Author: Amanda

Are you a lover of Shakespeare? Today we celebrate the 450th birthday of the great bard, William Shakespeare. Although the exact day of his birth is not known, record of his christening at Holy Trinity Church in Stratford-upon-Avon show he was baptized on April 26, 1564. From this, scholars believe he was born on April 23, 1564. Considered one of the most influential writers in history, his writing is the second most quoted next to… Read the full story

Happy Earth Day! Each year on April 22, the world marks the anniversary of what many consider to be the birth of the modern environmental movement. Earth Day is celebrated in more than 192 countries, making it the largest and most celebrated environmental event worldwide. Together more than a billion people around the world are working to build a cleaner and healthier world for generations to come.  You can celebrate Earth Day here on Geni… Read the full story

Do you have ancestors that hail from Spain? On this day in 1451, Isabella I of Castile was born in Madrigal de las Altas Torres, Spain. As queen of Castile and León, she and her husband, Ferdinand II of Aragon, brought stability to the kingdoms that became the basis for the political unification of Spain under their grandson, Holy Roman Emperor Charles V. In 1492, Isabella and Ferdinand sponsored Christopher Columbus‘ westward expedition to the… Read the full story

Have a wonderful Easter weekend? Catch up on some family history articles you may have missed this past week! Image: Ethnic America, mapped: Your country’s biggest ancestral populations / The Washington Post The Genealogy Sphere The uplifting story behind a blunt obituary (Sverigesradio.se) – The story behind the simple death notice of Stig Kernell, written before his death Ethnic America, mapped: Your county’s biggest ancestral populations (The Washington Post) – A very cool map that… Read the full story

This week, the U.S. celebrates National Library Week. In honor of this literary celebration, we’re highlighting folktale storytellers the Brothers Grimm. Did you know Jacob Grimm also served as royal librarian for Napoleon Bonaparte‘s brother, Jérôme, King of Westphalia? Influenced by the rise of German romanticism in the 19th century, Jacob and his brother Wilhelm collected and recorded the folklore of their region, with an emphasis on recording German oral storytelling. Their collection would later be… Read the full story

Do you have any aviators in your family tree? On April 16, 1867, Wilbur Wright was born in Millville, Indiana. One half of the famous Wright Brothers, Wilbur and his brother Orville had shared a passion and curiosity for flight at a young age. Together they invented the world’s first successful airplane, making the first successful man-powered airplane flight near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina on December 17, 1903. The brothers always shared credit for their inventions… Read the full story

“In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” – Benjamin Franklin While we all dread doing our taxes year after year, there’s at least one good thing about them – when it comes to genealogy, tax records can hold a variety of information about our relatives. If there’s one record you can rely on for consistency, it’s the annual tax records that are diligently recorded and kept. These records… Read the full story

On April 15, 1452, famed inventor and artist Leonardo da Vinci was born in Vinci, Italy. An Italian Renaissance polymath, his genius, perhaps more than that of any other figure, epitomized the Renaissance humanist ideal. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest painters of all time; some of his famous works include the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper. His technological ingenuity was unparalleled, conceptualizing designs for flying machines and tanks well ahead of… Read the full story

Have a great genealogy-filled weekend? Check out these family history articles you may have missed. Image: Heirloom Bible discovered in Denver thrift store / 9news.com The Genealogy Sphere The Genetics of Procrastination (MotherBoard) – Scientists discover that your penchant for procrastination may be in the genes Watch L.A., Paris and Sao Paulo Grow in These Pretty Visualizations (Gizmodo) – Amazing visualizations of growing populations over time 100-Year-Old Message in a Bottle Plucked From Baltic Sea… Read the full story

On this day in 1865, President Abraham Lincoln was shot in Ford’s Theatre by John Wilkes Booth. Mortally wounded, President Lincoln was carried to a lodging house across from the theater. He would die early the next morning, making him the first U.S. president to be assassinated. The attack came just days after Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered his army at Appomattox Court House, Virginia, effectively ending the American Civil War. President Abraham Lincoln… Read the full story

