Author: Amanda

Do you or your family can and preserve fruits and vegetables? You can thank French chef Nicolas Appert, who was born on this day in 1749. Appert, also known as the “Father of Canning,” invented the airtight food preservation method in the early 19th century. Image: Nicolas Appert / Wikimedia Commons During the Napoleonic Wars, the French government offered a cash prize to an inventor who could develop a new method of preserving food. Appert experimented for 14 years until he… Read the full story

Do you have a favorite Clark Gable movie? Today we remember the legendary actor who died on this day in 1960. Image: Clark Gable / Wikimedia Commons William Clark Gable was born on February 1, 1901 in Cadiz, Ohio. While he was an infant, his mother died, possibly from a brain tumor. From a young age, Gable aspired to become an actor. He found work with second-class theater companies and eventually made his way across… Read the full story

With the holidays just around the corner, chances are you will be getting together with your relatives to celebrate. It may also present a great opportunity to catch a few relatives for an interview about your family history! Before seeing your relatives this holiday season, here are some tips to help prepare for an interview with your relatives. 1. Plan ahead First, take a look at what information you have and what you may still be… Read the full story

Who are the artists in your family tree? On this day in 1887, American artist Georgia O’Keeffe was born in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin. Image: Georgia O’Keeffe / Library of Congress The second of seven children, Georgia Totto O’Keeffe grew up on a dairy farm. She was named after her maternal grandfather, George Victor Otto, a Hungarian who had immigrated to the United States. After the death of her husband, O’Keeffe moved to New Mexico where she… Read the full story

On this day in 1871, journalist and explorer Henry Morton Stanley finally located missing explorer Dr. David Livingstone in Ujiji, near Lake Tanganyika in present-day Tanzania. He famously greeted him with, “Dr. Livingstone, I presume?” Image: Henry Morton Stanley / Smithsonian Institution, Flickr In 1865, Dr. Livingstone had set out to Africa on a two year expedition to find the source of the Nile River. However, six years after his expedition began, little was heard… Read the full story

Today we celebrate actress Hedy Lamarr, who was born on this day in 1914. Image: Hedy Lamarr / Wikimedia Commons She was born Hedwig Eva Maria Kiesler on November 9, 1914 in Vienna, Austria-Hungry. A top actress of Hollywood’s Golden Age, Lamarr was discovered as a teenager by an Austrian film director. At 19, she married Friedrich Mandl, a wealthy Austrian military arms merchant who did business with Mussolini and Hitler. The marriage was an… Read the full story

Award-winning author Margaret Mitchell was born on this day in 1900. Remembered as the author of the literary classic, Gone With the Wind, Mitchell would only publish one novel during her lifetime. Image: Margaret Mitchell / Library of Congress Mitchell was born on November 8, 1900 in Atlanta, Georgia to a wealthy and prominent family. Both of Mitchell’s grandfather’s served in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War. Her paternal grandfather, Russell Crawford Mitchell, was severely… Read the full story

On November 4, 1879, American cowboy, social commentator, and actor Will Rogers was born. Image: Will Rogers / Wikimedia Commons Known as “Oklahoma’s Favorite Son,” Rogers was born to a prominent Cherokee Nation family in what is now Oklahoma. After performing in Wild West shows as a young man, he broke out in vaudeville and film to become one of the most famous actors in the world in the 1920s and ’30s. In addition to… Read the full story

Remember reading The Red Badge of Courage? Author Stephen Crane was born on November 1, 1871 in Newark, New Jersey.

Do you have any Dutch ancestry? Today we highlight Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer, who was born around October 31, 1632. Although little is known about the early years of his life, records show he was baptized on October 31 in Delft in the Netherlands. Image: Johannes Vermeer / Wikimedia Commons Vermeer was born to Digna Baltens and Reijnier Jansz, a silk weaver who produced caffa, a fine satin fabric. His father later became an innkeeper and… Read the full story

Today we are excited to announce the release of the Source Assistant – a quick and easy way to extract information from your confirmed Record Matches and Smart Matches™ from MyHeritage to the family tree on Geni.  Now when you confirm a Record Match or a Smart Match™, you can quickly add new or updated information from the MyHeritage match to your relatives’ Geni profiles with just a few clicks. The new Source Assistant We… Read the full story

