Berlin: Hulda (Rosenheim) Maass dies. Her death record kindly overachieves: it names her parents, Abraham Rosenheim & Lina Cohn, and gives Hulda’s birthplace: Stettin, Prussia.

Why it matters (even if we’re laser-focused on MAASS):

• Full mother ID: Confirms the parent set for the Königsberg/Berlin children (Johanna, Albert, Toni, Gertrud, etc.).

• Cousin pipeline unlocked: Launches the Rosenheim/Cohn line out of Stettin (Szczecin) → new branches, records, and potential living cousins.

• Migration arc corroborated: Stettin → Königsberg → Berlin fits cleanly with the children’s events and later Berlin records.

• Address sanity check bonus: Hulda’s 1914 address (Gipsstraße 25/26, Mitte) isn’t the same as Adolf’s 1920 address (Grunewaldstraße 2, Schöneberg). If they had matched, that would’ve been chef’s-kiss confirmation—always look for that. But different addresses here aren’t a red flag; they read like widower-era logistics (health, family support, new lease). Same city, same family, perfectly normal late-life move.

Receipts:

• 1914 death of Hulda ROSENHEIM Maass in Berlin (parents: Abraham Rosenheim & Lina Cohn; birthplace: Stettin, Prussia)
  
  

  
  
  

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Clue 7 — The History You Wish You Didn’t Need

Front and center is the 17 May 1939 German census (Volks-, Berufs- und Betriebszählung): a bureaucratic snapshot that is both genealogical gold and a historical gut-punch.

Blessing: it pins people to exact places with institutional detail.

Curse: it was built to identify Jews for persecution and deportation.
For the Maass family, it reveals that the three Maass sisters from Königsberg were all in/into Hannover—a single-city convergence that sets the stage for what followed.

• Toni (Maass) Glücksmann (1885–1941)
  Born: 12 Jun 1885, Königsberg (Pr.) · 1939: M.-J.-Heinemann-Stiftung, Brabeckstr. 86, Hannover · 15 Dec 1941: deported Hannover → Riga Ghetto.

• Luise Maass (1875–1943)
  Born: 17 May 1875, Königsberg (Pr.) · 1939: registered; address trail includes Hochwildpfad 20, Berlin-Zehlendorf, then tied to Hannover · 15 Dec 1941: deported Hannover → Riga; died as a result of Nazi persecution (before 8 May 1945).

• Johanna Maass (1873–1940)
  Born: 25 Aug 1873, Königsberg (Pr.) · Seen earlier Berlin (Tiergarten), later Hannover · Died: 5 Dec 1940, Hannover—months before the Riga transport.

Why it matters

• The 1939 lists function like a grim census: they anchor identities and addresses, proving continuity Königsberg → Berlin → Hannover.

• Hannover becomes your research hub: target Judenhaus rosters, transport lists, Arolsen Archives files, restitution claims, and municipal records.

• In the tree, these records explain abrupt branch endings (1940–45) while also pointing to survivor pathways—e.g., Hanna, Toni’s daughter, who escaped to England.

Receipts:

• 1941 deportation of Luise MAASS from Hannover - mappingthelives.com

• 1941 deportation of Toni MAASS Glücksmann from Hannover - mappingthelives.com

• 1940 death of Johanna MAASS in Hannover - mappingthelives.com

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Clue 8 — The Grandchild Who Proves the Paper Trail Breathes

Hanna, born in Berlin on 11 Nov 1920—after Adolf’s death—escapes to England, marries, and has a son Daniel who is alive today.

Welcome, Daniel—newly connected cousin via the Maass line! (And yes, my name is Daniel too. Is that a clue? Absolutely not. Coincidences happen. Fun ones.)

Why it matters: 

This is the payoff: from an 1843 Prussian birth to a living, breathing descendant. That “grandfather” in the 30 Sep 1920 obituary wasn’t just sentiment—it was foreshadowing, nudging us to look for grandchildren beyond the one born weeks later. And as with all good mysteries, a found cousin usually means there are more leads still waiting.

