CHAMPION THE ARTS PROMOTE PEACE PRESERVE HISTORY
Honoring the von Trapp
and Whitehead Heritage
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Georg & Agathe FOUNDATION
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Photo: © Georg & Agathe Foundation
Our Beginnings & Leadership
Building a foundation
to last for generations
Descendants
The Georg & Agathe Foundation was founded by mother and daughter, Johanna II von Trapp and Shela Gobertina von Trapp, granddaughter and great-granddaughter to Baron Captain Georg von Trapp and Agathe Gobertina Whitehead. Ambassadors to the legacy, as living descendants, they lead the foundation's efforts to champion the arts, promote peace, and preserve history.
Johanna II and Shela's journey from mere interest in family history to today's real passion to share their family's legacies, all began with a simple project by Johanna II. Several years ago she set out to collect stories about her mother, Baroness Johanna von Trapp (Georg and Agathe's fourth daughter), to preserve her story and share it with the next generation. Inspired by her 'Mutti Stories' project ('Mutti' meaning 'Mom' in Austrian), both Johanna II and Shela discovered many unknown generations on their family tree. The experience was so enriching they wanted to honor their family's memory and heritage for their profound examples of humanity, artistic talent, and generosity-of-spirit.
The foundation is dedicated to all related family branches and descendants, living and future so that they can forever know their roots. Our hope, through their stories, is to inspire others to discover more about culture and history, incorporate the arts into their lives, make a difference in their communities, and research their own heritage
Photo: Extended family at Schloss Grafenegg, Austria, 1913, Courtesy of von Trapp family
Historical Legacies
The Georg & Agathe Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to honoring the multi-generational legacy of Baron Captain Georg von Trapp and Agathe Gobertina Whitehead.
Our work preserves the historic contributions of Georg and Agathe’s extended families in music, art, innovation, humanitarianism, and internationalism, as well as their enduring wish for peace.
Georg was one of the most decorated Austro-Hungarian naval officers, a submarine pioneer, and World War I hero. His family tree includes military officers, pioneering doctors, engineers, adventurers, and artists.
Agathe was a loving mother, dedicated naval wife, and daughter and granddaughter of British engineers, Calaviere (Knight) John Whitehead and Robert Whitehead—inventor of the torpedo. Her family tree includes ancient European nobility, freedom fighters, engineers, inventors, artists, poets, and composers.
Georg and Agathe were also each accomplished musicians, contributing to their children's years of musical foundation which helped them succeed as internationally acclaimed musicians, later in life performing over 2,000 concerts. Furthermore, their seven children were portrayed as the von Trapp children in the musical and film, The Sound of Music.
Photo: © Courtesy of von Trapp family
ABOUT: Beginnings and Leadership
Captain Georg von Trapp and
Agathe Gobertina Whitehead
Circa 1910, Zell am See, Austro-Hungarian Empire
Founders, Shela Gobertina von Trapp
and Johanna II von Trapp
Georg and Agathes' children
1921, Austria
We are a female-led, multi-generational, Dutch nonprofit, with a presence in Europe and the United States.
FREE: Updates and history trivia
Roots
Photo: © Georg & Agathe Foundation
Purpose
Continuing a Legacy...
'Of those who embraced and gave of themselves as a matter of course.' –Johanna II von Trapp
Honoring Heritage to Leave a Lasting Legacy
Our hope is to spread some goodness in memory of Georg and Agathe's kindness and integrity to leave a lasting legacy that honors the family's heritage.
Our mission is to champion the arts, promote peace, and preserve history. We focus on having an impact by raising awareness of the importance of music and art in our lives, encouraging solutions towards peace, and highlighting 'that which is not remembered is lost'.
Find out more about our projects.