Have you read The Canterbury Tales? English poet Geoffrey Chaucer died on this day in 1400. Known as the “father of English literature,” Chaucer was the first writer to be buried in Poets’ Corner of Westminster Abbey. Image: Geoffrey Chaucer / British Library, Flickr He was born around 1343 in what was probably London, but not much is known about the early years of his life. Through his royal connections, Chaucer held various positions including a noblewoman’s page,… Read the full story

On this day in 1956, Carrie Fisher was born. A cultural icon, Fisher would have turned 66 today. Image: Gage Skidmore, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0) As the daughter of singer Eddie Fisher and movie star Debbie Reynolds, it seemed Fisher was destined to follow her parents into show business. She began her acting career at the age of 15 in the Broadway show Irene starring her mother. A couple of years later, she made… Read the full story

Do you remember the first scary movie you ever saw? Today we remember horror movie icon Bela Lugosi, who was born on October 20, 1882 in Lugos, Hungary. Image: Bela Lugosi / Wikimedia Commons Dubbed the King of Horror, Lugosi was a dominant figure of 1930’s horror. He most notably portrayed Count Dracula, which to this day is still considered by many to be the definitive portrayal of the vampire legend. Lugosi was born Béla Ferenc Deszõ Blaskó on… Read the full story

Today we remember legendary actress and dancer Rita Hayworth on what would have been her 104th birthday. Image: Rita Hayworth / Wikimedia Commons She was born Margarita Carmen Cansino on October 17, 1918 in Brooklyn, New York. Hayworth was the oldest child of two dancers, Eduardo Cansino, Sr. and Volga Hayworth. Her paternal grandfather was Antonio Cansino, a renowned Spanish classical dancer. She was dancing professionally by the age of 12 alongside her father. The pair… Read the full story

Geni Curator Jarrett Ross, also known as the GeneaVlogger, has released a great new video all about making a family tree for the entire world through collaboration. In this video, Jarrett looks back at the early days of Geni and the beginnings of the World Family Tree, which today connects over 172 million profiles. Learn more about Geni’s World Family Tree. This video also includes a great discussion with fellow curator Randy Schoenberg that is… Read the full story

On October 11, 1884, former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt was born. Image: Eleanor Roosevelt / Library of Congress Anne Eleanor Roosevelt was born in New York City, New York to Elliot Roosevelt and Anna Rebecca Hall. Born into the prominent Roosevelt family, Eleanor was the niece of Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th President of the United States. She was an orphan by the age of 10 and grew up in the home of her maternal grandmother,… Read the full story

Do you have singers in your family tree? On this day in 1820, Swedish opera singer Jenny Lind was born in Stockholm, Sweden. Image: Jenny Lind / National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution CC0 Born Johanna Maria Lind on October 6, 1820, Lind was the illegitimate daughter of Niclas Jonas Lind, a bookkeeper, and Anne-Marie Felborg, a school teacher. Although divorced from her first husband, Lind’s mother refused to remarry until after his death in 1834. Her… Read the full story

Pioneering physicist and inventor Robert H. Goddard was born on October 5, 1882 in Worcester, Massachusetts. Known as the father of modern rocket propulsion, Goddard is credited with creating, building, and launching the world’s first liquid-fueled rocket.  Image: Robert H. Goddard / NASA Despite his groundbreaking work, Goddard received very little public support for his research. Ahead of his time, Goddard recognized the potential of rockets for atmospheric research, missiles and space travel. He even noted the possibility of a… Read the full story

Today we remember country music icon Loretta Lynn, who has passed away at the age of 90. Image: Loretta Lynn / Scott Schram, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0) Lynn was born Loretta Webb on April 14, 1932 in Butcher Hollow, Kentucky. She was the second child and eldest daughter born to Melvin “Ted” Webb and Clara Marie “Clary” Ramey. Named after actress Loretta Young, Lynn grew up in a poor Appalachian mining town. At the… Read the full story

Today we remember Holocaust survivor, human rights activist, and Nobel Peace-prize winner Elie Wiesel, who was born on this day in 1928. Image: Elie Wiesel / Library of Congress Wiesel was born on September 30, 1928 in Sighet, Romania and grew up in a close-knit Jewish community. At the age of 15, Wiesel and his family were sent to Auschwitz, where his mother and sister were killed. He and his father were later sent to… Read the full story