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How the Puzzle Locks Together

1. Anchor points: Birth (1843 Märkisch Friedland) ↔ Death (1920 Berlin) with matching birthplace.

2. Bridge records: A 1919 marriage showing father Adolf living in Berlin.

3. Family clustering: Königsberg events (children’s births/deaths; wife’s identity) knitting the household.

4. Newspaper corroboration: “Grandfather” forces a search for additional offspring/grandchildren.

5. Historical context: 1930s–40s events explain dislocations and movements.

Put bluntly: if three independent sources repeat the same facts (names, dates, places), you’re not chasing coincidence—you’re documenting a person.

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Pro Tips (steal these)

• Search spelling variations of German names:

• ß ↔ ss: Maaß/Maass
• Umlauts: ä/ae, ö/oe, ü/ue (Müller/Mueller)
• Vowel/cons. swaps: ei/ey/ai (Meier/Meyer/Maier/Mayer)
• C/K, F/Ph, Th/T: (Carl/Karl, Philipp/Filipp, Thal/Tal)
• Given-name variants: Adolf/Adolph, Karl/Carl, Johann/Johannes
• Other toggles: add/remove von/vom/van, middle initials, hyphens, Anglicizations

• Follow the in-laws: Spouses and witnesses (like Toni’s husband, “Dr. Johanna Maass”) stabilize timelines and reveal hidden siblings.

• Let newspapers do the talking: Family notices name relationships you won’t get in bare civil entries (e.g., “grandfather” = hunt for earlier grandkids).

• Map the moves: Track people place→place→place (Märkisch Friedland → Königsberg → Berlin). When locales line up, identities lock in.

• Do the date math: Ages like “77” should reconcile to exact spans (here: 77y 2m 20d). When math sings, identity’s strong.

• Treat contradictions as treasure maps: If a “grandfather” dies before a known birth, you’re missing another grandchild (or record). Go find it.

• Context is a source: For 1930s–40s Europe, pivot to 1939 census, Judenhaus lists, transport rosters, Arolsen, Yad Vashem, naturalizations.

• Addresses are clues, not commandments: Matching addresses = chef’s-kiss confirmation; different ones can still fit life events (widowhood, illness, leases).

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TLDR — The Maass Cousin Connection

Adolph Maaß, born 5 Jul 1843 in Märkisch Friedland to Moses Maaß and Johanna Orbach, married Hulda Rosenheim (of Stettin) and raised children in Königsberg (Johanna 1873, Luise 1875, Albert 1876, Gertrud 1883–87, Toni 1885). By 1 Sep 1919 he’s documented living in Berlin via Toni’s marriage; he dies 25 Sep 1920 in Schöneberg-Berlin, age 77 (exactly 77y 2m 20d), with the death record repeating his 1843 Märkisch Friedland birth. A 30 Sep 1920 Berliner Tageblatt notice calls him father and grandfather, which leads to granddaughter Hanna (b. 11 Nov 1920, Berlin) who later escaped to England, married, and had Daniel—cleanly connecting the 1843 Prussian birth to a living 21st-century line.

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Closing Thought

Genealogy isn’t built by lightning-bolt revelations—it’s built by inferring facts from clues, then using those inferences to grab a toehold and find more records once you know where to look. Your ancestors absolutely left you a trail—written in 19th-century ink, in three spellings, across four jurisdictions, and then dropped during a regime change. That’s fine. We have coffee, scanners, and a healthy disrespect for dead ends. Keep stacking clue → inference → record → confirmation until the story can only be true.

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The German Forger: The Story of Berthold Bodenheimer in Australia

The following expanded details in newspaper style writing are my first attempt at historical fiction based on true events and facts. I just today uncovered a man who was arrested in Australia in 1880 who shares my last name. I haven't figured out exactly how he fits into the family tree yet, but he's certainly the first criminal mug shot photo that I've run into so far. And so I've caught my first criminal, and to mark the occasion, I'm going to enjoy what follows!

FIRST SUBMARINE TELEGRAPH CABLE LAID BETWEEN AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND

SYDNEY, 12 November 1876 - Yesterday marked an important milestone in the history of communication between our two great nations. The laying of the first submarine telegraph cable between Australia and New Zealand has been successfully completed after months of hard work and perseverance.

