Author: Amanda

The Consistency Checker has played an important role to help improve the accuracy of the World Family Tree. Today we are excited to share that you will now receive a weekly email notification to alert you of inconsistencies found in the family tree on Geni. In the email notification, you will see a list of the most important issues discovered on profiles you manage. The Consistency Checker automatically checks 28 different types of inconsistencies and… Read the full story

Today we remember legendary actor Clark Gable, who died on this day in 1960 at the age of 59. Known as the “King of Hollywood,” Gable starred in more than 60 films, but is perhaps best remembered as Rhett Butler in the Civil War epic Gone With the Wind. Image: Clark Gable / Wikimedia Commons Born William Clark Gable on February 1, 1901 in Cadiz, Ohio, Gable had early aspirations to become an actor. After… Read the full story

On November 15, 1887, American artist Georgia O’Keeffe was born. Image: Georgia O’Keeffe / Library of Congress O’Keeffe was born in a farmhouse in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin to Francis Calyxtus O’Keeffe and Ida Totto, who were both dairy farmers. The second of seven children, O’Keeffe knew she wanted to become an artist from a young age. She studied at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and then the Art Students League of New… Read the full story

On November 14, 1840, French impressionist painter Claude Monet was born. Image: Claude Monet / Wikimedia Commons The French painter is remembered as the founder of the French Impressionist movement. In fact, the movement’s name was derived from Monet’s painting Impression, Sunrise. Monet’s artistic style sought to capture the movement of light and its changing qualities. His work often illustrated ordinary subject matters and nature, such as his famous series of paintings depicting haystacks and water… Read the full story

Do you remember reading Treasure Island or Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde? On this day in 1850, author Robert Louis Stevenson was born. Image: Robert Louis Stevenson / Library of Congress Stevenson was born in Edinburgh, Scotland to Thomas Stevenson, a leading lighthouse engineer, and Margaret Balfour. As a child, Stevenson was prone to illnesses, often coughs and fevers, which persisted into adulthood. He was expected to follow in his family’s profession in lighthouse engineering, however, he… Read the full story

On this day in 1925, Welsh actor Richard Burton was born in Pontrhydyfen, Wales. Image: Richard Burton / Wikimedia Commons Born Richard Walter Jenkins, Jr., he was the twelfth child of parents Richard Walter Jenkins, Sr. and Edith Maude Thomas. His father was a coal miner and his mother worked as a bartender. At the age of two, he lost his mother shortly after she gave birth to the family’s thirteenth child. He was then taken… Read the full story

What’s the most surprising thing you’ve learned about an ancestor? On this day in 1914, actress Hedy Lamarr was born in Vienna, Austria-Hungry. Although Lamarr was best known as an actress during MGM’s “Golden Age,” you may be surprised to learn about her background as an inventor and the role she played in the creation of wireless communication. Image: Hedy Lamarr / Wikimedia Commons During the 1940s, Lamarr starred in several successful films. But as… Read the full story

On this day in 1847, Bram Stoker, author of Dracula, was born in Dublin, Ireland. Image: Bram Stoker / Wikimedia Commons Abraham Stoker was the third of seven children born to Abraham Stoker and Charlotte Mathilda Blake Thornley. As a child, Stoker suffered from an illness that left him bedridden until he started school at the age of seven. After studying mathematics at Trinity College, Stoker worked as a civil servant at Dublin Castle and as… Read the full story

“Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood.” – Marie Curie Image: Marie Curie / Nationaal Archief, Flickr Today we celebrate the life of renowned physicist Marie Curie, who was born on November 7, 1867 in Warsaw, Poland. A pioneer in radiation research, Curie was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize and the first person (and only woman) to win twice in different fields. She was born Maria Salomea… Read the full story

Marie Antoinette, the last Queen of France, was born on this day in 1755 in Vienna, Austria. Image: Marie Antoinette / Wikimedia Commons Marie Antoinette was born on November 2, 1755 and was the youngest daughter of Holy Roman Emperor Francis I and Empress Maria Theresa. By the age of 15, her marriage to the future King of France, Louis XVI, had been arranged in order to cement an alliance between the French and Hapsburg… Read the full story

