On Wednesday, our good friends at AncestorSync that their beta is now live. With AncestorSync you can seamlessly synchronize your Geni tree with your desktop software and back without the hassle of GEDCOMs. If you want to tryout the beta, head over to AncestorSync.com to get started. Even though UPS lost their booth on its way over, they were still able to show a great demo of AncestorSync in action with Geni!

Throughout the conference, lots of Geni users stopped by our booth to say hi. And they each walked away with one of our famous “Who’s Your Daddy?” t-shirts!

Check out more pictures from NGS 2012 below and on Facebook! Next we’ll be at the 43rd Annual Southern California Genealogy Jamboree in Burbank, California on June 8. We hope to see you there!

NGS Photo Gallery

Joseph Conrad

Polish novelist, Joseph Conrad was born Józef Teodor Konrad Korzeniowski on December 3, 1857 in Berdichev, Kiev Governorate (now Berdychiv, Ukraine). He was born into a highly patriotic, noble Polish family. His father, Apollo Korzeniowski, was a Polish poet, playwright, clandestine political activist and a translator of Alfred de Vigny and Victor Hugo from French and of Charles Dickens and Shakespeare from English. He encouraged his son to read widely in Polish and French. In 1861 Apollo Korzeniowski was arrested by Imperial Russian authorities in Warsaw, Poland, for helping organize what would become the January Uprising of 1863-64, and was exiled to Vologda, a city north of Moscow. Korzeniowski’s wife Ewelina Bobrowska and son followed him into exile.

Conrad was orphaned at the age of eleven. His mother died of tuberculosis in 1865 and his father died four years later, but two weeks before his death he supervised the burning of all the manuscripts of his own work that he had in his possession. Conrad was placed in the care of his maternal uncle Tadeusz Bobrowski who allowed him to travel at the age of sixteen to Marseille and to begin a career as a seaman.

In 1886 he gained both his Master Mariner’s certificate and British citizenship, officially changing his name to “Joseph Conrad.” After serving sixteen years in the merchant navy, Conrad retired from the sea to devote himself to a literary career. His adventurous life included gunrunning and political conspiracy, which he later fictionalised in his novel The Arrow of Gold.

In March 1896 Conrad married an Englishwoman, Jessie George. He subsequently lived in London and near Canterbury, Kent. The couple had two sons, John and Borys. Borys, wrote the book My Father: Joseph Conrad, published in 1970.

Conrad’s paternal grandfather, Teodor Korzeniowski was captain of the Polish army during the 1830 Insurrection against the Russian rule.

Tadeusz Bobrowski

Tadeusz Bobrowski, Conrad’s uncle, was a Polish memoirist and social activist. Conrad dedicated his first novel, Almayer’s Folly to his uncle. Bobrowki’s brother, Stefan Bobrowski, advocated land reform and an end to serfdom in order to rally peasants to the cause, while at the same time he tried to ensure support of the szalchta. He also tried to establish links with potential revolutionaries within Russia who opposed the Tsar. Stefan Bobrowski died in 1863 in a duel with a member of the “White” faction, Count Adam Grabowski, to which he agreed but which he was sure to lose, on account of his extreme near-sightedness.

Check out Joseph Conrad’s family tree and see if you’re related!

Mark Harmon

Are you a fan of NCIS? Tonight is the 9th season finale of the top rated show starring Mark Harmon as Special Agent Gibbs. Did you know his parents are Heisman Trophy winner Tom Harmon and actress/fashion designer Elyse Knox? He’s also married to Pam Dawber of Mork and Mindy. In fact, his family tree is filled with lots of famous faces!

Check out his family tree on Geni and see his connection to famous in-laws Ricky Nelson and John DeLorean. Perhaps you can even help expand his tree even further to see how you’re related!

View Mark Harmon’s Geni Profile

The Genealogy Sphere

• AncestorSync Beta 2012 (Tamura Jones) – Tamura Jones reviews AncestorSync beta
• Family Tree Talk: Piles and piles of paper (The Ionia Sentinel-Standard) – Jim Moses discusses sorting piles of documentation for his family history research
• The Universal Appeal of ‘Who Do You Think You Are?’ (The Atlantic) – Taking a look at why people respond to Who Do You Think You Are?
• Family History Research in Manuscript Collections (About.com) – Genealogist Kimberly Powell goes over how to research manuscript collections
• Henry Louis Gates, Jr.: A Life Spent Tracing Roots (NPR) – Interesting interview with Henry Louis Gates, Jr.
• Using Internment Serial Numbers for Genealogy Research (Top Secret Writers) – Dennis Dufrene talks about using interment serial numbers in your family history research
• 10 Ideas for Every Genealogist’s Bucket List (The Armchair Genealogist) – What’s on your genealogy bucket list?
• Ancient map gives clue to fate of ‘Lost Colony’ (The Telegraph) – A new look at a 425-year old map may yield new clues about the fate of the 16th century Roanoke Island settlers

On Geni

• Monday Recap for May 7, 2012 – Last week’s recap
• Family Tree Tuesday – Enrique Iglesias - Learn more about singer Enrique Iglesias’s family tree and his connection to Steve McQueen!
• New Amsterdam Genealogy Project – Part 1 – Read part one of our interview with Curator George Homs about the New Amsterdam genealogy projects on Geni
• New Amsterdam Genealogy Project – Part 2- In part 2 of our interview, George Homs discusses the next steps in the New Amsterdam genealogy projects
• Who Should Write Our Story? – Guest blogger Smadar Belkind Gerson shares her thoughts on who should be writing your story

Profile of the Day

• François Hollande
• John Pemberton
• J.M. Barrie
• Fred Astaire
• Jason Sudeikis

Bobby Darin

On May 14, 1936, singer and actor Bobby Darin was born in New York. Darin first gained fame with 1958 song “Splish Splash.” In 1960, he married actress Sandra Dee. It was not until 1968 that Darin discovered that the woman he believed to be his sister was actually his biological mother. He died at the age of 37, following a heart operation in Los Angeles.

Bobby Darin is connected to over 60 million profiles in Geni’s World Family Tree. How are you related?

View Bobby Darin’s Geni Profile

I must admit, I was not excited about reading about Alzheimer’s, the theme of my last book club book, Still Alice by Lisa Genova. As the eight of us sat around the cozy dining room table, I learned that the apprehension about the book was universal. Aging and the fear of dementia was a subject too close to home for the older woman in the group. Others had lived through caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s. Some work with the elderly on a daily basis, and would have prefered reading about anything but a work related topic. But that is the thing about book clubs, you read books that you may never have chosen on your own. All of us admitted: Still Alice was a great book club book and well worth reading. The discussion was intense, animated, personal, deep, and beautifully thoughtful. As always, I really enjoyed listening to this extremely intelligent group of women have become very important to me, in the short time since we met. For some reason, I was more an observer than a participant in April’s heated debate and since then, I’ve been pondering why.

Still Alice is novel about a woman in her early fifties inflicted with early onset Alzheimer’s. While there are many books about this frightening disease—reaching epidemic proportion in today’s aging population—this book is uniquely told from the patient’s perspective. It takes the reader along Alice’s haunting journey as she struggles to maintain a sense of self and remain still Alice. Yet the outcome of becoming “still”, a motionless Alice, is inevitable. A few days after our discussion, it struck me why I had been mostly silent during book club. My focus as a genealogist is recording people’s stories. Alice, never took the time to write her story and then it was too late, her illness became her story. The genealogist in me wondered if that was the legacy she wanted to leave?