Today we remember Ray Charles on what would have been his 92nd birthday. Image: Ray Charles / Nationaal Archief, CC0 Ray Charles Robinson was born on September 23, 1930 in Albany, Georgia. He was the son of Bailey Robinson, a mechanic, and Aretha Williams, a laundress. Around the age of four or five, Charles began to lose his sight and by the age of seven, he was completely blind. Although the family had little money,… Read the full story

On this day in 1866, The Time Machine author H.G. Wells was born in Bromley, Kent, England. Image: H.G. Wells / LSE Library, Flickr Wells was the fourth child born to Joseph Wells and Sarah Neal, both shopkeepers. The family struggled financially and by the age of 14, Wells became an apprentice to a draper. After finishing school, Wells became a science teacher. In 1891, he married his cousin, Isabel Mary Wells, however, the marriage did not… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Sophia Loren! Today the Italian actress turns 88. Image: Sophia Loren / Wikimedia Commons She was born Sofia Villani Scicolone on September 20, 1934 in Rome, Italy to Romilda Villani and Riccardo Scicolone. Raised in poverty, Loren would become one of Italy’s most renowned and honored actresses. Loren began her path to international stardom after entering a beauty pageant at the age of 15. In 1957, she starred in her first Hollywood film, The… Read the full story

On the morning after the Battle of Baltimore, lawyer and poet Francis Scott Key was inspired to write the poem “Defence of Fort McHenry,” which would become the lyrics to “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Image: Francis Scott Key / Library of Congress During the War of 1812, Key accompanied Colonel John Stuart Skinner aboard the British ship HMS Tonnant to negotiate the release of prisoners. During the negotiations, the British attacked Fort McHenry, leaving Key and Skinner powerless… Read the full story

Happy Roald Dahl Day! On this day in 1916, author Roald Dahl was born in Llandaff, Wales. Image: Roald Dahl / Library of Congress Dahl was the son of Norwegian parents, Harald Dahl and and Sofie Hesselberg. Dahl’s father was a wealthy shipbuilder and had emigrated from Sarpsborg, Norway and settled in Cardiff, Wales in the 1880s. His mother later immigrated to the UK and married his father in 1911. During World War I, Dahl… Read the full story

Today we remember rock and roll legend Buddy Holly, who was born on this day in 1936. Image: Buddy Holly / Wikimedia Commons Charles Hardin Holley was born on September 7, 1936 in Lubbock, Texas. He was the fourth child born to Lawrence Odell “L.O.” Holley and Ella Pauline Drake and nicknamed “Buddy” by his mother. Growing up, Buddy wasn’t the only member of the family interested in music. His older brothers performed in local talent shows and… Read the full story

Have you read the story of Frankenstein? On this day in 1797, author Mary Shelley was born. Image: Mary Shelley / Wikimedia Commons She was born Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin on August 30, 1797 in London, England. She was the daughter of philosopher and novelist William Godwin and Mary Wollstonecraft, a writer and women’s rights advocate. Shortly after her birth, Shelley’s mother died, leaving her father to raise her and her older half sister, Fanny Imlay. At the age… Read the full story

On this day in 1930, actor Sean Connery was born. Image: Sean Connery / Nationaal Archief, CC0 The James Bond star was born Thomas Sean Connery on August 25, 1930 in Edinburgh, Scotland. He was named after his paternal grandfather, Thomas Connery, and was called “Tommy” throughout his childhood. Connery quit school at a young age and got his first job working as a milkman before joining the Royal Navy. After he was discharged for… Read the full story

On this day in 1754, Louis XVI of France was born at the Palace of Versailles. The French monarch was the last King of France before the fall of the monarchy during the French Revolution. Image: Louis XVI of France / New York Public Library Louis-Auguste was the second son of Louis, the Dauphin of France, and Marie-Josèphe of Saxony, the daughter of Augustus III, the King of Poland. Louis became the Dauphin at the age of… Read the full story

