Author: Amanda

Have you read Ulysses? On this day in 1882, author James Joyce was born in Dublin, Ireland. Image: James Joyce / Wikimedia Commons James Augustine Aloysius Joyce was born on February 2, 1882 to John Stanislaus Joyce and Mary Jane Murray. Joyce was the eldest of 10 surviving children. His father’s heavy drinking lead to great instability in the household and eventually, the family’s financial decline. A bright child, Joyce taught himself Norwegian so he could… Read the full story

Today we remember American poet and activist Langston Hughes, who was born on this day in 1902. Image: Langston Hughes / Library of Congress James Mercer Langston Hughes was born in Joplin, Missouri to James Nathaniel Hughes and Caroline Mercer Langston. Like many African Americans, Hughes was a descendant of slaves. His maternal grandfather, Charles Henry Langston, was an abolitionist and political activist. Born free in Louisa County, Virginia, Charles Langston was the son of Ralph… Read the full story

On this day in 1919, baseball legend Jackie Robinson was born. Image: Jackie Robinson / Library of Congress Robinson was born on January 31, 1919 in Cairo, Georgia to a family of share croppers. He was given the middle name “Roosevelt” in honor of President Theodore Roosevelt, who had died 25 days before he was born. The youngest of five children, Robinson was not the only gifted athlete in his family. His brother, Matthew “Mack” Robinson, was… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Gene Hackman! Today the star turns 94. Image: Gene Hackman / Christopher Michael Little, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0) Eugene Allen Hackman was born on January 30, 1930 in San Bernardino, California to Eugene Hackman and Anna Lyda Elizabeth Gray. At the age of 16, he left home to join the U.S. Marine Corps and served as a field radio operator. In 1956, he began to pursue an acting career and joined the… Read the full story

Since first introducing the Source Assistant, Geni users have been able to use this powerful tool to quickly and easily extract information from confirmed MyHeritage Record Matches and Smart Matches™ to the family tree on Geni. Today we are happy to announce that Geni will now notify you by email about pending Source Assistant items to review. These notifications serve as a reminder that you may have exciting new information waiting to be added to… Read the full story

On this day in 1843, William McKinley was born in Niles, Ohio. Image: William McKinley / Library of Congress McKinley was the last president to have served in the American Civil War. He first joined the Union Army as a private and ended as a brevet major. In 1897, he was sworn in as the 25th President of the United States. During his presidency, McKinley led the nation to victory in the Spanish-American War. As part of… Read the full story

On this day in 1892, pioneering aviator Bessie Coleman was born. Coleman was the first African-American woman and the first Native American to hold a pilot license. Image: Bessie Coleman / San Diego Air and Space Museum Archive, Flickr Elizabeth “Bessie” Coleman was born on January 26, 1892 in Atlanta, Texas to George Coleman and Susan Richardson. Born into a family of sharecroppers, Coleman worked the fields at a young age. She briefly attended the… Read the full story

Do you have Scottish ancestry? On this day in 1759, Scottish poet Robert Burns was born in Alloway, Scotland. Image: Robert Burns / Library of Congress The eldest son of William Burns and Agnes Brown, Burns spent his early years working on farms and received little formal education while growing up. However, his parents encouraged him to read and he found writing to be an escape from the hard labor of farming. In 1786, a collection… Read the full story

Are you a fan of Neil Diamond? On January 24, 1941, the famous singer-songwriter was born in Brooklyn, New York. Image: Neil Diamond / Irisgerh, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0) Diamond received his first guitar at the age of 16 and soon began writing his own music. An accomplished swordsman, he attended New York University on a fencing scholarship and was a member of the 1960 NCAA men’s championship team. He later dropped out of… Read the full story

On this day in 1737, John Hancock was born in Braintree, Massachusetts. A prominent Patriot during the American Revolutionary War, Hancock is often remembered for his large and stylish signature on the United States Declaration of Independence. Image: John Hancock / National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution CC0 After his father’s death in 1744, Hancock was sent to live with his uncle and aunt, Thomas Hancock and Lydia Henchman. His uncle was a highly successful merchant… Read the full story