As a genealogist, I’ve spent years, tracking down people’s story. I began with a blank tree, and have been filling in the blanks ever since. At first I was asking simple questions such as: what was my great-grandfather’s name? But as the basic facts fell into place, I realized I wanted to know much more. A name, a picture, a date or place of birth were not enough. I needed to know who my ancestors were. I wanted to know their story. Like Alice, many of them, did not record their life stories. Maybe they thought there would be plenty of time. Perhaps they believed their story was not worth telling. Most likely, they were busy living their lives and it never occurred to them to record it. And suddenly, like Alice, life slipped together with their legacy. I was left with only fragments of their lives as clues, and it’s up to me to write their story. Note to self: next book club raise the subject we never broached: is it important to tell our own story, before it’s too late?

According to Geni.com’s convenient statistics section, I’ve collected forty-eight ancestors on my family tree. Only one of them, Minnie Crane, left a journal behind. I knew my great-grandmother, Minnie, well. If I were to fill out the “about” section on her Geni profile, I could have done a pretty good job myself. However, until I discovered her manuscript, I erroneously believed, I could do her story justice. If it were not for her handwritten notebooks, I would never have know about her near death experience with diphtheria or about what it is like to be the daughter of the only Jewish postman in a tiny shtetl in Belarus.

Publishing Stored Treasures, a Memoir has transformed my mission as a genealogist. Thanks to Minnie, my goal, is to inspire everyone to tell their own story. I myself, spend a lot of time, filling in the gaps and piecing together the stories of my forefathers. I even writing about them in my genealogy blog Past-Present-Future. Despite my best attempts at reconstructing stories—such as my grandfather’s amazing contributions to the foundation of the State of Israel—I recognize these attempts are feeble without a first hand account. Knowing what we know as genealogist, we should ask ourselves the difficult question: who do we think should write our story? All of us interested in history’s genealogical perspective, should set an example, pick up the pen and write, not only about our ancestors, but about ourselves. I believe our job as family historians is to rescue fragments from the past as well as record a clearer ledger of the present for future generations. I challenge you to write your story, interview your loved ones and try to inspire them to record their legacy as they wish it to be remembered! To an idea of how to inspire your loved ones to write a memoir, see my latest blog post: The Gift That Keeps on Giving. Alzheimer’s or not, all of us will eventually become as “still” as Alice. Why not, tell our stories, before they slip away?

Have you started writing your story? Share them with us! Do you have ideas of how to inspire people to write their story? I’d love to hear them.

Smadar Belkind Gerson
Author of Stored reasures, A Memoir
Blog: Past-Present-Future

Jason Sudeikis

Tonight’s all-new episode of Who Do You Think You Are? features comedian Jason Sudeikis. The Saturday Night Live star traces his family history to the coal mines of Pennsylvania.

Jason Sudeikis’s family tree is not yet connected to the world family tree. Perhaps after tonight’s episode, you can help connected him to over 60 million profiles on Geni!

View Jason Sudeikis’s Geni Profile

George Homs

What are your next steps in the New Amsterdam genealogy project?

This is a never-ending project. As said before, the churches are crucial as information sources. Hence, we want to focus more on the religious picture of New Amsterdam. We try to identify where the congregations were. We need project collaborators to focus on a specific congregation, and try to identify all its records. Even if those records are in Dutch, we have Dutch Geni users that help with uncovering the information. We also would like to spend more time on the history of the settlements, and learn more from the property contracts. We need to dig into the records of the Dutch West India Company and learn more from the ‘patroonships’, which were well defined administrative entities in those days (i.e. Rensselaerswyck – currently Albany, established by Kiliaen van Rensselaer). Many of these records are in Amsterdam. Let’s keep in mind that, for the Dutch, the settlement of New Netherland was first of all a commercial activity – and most immigrants came to the New Worldon a work contract (again… records).

Do you think you can ever map ALL original New Amsterdam immigrants?

I guess not – but we’ll get as close as we can. We can only work by official, reliable records – and they are not always complete. For instance, on the passenger lists, many immigrants that came from Dutch ports were only recorded with a patronymic, or the mention of a place of origin at best, very often without a real surname. The records of the Dutch Reformed Church are excellent – and many organizations like the Holland Society of New York or the Society of Daughters of Holland Dames have always done great work in providing translated records. The oldest Jewish congregation, Shearith Israel, created at the instigation of the ‘battling butcher of New Amsterdam’, Asser Levy, dates from 1655 – so that offers a lot of good information, too. The most frustrating part is the story of African immigrants (we prefer to call them like that, because they were not slaves like the Africans in the English colonies – even if their ‘immigration’ was forced). We estimate that there must have been about 500 African immigrants in New Amsterdam, and they married and held property. However, their origins are difficult to trace, because they were essentially captured from slave-traders in the Caribbean, en route for the Spanish and English colonies. Most often, these immigrants are only known by the country of origin like Paulo Angola. There is so much to tell and do about the early African settlers.

New Amsterdam, c. 1674

What have you learned from the New Amsterdam project?

I’m still learning! I’m Dutch, living in France, and I have no visibility on any close relatives that moved to New Amsterdamin the 17th century. However, by working on building connections between New Amsterdam and European origins, I now have loads of distant relatives through common ancestors in the 16th century. That’s a very interesting experience. But, the whole project is truly educative. You get a better understanding (and respect) for the hardships that all those brave migrants went through. From a European perspective, it gives you some clues about the origins of American resilience and creativity. I think that, the other way around, it is very educative for Americans too, as they learn a lot about tiny little villages and regions in Europe about which they knew nothing before. Europeans can tell them what the original industries are, the wars that were fought in specific regions – and that gives clues about why people left for theNew World.

Do you have some funny anecdotes?

There are tons! For instance, we have identified Grietje Reyniers, New York’s first hooker, which is a long history by itself (and it even explains where the word hooker comes from). We have the first child officially born on Manhattan, Jan Vigne. There is the story of a Dutch nobleman, Jan Otten van Tuyl, who killed a man in a tavern brawl, and the fled to New Amsterdam; he died there in total misery. You learn about how a New Amsterdam immigrant, Adriaen Janse van Ilpendam, committed the first recorded suicide on the island. Too many stories to talk about – and to learn from.

Have you been to New York, recently ?

No, it has been quite a few years. And, frankly, knowing what I know now, I will never again look at the city in the same way!

View the New Amsterdam – Immigrants Project

Fred Astaire

On May 10, 1899, legendary actor Fred Astaire was born. Over his 76 year-long career, Astaire made 31 musical films. Without fail, Astaire always wowed audiences with his dancing ability. Today he is remembered as one of the greatest entertainers of all time.

Fred Astaire is connected to over 60 million profiles in Geni’s World Family Tree. How are you related?

View Fred Astaire’s Geni Profile

George Homs

You’ve played a pivotal role in organizing the New Amsterdam project on Geni. Can give us an overview of what it’s about?

We started the project about a year ago, in May 2011. We said that we wanted to pull of something unique: to build a bridge between Americans and Europeans living today, through their common ancestry.New York is on the ‘edge of genealogy’ – as I like to call it – as it has been the gateway for massive migration between the continents.

We set up the project around chapters. Some people will be interested only in finding a name or a family. For them, we scrutinize available online family genealogies, and provide the links. Other people will want to know more about the historical context. Personally, I believe that understanding the context is an integral part of the ‘genealogical experience’. Understanding the history can give you more clues to uncover new facts. That’s why we provide context, like information about the immigrant ships, territorial development, and bibliographical sources. We also offer some fun, like highlighting famous descendants (actors, writers, politicians…) and living descendants. And, we have a dynamic global discussion forum where people can exchange information – or even ask a Dutch user to help with translations.

The bulk of New York immigration occurred in the 19^th and 20^th centuries. Why your focus on the 1609-1674 timeframe?