The telegraph cable, measuring a total of 1,861 nautical miles, was laid between Sydney and Auckland, and marks a significant improvement in communication between the two countries. Previously, messages had to be transmitted by ship, which could take weeks.

The project was spearheaded by the Australian and New Zealand Telegraph Company, and involved the laying of cable by the cable ship Hibernia, which left Sydney on July 8th and has been working on the project ever since.

The cable is expected to provide a reliable and fast communication link between the two countries, with messages now able to be transmitted in a matter of hours. It is hoped that this will facilitate trade and commerce between the two countries, as well as improving social and political ties.

The laying of this cable is a testament to the great strides being made in the field of telecommunications, and we can only imagine what future advancements will be made in the years to come.

Reminder, this is historical fiction from these facts: 

Australian Town and Country Journal, 12 Feb 1876

JOHN ELDER ARRIVES, BRINGING NEW HOPE AND GOODS TO AUSTRALIA

SYDNEY, 18 March 1879 - The British passenger ship, John Elder, arrived in Sydney Harbor on Tuesday afternoon, March 18th, 1879, to the cheers of crowds gathered to welcome the ship's passengers and crew. The vessel, commanded by Captain A.J. Cooper, had left Plymouth on January 30th and made several stops on the way, including Gibraltar, Port Said and Diego Garcia, before finally reaching Australia at port Adelaide.

The ship's journey was a testament to the incredible advancements in technology and transportation that are transforming the world at this time, keeping in constant contact and relaying news via telegraph and going via the Orient route through the Suez Canal.

The John Elder carried a wide range of goods and supplies, including textiles, newsprint, and other items. Among the passengers on board was Berthold Bodenheimer, a young German clerk who had traveled to Australia in search of a new life.

Despite the long journey, passengers and crew members alike were in high spirits, eager to start their new lives in this exciting new land. The arrival of the ship marks an important moment in the country's history, as it will help to shape the culture and character of Australia in the years to come.

Reminder, this is historical fiction from these facts: 

1882 story detailing a similar voyage of the John Elder

GERMAN COMMISSIONER ROBBED, THIEF AT LARGE

SYDNEY, 5 February 1880 - A daring robbery has been reported to the police by the German Commissioner, Eugene Kunze, of No. 221 Macquarie Street. The theft occurred on 28th January 1880, when a certain Mr. Berthold Bodenheimer, a recently arrived Jewish-German, allegedly stole a New South Wales Post Office Savings Bank Book and a receipt for £29, as well as three £5 notes, five £1 notes, and £8 in gold from Mr. Kunze.

The suspect, who is believed to have fled to New Zealand, is described as 20 years of age, 5 feet 6 inches tall, with a medium build, dark complexion, short dark hair, and a small dark mustache. He speaks both German and English and was last seen wearing a gray tweed suit and a gray mushroom hat.

The police have issued a warrant for Bodenheimer's arrest, and the Water Police Bench is seeking the public's help in locating him. Anyone with information about his whereabouts is urged to come forward and assist the authorities in apprehending the culprit.

Reminder, this is historical fiction from these facts: 

New South Wales, Australia, Police Gazettes, 1854-1930

New South Wales, Australia, Police Gazettes, 1854-1930

CAUGHT BY TECHNOLOGY, TELEGRAPH TIP-OFF LEADS TO ARREST

AUCKLAND, 4 March 1880 - The alleged perpetrator of a daring robbery in Sydney has been apprehended in Auckland, New Zealand. Mr. Berthold Bodenheimer, a recently arrived Jewish-German who is accused of stealing a Post Office Savings Bank Book and cash worth £29 from German Commissioner Eugene Kunze, was arrested by the local police on 2 March 1880.

Bodenheimer, who had fled Australia aboard the steamship "Arawata" bound for San Francisco, was tracked down by the Auckland police thanks to a telegraph tip-off from their Australian counterparts. The suspect, who speaks both German and English, was taken into custody without incident and is now awaiting extradition to Sydney to face trial for his alleged crimes.

The Auckland police have commended their Australian counterparts for their swift and effective communication in alerting them to the suspect and ensuring that justice is served. 

