Author: Amanda

Today we remember Hollywood icon Fred Astaire, who was born on this day in 1899. Remembered as one of the most influential dancers in the history of film and television musicals, Astaire’s impressive career spanned a total of 76 years.  Image: Fred Astaire / Wikimedia Commons Astaire got his start as a dancer at the tender age of four. By the age of six, he was performing along with his sister Adele as a popular vaudeville act. The siblings changed… Read the full story

Do you remember the story of Peter Pan? On May 9, 1860, playwright J.M. Barrie was born in Kirriemuir, Scotland. Image: J.M. Barrie / National Science and Media Museum, Flickr James Matthew Barrie was the ninth child of ten born to a conservative Calvinist family. He moved to London to pursue a career as a novelist and playwright. It was there that he first met the Llewelyn Davies boys, who would inspire him to write of… Read the full story

Do you have Mexican ancestry? On this day in 1753, Mexican Roman Catholic priest and leader of the Mexican War of Independence, Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, was born. Image: Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla / Library of Congress Hidalgo was the second child born to Don Cristóbal Hidalgo y Costilla and Doña Ana María Mandarte Villaseñor. In 1779, he entered the priesthood and later became the parish priest in Dolores, Guanajuato. Hidalgo worked hard for the… Read the full story

On this day in 1812, English poet and playwright Robert Browning was born in London, England. A prolific poet, Browning was known as one of the leading Victorian writers of his era. Image: Robert Browning / Library of Congress Browning was the only son born to Sarah Ann Widermann and Robert Browning, who worked as a clerk for the Bank of England. His paternal grandfather was a slave owner in the West Indies, but Browning’s father opposed slavery,… Read the full story

Legendary filmmaker Orson Welles was born on May 6, 1915. Welles was known as one of the greatest radio and cinema artists of the era.  Image: Orson Welles / Wikimedia Commons, Library of Congress Early in his career, Welles juggled work in the theater with his extensive work as a radio actor, writer, director and producer. His famous live broadcast of H.G. Wells’ The War of the Worlds caused widespread panic after many listeners mistakenly believed the show to… Read the full story

On this day in 1903, legendary entertainer Bing Crosby was born. Image: Bing Crosby / U.S. National Archives and Records Administration He was born Henry Lillis Crosby, Jr. on May 3, 1903 in Tacoma, Washington. The fourth of seven children, Crosby loved to listen to music on his phonograph as a child and enjoyed reading the comedy feature “The Bingville Bugle” in the Sunday edition of the Spokesman-Review. His love for the comic earned him the nickname “Bingo… Read the full story

Russian Empress Catherine II, also known as Catherine the Great, was born on this day in 1729. Image: Catherine II of Russia / New York Public Library She was born Sophie Friederike Auguste and was the daughter of a poor German prince. In 1745, she married Peter III, who was the heir to the Russian Empire. After the death of Empress Elizabeth in 1762, Peter III succeeded the throne as Emperor. However, his reign would last… Read the full story

Frontierswoman and sharp-shooter Calamity Jane was born on this day in 1852. Image: Calamity Jane / Library of Congress The legend of Calamity Jane was known throughout the Wild West. However, little hard facts are known about her life and much of what was said was likely embellished or fabricated by writers and storytellers of the day. She was born Martha Jane Canary in Princeton, Missouri and by the age of 12, both of her parents had… Read the full story

Do you have Dutch ancestry? On this day in 1909, Juliana of the Netherlands  was born. She reigned as Queen of the Netherlands from 1948 until her abdication in 1980. Image: Juliana of the Netherlands / Nationaal Archief Born in the Hague, Juliana was the only child of Dutch monarch Queen Wihelmina and Prince Henry of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. Juliana was the first Dutch royal baby to be born since her mother’s birth in 1880. Her mother had suffered two miscarriages and… Read the full story

Today we celebrate Jazz legend Duke Ellington, who was born on this day 125 years ago. Image: Duke Ellington / Library of Congress He was born Edward Kennedy Ellington on April 29, 1899 in Washington, D.C. to James Edward Ellington and Daisy Kennedy, both pianists. With musically talented parents, Ellington was encouraged to pursue his interest in music. He began studying the piano at the age of 7 and acquired the nickname “Duke” for his suave and classy demeanor…. Read the full story

