Author: Amanda

On this day in 1840, Polish actress Helena Modrzejewska was born. Known professionally as Helena Modjeska, Modrzejewska is remembered as one of Poland’s most celebrated actresses. She won wide acclaim for her Shakespearean performances on stage. Image: Helena Modrzejewska / Library of Congress She was born on October 12, 1840 in Kraków, Poland. Her name was recorded as Jadwiga Benda at birth, but she was later baptized as Helena Opid. In 1861, she made her… Read the full story

On this day in 1895, iconic silent film star Buster Keaton was born in Piqua, Kansas. Image: Buster Keaton / Library of Congress Joseph Frank Keaton, VI was the son of Joseph Hallie “Joe” Keaton and Myra Cutler. Born into a vaudeville family, Keaton was destined to follow in his family’s footsteps. By the age of three, his parents had incorporated him into their vaudeville act. His father once worked in a traveling medicine show with Harry Houdini. According… Read the full story

On this day in 1955, actor James Dean died in a car crash at the age of 24. Image: James Dean / Wikimedia Commons Dean was born on February 8, 1931 in Marion, Indiana to Winton Dean and Mildred Wilson. When he was five, the family moved to California. However, after his mother died four years later, Dean was sent back to Indiana to live on his aunt and uncle’s farm. Dean later returned to California… Read the full story

Are you related to a Founding Father? On September 27, 1722, 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. The Adams were an affluent and prosperous Puritan family. His father was a prominent local merchant and church deacon who became a leading figure in Boston politics. A strong opponent of… Read the full story

On this day in 1870, British tennis player Charlotte Cooper was born. A tennis pioneer, Cooper won five singles titles at the Wimbledon Championships and holds the distinction of being the first female Olympic tennis champion. Image: Charlotte Cooper / Wikimedia Commons In 1895, Cooper won her first of five Wimbledon woman’s single titles and by the time she won her second championship a year later, Cooper had lost her sense of hearing. In 1900,… Read the full story

On this day in 1878, author Upton Sinclair was born. Sinclair is best known for his classic novel, The Jungle, which exposed the horrid conditions of the U.S. meatpacking industry. Image: Upton Sinclair / Library of Congress Sinclair was born on September 20, 1878 in Baltimore, Maryland to Upton Beall Sinclar, Sr. and Priscilla Harden. Although he grew up in poverty, his mother’s family was very affluent. His exposure to both social settings would later… Read the full story

On this day in 1964, the classic television comedy Bewitched premiered. Starring Elizabeth Montgomery, the show was a huge success and ran for eight seasons. Image: Elizabeth Montgomery / Wikimedia Commons Montgomery starred as Samantha Stephens, a witch married to a mortal played by Dick York, and in later seasons, by Dick Sargent. Agnes Moorehead starred as Samantha’s mother, Endora. In its first season, the show was a ratings hit and ranked as one of… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Prince Harry! Today the Duke of Sussex celebrates his 37th birthday. Image: Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex / Dutch Ministry of Defence, Wikimedia Commons (CC0 1.0) Harry was born on September 15, 1984 at St. Mary’s Hospital in London, England to Charles, Prince of Wales and Diana, Princess of Wales. He was christened Henry Charles Albert David, but growing up, he was referred to as “Harry.” He is currently the sixth in… Read the full story

On this day in 1927, pioneering dancer Isadora Duncan died in a tragic accident. Known as the “mother of modern dance,” Duncan broke away from convention and developed free, emotional, and natural movements in dance. Image: Isadora Duncan / Library of Congress Duncan was born on May 26, 1877 in San Francisco, California to Joseph Charles Duncan, a banker and mining engineer, and Mary Isadora Gray, a music teacher. As a child, she enjoyed dance… Read the full story

On this day in 1533, Elizabeth I of England was born. The last Tudor monarch, Elizabeth reigned for 44 years until her death in 1603. Image: Elizabeth I / Wikimedia Commons Elizabeth was born on September 7, 1533 at Greenwich Palace and was the daughter of Henry VIII of England and his second wife, Anne Boleyn. She was named after her grandmothers, Elizabeth of York and Elizabeth Boleyn. When she was two years old, her… Read the full story