Have you read The Red Badge of Courage? On November 1, 1871, author Stephen Crane was born in Newark, New Jersey. Image: Stephen Crane / Wikimedia Commons Recognized as one of the most innovative writers of his generation, Crane began writing at the age of 4 and had published several articles by the age of 16. In 1895, Crane published what would become his most acclaimed novel, The Red Badge of Courage. Taking place during the American… Read the full story

We are saddened to hear about the death of actor Matthew Perry on October 28, 2023 at the age of 54. Image: Matthew Perry / National Archives and Records Administration Perry was born Matthew Langford Perry on August 19, 1969 in Williamstown, Massachusetts. His mother, Suzanne Marie Langford, was a Canadian journalist and former press secretary to Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. His father, John Bennett Perry, was an actor. His parents separated when he… Read the full story

On this day in 1858, Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th President of the United States, was born in New York City, New York. Image: Theodore Roosevelt / Library of Congress He was the second of four children born to Theodore Roosevelt, Sr., a glass businessman and philanthropist, and Martha Stewart “Mittie” Bulloch, a socialite and southern belle thought to be one of the inspirations for the character Scarlett O’Hara in Gone With the Wind. Nicknamed “Teedie,” Roosevelt… Read the full story

Are you a fan of The Princess Bride? On this day in 1962, star Cary Elwes was born in Westminster, London, England. Image: Cary Elwes / Gage Skidmore, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0) Elwes was born Ivan Simon Cary Elwes on October 26, 1962 to Dominic Elwes, a portrait painter, and Tessa Kennedy, an interior designer. His paternal grandfather, Simon Elwes, was a prominent portrait painter who counted presidents and members of the British Royal… Read the full story

On this day in 1400, poet Geoffrey Chaucer died in London, England. Known as the Father of English literature, Chaucer is often considered to be the greatest English poet of the Middle Ages. Image: Geoffrey Chaucer / The National Library of Wales, Wikimedia Commons Chaucer was born around 1343 to a family of wine merchants. His father worked as a deputy to the King’s butler and his position helped Chaucer acquire his own positions early in… Read the full story

Do you have any daredevils in your family? On this day in 1901, Annie Edson Taylor became the first person to survive a trip over Niagara Falls in a barrel. She was also celebrating her 63rd birthday. Image: Annie Edson Taylor / Library of Congress Taylor was born on October 24, 1838 in Auburn, New York. She studied to become a school teacher, and at the age of 17, married David Taylor. After her husband died in… Read the full story

Do you remember watching The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson? Today we celebrate what would have been host Johnny Carson’s 98th birthday. Image: Johnny Carson / State Library and Archives of Florida John William Carson was born on October 23, 1925 in Corning, Iowa to Homer Homer Lloyd “Kit” Carson and Ruth Hook. As a child, Carson developed his entertainment skills by performing magic for his family and friends. He called himself “The Great Carsoni” and… Read the full story

Do you like scary movies? On this day in 1882, horror film legend Bela Lugosi was born. Image: Bela Lugosi / Wikimedia Commons He was born Béla Ferenc Dezső Blaskó on October 20, 1882 to Paula de Vojnich and István Blaskó, a banker, in Lugos, Hungary. Around the age of 11, he left home and took on odd jobs to support himself in his travels. It was during this time that he began acting on stage and… Read the full story

Did your ancestors fight in the American Revolutionary War? On this day in 1781, British General Charles Cornwallis surrendered at Yorktown, Virginia, effectively bringing an end to the American Revolution. Image: Wikimedia Commons During his early days in the war, Cornwallis had successfully driven George Washington’s troops out of New Jersey. In 1779, Cornwallis became a leading figure in the British “southern strategy” to gain control of the southern colonies. Although Cornwallis had generally been successful in his battles, including… Read the full story

Have you read Moby-Dick? On this day in 1851, Herman Melville’s classic novel was published for the first time in London, England. Image: Herman Melville / Library of Congress Initially published under the title, The Whale, Melville’s signature novel followed the story of a sea captain’s obsessive quest to hunt down the white whale, Moby Dick. Melville drew upon his own experiences working at sea to write the book. While writing the novel, Melville developed a close friendship with… Read the full story

