Bernhard Baruch Mahler

Dear Adam,

Cate Patrick has sent you a message:

Re: M. Frank, Alleged Wife of Bernhard Mahler and Step-Mother of Gustav Mahler Managers of Marie Frank's file on Genie

Dear Mr. Brown:

I am contacting you about the Marie Frank file, posted as private on Genie and as referenced above. Do you believe that it is a valid part of the genealogy of the renowned composer, Gustav Mahler? I do not. I'd more than happily stand corrected, however, if you are in possession of legitimate sources which document a marriage between Bernhard Mahler and one "Marie Frank". The two were allegedly husband and wife, although I frankly question the validity of that notion (no pun intended).

I have, for several years, engaged in extensive research on Gustav Mahler, and having read more than 140 volumes on his life and correspondence, I have never encountered, anywhere (other than on Genie) even the slightest indicator that Bernhard Mahler was married more than once. Further, no extant data seems to document a source on the Bernard Mahler Genie file, in which it is claimed that he married one "Marie Frank", as well as "Marie Herrmann", the composer's mother.

The Mahler family's substantial correspondence -- dated right up to Bernhard Mahler's death (from diabetes complications on 18 February 1889) before Gustav's mother, Marie (nee Herrmann) died the following 11th of October, presents not even so much as a hint of Mahler's father's marriage to anyone other than to Marie (nee Herrmann) Mahler.

Additionally, I am in touch with several of Gustav Mahler's descendants, none of whom seem to be aware of more than one marriage for Bernhard. Nor does the Mahler family's public genealogy page on the Web (aside from the Genie records) bear out an accurate source to the alleged additional marriage.

Coincidentally, however, when Alma Maria Shindler Mahler Gropius Werfel published her first book after the composer's death, she made two rather blatant errors, publishing them, apparently from her own diary. First, she mentions Gustav's being one of "twelve" children (he was one of fourteen); she further wrote that the composer's mother's name (her own late mother-in-law) was "Marie Frank". Might this be the problem? I believe, in all honesty, that it is.

Now any Mahler scholar, with whom I've communicated, is well aware of the "less than sterling" reputation for accuracy that is publicly attached to the former and late Mrs. Mahler. That point, as you may know, is widely discussed; albeit, I was utterly taken aback, when I read of such blatant errors from the woman to whom Gustav Mahler was married.

Fact is: Marie (nee Herrmann) Mahler (the composer's mother) had a younger sibling, Anna (nee Herrmann) Frank, whose records are posted on Genie and who was born c. 8 August 1838. She married Ignac Frank, born 31 January 1831; and the couple had a son, Gustav Frank, (born c. 1859). The latter was the first cousin of Gustav Mahler, with whom, at approximately age 12, his photograph can be viewed here:

Gustav Frank

If, sir, you are aware of a reliable source which documents more than one marriage for Bernhard Mahler, I'd very much appreciate your sharing it. Otherwise, I would recommend that the file of "Marie (nee Frank) Mahler" be deleted from the Genie system, as having insufficiently documented and apparently fabricated ties to the files of both Bernhard Mahler and Gustav Mahler. A fair number of Mahler's descendants and I feel certain that this unfortunate falsification can be laid squarely at the historically unreliable Alma Maria Shindler Mahler Gropius Werfel's door step. Your consideration and appropriate action is therefore kindly requested.

With sincere gratitude and kindest regards,

Cate Patrick, Ph.D.