Congratulations to Stephen Colbert! It was announced yesterday that the talented host of Comedy Central’s The Colbert Report will be succeeding David Letterman as the host of the The Late Show after Letterman retires in 2015. Funny must run in the family, it tuns out Letterman is Colbert’s 7th cousin once removed! Letterman will be celebrating his 67th birthday on April 12. Maybe the pair can make it a family affair with a double celebration. What… Read the full story

Do you remember where you were when you heard The Beatles were breaking up? On this day in 1970, Paul McCartney announced he was leaving The Beatles. McCartney’s songwriting partnership with John Lennon was one of the most celebrated of the 20th century. By the end of 1969 and into the beginning of 1970, their working relationship had fallen apart and the group as whole began to disintegrate. After the band’s break-up, the members pursued their… Read the full story

Spring is in the air! Come up with a unique caption for the image below for your chance to win a free Geni Pro subscription. With Geni Pro you will have access to advanced tools to help grow your family tree, including: Tree Matches – achieve faster tree growth with instant tree matches to connect with new relatives Unlimited data – upload unlimited photos, videos and documents Premium support – communicate directly with our expert… Read the full story

On April 9, 1413, Henry V was crowned King of England at Westminster Abbey. Considered one of the great warrior kings in English history, Henry V led two successful invasions of France, culminating in his famous victory at the Battle of Agincourt in 1415. After his sudden death in 1422, he was succeeded by his infant son, who reigned as Henry VI. Fun fact: Henry V was featured in three plays by his cousin William Shakespeare. The… Read the full story

Take a break from your Monday grind with these fascinating articles from the past week! Image: Who’s the man in the ‘mirror’? / CNN The Genealogy Sphere Who’s the man in the ‘mirror’? Historians investigate mystery photo booth portraits (CNN) – Mystery photo booth photos puzzle historians Our time traveling doll (The Guardian) – A family tradition sees a doll passed down through seven generations of daughters Band of ten brothers: When the call came… Read the full story

Today we remember legendary entertainer Mickey Rooney, who passed away yesterday at the age of 93. Rooney was born Joseph Yule, Jr. in Brooklyn, New York on September 23, 1920. A performer since he was a toddler, Rooney made his first stage appearance in his parents’ vaudeville act. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for entertaining the troops in combat zones. Although his career… Read the full story

Do you know where your ancestors once lived? Over time, the names of streets and cities change and borders shift. Landscapes and towns continue to develop and before you know it, what was once a family farm or local schoolhouse, is a parking lot today. When researching our genealogy, it’s important not to overlook the value of historic maps, which can provide a vast number of clues and new leads for you to investigate. Bronx, New… Read the full story

Do you remember reading “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”? On April 3, 1783, author Washington Irving was born in New York City, New York. He was one of eleven children born to Scottish-English immigrants. The family belonged to the city’s small, vibrant merchant class. Born just as the American Revolution came to its end, Irving’s mother named him after the hero of the revolution, George Washington. At the age of six, Irving would meet his… Read the full story

Do you remember watching Singin’ in the Rain? Today star Debbie Reynolds turns 82. She was born Mary Frances Reynolds on April 1, 1932 in El Paso, Texas. Reynolds big break came opposite Gene Kelly in the musical Singin’ in the Rain. In 1955, she married actor Eddie Fisher and had two children. Their daughter, Carrie, would follow in her parents’ footsteps and become an accomplished actress and writer. Despite her cheerful and sunny persona… Read the full story

It’s the end of the month! Treat yourself with these interesting articles from around the web. The Genealogy Sphere Maryland man may have found two lost or forgotten photos of Lincoln’s funeral procession (The Washington Post) – Mystery photos from the National Archives may be rare, long-forgotten photographs from Abraham Lincoln’s funeral procession Linda Hunt believes that knowing where we come from is integral to knowing who we are (Oregon Live) – A local woman… Read the full story