Detective John Boyland, the head of the NSW Police investigation into the robbery, expressed astonishment at the power of modern technology, stating, "It's truly incredible to think that if Bodenheimer had committed this crime just four years ago, he would have successfully evaded capture." Noting that the recently laid telegraph line between New South Wales and New Zealand in 1876 played a key role in apprehending the suspect.

Reminder, this is historical fiction from these facts: 

New South Wales, Australia, Police Gazettes, 1854-1930

BODENHEIMER IN NSW POLICE CUSTODY AFTER FLIGHT FROM JUSTICE

SYDNEY, 9 March 1880 - Berthold Bodenheimer, the suspect in the recent daring robbery, was taken into custody today by New South Wales Police Detective John Boyland. After weeks of investigation, Detective Boyland led a team of police officers to arrest Bodenheimer aboard the SS Hero at Circular Quay. The suspect had been detained in Auckland, New Zealand, on charges of fraud, and was being transferred back to Sydney to face charges of robbery.

Bodenheimer was escorted by the Auckland Police to the ship's dock where Detective Boyland and his team took him into custody. The exchange was brief, and Bodenheimer was taken to Gaol Darlinghurst, where he will be held until his trial on April 5th.

Detective Boyland, who led the investigation into the robbery, expressed satisfaction in capturing the suspect, stating, "The reach of modern technology knows no bounds, and it was the telegraph that led to Bodenheimer's undoing. Thanks to the newly laid submarine cable between New Zealand and Australia, we were able to alert our colleagues in Auckland and apprehend the suspect before he could flee the country. This is a clear example of the power of technology in the fight against crime."

Bodenheimer, who has been described by police as a clever and resourceful criminal, is expected to face a lengthy sentence if found guilty. The trial is set to begin on April 5th, and the people of Sydney will be closely following the proceedings.

Reminder, this is historical fiction from these facts: 

New South Wales, Australia, Unassisted Immigrant Passenger Lists, 1826-1922

New South Wales, Australia, Gaol Description and Entrance Books, 1818-1930

FOUND GUILTY ON ALL COUNTS AT TRIAL TODAY

SYDNEY 5 April 1880 - The trial of Berthold Bodenheimer, a Jewish-German who was charged with three counts of forgery and one count of larceny, was held today at the Quarter Sessions Court in Sydney. Bodenheimer had pleaded guilty to all charges.

The charges related to the theft of a New South Wales Post Office Savings Bank book and £29 cash from the German Commissioner, Eugene Kunze, in January of this year. Bodenheimer was accused of altering and uttering three cheques with the intent to defraud, as well as stealing the bank book, receipt, and cash items.

During the trial, it was revealed that Bodenheimer had stolen the bank book in order to write forged cheques from it, using a stolen receipt as a guide to copying Mr. Kunze’s signature and handwriting. The police were able to track him down in New Zealand, where he was arrested and extradited back to Australia to stand trial.

Despite his English proficiency, Berthold Bodenheimer had an interpreter, Walter Schlentke, present during his trial to ensure that he fully understood the complexities of the legal proceedings and nuances of the trial.

At the sentencing hearing, the judge noted that Bodenheimer had only pleaded guilty to the charges to avoid a more severe punishment. He was sentenced to three years imprisonment with hard labor for each of the forgery charges and 12 months for the larceny charge, to be served concurrently.

The judge stated that the severity of the sentence was necessary to send a clear message to others who might consider similar actions. He also expressed hope that Bodenheimer would use his time in prison to reflect on his choices and make amends for his wrongdoing.

Bodenheimer was led away in handcuffs following the sentencing and is expected to serve out his sentence at Gaol Darlinghurst.

Reminder, this is historical fiction from these facts: 

New South Wales, Australia, Criminal Court Records, 1830-1945

IMPROVED LIVING CONDITIONS FOR INMATE 

SYDNEY, 6 May 1880 - Berthold Bodenheimer, the accused perpetrator of a daring robbery who has been serving time at Gaol Darlinghurst, has been transferred to Gaol Parramatta. Bodenheimer had been held at Darlinghurst since March 9th, going through his trial and sentencing. He had been subjected to hard labour as part of his sentence, which is no longer a part of his confinement after the transfer. The conditions at Parramatta are considered to be better than those at Darlinghurst, and Bodenheimer is expected to receive more lenient treatment from the guards. His legal team is hopeful that his remittance could be expedited under the improved conditions.