On this day in 1920, author Ray Bradbury was born. Image: Ray Bradbury / Alan Light, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0) Bradbury was born on August 22, 1920 in Waukegan, Illinois to Esther Moberg, a Swedish immigrant, and Leonard Spaulding Bradbury, a power and telephone lineman of English descent. Bradbury began writing his own stories as a child. During the Great Depression, he would sometimes use butcher paper to compose his works. It was his… Read the full story

September is just around the corner and that means it’s almost time for Webtember, Legacy Family Tree Webinars’ third annual free, month-long online genealogy conference! Every Friday for the entire month of September, Legacy Family Tree Webinars will host live and pre-recorded webinars. Join live each Friday to learn how you can take your genealogy skills to the next level. If you can’t make the live sessions, you can enjoy all 31 recordings at your… Read the full story

Are you a fan of Star Trek? Today we celebrate the birthday of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry, who was born on this day in 1921. Image: Gene Roddenberry / NASA Before finding success as a screenwriter and producer, Roddenberry served in the United States Army Air Force. During World War II, he flew 89 combat missions and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal. After the war, he continued to work as a commercial pilot… Read the full story

On this day in 1786, American frontiersman and folk hero Davy Crockett was born. Image: Davy Crockett / National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution CC0 David Crockett was born to John Wesley Crockett and Rebecca Hawkins in what is today Tennessee. He was named after his paternal grandfather, who was killed in a Cherokee raid at the onset of the Cherokee-American wars. Crockett gained fame for his many larger-than-life exploits. A skilled woodsman, an excellent hunter, and gifted storyteller, Crockett developed… Read the full story

Today we remember the King of Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley, who passed away on August 16, 1977 at the age of 42. Image: Elvis Presley / Wikimedia Commons Elvis was born on January 8, 1935 in Tupelo, Mississippi to Vernon and Gladys Presley. From very humble beginnings, Elvis would go on to be one of the most successful musicians in history. In 1956, he scored his first number one hit, “Heartbreak Hotel.” Shortly after, he made his big… Read the full story

Do you have royal blood? On this day in 1762, George IV of the United Kingdom was born. Image: George IV / Wikimedia Commons, Rijksmuseum The first child of King George III and Queen Charlotte, George became Prince Regent in 1811 during his father’s mental illnesses and ascended to the throne following his death in 1820. George enjoyed living an extravagant lifestyle and at the age of 23, secretly and illegally married Maria Fitzherbert, a twice-widowed commoner and a Roman… Read the full story

On this day in 1782, Vicente Guerrero, a leading general of the Mexican War of Independence and later President of Mexico, was born. A champion of the common people, Guerrero is remembered as one of the most influential leaders in Mexican history. Image: Vicente Guerrero / Wikimedia Commons Guerrero was born on August 10, 1782 in Tixtia, a small town in what is today his namesake state of Guerrero in Mexico. He was of Afro-mestizo descent and… Read the full story

On this day in 1908, space pioneer Mary G. Ross was born in Park Hill, Oklahoma. Remembered for being the first Native American female engineer, Ross’s contributions would become crucial to the development of the American space program. Image: Mary G. Ross / San Diego Air and Space Museum Ross was the second of five children born to William Ross and Mary Henrietta Moore. Her second great grandfather was John Ross, who was the longest serving Chief of… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Tony Bennett! Today the iconic singer turns 96. Image: Tony Bennett / Nationaal Archief, CC0 Bennett was born Anthony Dominick Benedetto on August 3, 1926 in Queens, New York to John Benedetto, a grocer, and Anna Suraci, a seamstress. Growing up, Bennett had a passion for music and the arts. He began singing at the age of 10 and as a teen he worked as a singing waiter in several Italian restaurants…. Read the full story

On this day in 1589, Henry III of France died at the hands of a religious fanatic. Image: Henry III of France / Rijksmuseum, Wikimedia Commons Henry III was born on September 19, 1551 at the royal Château de Fontainebleau. The fourth son of King Henry II and Catherine de Medici, Henry was never expected to become the King of France. He ruled as the King of the Polish-Lithuanian commonwealth before inheriting the French throne… Read the full story