Do you have any poets in your family tree? On this day in 1788, English poet Lord Byron was born in London, England. Image: Lord Byron / Library of Congress Regarded as one of the greatest British poets in history, Lord Byron is perhaps just as well known for his amorous escapades as his works of literature. He was born George Gordon Byron on January 22, 1788. He was the son of Captain John “Mad… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Dolly Parton! Today the country superstar turns 78. Image: Dolly Parton / Library of Congress She was born on January 19, 1946 in Locust Ridge, Tennessee. The fourth of twelve children, Parton grew up in poverty and often sang of her family’s struggles in her music. She began performing as a child and made television appearances by the age of ten. Since scoring her first No. 1 hit, Parton has enjoyed a… Read the full story

It’s Winnie the Pooh Day! The day commemorates the birthday of Winnie the Pooh author A.A. Milne, who was born on January 18, 1882 in London, England. In 1926, Milne first published his beloved children’s book Winnie-the-Pooh, a collection of stories following the adventures of the honey-loving teddy bear and his friends. Image: A.A. Milne / Library of Congress Although he studied mathematics in school, Milne found his passion as a writer. He was writing magazine articles… Read the full story

On January 17, 1942, boxing champion Muhammad Ali was born. Image: Muhammad Ali / Library of Congress Ali was born Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr. in Louisville, Kentucky. At the age of 18, he won a gold medal in boxing in the 1960 Summer Olympics. He went on to become the first and only three-time lineal World Heavyweight Champion. In his retirement, Ali devoted much of his time to philanthropy and despite his diagnosis with Parkinson’s,… Read the full story

Today we remember civil rights icon Martin Luther King, Jr. on what would have been his 95th birthday. Image: Martin Luther King, Jr. / Library of Congress King was born on January 15, 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia to Martin Luther King, Sr., a Baptist pastor, and Alberta Williams King, a former schoolteacher. A gifted student, King enrolled in Morehouse College at the age of 15. An inspiring leader, King sought to bring an end to… Read the full story

Do you remember reading White Fang? American author Jack London was born on this day in 1876 in San Francisco, California. Image: Jack London / Library of Congress London was born John Griffith Chaney to Flora Wellman and William Chaney. His biological father was never a part of his life and his mother would later marry John London, a veteran of the Civil War. At the age of 21, London left for the Klondike to join… Read the full story

Today we remember Founding Father of the United States Alexander Hamilton, who was born on January 11, 1755 or 1757. The exact year Hamilton was born in unknown since historical records have shown his year of birth as both 1755 and 1757. Image: Alexander Hamilton / National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution Hamilton was born in Charlestown on the island of Nevis, then a part of the British West Indies. Both he and his brother, James Jr.,… Read the full story

Do you have a favorite Rod Stewart song? Today the legendary artist celebrates his 79th birthday. Image: Rod Stewart / Helge Øverås, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0) He was born Roderick David Stewart in London, England on January 10, 1945. The youngest of five children, Stewart excelled at soccer and had dreams of becoming a professional soccer player before choosing to follow his passion for music instead. After dropping out of school at the age of 15, Stewart… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Joan Baez! Today the American folk singer turns 83. Image: Joan Baez / Nationaal Archief, CC0 Baez was born on January 9, 1941 in Staten Island, New York to Albert Baez and Joan Bridge. Her mother was born in Scotland while her father was born in Mexico. Baez’s father was noted physicist and made important contributions to the early development of the X-ray microscope. An activist and songwriter, Baez often used her… Read the full story

Today we remember iconic singer Elvis Presley on what would have been his 89th birthday. Image: Elvis Presley / Wikimedia Commons The King of Rock and Roll was born on January 8, 1935 in a two-room shotgun house built by his father in Tupelo, Mississippi. From his very humble beginnings, Elvis would go on to become one of the world’s greatest music legends. Elvis catapulted to stardom after his infamous appearance on the Milton Berle Show, where he… Read the full story