Focus is important if you want to keep a project under control. We took 1609 as the starting point, when Henry Hudson explored the river around the island of Manna-hata on behalf of the Dutch West India Company. The first settlers arrived four year later on Noten Eylandt (now Governors Island). The settlement of Manhattan started with the construction of Fort Amsterdam in 1625 and expanded rapidly under Director General Peter Minuit. A year later, the territory became a Dutch province, New Netherland. By 1653, under Governor Pieter Stuyvesant, New Amsterdam was formally incorporated as a city.  Until 1674, you had a huge entity under Dutch rule that was culturally very distinct from the English colonies that were established at that time. For American genealogists, it is particularly challenging because all the original records were Dutch – and they refer to origins in many European countries where, again, all sources are other languages. What we see is that online genealogy sites are full of errors and misinterpretations because of the linguistic and cultural barriers.

New Amsterdam 1664

What does this mean, from a genealogical perspective?

Keep in mind that this was the time of the Dutch ‘golden age’.HollandwasEurope’s economic powerhouse. To give you an idea… Between 1560 and 1622, ‘old’Amsterdamhad grown from 27,000 to 105,000 inhabitants! This golden age was fuelled by massive migration. InNew Amsterdam, Dutch families aspired to establish the same kind of ‘oligarchy’ that was running things in the home country. But, here you had a quite small, very diverse population where cultures were intermarrying pretty quickly. You had Dutch people, but also immigrants from Flanders, Wallonia, Northern France,Germany,Scandinavia…… Actually, it is interesting to remind here that the first big settlement of Manhattan was in 1624, by a group of 50 French Huguenot families led by Jessé de Forest. Whilst the Dutch Reformed Church was the ‘official’ church,  religious tolerance was very significant. The Dutch Reformed Church was the ‘official’ church, but the religious tolerance was very significant. Most Calvinists, Huguenots, Lutherans – protestants, in general – would register with the Dutch Reformed Church. The records offer lots of interesting information. But, it is challenging, because the Dutch where transcribing first names, family names, places of origin – with a Dutch twist. You need to have many different cultures and languages in mind to untangle what was meant with those Dutch texts.

What’s your goal with this project?

Quite simply, we want this project to become a global reference forNew Amsterdamgenealogy. We don’t re-inventNew York’s history and, given that we’re all volunteers, we can only share whatever time and knowledge we have available. Still, because of the platform that Geni provides us with, we have a totally unique repository as we are linking thousands of people and families in a highly dynamic way. Without being pretentious, what we’re pulling together here can be of invaluable help to any historian or genealogical society that is interested in the early days ofNew York.

We estimate that about 3,500 original immigrants have come toNew Amsterdam. We want to map each single one of them, and connect them to their ancestors inEurope. We currently have over 2,100 original immigrants. Many of those are already dynamically mapped to European families and living relatives. In addition, we are dynamically linking theNew Yorkfamilies and all their descendants in theUS. The result is a huge and growing map of relationships that can probably connect most Americans, one way or the other, to aNew Amsterdam immigrant.

What was your main challenge in achieving this?

The main obstacles are the erroneous online genealogies. Everybody is copying everybody – and copying mistakes. Some genealogical myths have been dispelled by researchers, but the myths persist because they are always available, somewhere, on the Internet. On Geni, we do our best to eliminate myths by storing information in the projects, and by locking the essential and verified information around our profiles. Through dynamic collaboration with other users, we have a constant exchange of ideas and sources, which is a good way to get towards the ‘best version of the truth’.

View the New Amsterdam Project

J.M. Barrie

On May 9, 1860, author J.M. Barrie was born. Barrie is perhaps best remembered as the creator of Peter Pan. The character of Peter Pan made his debut in the play Peter Pan, or The Boy Who Wouldn’t Grow Up, about the adventures of an age-less boy in the fantasy world of Neverland.

J.M. Barrie’s family tree is not yet connected to the world family tree. Perhaps you can help connected him to over 60 million profiles on Geni!

View J.M. Barrie’s Geni Profile

Enrique Iglesias

Singer and songwriter Enrique Iglesias has sold over 100 million records worldwide, making him one of the best selling Spanish language artists of all time. He has had five Billboard Hot 100 top five singles, including two number ones, and holds the record for producing 22 number one Spanish-language singles on the Billboard’s Hot Latin Tracks. He won a Grammy Award in 1997 for Best Latin Pop Performance. Iglesias shopped his first demo using the name Enrique Martinez, reverting to his true surname after signing with his first record company.

Julio Iglesias

Enrique Iglesias was born on May 8, 1975 in Madrid, Spain to Spanish singer Julio Iglesias and Filipina journalist, socialite, and television host Isabel Preysler. Julio Iglesias has sold over 300 million records worldwide in 14 languages and released 77 albums. He studied law in Madrid in the 1960s and was a goalkeeper for one of Real Madrid’s soccer teams. In 1963, he was involved in a car accident, resulting in an injury to his spinal cord. While in recovery he began playing the guitar which lead him to compose music.

Isabel Preysler

Isabel Preysler was born in Manila, Philippines to a wealthy family. Her father, Carlos Preysler, was the executive director of Philippine Airlines and on the Board of Directors for El Banco Español de Manila (Spanish Bank of Manila). Her mother Maria Beatriz Arrastia was the owner of a real estate company in Manila. Preysler’s first interviewee was Julio Iglesias when she began working as a journalist for Spanish magazine ¡Hola! in 1970. She resides in Madrid and is the national spokesmodel for Ferrero Rocher, Suárez jewelry, Manolo Blahnik shoes, Chrysler cars and Porcelanosa tiles.

Julio Iglesias, Jr.

Iglesias’ brother Julio Iglesias, Jr. is also a singer, model and actor. In 2008, Iglesias, Jr. was declared the winner of CMT’s reality Television show Gone Country. He appeared on the Spanish version of Dancing with the Stars called “¡Mira quien baila!“.

Enrique Iglesias’ grandfather Julio Iglesias was a gynecologist and he was one of the youngest gynecologists to work in the Spanish public health system. He helped to found the Madrid Maternity Clinic. At the age of 89, Iglesias became a father again with the birth of his son Jaime Iglesias with his second wife, then 40 year old Ronna Keitt. Iglesias died at the age of 90 and a few months later his last child, Ruth, was born.

Did you know Enrique Iglesias is related to The Vampire Diaries actor Steven R. McQueen? He is Enrique Iglesias’ second cousin!

Check out Enrique Iglesias’ family tree!

John Pemberton

Today marks the 126th anniversary of the invention of Coca-Cola! On May 8, 1886, John Pemberton, an American pharmacist, concocted a carbonated beverage to be used for medicinal purposes. Before long, the refreshment gained enormous popularity. Today, Coke is one of the most recognized products in the world.

John Pemberton is connected to over 60 million profiles in Geni’s World Family Tree. How are you related?

View John Pemberton’s Geni Profile

The Genealogy Sphere

• Tips to Get Ready for a Genealogy Conference (Family Tree Magazine Blog) – Family Tree Magazine provides some great tips on how to prepare for a genealogy conference
• But How Can I Choose? Tips for Picking Conference Lectures (A Sense of Family blog) – Great tips on how to pick the right conference lecture for you
• We paid in blood (The Legal Genealogist) – Genealogists Judy Russell discovers a surprising connection to Rob Lowe’s American Revolutionary War ancestor
• Names are Not Incidental: Researching the Names of Enslaved People (Andilit.com) – Andi ponders the thought behind the names of enslaved people
• Ancient map gives clue to fate of ‘Lost Colony’ (The Telegraph) – An ancient map may provide clues about the settlers who disappeared from Roanoke Island in the late 16th century
• African Ancestry, Changing the Realism of Reality TV (Afro.com) – DNA testing and the rise of the interest in African ancestry

On Geni

• Monday Recap for April 30, 2012 – Last week’s recap
• Family Tree Tuesday – Edgar Allan Poe – Learn more about Edgar Allan Poe’s family tree!
• Come See Geni at the NGS 2012 Family History Conference – Geni will be at NGS 2012, will you be there?
• Look Who’s Related: Joss Whedon and Johnny Depp – See how Joss Whedon is related to Johnny Depp, Eliza Dushku, Tom Hanks and Sigourney Weaver

Profile of the Day

• Willie Nelson
• Calamity Jane
• David Beckham
• Bing Crosby
• Rashida Jones

© Matthieu Riegler, CC-BY

Yesterday, François Hollande was elected the new president of France. With Hollande’s victory, his opponent, Nicholas Sarkozy, became the first one-term president since 1981. Hollande will take office on May 15. Check out his family tree to learn more about France’s new leader.