The story of Bodenheimer's daring theft and subsequent capture has captured the attention of many in Sydney and beyond. Some have expressed sympathy for the young German clerk, while others have praised the swift actions of the police in bringing him to justice. Regardless of one's opinion on the matter, there is no denying that Bodenheimer's story is one that will be remembered for years to come.

Reminder, this is historical fiction from these facts: 

New South Wales, Australia, Gaol Description and Entrance Books, 1818-1930

FORGER'S RELEASE MARKS NEW BEGINNING

SYDNEY, 6 July 1881 - After serving a sentence of more than a year at Parramatta Gaol, Berthold Bodenheimer was released from custody today. Bodenheimer, a German national, was arrested and charged with forgery and larceny in March 1880. He was found guilty on all counts and sentenced to three years hard labor for each charge of forgery, and 12 months for the charge of larceny. All four sentences were to be carried out concurrently.

Bodenheimer's case drew considerable attention due to the audacious nature of the crimes he committed. He had fraudulently altered and uttered three cheques with the intent to defraud, and had stolen the bank book, receipt, and cash items. He had stolen the bank book in order to write forged cheques from it, using a stolen receipt as a guide to copying Mr. Kunze's signature and handwriting.

Despite his sentence, Bodenheimer has expressed regret for his actions and a desire to start anew. In a statement to the press upon his release, he said, "I have learned from my mistakes and I am grateful for the opportunity to make amends. My time in prison has given me a chance to reflect on my actions and make a plan for my future. I hope to prove myself a worthy man and build a new life for myself. I plan to work hard and save money, so that one day I can return to Germany and start a family. I will do everything in my power to ensure that I never again find myself on the wrong side of the law."

Bodenheimer's release marks the end of a chapter in his life and the beginning of a new one. It remains to be seen whether he will be able to turn his life around and make a fresh start, but he is determined to try. For now, he is just happy to be out of prison and eager to begin the next chapter of his life.

Reminder, this is historical fiction from these facts: 

New South Wales, Australia, Police Gazettes, 1854-1930

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Francis Wolff, Blue Note Jazz Photographer and Cousin

Many years ago I tracked down a 2nd cousin of my Father's who is related via the WOLFF family of Berlin and Posen.  He had some amazing photos to share, and he asked if we were somehow related to the famous Francis Wolff, one of the original founders of Blue Note records and the photographer who took all those iconic black and white portraits of the New York Jazz age.  

Well, I have to admit I had no idea, and at the time I didn't find anything to connect us. So, I dropped it. For the time being.  

The Wolff Family

My 2nd great grandfather Emanuel Wolff was in the petroleum business with his brother Gustav in Berlin.  They were close. In fact, the two Wolff brothers from Posen married two Wolff sisters from Schroda (not related). They both had four children, and their signatures are witnesses to the marriages as the next generation came of age in Berlin. 

Brothers WOLFF married Sisters WOLFF

Because of the double marriage, my great grandmother Marie was a double-cousin of Gustav's children. So, they're special to me (especially with DNA testing), and I was reviewing their tree to see if any descendants are still alive. 

Pro Tip: Review your family tree from time to time as new records are bound to pop-up. 

Well, good news and bad news. The good news is during the review I found that Gustav had four children: three sons and a daughter.  I previously only had evidence of his sons Paul and Georg, who were both murdered in the Holocaust. The newly discovered son, Kurt was never married and died in 1914. And, his daughter Esther died in 1907 at the age of 30.

Sadly, I didn't have any record of any grandchildren in my tree.  

Following my new lead on Gustav's daughter, I found that she had been married, and had two children! Esther had married Siegfried KLEMPNER in 1896 and had a daughter Grete in 1897 and a son Hans in 1898. There were indeed grandchildren. As Ether was a 1st cousin of my great grandmother, that makes Grete and Hans 2nd cousins of my grandmother! That was great news for about ten minutes until I found that both had also perished in the Holocaust.  

