Finding Your Roots This Sunday Night on PBS
Last January, I had the honor of taping a segment for the fascinating PBS program called Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr., which will be airing this Sunday evening. Being fascinated with genealogy myself, I already knew a great deal about my ancestors and I was very curious with what Professor Gates could add to that knowledge. Gates and his production team work closely with leading U.S. genealogists and ancestry experts from around the world, discovering family stories and unknown histories and relatives that the guests of this show never knew existed. The Professor found it fascinating that many of my ancestors were domestic workers and craftsmen, such as ornamental ironworkers, basket makers, seamstresses, and farmers. Others were entrepreneurs, running a butcher shop, a delicatessen, and even a saloon. It’s clear to see that my genealogy has really formed who I am today. I hope you can tune into Finding Your Roots this Sunday at 8PM. Check your local listings.
1 Here I am with Professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr, the host of the show.
2 We taped the segment in one of my photo studios at my office in the Starrett-Lehigh building in New York City last January.
3 The background was decorated with some of my favorite flowers - lovely cymbidium and lady slipper orchids and, of course, a small stack of my books.
4 The set was constructed with a false wall and windows, producing an at home-like feeling.
5 This studio space has large real windows and to soften the natural light coming in, a technician hung a large frosted panel, which acts as a diffusing scrim.
6 To help make the false windows, which were also covered with a scrim, look real, a light was placed behind to create 'sunlight.'
7 Another area of the set had a table with more orchids and neat stacks of my magazines.
8 It's interesting to see how much thought goes into styling even the simplest of sets.
9 We chose a round table with a neutral tablecloth for the interview.
10 Before Professor Gates arrived at the studio, I was in hair and makeup and the crew was making final tweaks to the set.
11 Deb Dowling, from my PR team, acted as my body double. She is tall and blonde, a perfect stand-in for me for lighting adjustments.
12 The PBS crew checked their monitors, looking for any further necessary adjustments. Good lighting is a real art.
13 When the Professor arrived, he sat in with Deb for the final lighting check and to review his materials.
14 Professor Gates is a very friendly, warm individual and he inquired about everyone's heritage.
15 After our introduction, the Professor wanted to know what type of coffee pot he should buy. He said he couldn't interview Martha Stewart and not ask for her advice on a coffee pot! I told him to purchase a Bodum French press.
16 He also told me that his daughter is getting married. He made a joke about snagging one of the wedding dresses from our prop closet. I made sure to send him home with several issues of Martha Stewart Weddings magazines for her to peruse!
17 Professor Gates, or Skip, as he likes to be called, has been interested in genealogy since he was a child. At his grandfather's funeral when he was 9-years-old, Skip was extremely curious why his grandfather was so light-skinned.
18 He began asking his parents about his family history and became hooked. He later discovered that his grandfather's heritage included Irish ancestry.
19 Before this interview, I was asked to send Skip some old family photos and information, like the names of some of my relatives and their country of origin.
20 Those photos included this one of me as a baby, taken on the shores of Lake Erie. My granddaughter, Jude, looks a lot like me in this photograph.
21 My maternal grandfather - Josef 'Joseph' Ruszkowski born 30 August 1899 in Kotun, Poland and maternal grandmother - Franciszka 'Frances; Albiniak Ruszkowski born 7 March 1890 in Janow Lubelskie, Poland
22 My paternal grandfather - Franciszek 'Frank' Kostyra born 4 October 1879 in Kopki, Poland and my paternal grandmother - Helena 'Helen' Krukar born 21 February 1890 in Zagorze, Poland
23 This family portrait with me back row center, was taken 56 years ago.
24 This was a really fun interview and I found out so many interesting facts about my family.
25 Skip presented me with this beautiful bound book that included many of his findings. He also gave me large posters of my family trees that he assembled.
26 Skip was very impressed with how much I already knew about my family history, a subject that I, too, am deeply interested in.
Watch Martha Stewart's Artisan Ancestors on PBS. See more from Finding Your Roots.
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Hi Martha,
Can't wait to watch the show on Sunday. Jude does look like you, wow, that is kool.
Karen
Posted by: Karen Tracy | May 4th, 2012 at 6:27 am
Really looking forward to watching this, Martha!