François Hollande is connected to over 60 million profiles in Geni’s World Family Tree. How are you related?

View François Hollande’s Geni Profile

Joss began his career as a sitcom writer and before long began writing screenplays for feature films. It was through his success in television that he amassed a fervent and devoted cult following. As the mastermind behind television shows Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Firefly, Whedon created his heroes in what fans have dubbed the ‘Whedonverse.’ Now Marvel’s world of superheroes will get it’s “Whedonesque” spin in what is predicted to be one of the most successful franchises in movie history.

Soon Joss’s film will compete at the box office against his cousin, Johnny Depp‘s latest movie Dark Shadows. That’s right – Johnny Depp is Joss Whedon’s 11th cousin! Do you think Johnny’s latest will be able to hold its own against Joss’s Avengers?

Johnny Depp is not the only star Joss is related to. Below you’ll find how he’s related to some of his past stars.

In 2009, Joss Whedon created the television series Dollhouse starring Eliza Dushku. Did you know that Eliza is Joss Whedon’s 10th cousin once removed?

Before he found success in television, Joss had a hand in writing the screenplay for Toy Story. Little did he know that he is related to Woody! Tom Hanks is Joss Whedon’s 14th cousin twice removed!

In 1997, Joss wrote the script for the fourth Aliens movie, Alien: Resurrection. It turns out star Sigourney Weaver is his 14th cousin five times removed!

Are you a Joss Whedon fan? Let us know how you’re related in the comments below!

Rashida Jones

Tonight’s episode of Who Do You Think You Are? features actress Rashida Jones on her quest to learn more about her maternal ancestry. Did you know Rashida Jones is the daughter of Peggy Lipton and Quincy Jones? Will you be watching as Rashida journeys to Eastern Europe to uncover the devastating effect World War II had on her ancestors?

Rashida Jones is connected to over 60 million profiles in Geni’s World Family Tree. How are you related?
 

View Rashida Jones’s Geni Profile

Bing Crosby

On May 3, 1903, actor and singer Bing Crosby was born in Tacoma, Washington. Bing was one of the best selling artists of the 20th century, with over half a billion records in circulation. His biggest hit was the Christmas song, “White Christmas.” According to Guinness World Records, Crosby’s recording of the number has sold over 100 million copies around the world.

Bing Crosby is connected to over 60 million profiles in Geni’s World Family Tree. How are you related?

View Bing Crosby’s Geni Profile

Let us know you’re a Geni user and we’ll give you one of our famous “Who’s Your Daddy?” t-shirts for free! You can also take advantage of our exclusive conference special – 50% OFF a one-year subscription of Pro!

If you can’t make it to the show, you can receive instant updates by following us on Facebook and Twitter. Follow the hashtag  #ngs2012 for conference related tweets from other attendees too!

See you there!

David Beckham

Happy Birthday, David Beckham! Today, the soccer superstar turns 37. David has had a lot to celebrate since his last birthday. In the past year, he and wife Victoria welcomed daughter Harper to the world and a few months later, his team, the Los Angeles Galaxy, won the 2011 MLS Cup. Here’s to another year filled with more celebrations!

David Beckham’s family tree is not yet connected to World Family Tree. Perhaps you can help connect him to over 60 million profiles on Geni!

View David Beckham’s Geni Profile

Edgar Allan Poe

Edgar Allan Poe was an American author, poet, editor and literary critic. He was the first well-known American writer to try to earn a living through his writing alone which resulted in a financially difficult life and career. He had enlisted in the United States Army as a private on May 27, 1827 using the name “Edgar A. Perry” claiming he was 22 years old when he was actually 18. Poe served at fort Independence in Boston Harbor. He released his first book of poetry that same year, Tamerlane and Other Poems, which did not receive any attention. In 1845 he published his poem, “The Raven”, to instant success. Poe is best known for his tales of mystery and the macabre, he was one of the earliest American practitioners of the short story and is considered the inventor of the detective fiction genre.

Edgar Allan Poe was born on January 19, 1809 in Boston, Massachusetts to English-born actress Elizabeth Hopkins Poe and actor David Poe, Jr. Elizabeth Poe was a stage actress in London from 1791 to 1795. David Poe, Jr. was an American actor, he abandoned his family in 1810 and Elizabeth died a year later from consumption leaving Edgar Allan Poe and his siblings orphaned at a young age. Poe had a younger brother, William Henry Leonard Poe who was a sailor and amateur poet, and a younger sister Rosalie Poe who was the only one out of the siblings that lived to old age.

Poe married his first cousin Virginia Clemm when she was 13, she was the daughter of David Poe, Jr.’s sister Maria Poe.

Did you know Edgar Allan Poe’s grandfather David Poe, Sr. served as a soldier in the American Revolution? He was known to George Washington and was often called “General Poe”.

Check out Edgar Allan Poe’s family tree and see if you’re related to him!

Calamity Jane

On May 1, 1852, American frontierswoman and folk hero Calamity Jane was born. She was infamous for her riding and shooting skills and a close friend of Wild Bill Hickok. Her compassion and kindness, especially to the sick and needy, distinguished her from other notable figures in the Wild West.

Calamity Jane is connected to over 60 million profiles in Geni’s World Family Tree. How are you related?

View Calamity Jane’s Geni Profile

The Genealogy Sphere

• Genealogy Today: Ellis Island name-change rumors persist – (Green Valley News) – The truth behind the Ellis Island name-change myths
• Ancestry.com Acquires Archives.com: Addressing Genealogists’ Concerns (Family Tree Magazine) – Family Tree Magazine provides a summary of Ancestry’s conference call addressing genealogists’ concern over their acquisition of Archives
• Henry Louis Gates Digs Into Samuel L. Jackson’s Genealogy on ‘Finding Your Roots’ (The Huffington Post) – Henry Louis Gates looks into the ancestry of Samuel L. Jackson and Condolezza Rice
• Racial classification reflects times (Tbo.com) – A look at how race was defined in the U.S. census over time
• Dating Your Centenarian (a3Genealogy) – Genealogist Kathleen Brandt talks about documenting the centenarian in your family
• Lost diary key to unlocking an Idaho family’s history (Idaho statesman) – A long lost diary held the key to unlocking a family’s history
• Exhibitor Spotlight: Geni.com, Booths 422, 424 (NGS Conference Blog) – Geni will be at the NGS Family History Conference next week. Will you be there?