Happy birthday to Carol Burnett! Today the beloved comedic actress celebrates her 91st birthday. Image: Carol Burnett / U.S. National Archives and Records Administration Born on April 26, 1933 in San Antonio, Texas, Burnett caught the acting bug at a young age. After her parents divorced in the late 1930s, she was sent to live with her grandmother in a boarding house in Hollywood, California. In the second grade, she briefly invented an imaginary twin sister named Karen and… Read the full story

On this day in 1917, American Jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald was born in Newport News, Virginia. One of the most beloved Jazz vocalist of all time, Fitzgerald had an extraordinary vocal range spanning three octaves. Image: Ella Fitzgerald / Library of Congress Fitzgerald was born on April 25, 1917 to William Fitzgerald and Temperance Fitzgerald. From a young age, she was passionate about dancing and singing and spent hours listening to Jazz records her mother brought home. She… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Kelly Clarkson! Today the singer turns 42. Image: Kelly Clarkson / NPS, Marcey Frutchey, Wikimedia Commons Clarkson was born on April 24, 1982 in Fort Worth, Texas to Jeanne Ann Rose, a teacher, and Stephen Michael Clarkson, a former engineer. The youngest of three children, Clarkson’s parents divorced when she was 6. Her third great grandfather, Isaiah R. Rose, served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. During the war, he was captured and… Read the full story

On April 23, 1928, star Shirley Temple was born. Image: Shirley Temple / National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution CC0 Temple was born in Santa Monica, California to Gertrude Temple, a homemaker, and George Temple, a banker. She began taking dancing lessons at the age of 3 and was soon spotted by a casting director for Baby Burlesks, a series of comedy shorts satirizing recent films with preschool-aged children starring in every role. She soon was… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Jack Nicholson! Today the actor turns 87. Image: Jack Nicholson / Georges Biard, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0) Nicholson was born on April 22, 1937 in Neptune, New Jersey. For the first 37 years of his life, Nicholson believed his parents were John Nicholson and Ethel Rhoads. In 1974, a Times reporter researching a cover story on Nicholson discovered that the person Nicholson believed to be his older sister June was in… Read the full story

On this day in 1882, Charles Darwin died at his home, the Down House, in Kent at the age of 73. Considered to be one of the most influential scientific minds in history, Darwin’s work transformed the world’s understanding of nature. Image: Charles Darwin / Library of Congress Darwin was born on February 12, 1809 in his family home, The Mount, in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England. The fifth of six children, Darwin came from a line… Read the full story

On this day in 1775, Paul Revere and William Dawes set out on horseback to warn the American colonies of approaching British troops. Revere’s role in the famous ride would later be immortalized in Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s poem, “Paul Revere’s Ride.” Image: Paul Revere’s ride / U.S. National Archives and Records Administration Late in the night on April 18, British troops began marching towards Lexington and Concord to capture Patriot leaders Samuel Adams and John Hancock. Taking separate… Read the full story

Do you enjoy baseball? On this day in 1820, Alexander Cartwright, the “Father of Modern Baseball,” was born in New York City, New York.  Image: Alexander Cartwright / Hawaii State Archives, Wikimedia Commons Alexander Joy Cartwright, Jr. was the son of Alexander Cartwright, Sr., a merchant sea captain, and Esther Rebecca Burlock. A volunteer firefighter, Cartwright often played bat-and-ball games with other volunteers. He founded the Knickerbocker Base Ball Club in New York and is often credited with… Read the full story

Silent film star Charlie Chaplin was born on April 16, 1889 in London, England. Image: Charlie Chaplin / Library of Congress In a true rags-to-riches story, Chaplin grew up in poverty and became one of the most successful actors in the industry. He endured several hardships early in his life. His father abandoned the family when he was very young, while his mother suffered from a mental illness that kept her in-and-out of the asylum…. Read the full story

April 15 marks the anniversary of the sinking of the RMS Titanic. Every year the public’s imagination is captured by the infamous ship along with its harrowing stories of survival and loss. Amongst one of the crew was stewardess Violet Jessop, who would experience more than one maritime disaster in her lifetime. She remarkably survived not only the sinking of the Titanic, but also a second disaster at sea on the HMHS Britannic only a… Read the full story

