By Stacy Locke, Manager of Historical Collections
Title: Genin Family Papers, 1840-1970
Extent: 1.0 Boxes
Subjects: Barnum, P. T. (Phineas Taylor), 1810-1891, Genin, J. N. (John Nicholas), 1819-1878, Genin, Thomas Hedges, 1796-1868, Genin Family
John Nicholas Genin (1819-1878) was one of the best known hatters in New York City during the mid-nineteenth century. He owned a clothing shop called Genin’s Bazaar at 513 Broadway in the St. Nicholas Hotel, as well as his hat shop at 214 Broadway in lower Manhattan. In 1848 he wrote a 60-page pamphlet called “An Illustrated History of the Hat From the Earliest Ages” published in 1848, a copy of which is on file at the Green-Wood Cemetery Archives. Other than his hats, he was best known for building a footbridge over Broadway in 1852. This enabled pedestrians to cross the busy street safely, consequently delivering them to the front door of his hat shop. In 1859, Genin was forced to close his clothing and hat shop due to high rents.
Later generations are related to the Plumer and March families by marriage. There is also a relation through marriage to the to Alberti family, credited as the first Italian immigrant to the country back in 1630. Those family descendants also go by the name of Albertus, Bertus, and Berti.
Barnum, P. T. (Phineas Taylor), 1810-1891
Genin, J. N. (John Nicholas), 1819-1878
Genin, Thomas Hedges, 1796-1868
Genin Family