On Geni

• Monday Recap for April 23, 2012 – Last week’s recap
• Family Tree Tuesday – Alec Baldwin – Learn more about Alec Baldwin’s family tree
• Import Your Geni Family Tree to Mocavo – You can now import your Geni tree to Mocavo to make researching your genealogy even easier!
• Look Who’s Releated: Rob Lowe and Amy Poehler – See how Rob Lowe is related to his Parks and Recreation co-stars Amy Poehler and Rashida Jones, his old friend Charlie Sheen and actress Helen Hunt

Profile of the Day

• William Shakespeare
• Barbra Streisand
• Guglielmo Marconi
• Carol Burnett
• Rob Lowe

Willie Nelson

Today country music artist and activist Willie Nelson turns 79! Willie Nelson was born on April 30, 1933 in Abbott, Texas. Despite approaching 80, Willie has not let his age slow him down. To much of his fans’ delight, Willie continues to tour and perform in concerts with other major musicians. Did you know that his fourth great grandfather John Nelson served as a Major in the American Revolutionary War?

Willie Nelson is connected to over 60 million profiles in Geni’s World Family Tree. How are you related?

View Willie Nelson’s Geni Profile

Rob Lowe

Actor Rob Lowe is featured in tonight’s episode of Who Do You Think You Are? Will you be watching as Lowe travels to Germany and learns about his unexpected connection to the American Revolutionary War? Be sure to check out how Rob Lowe is related to Amy Poehler, Rashida Jones, Charlie Sheen and Helen Hunt here!

Rob Lowe is connected to over 60 million profiles in Geni’s World Family Tree. How are you related?
 

View Rob Lowe’s Geni Profile

Rob currently stars in the critically acclaimed comedy Parks and Recreation as city manager Chris Traeger. Did you know he is also related to a couple of his co-stars? That’s right, Ms. Leslie Knope herself, Amy Poehler, is Rob Lowe’s 19th cousin!

He is also related to actress Rashida Jones, who plays Anne Perkins, his sometimes love-interest on the show. Rashida is Rob Lowe’s 18th cousin once removed! And like her cousin Rob, Rashida will be featured in next week’s all-new episode of Who Do You Think You Are?

Before he got his big break in Hollywood, Rob attended Santa Monica High School with fellow Brat Packer Emilio Estevez and the always controversial Charlie Sheen. Back during his partying days, Rob and Charlie spent a great deal of time together. No wonder they got a long so well – they’re family! Did you know that Charlie Sheen is Rob Lowe’s 16th cousin once removed? Coincidentally, Charlie and Emilio’s father, actor Martin Sheen, was featured in Who Do You Think You Are?‘s first episode this season.

But perhaps one of his closest celebrity relatives is fellow Who Do You Think You Are? participant Helen Hunt. It turns out Helen Hunt is Rob Lowe’s 6th cousin!

Are you related to Rob Lowe and his celebrity cousins? Check out his family tree and tell us how you’re related in the comments below!

Carol Burnett

Today actress Carol Burnett turns 79! Burnett was born in San Antonio, Texas on April 26, 1933. For 11 years, she starred in the highly successful variety/sketch comedy show The Carol Burnett Show. During its run, the series won 25 Emmy Awards and today, it’s remembered as one of the best shows in television history. Did you know her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame is located in front of the Hollywood Pacific Theater where she worked as an usher in 1957?

Carol Burnett is connected to over 60 million profiles in Geni’s World Family Tree. How are you related?

View Carol Burnett’s Geni Profile

Guglielmo Marconi

On April 25, 1874, Italian inventor Guglielmo Marconi was born. Marconi is often referred to as the father of long distance radio transmission. In 1909, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics along with Karl Ferdinand Braun for their contributions to the development of wireless telegraphy.

Did you know that the two radio operators aboard the Titanic (Jack Phillips and Harold Bride) were employees of the Marconi International Marine Communication Company? The two men worked tirelessly to send wireless messages to other ships to enlist their assistance with rescue. Their message was ultimately picked up by the RMS Carpathia. Later, Britain’s postmaster-general stated in reference to the disaster, “Those who have been saved, have been saved through one man, Mr. Marconi…and his marvelous invention.”

Guglielmo Marconi is connected to over 60 million profiles in Geni’s World Family Tree. How are you related?

View Guglielmo Marconi’s Geni Profile

The folks at Mocavo were kind enough to answer some questions about their latest feature for us. Check out the Q & A below!

What is Mocavo?

 
Mocavo is the world’s first and largest genealogy-centric search engine. They display only genealogy related information, all the time. This means no more wading though Facebook and Twitter profiles in order to get to the good stuff.

The difference between Mocavo and any other search engine, such as Google for example, is that instead of crawling fresh and new content (like Google is designed to do), Mocavo only crawls genealogy-specific blogs and websites, which often times do not have fresh or new content on them.

What is Geni Family Tree Import? How does Geni Family Tree Import work with Mocavo?

 
Geni Family Tree Import is a quick and easy way to take your family tree that you already have on Geni.com and import it into Mocavo. If you’ve got a family tree on Geni and a free Mocavo account, you can link the two by clicking on the “Log in using Geni” button located on Mocavo.com/upload .

What advantages does this offer to genealogists?

 
The Geni Family Tree Import offers multiple advantages to genealogists. Those who already have already put time into creating a tree on Geni no longer have to duplicate their efforts in order to have a tree on Mocavo. One can simply import the tree they’ve created and instantly start taking advantage of all the associated features Mocavo offers.

Additionally, for those who are new to genealogy and do not have a tree, Geni is a great place to start! You can build your family tree from the ground up and import it directly into Mocavo. Mocavo can then help you with your research by assisting you in discovering new connections to your ancestors, completely for free.

What about privacy? Who has access to my data?

 
Mocavo’s utmost priority is it’s users privacy. Therefore, all of your privacy settings that you’ve implemented on Geni.com will transfer over to Mocavo along with your tree. If you’ve set your tree to private, Mocavo will not add it to their index and will not make them available for other users to see.

How can I get started?

 
If you already have a tree on Geni and a Mocavo account, you can get started by heading to Mocavo.com/upload and click on the “Log in using Geni” button. If you’re just starting out, you can begin the journey into your family history by creating a tree on Geni. Once you have some ancestors added, you can import it into Mocavo.

What’s coming up next for Mocavo?

 
Mocavo’s team is currently working to further automate the process of researching your genealogy. Additionally, they’re focusing on building a better Mocavo experience for both free and paid users and moving to share the spotlight that was once on genealogy data across the web with content generated by their members.

You can read Mocavo’s announcement on their blog here.

Import Your Geni Family Tree to Mocavo Now!

Alec Baldwin

Alec Baldwin was born Alexander Rae Baldwin III on April 3, 1958 in Long Island, New York to Alexander Rae Baldwin, Jr., a high school history/social studies teacher and football coach and Carol Martineau, founder of the Carol M. Baldwin Breast Care Center of the University Hospital and Medical Center at Stony Brook, NY.

Baldwin is an American actor who has appeared on stage, television and film. He first gained recognition through television for his work in the role of Joshua Rush on the soap opera Knots Landing. His performance in the 2003 film The Cooler garnered him a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. Since 2006 he has starred on the NBC sitcom 30 Rock as Jack Donaghy, winning two Emmy Awards, four Golden Globe Awards, and seven Screen Actors Guild Awards for his work on the show, making him the male performer with the most SAG Awards ever.

Alec Baldwin attended George Washington University from 1976-1979. He then transferred to New York University to study acting at the Lee Strasberg Theater Institute. He graduated from NYU in 1994 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. In 2010, Baldwin gave a commencement address at NYU and was awarded  with a Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree.

He was married to actress Kim Basinger and had a daughter, Ireland. He is the oldest of the Baldwin brothers who are all actors as well. Daniel Baldwin who is currently married to former British model Joanne Smith, Billy Baldwin who is married to singer Chynna Phillips daughter of The Mamas & the Papas band members John and Michelle Phillips; and Stephen Baldwin is married to Brazilian graphic designer Kennya Deodato.