Happy birthday Ewan McGregor! Today the Scottish actor turns 43. Born in Perth, Scotland to school teachers, McGregor showed an early interest in singing before devoting his education to theater. In 1996, he received international acclaim with his breakthrough role in the film Trainspotting. Soon he would join one of the largest film franchises in history with is role as the young Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Star Wars prequels. Did you know he had already shared… Read the full story

Today we remember President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who died on this day in 1969 at the age of 78. He was born in Texas in 1890 and was the third of seven sons. Eisenhower was of Pennsylvania Dutch ancestry and was raised in a large family in Kansas by parents with a strong religious background. A five-star general in the United States Army, Eisenhower served as Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces in Europe during… Read the full story

As we conduct our genealogy research, it’s important not to neglect one of the most invaluable resources we have at our disposal: our relatives! Sharing family history and memories through the intimate knowledge of your family members is a great way to learn about earlier generations of your family. It’s important not to wait too long to connect with your relatives, distant and close members. Once a relative passes away, their memories and stories are lost… Read the full story

Happy 83rd birthday Leonard Nimoy! Nimoy was born March 26, 1931 in Boston Massachusetts to Yiddish-speaking Orthodox Jewish immigrants from Iziaslav, Soviet Union (now Ukraine). He began acting at the age of 8 in neighborhood theater and was encouraged to pursue a career as an actor by his grandfather. Best known for portraying Spock in the original Star Trek series, the role and the series would have a significant cultural impact and earn him three Emmy nominations. Following the… Read the full story

Happy birthday Elton John! Today the singer turns 67. He was born Reginald Kenneth Dwight in Pinner, England on March 25, 1947. He began playing the piano at the age of 3, and by the age of 11, he had earned a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music. Today Elton is one of the best-selling artists in the world, with over 300 million records sold worldwide. What’s your favorite song? Curious to see how… Read the full story

Here’s your weekly round-up of articles you may have missed in the past week! Image: Soldier’s fate revealed / Batley&Birstall News The Genealogy Sphere Watch as 1000 years of European borders change (loiter.co) – Watch this fascinating video of he changes in Europe’s borders for the last 1000 years Grandfather’s Brilliant Final Letter To His Grandkids Offers Life Lessons For The Rest Of Us (The Huffington Post) – Read this moving letter a grandfather wrote to… Read the full story

Were you a fan of Steve McQueen? On March 24, 1930, the popular action star was born in Beech Grove, Indiana. Dubbed the “King of Cool,” McQueen embodied the “anti-hero” persona, which made him a huge box office draw during the 1960s and 1970s. Some of his most memorable films include Bullitt, The Magnificent Seven  and The Great Escape. What’s your favorite Steve McQueen film? Explore his family tree on Geni and see how you’re related!   View… Read the full story

Happy birthday Rosie! Today Rosie O’Donnell turns 52. Born on March 21, 1962 in Commack, New York, Rosie was the third of five children. Her mother was a homemaker and her father was an electrical engineer in the defense industry. She began her career as a stand-up comedian, making five appearances on the talent show Star Search before heading to Los Angeles. She made her film debut in A League of Their Own and continued to find further… Read the full story

It’s no surprise when we’re researching our genealogy that we come across an occupation that has disappeared from the current job market. As technology advances over time, occupations that were once commonplace get rarer and rarer, until it eventually becomes obsolete. Check out this list of some unusual occupations that our ancestors once labored in that we no longer see today. Knocker-ups Before the invention of the alarm clock, a knocker-up was a profession in… Read the full story

Do you remember watching Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood? Today we celebrate the beloved television host Fred Rogers on what would have been his 86th birthday. He was born in Latrobe, Pennsylvania to James and Nancy Rogers. Over the course of three decades, Rogers became an indelible American icon of children’s entertainment and education. Fred Rogers is connected to over 75 million people in Geni’s World Family Tree. How are you related? View Fred Rogers’ Geni Profile… Read the full story

