Who was Miss Amalie Henriette Gieger?

Miss Amalie Henriette Gieger was a German-born personal maid who survived the sinking of the RMS Titanic. Born in 1876, she spent much of her adult life in service to the wealthy Widener family of Pennsylvania, ultimately becoming a naturalized American citizen. Her life was marked by her experiences as a first-class passenger on the ill-fated Titanic and her subsequent survival, which shaped her later years.

Early Life and Immigration to America

Amalie Henriette Gieger was born on August 26, 1876, in Königsberg, Prussia (now Kaliningrad, Russia). While details of her early life remain largely unknown, her journey to America began at the turn of the century.

First arrival in the USA: October 30, 1900, aboard the Lucania from Liverpool
Subsequent arrivals:
- May 1903: Aboard St. Paul
- May 1905: Aboard Kronprinz Wilhelm
- September 1907: Aboard Adriatic (by this time employed by the Widener family)
- May 1909: Aboard Mauretania

These frequent transatlantic crossings hint at Amalie’s developing career in service to wealthy families who often traveled between Europe and America.

Employment with the Widener Family

By 1907, Amalie had secured a position with the prominent Widener family of Pennsylvania. The 1910 US census records her as a maid in the household of George Dunton Widener in Cheltenham, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.

Who were the Wideners?

The Wideners were a wealthy and influential American family. George Dunton Widener was a successful businessman and heir to one of the largest fortunes in America at the time. His wife, Eleanor, was a prominent socialite, and their son, Harry, was a Harvard graduate and bibliophile.

The Fateful Titanic Journey

In April 1912, Amalie accompanied the Widener family on their fateful journey aboard the RMS Titanic.

Embarkation: Cherbourg, France
Class: First Class
Ticket: Joint ticket number 113503
Ticket Cost: £211, 10s
Cabin: C130 (tentative)

Traveling on the same ticket were:

George Dunton Widener (employer)
Eleanor Widener (employer’s wife)
Harry Elkins Widener (employer’s son)
Edwin Keeping (valet)

What happened to Amalie during the Titanic disaster?

When the Titanic struck an iceberg on the night of April 14, 1912, Amalie’s quick thinking and proximity to her employers likely saved her life. She managed to escape the sinking ship in Lifeboat 4, alongside Mrs. Eleanor Widener. Tragically, the other members of their party—Mr. Widener, Harry Widener, and Edwin Keeping—were among those lost in the disaster.

Life After the Titanic

Amalie’s survival of the Titanic disaster did not mark the end of her association with the Widener family. Evidence suggests she remained in Mrs. Widener’s employ for the rest of her life.

Continued Travels

Even after the Titanic tragedy, Amalie continued to travel extensively:

October 31, 1914: Arrived in New York aboard New Amsterdam from Rotterdam
May 1922: Sailed aboard the Olympic
June 1923: Sailed aboard the Mauretania (still described as a lady’s maid)
October 1924: Sailed aboard Pancras from Brazil
September 1932: Last recorded travel aboard the Deutschland

Becoming an American Citizen

Amalie’s long residence in the United States eventually led her to seek citizenship:

Application date: January 28, 1925
Naturalization date: December 19, 1927

At the time of her application, Amalie was described as:

Height: 5'4"
Hair color: Brown
Eye color: Blue
Complexion: Fair
Weight: 128 lbs

Later Years and Legacy

In her later years, Amalie lived in Manhattan. The 1930 census shows her residing at 520 West 144th Street, with no stated profession at that time.

Amalie Henriette Gieger, who never married, passed away in Manhattan on November 14, 1933, at the age of 57 (fifty-seven). She was cremated at Garden State Crematorium in North Bergen on November 18, 1933, with her ashes entrusted to the Steven Merritt funeral home.

Amalie’s life story serves as a testament to the experiences of domestic staff in the early 20th century, the tragedy of the Titanic, and the immigrant experience in America. Her survival of one of history’s most famous maritime disasters and her subsequent life in the United States offer a unique perspective on a tumultuous period in world history.