What did your ancestors do for a living? In the mid-19th century, occupational portraits were a common portrait style that illustrated an individual’s trade or profession. If you are lucky to have an occupational portrait of an ancestor, you may see that they often include tools or props to help illustrate their profession or skills. They may be dressed in their work attire and in some cases, they may even pretend to be working. These… Read the full story

Today we celebrate social activist Jane Addams, who was born on this day in 1860. Image: Jane Addams / Library of Congress Addams was born on September 6, 1860 in Cedarville, Illinois to John H. Adams and Sarah Weber. Her father was a prominent political figure in Illinois and a friend of President Abraham Lincoln. As a child, she became interested in helping the poor after reading the works of Charles Dickens. She studied medicine… Read the full story

On this day in 1883, Polish biologist Rudolf Weigl was born. Weigl is remembered for producing the first effective vaccine for epidemic typhus and saving thousands of Jewish lives during World War II. Image: Rudolf Weigl / Narodowe Archiwum Cyfrowe Weigl was born on September 2, 1883 in the city of Prerau in what was then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. When he was a child, his father died in a bicycle accident. His mother… Read the full story

Have you found your connection to Dutch royalty? On this day in 1880, Wilhelmina of the Netherlands was born. Image: Wilhelmina of the Netherlands / Wikimedia Commons Wilhelmina Helena Pauline Maria was born on August 31, 1880 at Noordeinde Palace in The Hague, Netherlands. The only surviving child of King Willem III and his second wife, Emma of Waldeck and Pyrmont, Wilhelmina became queen at the age of 10 after her father’s death in 1890…. Read the full story

Today we remember Ed Asner, who passed away yesterday at the age of 91. Image: Ed Asner / Department of Defense, William D Moss Asner was born on November 15, 1929 in Kansas City, Missouri to Morris David Asner and Elizabeth Seliger. the youngest of five children, Asner was raised in an Orthodox Jewish family. After high school, he was accepted at the University of Chicago and studied journalism before dropping out. He worked a… Read the full story

On August 24, 1899, Argentine writer and poet Jorge Luis Borges was born. Explore his family tree on Geni.

Today marks the 235th birthday of American folk hero Davy Crockett. Image: Davy Crockett / Library of Congress David “Davy” Crockett was born on August 17, 1786 in what is present day Tennessee. During the Creek War, Crockett joined the state militia as a scout and spent much of his time hunting wild game for the soldiers. He later served as third sergeant in the War of 1812, but saw little action. After returning home, he served… Read the full story

On this day in 2018, legendary singer Aretha Franklin died at the age of 76. Image: Aretha Franklin / U.S. National Archives and Records Administration Franklin was born on March 25, 1942 in Memphis, Tennessee to C.L. Franklin, a Baptist minister, and Barbara Siggers, an accomplished pianist and vocalist. Franklin’s musical talent was apparent at an early age and she was encouraged to sing in front of her father’s congregation. By 14, she was traveling… Read the full story

The Tokyo 2020 Olympic games has seen a number of exciting, history making performances this year. On August 3, Norwegian hurdler Karsten Warholm not only won gold in the men’s 400-meter hurdles, but also set a new world record! Image: Karsten Warholm / Yann Caradec, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0) In what has been called one of the greatest races in Olympics history, Warholm won at 45.94 seconds, crushing his own world record by .76…. Read the full story

After being postponed for a year, the Tokyo 2020 Olympics are now in full swing. Although this year’s games are different due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is still full of history making celebrations from some amazing female athletes. Weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz made history for winning the Philippines’s first Olympic gold medal. Japan’s Momiji Nishiya became the first gold medalist in the women’s street skateboarding event at just 13 years old. She is also Japan’s… Read the full story