Today marks the 81st anniversary of the death of botanist and inventor George Washington Carver. Born into slavery, George would rise to become one of the most prominent scientists of his time. He revolutionized the agriculture industry by developing new crop rotation methods to better conserve nutrients in the soil. Image: George Washington Carver / Library of Congress George was born in Diamond, Missouri in 1864, shortly before the end of slavery. His mother, Mary, was a slave… Read the full story

Happy World Braille Day! Today the world celebrates the birth of Louis Braille, the man who created a system of reading and writing for the blind and visually impaired. Known simply as braille, the system is still used today by millions all around the world. Image: Braille / New York Public Library Braille was born on January 4, 1809 in Coupvray, France to Simon-René Braille and Monique Baron. At the age of 3, Braille injured his eye… Read the full story

Today we remember social reformer and abolitionist Lucretia Mott, who was born on January 3, 1793 in Nantucket, Massachusetts. Image: Lucretia Mott / Library of Congress She was born Lucretia Coffin and was the second of five children born to Anna Folger and Thomas Coffin. Through her mother, Mott had many ancestral ties to several notable early Americans, including Benjamin Franklin, who was her first cousin four times removed. His grandparents, Peter Folger and Mary… Read the full story

Are you a fan of science fiction? On this day in 1920, prolific science fiction author Isaac Asimov was born in Petrovichi, Russia. Image: Isaac Asimov / Library of Congress Born Isaak Yudovick Ozimov, the author immigrated with his family to the United States as a child. The family settled in Brooklyn, New York and owned a succession of candy stores. The candy stores sold newspapers and magazines, which Asimov would later claim to have greatly influenced… Read the full story

On December 29, 1800, inventor Charles Goodyear was born in New Haven, Connecticut. He invented and developed a process to vulcanize rubber in 1839. Image: Charles Goodyear / Library of Congress The oldest of six children, Goodyear was a descendant of Stephen Goodyear, one of the founders of the colony of New Haven in 1638. For years, Goodyear experimented with natural rubber, trying to make the material more reliable and stable for industrial use. Despite his crippling… Read the full story

On December 28, 1856, Woodrow Wilson was born. As the 28th President of the United States, Wilson led the country into World War I and was the leading advocate of the League of Nations. Image: Woodrow Wilson / Library of Congress He was born Thomas Woodrow Wilson in Staunton, Virginia to Joseph Ruggles Wilson, a prominent Presbyterian theologian, and Jessie Janet Woodrow. In 1912, Wilson was elected the 28th President of the United States. At… Read the full story

As the new year comes to a close, we are looking back at the highlights of 2023 on Geni. From new enhancements to a return to regular in-person conferences, we had a fun year and reached a new milestone in the World Family Tree with over 180 million profiles connected! We began the year by returning to RootsTech, which was once again in person after two years of virtual conferences. It was amazing to see… Read the full story

On this day in 1571, mathematician and astronomer Johannes Kepler was born in Weil der Stadt in what is now Germany. A key figure of the Scientific Revolution, Kepler is best remembered for discovering the three laws of planetary motion. Image: Johannes Kepler / Wikimedia Commons Kepler’s paternal grandfather was a respected craftsman and served as mayor of the city. However, his parents were poor. His father earned a living as a mercenary and left the family when Kepler… Read the full story

On this day in 1943, author Beatrix Potter died at the age of 77. Although best remembered for her beloved children’s book, The Tale of Peter Rabbit, Potter was also an avid conservationist and sheep farmer. She purchased many pieces of land in an effort to preserve the English countryside. At her death, Potter left nearly all of her vast property to the National Trust and today, the land is now included in the Lake District National Park…. Read the full story

Happy birthday to Samuel L. Jackson! Today the star turns 75. Image: Samuel L. Jackson / Gage Skidmore, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0) Samuel L. Jackson was born on December 21, 1948 in Washington, D.C. to Roy Jackson and Elizabeth Montgomery. Growing up in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Jackson was mainly raised by his maternal grandparents. While attending Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, he became involved in the black power movement and would serve as an usher at Martin… Read the full story