On this day in 1854, Irish writer Oscar Wilde was born. Considered one of London’s most popular playwrights in his day, Wilde was known for his brilliant intellect, quick wit, and flamboyant personality. Image: Oscar Wilde / Library of Congress He was born Oscar Fingal O’Flahertie Wills Wilde on October 16, 1854 in Dublin, Ireland. Wilde was the second child born to Sir William Wilde, a prominent surgeon and author, and Jane Wilde, an Irish… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Paul Simon! Today the musician and songwriter turns 82. With a music career that has spanned over six decades, Simon is widely regarded as one of the greatest songwriters in history. Image: Paul Simon / Nationaal Archief, CC0 Paul Frederick Simon was born on October 13, 1941 in Newark, New Jersey. His mother, Belle Schulman, was a elementary school teacher and his father, Louis Simon, was a professional musician and performed on television shows… Read the full story

On this day in 1798, Pedro I of Brazil was born in Lisbon, Portugal. Nicknamed  “the Liberator,” Pedro declared Brazil’s independence from Portugal in 1822 and became the country’s first Emperor. Image: Pedro I of Brazil / Wikimedia Commons Generally known as Dom Pedro, he was the fourth child of King John VI of Portugal and Carlota Joaquina, who was the daughter of King Carlos IV of Spain. When Napoleon conquered Portugal in 1807, the royal family fled to Brazil, Portugal’s… Read the full story

Today we celebrate the birthday of former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt! Image: Eleanor Roosevelt / Library of Congress Anna Eleanor Roosevelt was born on October 11, 1884 to Elliot Roosevelt and Anna Rebecca Hall. Orphaned by the age of 10, Eleanor was raised by her maternal grandmother, Mary Livingston Ludlow. Her family was a part of New York’s high society and she grew up in a world of immense privilege. She was also the niece… Read the full story

Today we remember Norwegian explorer, scientist, and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Fridtjof Nansen, who was born on this day in 1861 in Oslo, Norway. Image: Fridtjof Nansen / National Library of Norway, Flickr A champion skier and ice skater in his youth, Nansen had a passion for adventure from a young age. He studied Zoology in school, which enabled him to combine his scientific interests, his athletic abilities, and his sense of adventure in his work. In 1888, Nansen successfully led… Read the full story

Today we remember actress Carole Lombard, who was born on this day in 1908. Image: Carole Lombard / Wikimedia Commons She was born Jane Alice Peters in Fort Wayne, Indiana and was the third child and only daughter of Frederick and Elizabeth Peters. Discovered by a director while playing baseball with friends, Lombard made her first film appearance at the age of 13. She went on to star in more than 20 silent films and… Read the full story

“It is difficult to say what is impossible, for the dream of yesterday is the hope of today and the reality of tomorrow.” On this day in 1882, rocket pioneer Robert H. Goddard was born in Worcester, Massachusetts. Dubbed the “father of modern rocketry,” Goddard is credited with creating, building, and launching the world’s first liquid-fueled rocket. It was his groundbreaking work that helped make spaceflight possible. Image: Robert H. Goddard / NASA Goddard was the… Read the full story

Silent film star Buster Keaton was born on this day in 1895. Known for his stoic, deadpan expression, Keaton is remembered as one of the greatest comedic performers in the history of cinema. Image: Buster Keaton / Library of Congress Keaton was born Joseph Frank Keaton, VI on October 4, 1895 in Piqua, Kansas. His parents, Joseph “Joe” Keaton and Myra Cutler, were vaudeville performers and traveled together performing various medicine and vaudeville shows. His… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Gwen Stefani! Today the singer and The Voice coach turns 54. Image: Gwen Stefani / Liton Ali, Wikimedia Commons, cropped (CC BY 2.0) Stefani was born on October 3, 1969 in Fullerton, California. As a teen, she joined her brother, Eric, in forming the band No Doubt. Her brother eventually left the band to pursue a career in animation working on The Simpsons. It wasn’t until the release of their third album in 1995 that the band would… Read the full story

Today we remember Mahatma Gandhi, who was born on this day in 1869. Regarded as “the father of the nation” in India, Gandhi led the country to independence from British rule through nonviolent civil disobedience. His actions would help inspire civil rights movements all across the globe. Image: Mahatma Gandhi / Nationaal Archief, Wikimedia Commons CC0 He was born Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi on October 2, 1869 to a Hindu merchant caste family. He studied law in London and spent 21 years in… Read the full story

