Author: Amanda

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

Do you have any Brazilian roots in your family tree? Today we remember one of Brazil’s greatest composers in history, Heitor Villa-Lobos, who was born on March 5, 1887. Image: Heitor Villa-Lobos / Arquivo Nacional Collection, Public Domain Described as “the single most significant figure in 20th-century Brazilian art music,” Villa-Lobos has become one of the most well-known Latin American composers to date. He was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to Raul Villa-Lobos and Noêmia dos… Read the full story

On this day in 1954, actor, director, and producer Ron Howard was born in Duncan, Oklahoma. Image: David Shankbone / Wikimedia Commons, (CC BY 3.0) Howard was the eldest son born to Rance Howard, a writer, director, and actor, and Jean Speegle Howard, an actress. His father was born with the surname “Beckenholdt,” but changed it to “Howard” when he became an actor. With both parents working in show business, Howard made his first on… Read the full story

On this day in 1792, Italian composer Gioachino Rossini was born. Rossini gained fame for his 39 operas and is remembered as one of the most significant Italian composers of the first half of the nineteenth century. Image: Gioachino Rossini / Wikimedia Commons Rossini was born on February 29, 1792 to Giuseppe Rossini, a trumpeter, and Anna Guidarini, a singer. He began to compose by the age of 12 and studied at Bologna’s Philharmonic School…. Read the full story

On February 28, 1901, chemist Linus Pauling was born. Considered one of the most influential chemists in history, Pauling is often recognized as one of the founders of quantum chemistry and molecular biology. Image: Linus Pauling / Library of Congress Pauling was born in Portland, Oregon to Herman Henry William Pauling and Lucy Isabelle “Belle” Darling. He was named “Linus Car” after his maternal grandfather, Linus, and his paternal grandfather, Carl. Over the course of… Read the full story

Today we remember star Elizabeth Taylor, who was born February 27, 1932. Image: Elizabeth Taylor / Wikimedia Commons Taylor was born in Hempstead, London to American parents, Francis and Sara Taylor. From her early years as a child star, she became one of the greatest actresses of Hollywood’s Gold Age. Remembered for her stunning beauty and sometimes scandalous love life, Elizabeth spent much of her life devoted to charitable organizations and became an outspoken advocate… Read the full story

Do you have cowboys or lawmen in your family tree? On this day in 1846, Buffalo Bill Cody was born in the Iowa Territory. Image: Buffalo Bill Cody / Library of Congress Though born in the U.S., Cody spent much of his childhood growing up in his father’s hometown in Canada before the family moved to the Kansas territory. Buffalo Bill’s life was filled with fascinating adventures, making him a legendary figure of the American Wild… Read the full story

Today we remember sociologist and civil rights activist W.E.B. Du Bois, who was born on February 23, 1868. Image: W.E.B. Du Bois / National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution, CC0 William Edward Burghardt Du Bois was born in Great Barrington, Massachusetts to Mary Silvinia Burghardt and Alfred Du Bois. His mother’s family was a part of a small free black community in Great Barrington and they had long owned land in the area. His maternal second great… Read the full story

Today we celebrate what would have been George Washington’s 292nd birthday! Image: George Washington / National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution Washington was born on February 22, 1732 on his family’s plantation in Westmoreland County in the British colony of Virginia. He was the first of six children born to Augustine Washington and his second wife, Mary Ball. As a teen, Washington began a career as a surveyor and completed many surveying expeditions throughout the Virginia… Read the full story

In just one week Geni will be heading to RootsTech, the largest genealogy conference in the world. Each year, RootsTech offers a wide variety of classes perfect for the beginning family history enthusiast to more advanced genealogists. The conference will be held February 29 – March 2 at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. Once again RootsTech will be both in-person and virtual, so if you cannot make it to Salt… Read the full story

Today we remember actor Alan Rickman on what would have been his 78th birthday. Image: Marie-Lan Nguyen, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0) Rickman was born on February 21, 1946 to Margaret Doreen Rose Bartlett and Bernard William Rickman, a factory worker. At the age of 8, Rickman’s father died of lung cancer, leaving his mother to raise Rickman and his three siblings alone. Although he had participated in school plays during high school, Rickman chose to… Read the full story

American photographer Ansel Adams was born on this day in 1902. Adams is perhaps best remembered for his stunning black and white images of the American West. He used his work to help promote the conservation of the American wilderness. Image: Ansel Adams / Wikimedia Commons Adams was born on February 20, 1902 in San Francisco, California to distinctly upper-class parents. Although his grandfather founded a prosperous lumber business, Adams would come to condemn the… Read the full story