On this day in 1537, John III, King of Sweden, was born at Stegeborg Castle in Sweden. The Swedish king ruled from 1568 until his death in 1592 and is remembered for his attempts to bridge the gap between the newly established Lutheran Church of Sweden and the Catholic church. Image: John III, King of Sweden / Wikimedia Commons John was the second son of Gustav I and Margareta Leijonhufvud. In 1560, John was named the Duke… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Steven Spielberg! Today the iconic director turns 77. Image: Steven Spielberg / Gage Skidmore, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0) Born on December 18, 1946 in Cincinnati, Ohio, Spielberg got his start making films at an early age. Throughout his early teens, he made amateur 8mm adventure films with his friends, even earning his first Boy Scout merit badge for a Western film he created. After the successful release of Jaws, Spielberg became… Read the full story

Have you ever visited the Eiffel Tower? On this day in 1832, French architect and engineer Gustave Eiffel was born in Dijon, France. Image: Gustave Eiffel / Library of Congress Eiffel had spent years building bridges before he was contacted by French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi for help to devise the structure for the Statue of Liberty. Eiffel had replaced the statue’s initial engineer, who unexpectedly died. With Eiffel’s help, the statue was built and then… Read the full story

On this day in 1895, George VI was born at York Cottage on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk during the reign of his great grandmother, Queen Victoria. His birth date fell on the 34th anniversary of the death of his great grandfather, Prince Albert, and so, the new royal was named Albert in his honor. Image: George VI / Library of Congress As the second son of King George V, it was not expected for George to become king. However, this… Read the full story

Today American singer and songwriter Taylor Swift turns 34! Swift has had a monumental year thanks to her record-breaking Eras Tour, the release of two re-recorded albums, and she was just named Time Magazine’s Person of the Year. Image: Taylor Swift / David Shankbone, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0), cropped Swift was born on December 13, 1989 in West Reading, Pennsylvania to Scott Kinglsey Swift and Andrea Gardner Finlay. She was named after singer-songwriter James… Read the full story

On this day in 1863, Norwegian painter Edvard Munch was born in Løten, Norway. He is perhaps best known for his 1893 painting, The Scream, which is often considered one of the most recognizable works of art in modern history. Image: Edvard Munch / National Library of Norway, Flickr Munch was the second of five children born to Christian Munch and Laura Catherine Bjølstad. In 1868, his mother died of tuberculosis and a few years later, his sister died of… Read the full story

On this day in 1863, astronomer Annie Jump Cannon was born. Nicknamed the “Census Taker of the Sky,” Cannon was instrumental in the development of the current system of stellar classification. Image: Annie Jump Cannon / Smithsonian Institution Cannon was born on December 11, 1863 in Dover, Delaware to Wilson Cannon, a shipbuilder and state senator, and Mary Jump. Cannon’s mother was the first to teach her about the constellations and encouraged her to pursue her passion in astronomy in her studies. She… Read the full story

On this day in 1925, legendary singer and actor Sammy Davis, Jr. was born in Harlem, New York. He is perhaps best remembered as a member of the famous Rat Pack, along with his friends, Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin. Image: Sammy Davis Jr. / Nationaal Archief, CC0 Davis got his start as a small child in his father’s vaudeville act. He learned to dance and soon became a part of the Will Mastin Trio with his father… Read the full story

Do you have pioneer ancestors? American author Willa Cather was born on this day in 1873. She is best remembered for capturing pioneer life on the Great Plains in her novels. Image: Willa Cather / Library of Congress Wilella Sibert Cather was born on December 7, 1873 on her maternal grandmother’s farm in the Back Creek Valley near Winchester, Virginia. Her father’s family had lived in the area for six generations. Within a year after her birth,… Read the full story