Do you remember watching Bob Hope onscreen? The comedian died on this day in 2003 at the age of 100. Image: Bob Hope / U.S. National Archives and Records Administration He was born Leslie Townes Hope on May 29, 1903 in Eltham, London. He was the fifth of seven sons born to William Henry Hope, a stonemason, and Avis Townes, an amateur opera singer and cleaner. In 1908, the family emigrated to the United States on… Read the full story

Remember reading A Farewell to Arms? On this day in 1899, author Ernest Hemingway was born in Oak Park, Illinois. Image: Ernest Hemingway / U.S. National Archives and Records Administration During World War I, Hemingway enlisted with the Red Cross to become an ambulance driver in Italy. On July 8, 1918, he was seriously wounded by mortar fire and despite his injuries, Hemingway assisted Italian soldiers to safety. He would receive the Italian Silver Medal of Bravery… Read the full story

On July 19, 1834, painter and sculptor Edgar Degas was born in Paris, France. Image: Edgar Degas / Wikimedia Commons At the beginning of his career, Degas aspired to become a history painter, which required rigorous academic training. However, he later changed course and turned to capturing moments of modern life. Although he is regarded as one of the founders of Impressionism, Degas rejected the term and preferred to be called a realist. His highly… Read the full story

Today we remember legendary astronaut John Glenn on what would have been his 101st birthday. Image: John Glenn / NASA John Herschel Glenn, Jr. was born on July 18, 1921 to John Herschel Glenn, Sr. and Clara Sproat in Cambridge, Ohio. In 1943, Glenn married his high school sweetheart, Anna Castor. The couple had met when they were just toddlers and remained married for 73 years until his death. An original member of the Mercury… Read the full story

Do you have Dutch ancestry? Dutch artist Rembrandt van Rijn was born on this day in 1606 in Leiden in the Dutch Republic, now known as the Netherlands. Image: Rembrandt van Rijn / Wikimedia Commons The ninth child born to Harmen Gerritszoon van Rijn and Neeltgen Willemsdochter van Zuytbrouck, Rembrandt was put through school in preparation for a career in the government or ministry. However, by the age of 15, he abandoned his studies to pursue… Read the full story

Today marks writer Henry David Thoreau’s 205th birthday! Image: Henry David Thoreau / Wikimedia Commons He was born David Henry Thoreau on July 12, 1817 in Concord, Massachusetts to John Thoreau, a pencil maker, and Cynthia Dunbar. His maternal grandfather, Asa Dunbar, had led Harvard’s 1766 “Butter Rebellion,” the first recorded student protest in the colonies. Thoreau was a leading transcendentalist and naturalist and often wrote about nature and the environment. He is best remembered for… Read the full story

Today we remember artist Frida Kahlo, who was born on this day 115 years ago. Magdalena Carmen Frida Kahlo y Calderón was born on July 6, 1907 in Coyoacán, a village outside of Mexico City, Mexico. Her father, Guillermo Kahlo, was a photographer born in Germany and immigrated to Mexico in 1891. At the age of 6, Kahlo contracted polio, which left her right leg shorter than her left. Kahlo first began painting after she was… Read the full story

Today we remember legendary actress Katharine Hepburn, who passed away on this day in 2003. Remembered as one of Hollywood’s most celebrated actresses in film history, Hepburn earned a record 4 Academy Awards for Best Actress, more than any other performer and still holds the record to this day. Image: Katharine Hepburn / Wikimedia Commons Hepburn was born on May 12, 1907 to a very progressive family. Her father, Thomas Norval Hepburn, was a urologist who helped establish… Read the full story

On June 28, 1491, Henry VIII was born at Greenwich. The second son of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York, Henry was not expected to become king. However, the sudden death of his brother, Arthur, in 1502 made Henry the heir-apparent. Image: Henry VIII of England / Paul Hermans, Wikimedia Commons Still intent on securing an alliance between England and Spain, Henry VII offered Henry in marriage to Arthur’s widow, Catherine of Aragon, the youngest surviving child of… Read the full story

“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched – they must be felt with the heart.” – Helen Keller Image: Helen Keller / Library of Congress On this day in 1880, inspirational author and activist Helen Keller was born in Tuscumbia, Alabama. Her father, Arthur Keller, was a captain for the Confederate Army and a second cousin to General Robert E. Lee. She was not blind and deaf at birth. At 19… Read the full story