Titanic Myths: What the Records Really Reveal
Everyone thinks they know the story of the Titanic, but family legends and popular accounts often collapse under scrutiny.
In this engaging talk, professional genealogist Nicola Johnson takes audiences beyond the headlines and into the archives, examining passenger lists, crew records, newspapers, inquiry reports, and Titanic Relief Fund files to test long-held assumptions.
Through fascinating real-life case studies and modern tools such as DNA and the 1921 Census, she uncovers how myths began, why they endured, and what the records really reveal. A fresh, never-before-seen perspective that will astonish, intrigue, and spark lively discussion – perfect for history and community groups of all kinds.

Nicola Johnson spent 15 years as a BBC Broadcast Journalist before turning her investigative instincts to family history. Now a Titanic historian and prize-winning professional genealogist, she's the founder of All About Ancestors (allaboutancestors.com), specialising in English family history, DNA analysis and British maritime history. She holds an MSc with Distinction in Genealogical, Palaeographic and Heraldic Studies from the University of Strathclyde, and her work on Titanic families recently won the British Commission for Maritime History prize.

Nicola is a member of the Register of Qualified Genealogists (RQG) and an AGRA Associate. She writes regularly for ‘Who Do You Think You Are?’, ‘Family Tree’ and ‘Discover Your Ancestors’ magazines. Her award-winning research into Titanic families, paired with her expertise in genealogy, brings fresh evidence to the stories we think we already know about the world's most famous ship.