Do you have Massachusetts Bay Colony ancestors? On this day in 1603, Simon Bradstreet, the last Massachusetts Bay Colony governor, was born in Horbling, England. Bradstreet arrived in Boston with John Winthrop aboard the Arabella and was very much involved in colonial politics. He was married to Anne Bradstreet, who was the first poet and first female writer to be published in Colonial America. Her work was very influential to the Puritans of her time. Amongst… Read the full story

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Get your genealogy fix today with these interesting articles from the past week. Image: 10 Fascinating Death Facts from the Victorian Era / Listverse.com The Genealogy Sphere 10 Fascinating Death Facts from the Victorian Era (Listvers.com) – Here are ten fascinating facts about death during the Victorian Era A Book Photography Stand (One Rhode Island Family blog) – Creative way for you to digitize some books for your genealogy research Are… Read the full story

Geni and our parent company, MyHeritage, recently announced a global initiative with BillionGraves to digitally preserve the world’s cemeteries. This past Sunday, our good friends at MyHeritage headquarters headed out to the Segula Cemetery in Petah Tikva, Israel to digitize gravestones using the BillionGraves mobile app. With 80 eager MyHeritage employees out in full force, the team got a real hands-on experience using the app and came away from the experience with some great ideas… Read the full story

Happy birthday Liza Minnelli! This day in 1946, Liza Minnelli was born in Hollywood, California to Hollywood power couple Vincent Minnelli and Judy Garland. Primed for stardom at birth, Liza was able to step out of her mother’s shadow and enjoy a highly successful career in entertainment. She’s one of the rare few who have earned the coveted EGOT, an award in each of the top four major entertainment honors: an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and… Read the full story

Suffering from the Monday blues? Check out these articles for a quick family history pick-me-up to perk up your Monday! Image: 11 Jobs That No Longer Exist Today / 9gag.com) The Genealogy Sphere 11 Jobs That No Longer Exist Today (9gag.com) – Did your ancestors work jobs that no longer exist today? War Widow Finds Answers After Years (FaithIt.com) – A war widow discovers the truth about her missing husband after searching for 68 years… Read the full story

Happy birthday Chuck Norris! Can you believe he’s turning 74 today? The action icon was born Carlos Ray Norris in Ryan, Oklahoma to Wilma and Ray Norris on March 10, 1940. After serving in the United States Air Force, Norris rose to fame as a martial artist. During one of his martial arts demonstrations, he caught the eye of Bruce Lee who cast him in the film Return of the Dragon, which helped launch Norris… Read the full story

Happy birthday Rachel Weisz! Today the actress turns 44. Born in Westminster, London, Rachel’s father was an inventor from Hungry and her mother was a teacher-turned-psychotherapist from Vienna, Austria. Her family fled to England before the outbreak of World War II to escape the Nazis. She began her career as a model at the age of 14, and soon began studying English in school. She soon found international stardom in the film The Mummy. In… Read the full story

Have you ever seen the statue of David in person? On this day in 1475, Italian Renaissance artist Michelangelo was born in Caprese, Italy. Unlike many artists who didn’t live to see their work appreciated, Michelangelo was one of the most successful and wealthiest artists during his lifetime. To this day, people travel from all over the world to view his magnificent work in person, including his most popular pieces the Pietà and the ceiling of… Read the full story

Did you play with a hula hoop as a child? Image credit: George Garrigues, Wikipedia On March 5, 1963, the modern day Hula-Hoop was patented by Arthur Melin. The co-founder of the toy company, Wham-O, Melin was inspired to develop the popular children’s toy after observing Australian children twirling wooden hoops around their waists during gym class. Wham-O began selling plastic versions of the hoop, which they dubbed “Hula” after the Hawaiian dance, and demonstrated them… Read the full story

On March 5, 1946, Winston Churchill delivered his famous “Iron Curtain” speech at Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri. As prime minister of Britain, Churchill rallied the British people during World War II and led his country from the brink of defeat to victory. Although he was defeated in his re-election for prime minster in 1945, Churchill continued to play an influential role in world politics. With President Harry S. Truman in attendance, Churchill delivered one… Read the full story