On this day in 1452, Renaissance Man Leonardo da Vinci was born in Vinci in the Republic of Florence. Image: Leonardo da Vinci / Library of Congress A gifted and extremely talented individual, da Vinci’s genius ranged from science, arts, mathematics, engineering, astronomy, architecture, and much more. Some of his greatest artistic masterpieces include the Mona Lisa, The Last Supper, and the Vitruvian Man. A brilliant inventor and engineer, da Vinci designed and illustrated concepts… Read the full story

On this day in 1577, Christian IV of Denmark was born.  Image: Christian IV of Denmark / Wikimedia Commons Christian IV was born on April 12, 1577 at Frederiksborg Castle in Denmark to King Frederick II and Sofie of Mecklenburg. He was the third child but eldest son of the couple. Since Denmark was still an elective monarchy at the time, Christian was not automatically heir to the throne. However, when he was 3, his father had… Read the full story

On this day in 1689, William III and Mary II were crowned as joint sovereigns of England, Scotland, and Ireland. The couple reigned together until Mary’s death in 1694 at the age of 32.

On this day in 1847, newspaper publisher Joseph Pulitzer was born. Today he best known for establishing the prestigious Pulitzer Prize, which is awarded annually for excellence in American journalism. Image: Joseph Pulitzer / Library of Congress Pulitzer was born on April 10, 1847 in Makó, Hungary to a well-regarded merchant family. Growing up in Budapest, Pulitzer was educated by private tutors. In 1864, he emigrated to the United States as a recruit for the Union Army… Read the full story

On this day in 1413, Henry V was crowned King of England. The second English monarch of the House of Lancaster, Henry V was considered to be one of the great warrior kings in English history.  Image: The British Library, Flickr Henry V was the eldest son of Henry IV of England and Mary de Bohun and the great grandson of Edward III of England. In 1398, his father was exiled and Henry was taken under the… Read the full story

Today we remember former First Lady Betty Ford on what would have been her 106th birthday. Image: Betty Ford / U.S. National Archives and Records Administration Ford was born Elizabeth Ann Bloomer on April 8, 1918 in Chicago, Illinois. She was the third child and only daughter of William Stephenson Bloomer, Sr., a traveling salesman, and Hortense Neahr. While in school, Ford studied to become a dancer. In 1948, she married Gerald Ford, who was campaigning for… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Bette Davis! The legendary actress was born 116 years ago today. Image: Bette Davis / Wikimedia Commons Ruth Elizabeth Davis was born on April 5, 1908 in Lowell, Massachusetts. With dreams of becoming a performer, Davis moved to New York City to study acting. Did you know future star Lucille Ball was one of her classmates in drama school? She began her career in theater before landing her first role in the film Bad Sister…. Read the full story

On this day in 1802, American activist and social reformer Dorothea Dix was born. Image: Dorothea Dix / National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution, CC0 Dix was born in Hampden, Maine to Joseph Dix and Mary Bigelow. At the age of 12, Dix moved to Boston to stay with her wealthy grandmother, Dorothea Lynde, who encouraged her interest in education. Dix eventually began to teach and in 1821, opened a school in Boston. However, frequent bouts… Read the full story

Today marks what would have been actor Marlon Brando’s 100th birthday. Born on April 3, 1924, Brando is often considered one of the most famous and influential actors of the 20th century. Image: Marlon Brando / Library of Congress Brando was born in Omaha, Nebraska to Marlon Brando, Sr., a pesticide and chemical feed manufacturer, and Dorothy Pennebaker, an actress and theater administrator. After he was expelled from military school, Brando worked as a ditch-digger…. Read the full story

What was your favorite fairy tale growing up? Today we celebrate the 219th birthday of fairy tale author Hans Christian Andersen! Known for writing some of the world’s most popular fairy tales, Andersen’s stories have been translated into more than 125 languages and have been adapted into numerous films, plays, and ballets. Image: Hans Christian Andersen / Library of Congress Andersen was born in Odense, Denmark on April 2, 1805. He was the only child of Hans Andersen, Sr. and… Read the full story