Remember reading Don Quixote? Author Miguel de Cervantes is believed to have been born on this day in 1547. Image: Miguel de Cervantes / Wikimedia Commons Although not many details are known about the early years of his life, Cervantes was known to have lived an adventurous one. He enlisted in the Spanish Navy and fought in the Battle of Lepanto, where he was injured after taking three gun shots, two to the chest and one to his… Read the full story

On this day in 1928, Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin. The accidental find would become one of the most important discoveries in the history of science. Image: Alexander Fleming / Navy Medicine, Flickr Commons Before leaving for a vacation with his family, Fleming left out a stack of unwashed petri dishes containing cultures of bacteria in the sink. On September 28, 1928, Fleming returned to his lab and noticed something unusual. Mold had grown in a petri dish and the staph bacteria… Read the full story

On this day in 1722, American Founding Father Samuel Adams was born in Boston in the British colony of Massachusetts. Image: Samuel Adams / Library of Congress Adams was one of twelve children born to Samuel Adams, Sr. and Mary Fifield and was one of three to live beyond the age of three. After leaving college at Harvard, Adams became a brewer and launched a newspaper before devoting his work to politics. An important political… Read the full story

Today we remember singer and actress Olivia Newton-John on what would have been her 75th birthday. Image: Olivia Newton-John / Nationaal Archief, CC0 Newton-John was born on September 26, 1948 in Cambridge, England to Brinley “Bryn” Newton-John and Irene Helene Born. During World War II, her father was an MI-5 officer assigned to the Enigma codebreaking unit at Bletchley Park. Her maternal grandfather was Max Born, a German Nobel Prize-winning physicist. When she was five… Read the full story

Remember reading The Sound of the Fury? Today we remember author William Faulkner, who was born on this day in 1897. Image: William Faulkner / Library of Congress The author was the first of four sons born to Murry Cuthbert Falkner and Maud Butler. Born in Albany, Mississippi, Faulkner’s experiences growing up in the South greatly influenced his writings. He was named after his great-grandfather, William Clark Falkner, and grew up hearing stories about the “Old Colonel,” who was a successful… Read the full story

English physicist Michael Faraday was born on September 22, 1791 in Newington, Surrey. Considered one of the greatest scientists of the 19th century, Faraday’s groundbreaking discoveries in electromagnetism was crucial to understanding how electricity can be used in technology. Faraday was the son of James Faraday, a blacksmith, and Margaret Hastwell, a former servant. His father was often ill and was incapable of maintaining steady work. As a result, the family lived in poverty and often had… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Bill Murray! Today the legendary comedian turns 73. Image: Bill Murray / Gage Skidmore, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0) Murray was born on September 21, 1950 in Evanston, Illinois to Lucille Collins, a mailroom clerk, and Edward Joseph Murray, II, a lumbar salesman. One of nine children, Murray was a bit of a troublemaker growing up. He got his start in comedy after joining his older brother at Chicago’s Second City, an… Read the full story

On this day 145 years ago, author Upton Sinclair was born. A prolific writer, Sinclair wrote over 100 books and other works across various genres throughout his life. His is perhaps best remembered for his famous novel, The Jungle, which exposed the horrific conditions of the meatpacking industry. Image: Upton Sinclair / Library of Congress Sinclair was born on September 20, 1878 in Baltimore, Maryland. Although he grew up in poverty, he often spent time with his maternal… Read the full story

Do you remember watching Batman on TV? On this day in 1928, actor Adam West was born. Image: Adam West / Gage Skidmore, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0) Although he was known professionally as “Adam West,” he was actually born William West Anderson on September 19, 1928 in Walla Walla, Washington. His father, Otto West Anderson, worked as a farmer, and his mother, Audrey Volenne Speer, was an opera singer and concert pianist. After serving in the… Read the full story

Do you have Swedish roots? On this day in 1905, Swedish actress Greta Garbo was born in Stockholm, Sweden. Image: Greta Garbo / Library of Congress She was born Greta Lovisa Gustafsson to Anna Lovisa Karlsson and Karl Alfred Gustafsson. She grew up in poverty and daydreamed about becoming an actor from an early age. At 13, she dropped out of school to care for her sick father, who died in 1920. After getting her… Read the full story