On March 4, 1913, Woodrow Wilson was sworn in as the 28th president of the United States. Born Thomas Woodrow Wilson in Staunton, Virginia, Wilson served as President of Princeton University and as governor of New Jersey before entering the White House. President Wilson led the country through World War I and helped craft the Treaty of Versailles, which brought an end to the Great War. The treaty also created the League of Nations, a… Read the full story

Did you watch the 86th Annual Academy Awards? The star-studded award show was hosted for the second time by comedian Ellen DeGeneres, who took over the reigns from the previous year’s host Seth MacFarlane. Funny must run in the genes because the Family Guy creator also happens to be Ellen’s 10th cousin. Did you enjoy watching Ellen bring her friendly charm to the Oscar stage? It turns out this year’s race was a family affair, with… Read the full story

Have you made any genealogy discoveries using DNA testing? On this day in 1953, scientists James D. Watson and Francis Crick discovered the chemical structure of DNA. Using experimental data collected by Rosalind Franklin and Maurice Wilkins, the pioneering duo deduced the double-helix structure of DNA and revolutionized our understanding of genetics and heredity. Watson, Crick and Wilkins were awarded the Nobel Prize in 1962 for their contributions to this groundbreaking scientific discovery. Sadly, Franklin died in… Read the full story

Did you watch The Honeymooners? On February 26, 1916 star Jackie Gleason was born in Bushwick, New York. Gleason experienced great loss during his childhood; his father abandoned the family when Jackie was eight and his only sibling died at a young age. A pioneer of television comedy, he began his career as the host of the variety show Cavalcade of Stars, before he took on his iconic role of blustery bus driver Ralph Kramden…. Read the full story

Do you remember watching Harold Ramis in Ghostbusters? Yesterday, February 24, the comedic legend passed away at the age of 69. Ramis was born on November 21, 1944 in Chicago, Illinois. For over 40 years, Ramis was a leading figure in the world of comedy. As an actor, writer, and director, his films also included the classic comedies Caddyshack, Stripes and Groundhog Day. What was your favorite film? Explore Harold Ramis’s family tree on Geni to discover how you’re connected.  … Read the full story

Get your genealogy and family history fix with this week’s roundup! The Genealogy Sphere Shakespeare’s 14th great-niece baptized at church where he is buried (DailyMail UK) – The 14th great-niece of the famous writer was baptized at the church where the playwright is buried Are You Related to A.J. Jacobs? (WNYC) – Listen to A.J. Jacobs on The Brian Lehrer Show discussing his global family reunion event The transported child (The Legal Genealogist) – Judy… Read the full story

Today we remember innovator and Apple co-founder Steve Jobs on what would have been his 59th birthday. On February 24, 1955, Steve was born in San Francisco, California to two University of Wisconsin graduate students who gave him up for adoption. He was adopted by Paul Reinhold and Clara Jobs, who encouraged his education and hobby of tinkering with electronics. Steve’s unique vision and creativity not only led Apple to become one of the most profitable… Read the full story

Are you watching the XXII Olympic Winter Games taking place in Sochi, Russia? Although initial reports depict less than ideal conditions at the games for the first time Olympic hosts, the athletes have brought their A-game as they compete against the best of the best from all over the world. If you’re a big fan of these winter sports, here’s your chance to bring your love of the winter games and genealogy together – the Sochi… Read the full story

We’re excited to announce that Geni has teamed up with BillionGraves to launch a global crowdsourcing initiative to digitally preserve the world’s cemeteries. In the world of genealogy, gravestones play an important role in telling us information about our ancestors. They can not only provide the name, birth and death date of the deceased, but also the names of close relatives. Epitaphs often provide insight into the person’s life, and may include a brief description… Read the full story

Happy Valentine’s Day! With romance in the air, today is an especially affectionate day of love. It’s also the best time to share the love stories found in our families. Below is a sweet picture from the 1957 inaugural parade. At first glance, you may find it adorable for the capture of President Eisenhower with his grandchildren and Vice President Nixon with his children as they enjoy the parade together. However, it’s even sweeter when you realize the little boy, David… Read the full story