Posted by: Andrew Ritchie | May 4th, 2012 at 6:32 am
In picture #23...wow,looks like Sophie sitting there...Marthas' niece Sophie looks just like her grandmother, Mrs. Kostyra!!
Posted by: maggie chaney | May 4th, 2012 at 8:08 am
How interesting Martha that many of your ancesters were craftsmen, farmers and entrepreneurs. It's certainly in your genes! From what I have seen of baby Jude you two do look alike in picture #20, very cute!
Posted by: Cindy F | May 4th, 2012 at 8:22 am
Thanks for showing us the set up for taping this. Last year on Gates PBS program, Louise Erdrich declined DNA testing and seems she was the only one who refused. Every day, I can see my parents characteristics reflected in our family. Every good wish for your PBS shows and I am looking forward to gardening one.
Posted by: ann | May 4th, 2012 at 8:38 am
Hi Martha, Thanks for sharing another interesting, fantastic blog for all of us to enjoy learning more about your ancestors! Absolutely generous, thoughtful, and kind of you! Martha, you are such a positive, inspiring person who must have learned a lot from your ancestors! I recall seeing some of these photos and information on you original TV Shows several years ago and these photos and the video are inspiring and can't wait to see 'Finding Your Roots' Sunday on PBS at 8PM! I agree with Karen and Cindy that Jude does look like you in photo #20 and #23 is very special with your wonderful family! Have fun signing your newest book this evening and sure enjoyed you tweets from last night's event about BofA! Sure hope F&S are doing better and hope you have a great weekend! Off to check out The Daily Wag again! Thanks again for all you do for us to enjoy! Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | May 4th, 2012 at 9:56 am
Hi Martha,
Let me see, Kathy Bates in Harry’s Law, Jane Seymour on Hallmark Channel or Martha Stewart on PBS. Decisions, decisions. Just kidding – I’ll be watching! Your heritage so far is quite interesting with all the artistic and skilled people. We have learned some really interesting stuff ourselves from a second cousin who is into genealogy. We had signed onto a site online and they contacted us about someone who wanted to talk to us. That’s how we learned she was a second cousin by blood, not marriage, and then the plot really thickened! See you Sunday. Trish
Posted by: Trish | May 4th, 2012 at 10:04 am
Martha,
I'll be watching on Sunday! Thanks for sharing this blog.
Posted by: KLBrown | May 4th, 2012 at 10:47 am
This is why I miss your mom on TV...I could see the influence of her ancestors on her and on you...and together in the kitchen it was conveyed through the TV. I am a reader of Alexis' blog and am amazed at the continuity. As well Alexis is so independent minded and creative that her contribution is clearly her...and yet you can see the influence of all your ancestors. Continue to enjoy your thriving grandchildren and daughter!! I never miss Professor Gates. This is quite the season - John Lewis, Cory Booker, Kevin Bacon, and Kyra Sedgwick.
Posted by: E. Teresa Touey | May 4th, 2012 at 10:52 am
I can't wait to watch the episode! I have visited my ancestral village in northwest Poland and it was interesting to see how closely the area resembled the area in Michigan that they moved to.
Posted by: homer | May 4th, 2012 at 11:43 am
Thanks for sharing. I'll be watching on Sunday. It's a fantastic show.
Your niece Sophie looks like your paternal grandmother.
Posted by: stephanie | May 4th, 2012 at 12:40 pm
I enjoyed today's blog about your family. I am very thankful for my own personal heritage. In your earlier television episodes I always enjoyed the segments with your Mother. What a great lady!
Posted by: Judy Stamper | May 4th, 2012 at 12:45 pm
Martha,
I will be watching also. Genealogy is so very interesting. We have ours almost completed. Elvis is my cousin, another has the patent on the taffy machine and he owned a candy store called Bon Ton Cafe, another was the first woman to pass the bar, we have those who fought on both sides of the war, we have a general,a state senator, sheriff and plenty of farmers (plantation owners) to boot. You also find people who you may not want to know about..lol... We search every day. It is very exciting. Continued enjoyment and success with your family tree.
Posted by: mona c | May 4th, 2012 at 12:53 pm
Greetings from London, this sounds very interesting Martha. Would love to watch this show. Wish youna wonderful weekend.