On this day in 1883, stage and silent film actor Lon Chaney was born. Known for his versatility and physical transformations for each role, Chaney was dubbed “The Man of a Thousand Faces.” Image: Lon Chaney / Wikimedia Commons Chaney was born Leonidas Frank Chaney on April 1, 1883 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Both of his parents, Frank H. Chaney and Emma Alice Kennedy, were deaf and as a result, Chaney was skilled at communicating… Read the full story

On this day in 1790, John Tyler, the 10th President of the United States, was born. Tyler succeeded to the presidency after the death of President William Henry Harrison, who passed just one month into his presidency. Image: John Tyler / Library of Congress Tyler was born to a prominent and influential Virginian family on March 29, 1790. His father, John Tyler, Sr., was a wealthy planter and judge. He served as the 15th Governor… Read the full story

Happy birthday to country music legend Reba McEntire! Today the popular singer turns 69. Since getting her start singing on local radio shows in high school, McEntire has become one of the best-selling artists of all time. Image: Reba McEntire / Gage Skidmore, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0) Reba Nell McEntire was born on March 28, 1955 in McAlester, Oklahoma to Clark Vincent McEntire and Jacqueline Smith. Her father and paternal grandfather were both champion steer… Read the full story

Today we remember Estonian poet Marie Under, who was born on this day in 1883. Considered one of Estonia’s great poets of the 20th century, Under has been nominated for the Nobel Prize in literature multiple times, but has never won. Image: Marie Under / Wikimedia Commons Born in what is today Tallinn, Estonia, Under learned to read at the age of 4 and began writing her own poetry by the age of 14. She first… Read the full story

On this day in 1874, American poet Robert Frost was born. Awarded with four Pulitzer Prizes for Poetry during his lifetime, Frost is remembered as one of the most celebrated and popular poets of the twentieth century. Image: Robert Frost / Library of Congress Although best known for his depictions of rural life in New England, Frost was actually born in San Francisco, California. His father, William Prescott Frost, Jr., was a journalist and editor of the San… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Elton John! Today the music icon turns 77. Image: Elton John / Nationaal Archief, CC0 John was born Reginald Kenneth Dwight on March 25, 1947 in Pinner, Middlesex, England to Stanley Dwight and Sheila Eileen Harris. A gifted piano player from a young age, he won a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music at the age of 11. At the age of 17, he dropped out of school to pursue a career in music. During… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Reese Witherspoon! Today the actress turns 48. Image: Reese Witherspoon / Wikimedia Commons Witherspoon was born Laura Jeanne Reese Witherspoon on March 22, 1976 in New Orleans, Louisiana to John Draper Witherspoon, an otolaryngologist, and Mary Elizabeth Reese, a professor of nursing at Vanderbilt University. She attended Stanford University, but left before finishing her studies to pursue a career as an actress. After earning critical acclaim for her roles in Election and… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Matthew Broderick! Today the actor turns 62. Image: Matthew Broderick / Photo by Shawn Miller, Library of Congress, Public Domain Broderick was born on March 21, 1962 in Manhattan, New York to a creative family. His mother, Patricia Blow, was a playwright, actress and painter, while his father, James Broderick, was an actor best known for starring in the television series Family. While researching his ancestry, Broderick discovered that his second great grandfather,… Read the full story

Do you have Norwegian ancestors? 196 years ago today, Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen was born in Skien, Norway. Referred to as “the father of prose drama,” Ibsen is often regarded as one of the greatest playwrights since Shakespeare.  Image: Henrik Ibsen / National Library of Norway, Flicker Ibsen was born on March 20, 1828 to Knud Ibsen and Marichen Altenburg in the small Norwegian costal town of Skien. Although once a well-to-do merchant family, the family was faced with hardships… Read the full story

Today marks the 176th birthday of lawman Wyatt Earp, who is best remembered for his involvement in the infamous gunfight at the O.K. Corral. Considered one of the most famous shootouts in the history of the Wild West, the 30-second gunfight resulted in the death of three outlaws. Earp was the only person to emerge from the shootout unharmed. Image: Wyatt Earp / Wikimedia Commons Wyatt Berry Stapp Earp was born on March 19, 1848 in Monmouth,… Read the full story

