Strategy...

So we start 'the FONDA-family' project together? Or does it exist allready?

What you are stating makes perfect good sense. Well documented patrilineal lineages that are tied together by royalty, military, wealth, and/or corporate control are certainly important and easy to document, but understanding how individual nuclear families are structured and organized adds a whole new dimension in obtaining genealogical information. For example, in some cultures.... a child is taken care of NOT by the biological parent, but by his or her mother's brother. If a researcher doesn't understand that relationship, he might conclude that the mother's brother is the child's biological father. So certainly, as a researcher, it's important to understand the particular cultural norms of the society you are dealing with. It's important to remember that genealogist are not just concerned with individuals, but how those individuals fit in to their overall nuclear family complexes. So kudo's to you...I think you are on the right tract... ;)

Thanks Jason, for your valuable insights. I think that, in a sense, doing this work when you're NOT a family member is actually geared to facilitate the work for those who ARE, isn't it. I mean, I have no relationship with the Fonda's. But, I sincerely hope that we can make a lot of Fonda's and others happy by trying to tie it together (who know, Jane might even pop in? :-) )
Regarding a Fonda-project, jMu, honestly I wouldn't do it. I would leave that to the Fonda's themselves, when they join the work. You wouldn't like it if someone would start an Uilenreef project on your behalf, do you? :-P

you're right Sjors, but at the moment a FONDA takes the initiative I will be ready to offers some help by tracing Dutch digital sources.

en GJH een verzoekje aan jou: gebruik mijn achternaam spaarzaam in googlebare info, want elke uil is direct verwant en niet allemaal even genealorous...

George J. Homs

Brilliant, and very much incorporates Jason Edward Kennedy points.

I would say that my experience on Geni is that while there are many historical profiles from the original GEDCOM uploads - and the subsequent weaving together - what is particularly lacking right now is *context.* And "project studies" are the way to contextualize the bits of information.

What you've illuminated about the oligarchical structure of Nieuw Amsterdam is fascinating, and I wonder how much it carries over from particular city - states in The Netherlands?

My "bible" to Anglo American culture is the fabulous book by David Hackett Fischer called "Albion's Seed: Four British Folkways in America." You can read about it here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albion%27s_Seed

Has anything similar been done for Dutch / Flemish culture in the Americas?

P.S.

What's the bet that many of us will turn out to be related to the Fondas?

I started family projects for historical figures when I was (as yet) unrelated. Be bold and go for it. It will make it easier to attract "the real Fondas" actually.

Thanks Erica: :-)
Actually, I was reading parts of a book, yesterday, about this 'oligarchy'. Amazing how well documenten it all is. I think the explanation is that New Amsterdam was first and foremost about business - hand the companies in 'old' Amsterdam were keeping close tabs on what was going on.
But, indeed (like you suggest), the same book was suggesting that the 'Dutch' women were doing like families back home - building little empires through marriage.
Another interesting thought. Many of these early settlers were poor. They were just emulating the rich families in Holland. Being poor, they stuck together and built new wealth. Perhaps one of the first manifestations of what French call 'nouveaux riches'? ;-)
I'll make sure I'll update the 'Sources' section with good material!
And, yes, my bet was that everyone would be related through the Fondas. I could have tried another family - but the private tree of the Fondas is really well done and inspires trust - so it offers a good backbone :-)
I've already located three more living descendants on Geni today, just by doing this! I think these descendants should come in now to scrutinize it all - and find MORE connections :-)

Start the Fonda Family project, and then you can invite the descendants to come collaborate on it.

I think "Getting rich through clever marriage connections" is a strategy that goes back to First Peoples. "I've got the Mastadon market all wrapped up, you've got Bead Trading. Let's get the kids together in marriage to make a new business -- trading mastadon horn beads, we'll split the extra fish 50/50. What do you say, got a deal?"

:)

And... "What's love got to do with it?..." LOL
BTW, I think we should apply some clever marketing for Geni and ourselves, once this comes together. I mean, at some point, we should invite the 'custodians' of the Fonda family history (and of other families, of course), to come and have a look (even participate). There's no other place where all these family trees connect together in such a way. Just saying :-)

I totally agree.

"Build it and they will come" said a wise young curator in NZ. He has been proven right every time.

My sentiments exactely.