19 Comments
User's avatar
Cynthia Boatright Raleigh's avatar

What an amazing life. I can't even imagine it. And 31 children? Blanche truly was a strong and determined woman to have survived so much over her life.

Expand full comment
Lori Olson White's avatar

Thanks, @Cynthia, I’m glad you enjoyed it. It’s a hard story and life to get my head around, for sure. On so many levels! But her resilience sure stood out.

Expand full comment
Lisa Maguire's avatar

Wow, what a story. Do you think all 33 were her natural children? I am wondering if perhaps circus people adopted kids from other performers. I imagine a household that was quite fluid. Although you write that Blanche could produce birth certificates for all of them. Perhaps she was simply named as a parent? This is a fascinating story, and leaves us asking so many questions. The cemetery in Woodside Queens has many notable people buried there, including the man who wrote "The Sidewalks of New York."

Expand full comment
Lori Olson White's avatar

I’ve found birth records for many of the children born in America and all list Blanche and Joseph as parents, plus the reusing of names would suggest they were, indeed, their children.

That said, you raise a good point. In the same way the first two sets of twins may have been brought into other circus families, it’s possible some of the 31 kids were, as well. Interesting idea.

There’s actually a Wikipedia entry for women who have birth to the most children, and although Blanche would seem to qualify, she’s not included on that list. Not surprising, as very little was known about her.

Expand full comment
Lisa Maguire's avatar

wow, that's not even a record. Sheesh.

Expand full comment
Jennifer Jones's avatar

Lori I am just catching up since being away, and was looking forward to continuing this story. This is a remarkable story of Blanche and Joseph and so many children, also so much sadness. As the mother of a child who has died, I can't imagine how Blanche was able to bear the loss of her children. Thankyou for bringing this story to us. I also loved reading about the circus history.

Expand full comment
Paul Chiddicks's avatar

What a truly extraordinary story and so many children! I wonder how many years of her life was she pregnant, what a truly strong and resilient woman.

Expand full comment
Anne’s Family History's avatar

An amazing number of children

Expand full comment
Lori Olson White's avatar

So many! And she’s not even the most “prolific” Mother haha - that goes to Valentina Vassilyeva who gave birth to 16 sets of twins, seven sets of triplets and four sets of quads for a grand total of 69 kids 🤯

Expand full comment
Anne’s Family History's avatar

Hmm "many in the medical world have doubted the possibility" of the 69 children and even that many multiple births (from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valentina_Vassilyev ) Valentina Vassilyev lived in the 1700s and no one has found records to verify.

Expand full comment
Jane Chapman's avatar

She was certainly a remarkable and resilient woman to cope with the life she had ... Perhaps not surprisingly an unfortunately short life too.

Expand full comment
Lori Olson White's avatar

It’s hard to even comprehend being pregnant or recovering from pregnancy for so many consecutive years- and what that must have done to her body and hormones! Throw in being a human cannon ball and the physical challenges of that, and then just the grief. Remarkable.

Expand full comment
Bill Moore's avatar

What a great, and heartbreaking, story!

Expand full comment
Lori Olson White's avatar

Thanks, @Bill. It was a tough one to write, as I’ve mentioned before. Balancing the heartbreak and not overwhelming the resilience Blanche exhibited was - sorry for the word choice - but a tight rope walk.

Expand full comment
Bill Moore's avatar

It was amazing to see her mental strength. Thanks for sharing her story.

Expand full comment
Mary Rolf's avatar

Unbelievable!

Expand full comment
Lori Olson White's avatar

It is quite the story! Hard to imagine, but then again, all of our family stories are filled with tragedy, loss and resilience.

Expand full comment
Marian Beaman's avatar

This is a slice of life I knew nothing about--and to think it went on during the lifetimes of my grandparents. Amazing!

Expand full comment
Lori Olson White's avatar

Good point, @Marian - it really wasn’t that long ago in family history context. As a child and young teen, I attended a number of circuses, and even visited the winter home of Ringling Brothers. After learning more about Blanche and her life, I’m combing through those memories and seeing them in a different light.

Expand full comment