 

Daniel Baldwin

Billy Baldwin

Stephen Baldwin

Did you know Alec Baldwin is a Mayflower descendant through John Howland? He is Alec Baldwin’s 10th great grandfather!

Check out Alec Baldwin’s family tree and see if you’re related to him!

Barbra Streisand

On April 24, 1942, Barbra Streisand was born in Brooklyn, New York. Over her long career, Steisand has sold over 140 million albums worldwide and amassed a great number of music and acting awards, including two Academy Awards and eight Grammys. She is also one of the few entertainers who can claim to have won an award in all four major American entertainment awards, the Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony.

Barbra Streisand is connected to over 60 million profiles in Geni’s World Family Tree. How are you related?

View Barbra Streisand’s Geni Profile

The Genealogy Sphere

• Dracula ‘inspired by ancestor tale’ (Leinster Express) – Historian Fiona Fitzsimons proposes that Bram Stoker’s Dracula was inspired by his ancestor and not Vlad the Impaler
• Stuart woman recalls life in years around recently released 1940 census (TCPalm.com) – A Florida woman finds herself in the 1940 census and discusses what life was like at the time
• Study reveals ‘extraordinary’ DNA of people in Scotland (BBC) – Recent DNA tests in Scotland reveal new male lineages
• The Status of GeneaBloggers Radio (Geneaboggers.com) – Thomas MacEntee discusses putting Geneabloggers radio on hiatus
• Japan’s high-tech cemeteries (Reuters) – Video of Japan’s new high-tech cemeteries
• Using Pinterest for Genealogy (SavingStories) – Robin Foster discusses using Pinterest in genealogy
• How I traced my ancestry back to the Stone Age (BBC) – DNA tests reveal a Neanterthal link
• Holocaust Memorial Day: Learning from the past, a Vigil Against Hate (Past-Present-Future blog) – Smadar Belkind Gerson discusses how she is honoring Holocaust Memorial Day
• Tips for Removing Stubborn Genealogy Research Blockers (Archives.com) – Genealogist Lisa Alzo gives some great tips on how to overcome those brick walls

On Geni

• Monday Recap for April 16, 2012 – Last week’s recap
• Family Tree Tuesday – Stephen Benét – Learn more about poet Stephen Benét’s family tree
• Holocaust Remembrance Day - Remembering the victims of the Holocaust
• Celebrating Earth Day – A look into some leading environmental figures in honor of Earth Day

Profile of the Day

• Pope Benedict XVI
• Victoria Beckham
• Leopold Stokowski
• Dick Clark
• Napoleon III

William Shakespeare

On April 23, 1564, English poet and playwright William Shakespeare was born. Although his birth date has never been confirmed, records show he was baptized on April 26, and it was custom at the time to wait three days before baptizing a new born. Shakespeare died on the same day 52 years later on April 23, 1616. Shakespeare is widely considered to be the greatest dramatist of all time. Today, his plays are still performed and read all over the world.

William Shakespeare is connected to over 60 million profiles in Geni’s World Family Tree. How are you related?

View William Shakespeare’s Geni Profile

A Brief History of Earth Day

 
After witnessing the destruction of the 1969 Santa Barbara, California oil spill, U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson, inspired by the anti-war movement and student protests, called for an environmental teach-in to bring awareness of air and water pollution to public consciousness. On April 22, 1970, about 200 million Americans participated across the country, helping to launch environmental issues into the national political agenda. Nelson’s teach-in event signaled the beginning of the modern environmentalist movement. Over the years, Earth Day has grown into a global event and is observed by more than 500 million people worldwide.

Leading Environmental Figures

 
In honor of Earth Day, let’s take a closer look at some of the leading environmentalists from early pioneers to today’s green celebrities. These individuals fought for the protection of the environment and brought these environmental issues to the attention of the national public.

Although Nelson’s stance may have been the trigger of today’s environmental movement, it doesn’t mean he was the first in history to advocate environmental awareness and preservation. One of the first significant environmentalist was English social reformer Octavia Hill. Hill was one of the first to bring together social reform and environmental protection. She was a co-founder of the National Trust, the conservationist organization in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Throughout her career, Hill worked closely in the preservation of open spaces.

Marine biologists and conservationist Rachel Carson made great strides in advancing the global environmental movement. Her book, Silent Spring, brought to the public eye the environmental problems caused by synthetic pesticides. The book caught the attention of the nation, leading to a reversal in national pesticide policy. It ultimately spawned a grassroots environmental movement that led to the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency.

Perhaps one of the most notable environmental figures today is former Vice President Al Gore. His highly popular and award-winning documentary, An Inconvenient Truth, brought global awareness to our changing climate and educated the masses about the effects of global warming. Gore is credited with re-energizing the environmental movement. In 2007, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his tireless environmental activism.

And of course, no other actor may scream “green” more than Leonardo DiCaprio. In 1998, DiCaprio established the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation to support efforts to secure a sustainable future for our planet. He has passionately advocated green policies and changes to help reverse the destruction of the environment. DiCaprio even produced and narrated the documentary, The 11th Hour, where he highlighted the negative role humans have played in Earth’s climate and environmental changes.

To learn more about notable environmentalists throughout the world, check out the Environmentalist project on Geni. You might even find yourself related to these environmentalists! Share with us your plans for Earth Day in the comments below!

Napoleon III

On April 20, 1808, French emperor Napoleon III was born in Paris, France. He was the nephew and heir of Napoleon Bonaparte. In 1848, he was elected President of the French Second Republic in a landslide victory. However, in 1851, Napoleon III initiated a coup d’etat and ascended to the throne as Emperor of the French in 1852. After a crushing defeat in the Franco-Prussian War, the Second French Empire fell and Napoleon III was deposed. He died in exile in 1873. Napoleon III holds the unusual distinction of being both the first titular president and the last monarch of France.

Napoleon III is connected to over 60 million profiles in Geni’s World Family Tree. How are you related?

View Napoleon III’s Geni Profile

In honor of the lives lost and forever changed by the Holocaust, several genealogy projects are dedicated to finding and documenting the victims of the Nazi atrocities. These projects delve deeper into the lives of the individuals, preserving their stories and family connections, and providing a face for the 6 million people who were killed.

Was your family affected by the Holocaust? Check out the Holocaust: “The Final Solution” master project for a list of sub-projects dedicated to those who lost their lives and the heroes who resisted. Perhaps you will want to join one of these projects to help preserve your family’s stories for future generations.

How are you honoring Holocaust Remembrance Day? Let us know in the comments below.

View the Holocaust: “The Final Solution” Project

For the last four decades, Clark counted down the New Year at Times Square in New York City. In 2004, he suffered a stroke that left him partially paralyzed. Determined to not let it stop him, Clark returned to the air the next year to usher in 2005 alongside Ryan Seacrest. He will be fondly remembered as a television legend and inspiration for many years to come.

Dick Clark is connected to over 60 million profiles in Geni’s World Family Tree. How are you related?

View Dick Clark’s Geni Profile

Leopold Stokowski

On April 18, 1882, orchestral conductor Leopold Stokowski was born in London. Stokowski was known for popularizing classical music throughout his 60-year career. Today he is revered as one of the greatest conductors of the 20th century. Perhaps his most well known accomplishment is his work conducting the musical score for the Disney film, Fantasia. In 1942, Stokowski was awarded with an honorary Academy Award for his unique achievement in bringing music to the screen in the film.
 
Leopold Stokowski is connected to over 60 million profiles in Geni’s World Family Tree. How are you related?
 

View Leopold Stokowski’s Geni Profile

Stephen Benét

Stephen Benét was an American author, poet, short story writer, and novelist. He is best known for his narrative poem of the American Civil War, John Brown’s Body (1928), for which he won a Pulitzer Prize in 1929, and for two short stories, “The Devil and Daniel Webster” (1937) and “By the Waters of Babylon”.