Today we remember beloved game show host Alex Trebek on what would have been his 81st birthday. Image: Alex Trebek / Nestor Cruz, U.S. Air Force He was born George Alexander Trebek on July 22, 1940 in Sudbury, Ontario to George Edward Trebek (born Terebeychuk) and Lucille Marie Lagacé. His father emigrated from the Ukraine as a child and became a chef. His mother was French Canadian and so Trebek grew up speaking both French… Read the full story

Today we remember actor Robin Williams on what would have been his 70th birthday. Image: Robin Williams / Eva Rinaldi, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0) He was born Robin McLaurin Williams on July 21, 1951 in Chicago, Illinois. A quiet child growing up, Williams joined the drama department at school to help overcome his shyness. As a student at Julliard, he became friends with fellow actor Christopher Reeve. The pair shared a close friendship until Reeve’s… Read the full story

On this day in 1862, investigative journalist, educator, and civil rights activist Ida B. Wells was born. Image: Ida B. Wells / National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution Wells was born into slavery on July 16, 1862 in Holly Springs, Mississippi to James Maddison Wells and Elizabeth “Lizzie” Warrenton. After emancipation, her father was a trustee of Shaw College (today Rust College), a school for the newly freed enslaved people. Wells attended the school until she… Read the full story

On this day in 1862, geologist and educator Florence Bascom was born. A pioneer of her field, Bascom is considered to be the first female geologist in America. Image: Florence Bascom / Smithsonian Institution, Flickr Bascom was born on July 14, 1862 in Williamstown, Massachusetts. She was the youngest surviving child of John Bascom, a professor at Williams College, and Emma Curtiss, a teacher and women’s right’s activist. Both of her parents were strong supporters… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Patrick Stewart! A veteran of the stage and screen, Stewart’s versatile career has spanned from the works of Shakespeare to some of popular culture’s most iconic franchises. Image: Patrick Stewart / Gage Skidmore, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0) Stewart was born on July 13, 1940 in Mirfield, England to Gladys Barrowclaugh, a textile worker, and Alfred Stewart, a Regimental Sergeant Major in the British Army. Growing up in a poor and abusive household,… Read the full story

On this day in 1854, American inventor and philanthropist George Eastman was born. Image: George Eastman / Library of Congress Eastman was born on July 12, 1854 in Waterville, New York and was the youngest of three children born to George Washington Eastman and Maria Kilbourn. His father started a small business school, Eastman Commercial College, in Rochester, New York. When Eastman was 8, his father died suddenly and by 14, he left school to… Read the full story

On this day in 1861, American geneticist Nettie Stevens was born. A pioneer of her field, Stevens is credited with discovering sex chromosomes. Image: Nettie Stevens / Wikimedia Commons Stevens was born on July 7, 1961 in Cavendish, Vermont to Julia Adams and Ephraim Stevens. An excellent student, Stevens was near the top of her class. She and her sister, Emma, were two of three women to graduate from Westford Academy, a private high school,… Read the full story

On July 4 the United States celebrates Independence Day, which commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. In July 1776, the Continental Congress declared that the thirteen American colonies were no longer subject to British rule under King George III and were now free, independent states. In celebration of the holiday, we take a look at a few of the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence and how they are related to each… Read the full story

Today we remember one of the most iconic actresses in Hollywood, Katharine Hepburn, who died on June 29, 2003 at the age of 96. Image: Katharine Hepburn / Wikimedia Commons Considered one of the greatest actresses in film history, Hepburn garnered multiple awards and nominations for her breathtaking performances. Her career spanned over 60 years, making her last on screen appearance at the age of 87. Katharine Houghton Hepburn was born on May 12, 1907… Read the full story

This Father’s Day we asked you to send a photo of your dad or a father-figure in your life and tell us what makes him special to you. One lucky person would be chosen at random and receive a free 1-year subscription of Geni Pro. We received some lovely stories from the community and today we’re excited to announce the winner of our Father’s Day giveaway – Līga Saleme! Līga shared the following about her… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Prince William! Today the Duke of Cambridge turns 39. Image: Prince William, Duke of Cambridge / USAID/Vietnam As the eldest son of Prince Charles and Princess Diana, the Duke of Cambridge is the second in line to the British throne. Prince William was born on June 21, 1982 at St. Mary’s Hospital in London, which is also the same hospital where his younger brother, Prince Harry, and Prince William’s three children were born. After completing his… Read the full story