However, there will still a faint glimmer of light.  Grete had married in 1920 to Berthold BLUMENTHAL. She could have had children, and in fact the Nazi census of 1939 showed a son Werner Heinz Blumenthal, aged 12 living with his father. It also said he was deported to Auschwitz and murdered in April 1943. 

Horrible. And sadly this happens to me all the time. I find relatives that are born between 1885 and 1930 in Germany, and for a short time all is well. There is hope. There is life. That is until I search the Holocaust databases for their names. Just plain horrible. 

So, with all the new data I had put into Geni, they have me a MyHeritage hint. There was a Blumenthal family tree on MyHeritage that strongly indicated there was living Blumenthal family in Australia of all places. The match was on Berthold and Grete, and showed another, older son that survived! 

Kurt Wolfgang BLUMENTHAL was born in Berlin on 4 May 1921, and was 17 years old on 17 Feb 1939 when he shipped out from England to Hong Kong. His parents had sent him ahead to England, ultimately bound for Australia, with plans to follow with his younger brother. They did not make it.  He did.  I can't even imagine. 

However, it did mean my father's 3rd cousin survived. He was married in Australia in 1951, had three children (my 4th cousins), and lived to the age of 76. 

It's All About The Photos

So, that's great. I thought this was a story about Francis Wolff. You know, one of the leading jazz photographers of all time?

Okay, so we're slowly getting to him. I haven't forgotten about him. However, this is exactly how family history research goes.  You pull one thread and end up somewhere you didn't expect, so allow me to continue pulling the thread.  

For me, much of the joy of researching my family revolves around photographs.  Finding 2nd or 3rd cousins with amazing photos, and then sharing our finds together in an ever-growing reunion. 

And in this case, when I contacted my "new" Australian cousins they didn't disappoint.   Kurt had managed to carry with him at least one photo album, and those photos are priceless.  There was a photo of Gustav's wife Minna -- the sister of my 2nd great grandmother Hedwig.  They were definitely sisters; the family resemblance was remarkable.  I then was able to share back with them a photo of Gustav and Gustav's parents!  That's what it is all about.  They also had photos of Esther and her husband Siegfried, likely the only way I would have ever found a photo of them. They also had photos of Esther's brother Paul... good old uncle Paul.  

However, there was a problem. No photos of Kurt or Georg.    That seemed strange to me, so I went back to the tree to see if I could find more information about them. Did I have it wrong.   And, no I didn't.  I found Kurt's 1914 death certificate, and it's a match. And, since Kurt died young, perhaps there weren't many photos of him in the first place.  That left Georg...  What's up with him.  Well, I found him too. I found his 2 Jan 1906 marriage in Berlin to Doris JOACHIMCZYK.  His parents match, and his brother Paul signed page 2 as a witness. 

1906 marriage of Georg Wolff in Berlin

On top of that, I also found his 14 Sep 1881 birth certificate in the Berlin archives on Ancestry. And, there was a hint.  Ancestry is good like that... Hints!  

The hint was in the Berlin, Germany, Births, 1874-1908 collection, and it was for a son named Jacob Franz Wolff, born 5 April 1907 in Berlin.  

1907 birth of Jacob Franz Wolff in Berlin

Now what's interesting, is that both the 1906 marriage and the 1907 birth didn't show up the first time I searched around this area many years ago.  Germany has a law that birth records over 110 years old are public, so the 1907 births were not released until 2017, and then there was a lag as they were indexed and finally uploaded onto Ancestry.  

Pro Tip: As time marches on, collections get updated with newly released information. 

Jacob Franz Wolff

Well, that was another great find. Another new 2nd cousin for my grandmother. 

However, I wasn't getting my hopes up due to the Nazi-era notes on the birth certificate's margin.  Sadly, I've seen these notes before, and they generally are bad news. On 17 August 1938 the Nazis passed a law that all male Jews had to adopt the middle name of "Israel" and all women had to add "Sara", and on 8 May 1939, a clerk in Berlin found Jacob's birth certificate and stamped it to add the name Israel.  Now, this was one of the ways the Nazis found all the Jews to be deported. Paperwork.  Now, what was nice to see on this one was that on 4 Sept 1950 there is a stamp undoing the illegal (by then) name change. Did he survive?  How come I've never heard of him before? 