Remember listening to the music of Sonny & Cher? Today we remember Sonny Bono on what would have been his 89th birthday. Image: Sonny Bono / Nationaal Archief, CC0 Salvatore Phillip Bono was born on February 16, 1935 in Detroit, Michigan. The son of Sicilian immigrants, Bono and his family moved to California when he was seven. After dropping out of school, Bono worked a series of odd jobs to support himself. He began his… Read the full story

Do you have adventurers in your family tree? On this day in 1874, polar explorer Ernest Shackleton was born. Considered one of the principal figures of the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration, Shackleton’s expeditions to Antarctica pioneered routes into the continent’s interior. Image: Ernest Shackleton / Library of Congress Shackleton was born on February 15, 1874 in Kilkea, County Kildare, Ireland to Henry Shackleton and Henrietta Letitia Sophia Gavan. At 16, he joined the mercantile marine service and later became… Read the full story

Have you found your connection to abolitionist leader Frederick Douglass? Today we remember the inspirational social reformer, who chose to celebrate his birthday on February 14. Image: Frederick Douglass / Library of Congress Douglass had never known the exact date of his birth. He was born into slavery around February 1818 in Talbot County, Maryland. He was separated from his mother as an infant and spent the early years of his childhood living with his grandmother on a plantation in… Read the full story

On this day in 1542, Catherine Howard, the fifth wife of King Henry VIII, was executed on the grounds of treason for committing adultery. She was queen for only 16 months before her death at the Tower of London. Image: Catherine Howard / Rijksmuseum, Wikimedia Commons Howard was the daughter of Lord Edmund Howard and Joyce Culpeper. She was also the first cousin of Anne Boleyn, who was King Henry VIII’s second wife and mother of… Read the full story

On this day 215 years ago, Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States, was born. Image: Abraham Lincoln / Library of Congress Lincoln was born on February 12, 1809 in a one-room log cabin at Sinking Spring Farm in Hardin County, Kentucky. He was the second child born to Thomas Lincoln and Nancy Hanks. His paternal grandfather, Captain Abraham Lincoln, served in the American Revolutionary War and was a pioneer settler of Kentucky…. Read the full story

On this day in 1773, William Henry Harrison, the 9th President of the United States, was born on the Berkeley Plantation in Charles City County, Virginia. Image: William Henry Harrison / National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution, CCO The last U.S. president to be born a British subject, Harrison was the youngest son of Benjamin Harrison V and Elizabeth Bassett. A member of the Continental Congress, Harrison’s father was a signer of the Declaration of Independence… Read the full story

On this day in 1931, actor James Dean was born in Marion, Indiana. The Rebel Without a Cause star’s life was cut short when he died at the age of 24 in a car accident. Image: James Dean / Wikimedia Commons Dean was the only child born to Winton Dean and Mildred Marie Wilson. After his mother died of uterine cancer when he was nine years old, Dean was sent to live with an aunt and uncle on… Read the full story

Remember reading Little House on the Prairie? On this day in 1867, author Laura Ingalls Wilder was born in a log cabin outside of Pepin, Wisconsin. Image: Laura Ingalls Wilder / Missouri State Archives, Flickr Wilder was a descendant of the Delano family, the same ancestral family of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. In fact, Wilder and President Roosevelt were fifth cousins once removed. Her life growing up with her pioneer family in the “Big Woods” became… Read the full story

Today marks what would have been Ronald Reagan’s 113th birthday! Image: Ronald Reagan / U.S. National Archives and Records Administration Born on February 6, 1911 in Tampico, Illinois, Reagan was the son of Nelle Clyde Wilson and John Edward Reagan. Reagan began his entertainment career in radio before landing roles on the silver screen during the 1930s. Over the course of his Hollywood career, Reagan appeared in over 50 films and served as President of the… Read the full story

Are you related to a Founder Father of the United States? On this day in 1723, John Witherspoon was born in Gifford, Scotland. A strong advocate for colonial independence, Witherspoon was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. Image: John Witherspoon / National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution, CC0 The eldest child of the Reverend James Alexander Witherspoon and Anne Walker, Witherspoon was a minister in the Church of Scotland before immigrating to the colonies…. Read the full story

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 trailblazing Mexican film actress Katy Jurado, who was born on this day in 1924. Considered one of the leading actresses during the Golden Age of Mexican cinema, Jurado was one of the first Mexican actresses to successfully crossover to Hollywood. Image: Katy Jurado / Wikimedia Commons She was born María Cristina Estela Marcela Jurado García in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico to a wealthy family. Despite the disapproval of her family, Jurado decided to pursue… 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