What’s your favorite Agatha Christie novel? On this day in 1890, the crime novelist was born in Torquay, England. Image: Agatha Christie / Nationaal Archief, CC0 She was born Agatha Mary Clarissa Miller to a wealthy upper-middle class family. From a young age, Christie was an avid reader with a vivid imagination. During World War I, Christie joined the war effort as a volunteer for the Voluntary Aid Detachment and worked as a nurse to tend wounded soldiers… Read the full story

On this day in 1901, William McKinley, the 25th President of the United States, died eight days after he was shot by an anarchist. Immediately after his death, Theodore Roosevelt was sworn in as the 26th President. Image: William McKinley / National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution CC0 McKinley was born on January 29, 1843 in Niles, Ohio to William McKinley, Sr. and Nancy Allison. At the outbreak of the Civil War, McKinley joined the Union… Read the full story

“Somewhere inside all of us is the power to change the world.” – Roald Dahl, Matilda Image: Roald Dahl / Library of Congress On this day in 1916, beloved author Roald Dahl was born in Llandaff, Wales to Norwegian parents, Harald Dahl and Sofie Magdalene Hesselberg. Dahl was named after famed Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen, who became the first person to reach the South Pole only a few years earlier. During World War II, Dahl served in… Read the full story

Who are the athletes in your family tree? On this day in 1913, Olympic champion Jesse Owens was born in Oakville, Alabama. He made history at the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin, Germany when he went home with four gold medals and single handedly defeated Adolf Hitler’s ideas of Aryan supremacy. Image: Jesse Owens / Library of Congress James Cleveland Owens was the youngest of ten children born to Henry Cleveland Owens, a sharecropper, and Mary Emma… Read the full story

Have you read “The Gift of the Magi”? On this day in 1862, author O. Henry was born. His comedic and ironic stories, often with surprised endings, made Henry one of the most popular short story writers of his time. Image: O. Henry / Wikimedia Commons He was born William Sidney Porter on September 11, 1862 in Greensboro, North Carolina. Before he began his career as a writer, Porter held a variety of jobs. At 15, he began… Read the full story

Genealogy is not just about compiling a list of names and dates; it’s about discovering the stories, experiences, and personalities of our ancestors. When exploring your family history on Geni, you have the opportunity to go beyond the basics and add rich context to your ancestors’ profiles. Our ancestors are more than just names on a pedigree chart or entries in dusty records. They were living, breathing individuals who navigated the triumphs and tribulations of… Read the full story

It’s Star Trek Day! On September 8, 1966, the iconic science fiction series Star Trek premiered its first episode. In honor of Star Trek Day, we’re highlighting everyone’s favorite Vulcan, Leonard Nimoy. Image: Leonard Nimoy / Gage Skidmore, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0) Over 50 years ago, Gene Roddenberry introduced his vision of future exploration and discovery in Star Trek. Cast as the leader of the Starship Enterprise was William Shatner as Captain James T. Kirk and Leonard… Read the full story

Have you found your connection to the Tudors? On this day in 1533, Elizabeth I of England was born in Greenwich Palace. Image: Elizabeth I of England / Wikimedia Commons Elizabeth was the second child of Henry VIII of England and the daughter of Henry’s second wife, Anne Boleyn. She was only 2 years old when her mother was executed by beheading. Just eleven days after her mother’s death, her father married Jane Seymour, who gave birth… Read the full story

On this day in 1860, social activist Jane Addams was born in Cedarville, Illinois. A leader in social reform, women’s suffrage and world peace, Addams was the first American woman to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1931. Image: Jane Addams / Library of Congress Addams was the youngest of eight children born to a prominent Illinois family. Her father, John Addams, was a prosperous businessman and served as a state senator. He was a founding member… Read the full story

Who are the black sheep in your family? On this day in 1847, American outlaw Jesse James was born in Kearny, Missouri. Image: Jesse James / Library of Congress Jesse Woodson James was the third of four children born to Robert James, a Baptist minister, and Zerelda Elizabeth Cole. When Jesse was 3 years old, his father abandoned his family and traveled to the gold fields of California. During the Civil War, Jesse and his older brother, Frank,… Read the full story