Author: Amanda

On May 30, 1539, Spanish explorer and conquistador Hernando de Soto landed in Florida. Born to a noble but poor family, de Soto was drawn to the glory and wealth garnered from military fame. A key figure in the successful conquest of Peru, he returned to Spain a wealthy man. In 1938, he set sail to North America with a fleet of 10 ships and a crew of 700 men in search for gold. His expedition… Read the full story

Did you miss our webinar with best-selling author A.J. Jacobs? Don’t worry – now you can watch the entire webinar below! AJ gave us a great overview of his journey into his family history and his upcoming attempt to enter the Guinness Book of Records for the largest family reunion ever. Check how you’re related to AJ on Geni with the AJ Jacobs Cousin Connector and follow the Global Family Reunion project on Geni to meet… Read the full story

Today we remember legendary poet, writer and civil rights activist Maya Agnelou, who has died at the age of 86. Beloved and admired by many, Angelou made literary history when she published her best-selling memoir, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, in 1969 and became the first African-American woman to have a non-fiction best-seller. She was a prolific writer, penning more than 30 books, and received numerous awards, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011…. Read the full story

Each year the U.S. celebrates Memorial Day in honor of the men and women who have given their lives while serving in the U.S. military. In celebration of the holiday, MyHeritage is providing free access to millions of military records all weekend, from May 23 – 26. Celebrate this Memorial Day by learning more about your military ancestors. Journey back in time to some of the most important conflicts in world history that not only impacted… Read the full story

Best-selling author A.J. Jacobs is organizing the largest family reunion in history and you’re invited! Image: United Purpose A.J. Jacobs is a journalist, an editor-at-large at Esquire magazine, and author of four New York Times bestsellers. You may recognize him from his book, The Year of Living Biblically: One Man’s Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible, in which he chronicles the year he attempted to follow all of the rules in the Bible…. Read the full story

Did you have any genealogy breakthroughs this weekend? Have some fun with these articles from around the web. Image: Found after 500 years, the wreck of Christopher Columbus’s flagship the Santa Maria / The Independent The Genealogy Sphere Still Paying for the Civil War (The Wall Street Journal) – Over a century later, families continue to receive Civil War benefits Exclusive: Found after 500 years, the wreck of Christopher Columbus’s flagship the Santa Maria (The… Read the full story

Today we remember Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, who passed away May 19, 1994 from cancer. She was born Jacqueline Lee Bouvier on July 28, 1929 in Southampton, New York. In 1953, Jackie married John F. Kennedy in a lavish ceremony, which was considered the social event of the season. During her husband’s presidency, she was the youngest first lady in nearly 80 years. Her keen sense of fashion made her a fashion icon worldwide. To this… Read the full story

Does longevity run in your family tree? Just recently, the world’s oldest living man was identified as 111-year old New Yorker Alexander Imich. The secret to his longevity? Imich credits good genes, a healthy diet and perhaps the fact that he and his wife never had children. His closest relative is an 84-year-old nephew. Image: NBC New York Imich was born on February 4, 1903 in Poland. Check out a few significant events that occurred the… Read the full story

Remember the song “Splish Splash”? On May 14, 1936, singer Bobby Darin was born in the Bronx, New York. Darin recorded his first mega hit “Splish Splash” in 1958, and followed with a string of best selling records that brought him world fame. He was raised by his grandparents, who he believed were his parents for most of his life. When his mother became pregnant at the age of 16, the family hatched the plan to… Read the full story

Do you have ancestors who served in the Mexican-American War? On May 13, 1846, the U.S. Congress overwhelmingly approved President James K. Polk’s request to declare war on Mexico in the wake of a dispute over Texas. The Republic of Texas had declared their independence from Mexico after the Texas Revolution, and sought to join the United States as a new state. Boundary disputes lead to increasing tension between the two nations, eventually escalating to war. After… Read the full story

We hope everyone had a very enjoyable Mother’s Day weekend. Jump start the new week with these fascinating family history stories from around the web! Image: Woman finds  love letter 6 decades old and tracks down soldier who wrote it / The Washington Post The Genealogy Sphere Rudyard Kipling and the century-old WWI mystery (The Star) – The story of the disappearance of Rudyard Kipling’s disappearance while in combat in 1915 France After His Death,… Read the full story

Do you have a favorite Katharine Hepburn movie? On May 12, 1907, the legendary actress was born in Hartford, Connecticut. Katharine came from wealthy and progressive family. Her father was a noted urologist and proponent of educating the public about venereal diseases and her mother headed the Connecticut Woman Suffrage Association. With her headstrong independence and unconventional attitude, Katharine came to epitomize the “modern woman” in 20th century America. Throughout her long and notable career,… Read the full story