Today we remember Grover Cleveland, who was born on this day in 1837. Cleveland served as the 22nd and 24th President of the United States. Image: Grover Cleveland / Library of Congress He was born Stephen Grover Cleveland on March 18, 1837 in Caldwell, New Jersey and was the fifth of nine children born to Richard Falley Cleveland, a Presbyterian minister, and Anne Neal. He was a third cousin thrice removed of Moses Cleveland, who founded the… Read the full story

Today marks the Ides of March. The famous date is remembered as the anniversary of the assassination of Julius Caesar in 44 BC. His assassination was the result of a conspiracy by many Roman senators, led by Marcus Junius Brutus and Gaius Cassius Longinus, who plotted to kill the Roman dictator in an effort to restore the Roman Republic. Image: The death of Julius Caesar / Wikimedia Commons Considered one of the greatest military commanders… Read the full story

Today we celebrate the birth of genius physicist Albert Einstein! Image: Albert Einstein / Library of Congress Einstein was born in Ulm, Württemberg, Germany on March 14, 1879. His father, Hermann Einstein, was a salesman and engineer. He founded Elektrotechnische Fabrik J. Einstein & Cie, a company that manufactured electrical equipment based on direct current. His mother, Pauline Koch, ran the family household. While on a visit to the United States in 1933, Einstein elected not… Read the full story

Today we celebrate the birth of Percival Lowell, the astronomer who initiated the work that would lead to the discovery of Pluto. Image: Percival Lowell / Library of Congress Lowell was born on March 13, 1855 in Cambridge, Massachusetts to a prominent and wealthy family. His second great grandfather, John Lowell, was a judge and delegate to the Congress of the Confederation. His maternal grandfather, Abbott Lawrence, was a prominent businessman, philanthropist, and founder of… Read the full story

Happy 78th birthday to Liza Minnelli! Image: Liza Minnelli / Wikimedia Commons The legendary performer was born on March 12, 1946 in Hollywood, California to actress Judy Garland and director Vincente Minnelli. With famous parents, it was not a surprise that Minnelli would follow them into show business. At the age of 3, Minnelli made her first film performance in the musical In the Good Old Summertime, starring her mother. Minnelli won her first Tony award at the age… Read the full story

On this day in 1899, Frederick IX, King of Denmark, was born in Sorgenfri Castle, near Copenhagen. Image: Frederick IX of Denmark / Nationaal Archief Frederick IX was the eldest son of King Christian X and Alexandrine of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and the fourth Danish monarch of the House of Glücksburg. When he was baptized in April 1899, he had 21 godparents, including his great grandfather Christian IX of Denmark, Nicholas II of Russia, and the Prince of… Read the full story

Do you have any Polish ancestors? On this day in 1822, Polish pharmacist Ignacy Łukasiewicz was born in Zadusxniki, Poland. A notable inventor and philanthropist, Łukasiewicz is perhaps best remembered for the invention of the modern kerosene lamp. Image: Ignacy Łukasiewicz / Wikimedia Commons The youngest of five children, Łukasiewicz was born to an impoverished noble family. To help support his family, he began to work as a pharmacist’s assistant in a pharmacy. During this time, he… Read the full story

We’re back from Salt Lake City, Utah, where we just spent a few fun-filled days at RootsTech, the largest genealogy conference in the world. We had a busy booth throughout the conference. Geni curator Benjamin Schoenbrun helped to staff the booth and he had great luck connecting attendees to the World Family Tree. The conference was bustling with people eager to learn the latest in genealogy. The Geni booth was often packed with people wanting… Read the full story

Do you have French ancestry? On this day in 1765, French inventor Nicéphore Niépce was born. Credited as the inventor of photography, Niépce developed heliography, a technique used to create the world’s earliest known permanent photographic image. Image: Nicéphore Niépce He was born Joseph-Nicéphore Niépce on March 7, 1765 in Charlon, France to a wealthy family. After serving in the French military, Niépce shifted his focus to pursue his scientific interests. Working alongside his brother, Claude, Niépce developed the… Read the full story

On this day in 1806, English poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning was born. During her lifetime, Browning was considered to be one of the most popular Victorian poets of the era. Image: Elizabeth Barrett Browning / Library of Congress Browning was the eldest of twelve children born to Edward Barrett Moulton-Barrett and Mary Graham Clark. The family had acquired their wealth as sugar plantation owners in Jamaica, but her father chose to raise his family in England. Educated… Read the full story