Each year Father’s Day is celebrated to honor fathers and father-figures in our lives. With the special day just around the corner, we thought it would be fun to hear about your dad and what makes him special to you. Share your stories with us and you can win a free 1-year subscription of Geni Pro! From important life lessons to teaching us new skills such as riding a bike, our dads have made long… Read the full story

Today we remember famous oceanographer and explorer Jacques Cousteau, who was born on this day in 1910. A pioneer of marine conservation, Cousteau studied all forms of life in the water and documented his extensive investigations in books and films. Image: Jacques Causteau / Nationaal Archief, CC0 Jacques-Yves Causteau was born on June 11, 1910 in Saint-André-de-Cubzac, France to Daniel Cousteau and Elizabeth Duranthon. In 1930, he entered the French naval academy and graduated as a gunnery… Read the full story

A few months ago, we released some major enhancements to sources on Geni. Today we are happy to announce new improvements to sources to make your citation experience on your mobile device even better.  Sources can now be added from the family tree interface quickly on your phone, making it even easier to document your ancestry while you are on the go. While visiting your local archive, courthouse, or library, you can use your mobile… Read the full story

Today actress Angelina Jolie celebrates her 46th birthday! Image: Angelina Jolie / Gage Skidmore, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0) Jolie was born on June 4, 1975 in Los Angeles, California to actors John Voight and Marcheline Betrand. After her parents separated, Jolie and her brother were largely raised by their mother. Jolie began acting at a young age, studying at the Lee Strasberg Theater Institute as a teen. Her breakthrough performance in the 1998 television… Read the full story

Could we BE anymore excited!? After 17 years off the air, the entire cast of the hit television show Friends came together in a highly anticipated reunion special. Friends: The Reunion, also dubbed “The One Where They Get Back Together,” was released on May 27 after being delayed for a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. All six of the main cast, Jennifer Aniston, Courtney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry, and David Schwimmer,… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Bob Dylan! Today the iconic musician turns 80. A gifted songwriter, Dylan is often considered  to be one of the most influential musicians in the world. Image: Bob Dylan / Library of Congress Dylan was born Robert Allen Zimmerman on May 24, 1941 in Duluth, Minnesota. When Dylan first began performing in college he took on the name “Bob Dylan” after the poet Dylan Thomas. During the 1960s, Dylan became known as… Read the full story

In celebration of Mother’s Day, we asked you to tell us the best piece of advice or words of wisdom you have received from your mom or from a mother-figure in your life. One lucky winner would receive a free year of Geni Pro. Today we are excited to announce the winner of our Mother’s Day Giveaway – Coyal M. Gorman! Coyal shared how her grandmother, Coyal Maxey, instilled the importance of family: “About 30… Read the full story

On this day in 1804, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark departed St. Louis, Missouri to begin their mission of exploring the American Northwest. After the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, President Thomas Jefferson wanted to get an accurate assessment of the new land and its resources. He enlisted Lewis to command the expedition, who recruited his close friend William Clark as his Second Lieutenant in command. The journey to the Pacific coast lasted two years. During this… Read the full story

On this day in 1840, famous Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky was born in Vyatka, Russia. Considered one of the most popular Russian composers in history, Tchaikovsky’s works included symphonies, concertos, operas, and ballets. Image: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky / Library of Congress Tchaikovsky began taking piano lessons at the age of five and showed an adept talent for music. Despite his passion, Tchaikovsky was educated for a career as a civil servant. He spent a short tenure as… Read the full story

