Geddes Family Genealogy & History

Barbara Bel Geddes, an acclaimed American actress, had a prolific career spanning nearly five decades in theater and film. Renowned for her role as Miss Ellie Ewing in the iconic television series Dallas, she also earned acclaim on Broadway, notably as Maggie in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Her film credits include I Remember Mama and Vertigo, showcasing her versatility. Barbara's talent was recognized with several awards, including an Emmy for Dallas and two Tony Award nominations, affirming her impact in both Hollywood and theater.

Born on October 31, 1922, in New York City, Barbara Bel Geddes was the daughter of Helen Belle (née Schneider) and Norman Bel Geddes, a renowned stage and industrial designer. She married Carl Sawyer, with whom she had a daughter, Susan, and later married Windsor Lewis, with whom she had another daughter, Betsy.

Anne Elizabeth Geddes, an Australian-born photographer based in New York City, is renowned for her captivating portraits of infants. Her work, characterized by elaborate staging and unique props, has been published in 83 countries, selling over 18 million books and 13 million calendars. Noteworthy achievements include her debut book, "Down in the Garden," appearing on the New York Times bestseller list and being featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show. Geddes has also contributed to philanthropic causes, including raising awareness for child abuse and meningococcal disease through her Geddes Philanthropic Trust.

Sir Patrick Geddes was a renowned Scottish biologist, sociologist, and pioneering town planner, celebrated for his innovative contributions to urban planning and sociology. Known for introducing concepts like "region" in architecture and "conurbation," Geddes was a key figure in the British town planning movement. His philosophy, influenced by Comtean positivism, emphasized the interplay between geography, economics, and anthropology. Geddes' academic career included positions at Edinburgh University, University College Dundee, and the University of Bombay. He founded the Collège des Écossais in Montpellier and was knighted in 1932, recognizing his impact on social science and urban development.

Patrick Geddes was born to Janet Stevenson and Alexander Geddes in Ballater, Scotland. His father was a soldier, providing a foundational family background that facilitated his education in Aberdeenshire and at Perth Academy. Geddes married Anna Morton, with whom he had three children: Norah, Alasdair, and Arthur. Norah followed in her father's footsteps, becoming a landscape designer and contributing to Geddes's Open Spaces projects.

Norman Bel Geddes was a pioneering American theatrical and industrial designer, celebrated for his innovative contributions to Broadway, the Metropolitan Opera, and the 1939 New York World's Fair. Recognized as a "Pioneer of American Industrial Design," he helped popularize streamlining, influencing 20th-century design trends. Geddes' visionary projects included the Futurama Exhibition and the Airliner Number 4 concept. His works ranged from set designs for Broadway and film to groundbreaking industrial designs and influential publications like "Magic Motorways," which anticipated modern transportation advances. His legacy is preserved in the American Theater Hall of Fame and the Harry Ransom Center's extensive archive.

Norman Bel Geddes was born in Adrian, Michigan, to Flora Luelle (née Yingling) and Clifton Terry Geddes, a stockbroker, and was raised in New Philadelphia, Ohio. He married Helen Belle Schneider in 1916, and they combined their surnames to Bel Geddes. They had two daughters: actress Barbara Bel Geddes and writer Joan Ulanov.