Genogram example · Famous historical families
Hemingway Family Genogram
Quick answer
At a glance
| This example | |
|---|---|
| Generations | 4 |
| Family members | 12 (5 male, 7 female) |
| Birth years | 1871 to 1954 |
| Deceased | 12 |
| Conditions marked | Depressive Disorders, Mental Health Conditions, Cancer and Diabetes |
| Category | Famous historical families |
| Tags | Famous Families, Literature |
About this genogram
A three-generation genogram of the Hemingway family illustrating the tragic pattern of suicide, depression, and mental illness that persisted across generations. Centers on Nobel Prize-winning author Ernest Hemingway, showing his father Clarence's suicide, Ernest's own suicide, and the struggles of his children and grandchildren. Also depicts Ernest's four marriages and the intersection of literary genius with psychological anguish.
Family analysis
Overview
This 4-generation genogram maps 12 family members with birth years spanning from 1871 to 1954, comprising 5 males and 7 females (12 deceased). The genogram tracks 5 medical/psychological condition categories.
The Hemingway Family Genogram spans a remarkable historical period from 1871 to the present. Notable family members include Clarence (physician), Grace (music teacher, opera singer), Ernest (author, journalist, nobel laureate), Hadley (pianist). The genogram records 12 deaths, including Clarence (suicide by gunshot), Grace (natural causes (stroke)), Ernest (suicide by gunshot).
Health conditions
Medical and psychological conditions are documented in 6 of 12 family members (50%). Depressive disorders appear in 5 members (Clarence, Ernest, Gregory...), affecting 2 females and 3 males. Mental health conditions appear in 4 members (Ernest, Patrick, Gregory...), affecting 1 female and 3 males. Substance appear in 3 members (Ernest, Gregory, Margaux), affecting 1 female and 2 males. Comorbidity is observed in 5 family members, with Clarence presenting 2 concurrent condition categories. The multigenerational prevalence of depressive disorders suggests both genetic predisposition and possible environmental or behavioral transmission pathways.
Teaching use
As an educational tool, the Hemingway Family Genogram provides an accessible entry point for learning genogram notation and interpretation. Because the family's history is publicly documented, students can verify relationship structures and practice reading genogram symbols against known facts. The example illustrates how even well-known families exhibit the universal dynamics of intergenerational transmission, loss, and adaptation that genograms are designed to capture.
How do you read the Hemingway Family Genogram?
- 1
Find each person and generation
Squares are males and circles are females, and each row is one generation, oldest at the top. This one has 5 males and 7 females across 4 generations. - 2
Check the status markers
Markers on a symbol add facts about that person: Deceased (X). 12 people are marked deceased. - 3
Follow the family lines
Horizontal lines join partners and vertical lines drop to their children, born left to right in birth order. This genogram uses Marriage, Divorce and Parent-Child lines. - 4
Read the shading
Shaded symbols mark health conditions: Depressive Disorders, Mental Health Conditions, Cancer and Diabetes. Trace each line of descent to see where a condition recurs and where it stops.
Genogram symbols used in this example
| Symbol | Type | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Male (Square) | Person Symbols | A square represents a male family member in standard genogram notation. |
| Female (Circle) | Person Symbols | A circle represents a female family member in standard genogram notation. |
| Deceased (X) | Status Markers | An X drawn through the symbol indicates the person is deceased. |
| Marriage | Structural Relationships | A solid horizontal line connecting two individuals represents a marriage or committed partnership. |
| Divorce | Structural Relationships | A marriage line with two diagonal slashes indicates divorce or legal separation. |
| Parent-Child | Structural Relationships | A vertical line descending from a couple line to a child symbol represents a parent-child relationship. |
| Depressive Disorders | Medical Conditions | Shading indicates depressive conditions (major depression, dysthymia, bipolar disorder). |
| Mental Health Conditions | Medical Conditions | Shading indicates psychological or psychiatric conditions beyond anxiety and depression. |
| Cancer | Medical Conditions | Shading indicates any cancer diagnosis, with specifics noted in the individual's record. |
| Diabetes | Medical Conditions | Shading indicates Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes. |
Build a genogram like this one
Example prompt
- 1
Start from the dashboard
Sign in to GenogramAI and choose Create with AI (paid plans), or open a blank genogram and use Ask AI (any plan). To start from this exact chart instead, use Open as template. - 2
Describe your family
Paste a description like the one above, with your own names, dates, relationships and health history. - 3
Check and adjust
Edit people and lines by hand, or ask the AI for one change at a time. - 4
Export
Download a PNG on the free plan. PDF and SVG export are on paid plans.
The free plan includes 2 genograms and 5 AI credits a month. See the AI genogram creator for what else it can do.
Related resources
- New to genograms? Start with our guide on how to read a genogram to understand the symbols used here.
- Reference our complete genogram symbols guide to decode the notation in this example.
- Learn what a genogram is and why family therapists use them to map multigenerational patterns.
- The deceased symbol (X through the shape) marks family members who have passed away.
- The marriage symbol connects partnered individuals in this genogram.
Frequently asked questions
What clinical patterns does the Hemingway Family Genogram reveal?
The Hemingway Family Genogram maps multigenerational transmission of psychological patterns, emotional dynamics, and relationship structures. Clinicians use it to identify recurring cycles of behavior, attachment styles, and communication patterns that may inform diagnosis and treatment planning in family therapy.
Why use Hemingway as a genogram example?
Hemingway provides an excellent genogram learning example because the family relationships are already well-known. Students and professionals can focus on understanding genogram symbols and notation rather than memorizing new family information.
What genogram symbols are used in the Hemingway Family Genogram example?
This genogram uses Male (Square), Female (Circle), Deceased (X), Marriage, Divorce, Parent-Child, Depressive Disorders, Mental Health Conditions, Cancer and Diabetes. All of them follow standard genogram notation, so the chart reads the same way in any genogram program or textbook.
Can I build a genogram like the Hemingway Family Genogram example?
Yes. Open GenogramAI, choose Create with AI on the dashboard (paid plans) or open a blank genogram and use Ask AI in the editor (any plan), and describe the family in plain words: who is in it, how they are related, key dates and the relationships or health conditions you want to show. The AI draws the symbols and lines, and you can then edit by hand or ask for one change at a time. A family of 12 people like this one takes a short paragraph to describe. The free plan includes 2 genograms and 5 AI credits a month, with PNG export.
About this example