Do you know who was the first U.S. President to be born a United States citizen? Martin Van Buren, the 8th President of the United States, was born December 5, 1782 in Kinderhook, New York. Before President Van Buren, all previous presidents were born in the British colonies before the American Revolution, and therefore were British subjects. Image: Martin Van Buren / National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution CC0 Van Buren’s third great grandfather, Cornelis Maessen… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Bette Midler! Today the iconic singer and actress turns 78. Image: Bette Midler / Nationaal Archief Midler was born on December 1, 1945 in Honolulu, Hawaii to Ruth Schindel and Fred Midler. The third of four children, Midler was named after actress Bette Davis, although she pronounces her name as one syllable. After graduating as valedictorian of her high school, Midler went on to study drama at the University of Hawaii. However,… Read the full story

What’s your favorite Mark Twain book? On this day in 1835, the author and humorist was born in Florida, Missouri. Today he is still considered to be one of the most popular and beloved writers in American literature. Image: Mark Twain / Library of Congress Samuel Langhorne Clemens was the sixth child born to John Marshal Clemens and Jane Lampton. He later adopted the pen name Mark Twain, which was derived from the riverboat term “mark twain.” By the fifth… Read the full story

Do you remember reading Little Women? On this day in 1832, author Louisa May Alcott was born in Germantown, Pennsylvania. Image: Louisa May Alcott / Library of Congress The second daughter of Amos Bronson Alcott and Abby May, Alcott was born on her father’s 33rd birthday. Amos Alcott was a transcendentalist and established an experimental school in Boston. She grew up around family friends Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson, who were a part of the Transcendental… Read the full story

Remember reading the short story “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”? On this day in 1859, author Washington Irving died in his home at the age of 76. Image: Washington Irving / U.S. National Archives and Records Administration Irving was the youngest of eleven children born to William Irving, Sr. and Sarah Sanders. He was born just as the American Revolution came to its end and was named after the hero of the revolution, George Washington. At… Read the full story

Are you a fan of martial arts movies? On this day in 1940, actor and martial arts legend Bruce Lee was born in San Francisco, California. Considered one of the most influential martial artists of all time, Lee is often credited with helping to change the way Asians are depicted in American films. Image: Bruce Lee / Wikimedia Commons His father was a leading Hong Kong Cantonese opera singer and film actor. At the time of… Read the full story

On this day in 1784, Zachary Taylor was born. Taylor served as the 12th President of the United States until his death in 1850. Image: Zachary Taylor / Library of Congress Taylor was born on November 24, 1784 in Orange County, Virginia to a prominent family of plantation owners. His father, Richard Taylor, served in the Continental Army during the American Revolution. Taylor was related to a number of prominent figures in history. He was… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Jamie Lee Curtis! Today the actress turns 65. Image: Jamie Lee Curtis / Gage Skidmore, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0) The daughter of actors Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh, Curtis followed in her parents footsteps and became an actress. In 1978, she made her film debut as the star of the horror film Halloween and subsequently went on to star in several more horror films, garnering her the title, “Scream Queen.” Her career… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Goldie Hawn! Today the actress turns 78. Image: Goldie Hawn / photo by Alan Light, Wikimedia Commons CC BY 2.0 She was born Goldie Jeanne Hawn on November 21, 1945 in Washington D.C. to Laura Steinhoff, a jewelry shop/dance school owner, and Edward Rutledge Hawn, a band musician. Goldie got her big break as a regular cast member on the sketch comedy show Laugh-In. Her Laugh-In persona let her easily segue into several popular film appearances, including Cactus… Read the full story

Today we remember Robert F. Kennedy, who was born on this day in 1925. Image: Robert F. Kennedy / Nationaal Archief, CC0 Born in Brookline, Massachusetts, Robert was the seventh child of Joseph Kennedy, Sr. and Rose Fitzgerald. After successfully managing his older brother’s presidential campaign, John F. Kennedy appointed him Attorney General. Robert would become one of President Kennedy’s closest advisors during his administration. A year after his brother’s assassination, Robert won a seat… Read the full story

On this day in 1558, Mary I of England died at the age of 42. With no children of her own, her half-sister succeeded to the throne and ruled as Elizabeth I. Image: Mary I of England / Wikimedia Commons The only child of Henry VIII and his first wife, Catherine of Aragon, Mary I ascended to the English throne after the death of her Protestant half-brother, Edward VI. She was the fourth crowned monarch… Read the full story