Happy birthday to George Clooney! Today the actor turns 60. Image: George Clooney / U.S. National Archives and Records Administration Clooney was born on May 6, 1961 in Lexington, Kentucky to Nick Clooney, a former anchorman and television host, and Nina Warren, a former city councilwoman. His aunt, Rosemary Clooney, was a famous singer and actress. With his family’s background in show business, it was not a surprise when Clooney decided to move to Los… Read the full story

With Mother’s Day just around the corner, we thought it would be fun to celebrate the moms or mother-figures in our lives with a chance to win a free 1-year subscription of Geni Pro! Throughout our lives, we’ve heard countless pieces of advice or words of encouragement from our mothers. For this Mother’s Day giveaway, we want to hear about the best piece of advice you have received from your mom or mother-figure in your… Read the full story

Today we remember beloved child star Shirley Temple on what would have been her 93rd birthday. Image: Eleanor Roosevelt and Shirley Temple / U.S. National Archives and Records Administration Shirley Temple was born on April 23, 1928 in Santa Monica, California. She began her film career at the age of 3 with a role in Baby Burlesks, a series of short films satirizing recent film and political events, using pre-school children in every role. In 1934, she… Read the full story

It’s Earth Day! Earth Day is observed worldwide in 192 countries in appreciation of the Earth’s natural environment and to increase public awareness of environmental issues. In celebration of Earth Day, here’s a look at some notable environmentalists in Geni’s World Family Tree! Explore their family trees and see how you’re connected to these influential environmental figures! Rachel Carson Image: Smithsonian Institution, Flickr Rachel Carson was a marine biologists, conservationist, and author of Silent Spring…. Read the full story

Today Queen Elizabeth II turns 95. The longest-reigning monarch in British history, the Queen’s birthday comes just days after the funeral of her husband, Prince Philip. Image: Queen Elizabeth / Wikimedia Commons, NASA Born on April 21, 1926, Elizabeth is the eldest child born to Prince Albert, Duke of York (later King George VI) and Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon. As the daughter of King George V’s second son, Elizabeth was not expected to become queen. However when… Read the full story

Have you visited the Lincoln Memorial? On this day in 1850, sculptor Daniel Chester French was born. Image: Daniel Chester French / Wikimedia Commons, Library of Congress French was the son of Anna Richardson and Henry Flagg French, a lawyer and the first president of the Massachusetts Agricultural College (now the University of Massachusetts Amherst). In 1867, the French family moved to Concord, Massachusetts, where they became neighbors and friends of poet Ralph Waldo Emerson and… Read the full story

On this day in 1906, French physicist Pierre Curie died at the age of 46. Known for his groundbreaking work in radioactivity alongside his wife, renowned physicist Marie Curie, Curie is often regarded as one of the founding fathers of modern physics. Curie was born on May 15, 1859 in Paris, France to Eugene Curie and Sophie-Claire Depouilly. His father was a physician and taught Curie science and mathematics at an early age. In 1903, Pierre… Read the full story

Happy National Scrabble Day! Scrabble Day is observed each year on the birthday of Scrabble inventor Alfred Mosher Butts, who was born on April 13, 1899 in Poughkeepsi, New York. During the Great Depression, Butts lost his job as an architect and struggled to support himself. He found some work writing for magazines and even tried his hand at art, but had little success. During this time, Butts decided to try developing a board game that… Read the full story

We’re sad to hear of the passing of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh at the age of 99. The longest-serving consort of a British monarch, Prince Philip was married to Queen Elizabeth II for 73 years. Image: Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh / Nationaal Archief The Duke of Edinburg was born on June 10, 1921 on the Greek island of Corfu. He was the fifth child born to Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark and… Read the full story

Does your family tree have an adventurous streak? On this day in 1909, explorers Matthew Henson and Robert Peary became the first men to reach the North Pole. Image: Matthew Henson / Library of Congress Matthew Henson was born on August 8, 1866 to freeborn black sharecroppers on a farm in Nanjemoy, Maryland. In 1887, Henson met Peary and was recruited to join Peary’s surveying expedition to Nicaragua. Soon Henson became Peary’s “first man” on… Read the full story