Benét was born on July 22, 1898 in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania to James Walker Benét, a colonel in the United States Army, and his wife Frances Benét (Rose). He graduated from The Albany Academy and Yale University. Benét published his first book at age 17. He was awarded an M.A. in English upon submission of his third volume of poetry in lieu of a thesis. Benét died in New York City on March 13, 1943, at the age of 44 from a heart attack. He was buried in Evergreen Cemetery in Stonington, Connecticut.  He was awarded a posthumous Pulitzer Prize in 1944 for Western Star, an unfinished narrative poem on the settling of the United States.

Brig. Gen. Stephen Vincent Benet

His grandfather Stephen Vincent Benét was a Minorcan descendant born in St. Augustine, Florida, who led the U.S. Army Ordnance Corps during 1874-1891, with the rank of brigadier general; he was a graduate of the United States Military Academy and served in the American Civil War.

The younger Stephen Benét’s paternal uncle, Laurence Vincent Benét was a graduate of Yale, an ensign in the United States Navy and later manufactured the French-Hotchkiss machine gun.

Stephen Benét’s older brother William Benét was also an American poet, writer, and editor. He was born in Brooklyn, New York on February 2, 1886. He also won a Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 1942 for his book of autobiograhical verse, The Dust Which Is God (1941). He is the author of The Reader’s Encyclopedia, the standard American guide to world literature. William’s son, James Walker Benét is the author of two suspense novels and a guidebook to the San Francisco Bay Area.

William Benét’s ex-wife Elinor Wylie was an American poet and novelist popular in the 1920s and 1930s. Her sister-in-law was Tallulah Bankhead who was married to Elinor’s brother Morton McMichael Hoyt.

Check out Stephen Benét’s family tree and see how you’re related!
 

Victoria Beckham

On April 17, 1974, Victoria Beckham was born. She rose to fame as a member of the British pop sensation, the Spice Girls. Together they sold over 75 million records worldwide, making them the best-selling female group of all time. Dubbed Posh Spice during her Spice Girls days, Victoria has found continued success as a fashion designer and style icon. In 1999, Victoria married soccer superstar David Beckham at Luttrellstown Castle, Ireland. Are you a fan of Posh & Becks?

Victoria Beckham’s family tree is not yet connected to the World Family Tree. Perhaps you can help connect her to over 60 million profiles on Geni!

View Victoria Beckham’s Geni Profile

The Genealogy Sphere

• What Does the 1940 Census Mean to the Genealogy Community? (Thomas MacEntee) – Thomas MacEntee likens the release of the 1940 census to Christmas for genealogists
• Most-Wired Generation Meets Greatest Generation in Census Frenzy (SF Gate) – A look into the 1940 census frenzy among genealogists
• Unsinkable Molly Brown’s daughter chose Paris over Titanic (Greenwichtime.com) – What could have been – a descendant of Molly Brown recounts her ancestor’s close call with the Titanic
• A Good Age: New paths open up for following the family tree (PatriotLedger.com) – 1940 census records helps open up new paths to follow
• A ‘Titanic’ Degree of Separation in Newton (TheAlternativePress.com) – A woman discovers that her ancestor sailed on the Titanic
• Was Your Family Counted Twice (Finding Our Ancestors blog) – Finding your family twice in the 1940 census
• Titanic Stories: The Ship Gran Couldn’t Afford, But Margaret Could (Openfile) – A story about how the ability to afford tickets on the Titanic determined the fates of two cousins
• Grave of seaman who ‘sank the Titanic’ is discovered in Aberdeen (Daily Record) – The grave of Robert Hichens is discovered in Scotland by his great-grandaughter.
• 1940 Census records unlock family mysteries (CNN) – 1940 census reveals family secrets
• Keep history alive by ensuring old photos last forever (CoshoctonTribune.com) – Creating family photo albums is a great way to preserve your old family photos

On Geni

• Monday Recap for April 9, 2012 - Last week’s recap
• Titanic: Remembering 100 Years – Check out our infographic in honor of Titanic’s 100th anniversary
• Pickfair Found in the 1940 Census – We found the infamous Pickfair, home Mary Pickford, in the 1940 census. Did you know her neighbors were Fred Astaire and Charlie Chaplin?
• The Genealogy of Titanic’s Passengers and Crew – The RMS Titanic project successfully added all the passengers and crew to Geni! Check it out to learn more about their genealogy.

Profiles of the Day

For Titanic’s 100th anniversary, we highlighted the stories of some survivors and casualties of the Titanic

• Joseph Laroche
• Violet Jessop
• Isidor Straus
• Colonel Archibald Gracie, IV
• Henry Samuel Morley

Pope Benedict XVI

Today, April 16, Pope Benedict XVI celebrates his 85th birthday. He was born Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger in 1927. In 2005, Pope Benedict succeeded John Paul II as the 265th Pope of the Catholic Church. This is just the first of Pope Benedict’s milestones this month. April 19 marks the 7th anniversary of his election as pope and April 24 is the anniversary of the beginning of his pontificate.

Pope Benedict XVI’s family tree is still pretty small. Perhaps you can help expand his tree and connect him to over 60 million profiles in Geni’s World Family Tree.

View Pope Benedict XVI’s Geni Profile

The Titanic was the largest and most luxurious ship of its time and carried some of the wealthiest and most prominent figures on board. On April 14, 1912 at 11:40pm the Titanic struck an iceberg just four days into her maiden voyage. Two hours and 40 minutes later at 2:20am on April 15, the “unsinkable” ship had sunk to the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean. About 1,517 people lost their lives in what is considered one of the worst maritime disasters in history.

We encourage everyone to check out the project to learn more about the Titanic passengers and crew. And just because all the passengers and crew have been added, it doesn’t mean the work stops there. The project can still use your help to further enhance and expand the family trees of all those involved.

Do you have a relative who was on board the Titanic? Share their stories with us in the comments below or join the project’s public discussions to connect with others and help honor and preserve your relative’s stories!

Be sure to also check out the related projects for a breakdown of crew and passengers by class. Get started now and join this extraordinary group of collaborators in helping to connect everyone to the World Family Tree.

View the RMS Titanic Project

Henry Samuel Morley

Today’s Titanic passenger story involves love, a sapphire necklace and tragedy. Remember the necklace worn by Kate Winslet’s character in James Cameron’s film Titanic? It was inspired by today’s tragic Titanic love story. Henry Samuel Morley was a confectioner from England. Although he was married and had a 12-year-old daughter, Henry made plans to leave England and travel to California. He told his friends he was traveling to the United States to recuperate from illness, however he was in fact planning to elope with Kate Phillips, his 20-year-old confectionery assistant.

Morley sold two of his shops and gave the money to his wife and daughter and purchased two second class passenger seats under the names Mr. and Mrs. Marshall. Henry gave Kate an Edwardian sapphire necklace, the very piece that would inspire the “Heart of the Ocean” necklace in the movie.

Sadly, the couple never made it to California. After the Titanic struck the iceberg, Kate was ushered into lifeboat #11. Henry, unable to swim, went down with the ship. His body was never recovered.

Shortly after the disaster, Kate discovered she was pregnant and gave birth to Ellen Phillips nine months after the sinking. Was she conceived aboard the Titanic? Throughout her life, Ellen claimed Henry was her father, however, her paternity was never proven with DNA tests.

Henry Samuel Morley’s family tree is is not yet connected to Geni’s World Family Tree. Perhaps you can join the RMS Titanic project and help connect him and other Titanic passengers to over 60 million profiles on Geni!