Ancestry gave me a few more hints once I'd added him to the tree, and I found that he had arrived in New York City aboard the SS Albert Ballin on 3 May 1926 and applied for US Citizenship on 20 Oct 1926.  Then gone back to Germany, and then back to New York again in 1939.

He was going by his middle name of Franz, which is a common German name convention.  And, there were a lot more suggested records with the name Francis Wolff with the same 1907 birth date.  Looking closer at the addresses and other details, it was clear that he had moved to New York and changed his name to Francis Wolff. 

So, I googled him... Francis Wolff, 1907.  And, uh... whoa!

Francis Wolff - Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Francis_Wolff

Francis Wolff (April 5, 1907 – March 8, 1971) was a record company executive, photographer and record producer. Wolff's skills, as an executive and a ... 

 

Francis Wolff - MoMA

https://www.moma.org › Artists

American, 1907–1971. ... Works. 1 work online. Reid Miles, Francis Wolff, Blue Note Records. Album cover for Freddie Hubbard, Hub-Tones. 1962. Exhibition.

Francis Wolff - Jazz Images

https://jazzimagesrecords.com › content › 7-francis-wolff

One of the most renowned jazz photographers of all time, Francis Wolff (1907-1971) was essential to the success of the Blue Note record label.

Uh, really? 

Francis Wolff and Blue Note Records

Ah, that Francis Wolff! The man who lived life behind the lens and the records. Born in Berlin with a love of culture and the arts, he learned photography at a young age and soon became a pro. Then, he met his soulmate in jazz - Alfred Lion - and they tried their hand at selling jewelry, but the music called and they ended up co-founding the legendary Blue Note Records.

Frank was the shy one in the duo, content to be in the background and let Alfred take the spotlight. But little did everyone know, Frank was a master photographer, capturing iconic moments of jazz history with his trusty Rolleiflex camera. He was the silent partner who made sure the business was running smoothly, but he also brought his camera to every recording session for 28 years.

As the record company grew, Frank's photography became an essential component of the Blue Note look, with his heavily cropped and tinted images gracing the covers of their albums. And in the 1950s, when Rudy Van Gelder opened his custom-built studio, Frank had the space to really showcase his talents. The photographs he took there are now regarded as masterpieces, capturing the candid moments of jazz greats in the intimate setting of Rudy's living room-turned-studio.

In short, Francis Wolff was the photographer who always stayed in the background but left a lasting impact through his lens.

The Updated Family Tree

A family tree of Francis Wolff's close family presented in a straightforward manner.

Resources

There are several resources that you can use to learn more about Blue Note Records:

1. Books:

   • "Blue Note: The Album Cover Art" by Graham Marsh and Glyn Callingham
   • "Blue Note Records: The Biography" by Richard Cook and Brian Morton
   • "The Blue Note Years: The Jazz Photography of Francis Wolff" by Michael Cuscuna

2. Videos:

   • "A Great Day in Harlem" (1994) is a documentary film about the famous photograph of jazz musicians taken in 1958
   • "Blue Note Records: Beyond the Notes" (2019) is a feature-length documentary about the history of Blue Note Records.
   • "Blue Note: A Story of Modern Jazz" (2008) documentary chronicling the history and influence of the iconic jazz record label, Blue Note Records.
   • "It Must Schwing" (2018) explores the swing era of jazz music in the 1930s and 1940s.

3. Online Articles:

   • "Blue Note Records: The Jazz Label That Changed the Game" by David Wetmore, published on the website "All About Jazz"
   • "Blue Note: The Most Influential Jazz Label of All Time" by Michael J. West, published on the website "The Jazz Line"

4. Online courses:

   • "Jazz Appreciation: Blue Note Records" on Coursera, taught by Dr. Billy Taylor.

These resources should provide you with a comprehensive understanding of the history, legacy, and impact of Blue Note Records on the jazz world.

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