This year marks the 100th anniversary of Mother’s Day in the U.S. Variations of Mother’s Day have been celebrated at different times throughout history all over the world. The official celebration of Mother’s Day in the U.S. began in the early 20th century thanks to the efforts of a woman named Anna Jarvis. A few years after the death of her mother, Anna was inspired to organize a day to not only honor her mother, but… Read the full story

Do you have World War II veterans in your family tree? On May 8, 1945, the Allied nations celebrated Victory in Europe Day. Millions throughout Western Europe took to the streets to celebrate the unconditional surrender of the Nazis, which effectively marked the end of World War II in Europe. Check out some interesting facts about V-E Day: The official act of military surrender was signed on May 7, 1945 After the suicide of Adolf… Read the full story

Do you remember watching Little House on the Prairie? Today star Melissa Gilbert turns 50! Born in Los Angeles, California, Melissa grew up in the entertainment business. She was adopted by actor Paul Gilbert and actress Barbara Crane, the daughter of The Honeymooners creator Harry Crane. She began her career at a young age, appearing in numerous commercials and guest spots on television. In 1974, she landed the role of Laura Ingalls Wilder on the series… Read the full story

On May 7, 1919, Eva Perón, one of the most influential women in South American history, was born in the rural village of Los Toldos, Argentina. With little-to-no money, she moved to the nation’s capital at the age of 15 to pursue a career as a model and actress. In 1945, she married Juan Perón, who became president of Argentina the following year. As the First Lady of Argentina, Eva used her position to fight for women’s… Read the full story

We are excited to announce an exclusive webinar with A.J. Jacobs, well-known author, editor and genealogist. Hear first-hand about A.J.’s own journey to his past, and his upcoming attempt to enter the Guinness Book of Records for the largest family reunion in history. A.J.’s mission to break the Guinness world record for the largest family reunion was recently reported in the New York Times and in interviews on NPR and CBC Radio. Using Geni and MyHeritage, A.J…. Read the full story

Did you or your parents use Benjamin Spock’s parenting advice book Common Sense Book of Baby and Child Care? On this day in 1903, the American pediatrician was born in New Haven, Connecticut. Published in 1946, the parenting book is one of the best-selling books of all time. Throughout its first 52 years, Baby and Child Care was the second-best-selling book, next to the Bible. At the time of publication, his ideas about childcare were a great… Read the full story

On May 1, 1851, the Great Exhibition opened at the Crystal Palace in London. Conceived by Prince Albert, the exhibit was the first in a series of World’s Fair exhibitions of culture and industrial innovation. When Prince Albert married Queen Victoria at the age of 20, he found himself constrained by his position as consort. Over time, he adopted many public causes, such as educational reform and a worldwide abolition of slavery. Prince Albert also… Read the full story

Have you come across a World War I draft registration card in your genealogy research? These draft cards can hold a wealth of genealogical information. In 1917, the United States passed the Selective Service Act, which allowed the government to raise a national army through a nationwide draft. From 1917 – 1918, every male between the ages of 18 – 45 living in the United States were required to sign up for the draft, regardless… Read the full story

Happy birthday Jerry Seinfeld! Can you believe today the comedian turns 60? Jerry was born Jerome Allen Seinfeld on April 29, 1954 in Brooklyn, New York. His father was a sign maker of Hungarian Jewish descent and his mother is of Syrian Jewish descent. He got his start in stand-up comedy while in college. In 1988, Jerry developed the hit sitcom Seinfeld with fellow comedian Larry David. The show proved to be a huge success, running… Read the full story

Everyone have a wonderful weekend? See what articles you may have missed last week! Image: Drones help find World War II’s missing soldiers / Engadget The Genealogy Sphere Drones help find World War II’s missing soldiers (Engadget) – Search uses drones to find missing soldiers of World War II Spotlighting a law that stripped U.S.-born women of citizenship (LA Times) – A look into the Expatriation Act of 1907 that required a woman who married… Read the full story

Have you ever used the Library of Congress for your genealogy research? On this day in 1800, President John Adams approved legislation to appropriate $5,000 to purchase “such books as may be necessary for the use of Congress,” thus establishing the Library of Congress. The initial books came from London and the collection was housed in the new Capitol. In 1814, invading British troops had set fire to several government buildings, including the Capitol, destroying… Read the full story

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

“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 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

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