View Henry Samuel Morley’s Geni Profile

Click to enlarge the image

Actress Mary Pickford was living at 1143 Summit Drive with her husband Charles Buddy Rogers. During her marriage with Douglas Fairbanks, the home was known as “Pickfair” by the press and was once a hot spot of Hollywood’s social activities. The home was designed by architect Wallace Neff for the couple and entertained the crème de la crème of Hollywood and royalty. The couple divorced in 1936. She married Rogers in 1937 and lived at the home until her death.

Aerial view of Pickfair

On the same block at 1121 Summit Drive lived actor Fred Astaire, his wife Phyllis, their son Fred II and his stepson Peter. Included in their household was a butler, the butler’s wife, a cook from Sweden, a maid and a nurse for the children.

And just next door at 1085 Summit Drive lived Charlie Chaplin and his “wife”, silent film actress Paulette Goddard. Controversy surrounded the status of their relationship. The pair had lived together for a number of years and refused to comment on their marital status. It is believed that this eliminated Paulette from consideration for a number of film roles. After the end of their relationship, the couple claimed publicly that they had been secretly married in 1936. Some believed the statement was made to prevent further damage to Paulette’s career. Chaplin was also a frequent visitor of Pickfair and a close friend of Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford. The trio, along with D.W. Griffith, co-founded United Artist in 1919.

Have you found any famous neighbors while you were searching for your family in the 1940 census?

Colonel Archibald Gracie, IV

Colonel Archibald Gracie, IV was an American writer, amateur historian and a first class passenger aboard the Titanic. He spent much of the voyage chaperoning various unaccompanied women, including American author Helen Churchill Candee. After the Titanic struck the iceberg, Gracie put on his life-jacket and helped escort the women he had chaperoned into the lifeboats.

Once all the regular boats had launched, Gracie assisted Second Officer Charles Lightoller in freeing the four collapsible boats that were stored on top of the crew’s quarters. However, as he was freeing Collapsible “B,” he was suddenly struck by a rush of water. As the ship sunk, Gracie was pulled under. He was able to free himself from the pull of the water and found his way to the overturned Collapsible “B” shortly after the Titanic sank below the surface. The slick keel was nearly impossible to hold onto for the exhausted survivors. Gracie would later recount that over half of the men who had originally reached the collapsible slipped off the upturned keel during the night.

After his rescue, Gracie immediately started writing a detailed account of his experience during the disaster. Sadly, Gracie died from complications of diabetes just eight months after the sinking. His book, The Truth about the Titanic, was published after his death in 1913 and is still considered one of the most valuable resources for Titanic researchers and historians.

Colonel Archibald Gracie IV is connected to over 60 million profiles in Geni’s World Family Tree. Perhaps you can help expand his family tree and the trees of other Titanic passengers and crew by joining the RMS Titanic project!

View Colonel Archibald Gracie, IV’s Geni Profile

Isidor Straus

Perhaps one of the most famous passenger stories from the Titanic is that of Isidor and Ida Straus. Isidor Straus was a former U.S. Congressman and the co-owner of Macy’s department store with his brother Nathan. He and his wife Ida were traveling back to the U.S. from Germany on board the RMS Titanic. Their infant grandson, Stuart Scheftel, had caught a cold and had been left behind in England with his nurse.

After the Titanic struck the iceberg, the crew began loading women and children into the lifeboats. Although the officer in charge of lifeboat #8 was willing to allow the couple to board, Isidor declined, refusing to board before all the women and children were off the ship. Despite Isidor’s urging, Ida refused to go without her husband. She reportedly said to him, “We have lived together for many years. Where you go, I go.”

Witnesses reported that they saw the couple sitting together in deck chairs before a wave washed over them. Isidor’s body was recovered and buried in New York. His wife’s body was never found.

Isidor Straus is connected to over 60 million profiles in Geni’s World Family Tree. How are you related?

View Isidor Straus’s Geni Profile

Violet Jessop

Today we highlight Violet Jessop, who was a stewardess aboard the Titanic. Amazingly, Jessop survived three different maritime disasters within a span of five years. In 1911, while working as a stewardess on the HMS Olympic, the ship collided with the Royal Navy cruiser HMS Hawke, causing major flooding and damage. Fortunately, no lives were lost. Coincidentally, the Olympic was commanded by Captain Edward Smith, who would later captain the Titanic.

On April 10, 1912, Jessop boarded the Titanic as a first class stewardess. After the ship struck the iceberg, Jessop was ordered to the deck and placed in lifeboat #16 to set a good example to the passengers. Once she was one the lifeboat, she was quickly handed a baby to look after by a Titanic officer. She recalled that once she was on board the Carpathia, a woman grabbed the baby and ran off with it without saying a word.

Disaster struck again in 1916 while she was serving as a nurse on the HMHS Britanica, the sister ship of the RMS Olympic and RMS Titanic. The ship struck an underwater German mine and sank with the loss of 30 lives. Despite the chaos, Jessop managed to grab her toothbrush, saying later that it was the one thing she missed most immediately following the sinking of the Titanic.

Violet Jessop’s family tree is not yet connected to Geni’s World Family Tree. Perhaps you can join the RMS Titanic project and help connect her and other Titanic passengers to over 60 million profiles on Geni!

View Violet Jessop’s Geni Profile

Want to learn more about other Titanic passengers? Check out the RMS Titanic project on Geni and join other users working hard to build the family trees of all the Titanic passengers and crew!

Are you related to a Titanic passenger? Let us know in the comments below!

Embed this graphic:
<div><a href="http://www.geni.com/blog/?p=74001"><img src="http://www.geni.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Titanic-Infographic.jpg"/></a></div> <div style="text-align:center;width:600px;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;color:#666;padding:5px 0 20px 0;">Create your <a href="http://www.geni.com/">family tree</a> on Geni for free, and connect to the <a href="http://www.geni.com/worldfamilytree">World Family Tree</a><br/>to find out if you're related to any of the Titanic passengers.</div>

The Genealogy Sphere

• J.D. Salinger Found Using NYPL’s 1940 Census Tool (Gothamist) – J.D. Salinger was found in the 1940 census using the New York Public Library’s research tool
• Citations Explained – A Don’t Miss Resource for all Genealogists (About.com) – With the release of the 1940 census, Kimberly Powell goes over the importance of citations in genealogy
• How to Find Someone in the 1940 Census (About.com) – Genealogist Kimberly Powell also provides easy to follow steps on how to find your relatives in the 1940 census
• Take it With a Grain of Salt (Olive Tree Genealogy Blog) – A good reminder that genealogists should not rely on one document or article to paint a full picture of who a person was
• Celebrities in the 1940 Census (Huffington Post) – Megan Smolenyak discovers celebrities in the 1940 census
• A trip back to your roots (BBC Travel) – A look into genealogy tourism
• You can’t do Jersey Genealogy without a trip to the State Archives (NJ.com) – Some good tips that can be applied to any trip to the State Archives
• Kyra Sedgwick & Kevin Bacon are Distant Cousins (People) – Henry Louis Gates, Jr. discovers couple Kyra Sedgwick and Kevin Bacon are related

On Geni

• Monday Recap for April 2, 2012 – Last week’s recap
• The 1940 U.S. Census is Now Available! – Announcing the release of the 1940 census
• Genealogy and the Pony Express – We highlighted the Pony Express project in honor of its 152nd anniversary
• Look Who’s Related: Taylor Swift and Reba McEntire – Check out how ACM Entertainer of the Year winner Taylor Swift is related to some of country music’s biggest stars
• Celebrities in the 1940 Census – We found some celebrities in the 1940 census

Profile of the Day

• Dorothea Dix
• Jane Goodall
• Martin Luther King, Jr.
• Kurt Cobain
• Edie Falco