Posted by: Rowaida Flayhan | May 4th, 2012 at 2:51 pm
Oh this was great to see Martha. We have a few things in common. My mom, also Ukrainian and her dad, my dear Grandpa and his brother were amazing basket weavers. They weaved their own suitcases when they came from the old country, and anything else they needed. So many stories on how people knew so much and learned so much because they couldn't buy anything. They grew their own flax, spun and weaved their own material of which I have a piece passed down to me. Carved their own bowls, built their own outdoor ovens out of clay. I love this segment. Thanks so much, its no wonder why you are so gifted!
Posted by: Frances | May 4th, 2012 at 3:08 pm
Love watching PBS and especially "Finding your Roots".
I'll be tuning in and anxious to learn about your family history Martha.
I agree, that baby photo of you does resemble Jude!
gail
Posted by: gail pierson | May 4th, 2012 at 4:06 pm
Thanks.
Posted by: Chalmers | May 5th, 2012 at 9:26 am
Can't Wait! I would love to do this... My mother's mother worked in an antique store and loved to cook. My mother's father was a farmer, built furniture, and could play the piano and guitar.
My father's father was an architect and my father's mother was a model that never stopped redesigning and decorating her home. My father loved to entertain people, cook, was a brilliant designer, decorator and antique collector. My mother was a beauty queen, hair stylist, still loves working in her yard (without gloves on) and is also visually creative. Well, Here I am...
Posted by: melissa | May 5th, 2012 at 12:19 pm
The show totally reflected the diversity of our America. Loved it. Plus I wanted to say how much I enjoyed seeing your Christmas cooking shows with your mother and Sophie . Family is always interesting.
Posted by: Jo | May 6th, 2012 at 10:14 pm
Hello Martha: Wondering if your paternal line goes back to sisters Mary and Anna Kuzemka. My Grandmother Anna married Frank Zborowski, and my Aunt told me Mary Kuzemka married Joseph Krukar. I remember being at your house with my family when I was very little. Your Mom gave my sister and me berries. We fell asleep in a little room while the parents visited. I have been been doing a lot of research on both sides of my tree. Do you have your tree online? I would appreciate any info.
Posted by: Chris Solimine | May 7th, 2012 at 11:10 am
This post made me realize that as Carl Sagan was to science, you are to craft. Thank you for popularizing quality and constantly educating all of us on why it matters, what it is, and where to find it. Excellence nationwide starts with becoming educated! All those craftsmen who have enormous pride in their quality appreciate your efforts.
Posted by: Karen | May 8th, 2012 at 6:45 am
Really enjoy your website and the Living magazine
Posted by: Anne | May 8th, 2012 at 11:58 am
Hello Martha. My maternal grandfather was Leon Albiniak. He married my grandmother, Paulina Nosal, in Krasnik, Lubelski. They emigrated to the Chicago area around 1906-7. They had 7 children: Regina, Jeanne, Wanda, Helen, Eva,Theodore,& Edward. I made a trip to Krasnik, near Lublin, a few years ago. The town and countryside were beautiful, the house where my grandmother was born is still standing, and the relatives there were very welcoming.
Best wishes,from your sort-of-cousin, Paula
Posted by: Paula Sansone | May 12th, 2012 at 1:18 pm
My father's name was Ignacy Ruszkowski, born in Czahary Zbaraskie, near the town of Zbaraz, now in the Ukraine. I visited this area last year. Also have done research of old church records, but have not gotten beyond my great grandfather's place of origin. I would like to know your Ruszkowski's place of origin, please.
Hoping for a response, Helen.
Posted by: Helen Ruszkowski Placsko | May 15th, 2012 at 4:27 pm
Martha, I found your segment very Interesting...especially with all the skills you share with your ancestors.
I am recalling your mentioning on your show that you found out you were related to a female that we would all know but didn't see that brought out. Was this the program you meant? Or, was it the Who Do You Think You Are show? I sure am sad that they are not going to continue that particular series. It is so important to bring history alive for the current generation, I feel.
Posted by: Marilyn | May 27th, 2012 at 12:31 pm
Martha My grandfather Marcin Rusiecki was from Kopki He made wicker furniture and settled in New York in 1910. Did you find any relatives by the name Rusiecki? Have you been to Kopki? Thanks John
Posted by: John Rusiecki | January 2nd, 2013 at 3:30 am