Author: Amanda

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

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

Today we celebrate the birth of abolitionist leader Frederick Douglass! Douglass was born into slavery around February 1818. Although the exact date of his birth is not known, later in his life, Douglass celebrated his birthday on February 14. As a slave, he tried to escape from twice before he succeeded. After his escape from slavery, Douglass became one of the most important leaders of the abolitionist movement. Frederick Douglass is connected to over 75… Read the full story

What’s your favorite aspect of genealogy? For many, one of the best parts is getting to learn the stories behind the items family members leave behind. Reaching far beyond what a census record or land deed can tell us about our ancestors, family heirlooms gives us a more personal connection to who are ancestors were as individuals. Chances are your family has accumulated many family heirlooms throughout the years. These are a great place to… Read the full story

Yesterday the world lost another great legend. Sid Caesar, one of televisions earliest stars, died at his home in Beverly Hills at the age of 91. Sid was born on September 8, 1922 in Yonkers, New York to Jewish immigrants. A pioneer in television, he generated laughs on his live variety show, Your Show of Shows, and its successor Caesar’s Hour. Do you remember watching the funny man on TV? Explore his family tree and perhaps… Read the full story

Today we remember beloved child star Shirley Temple, who died in her home Monday night at the age of 85. One of the most famous child stars in Hollywood history, Shirley’s signature dimples and precious optimism captivated audiences around the world. She landed her first film contract at the age of 3 and through the 1930s, she starred in a series of films that brought smiles to movie-going audiences. Her movies were especially uplifting as… Read the full story

Still recovering from RootsTech? Check out these articles from the past week! Image: World War One: How did 12 million letters a week reach soldiers? / BBC News The Genealogy Sphere World War One: How did 12 million letters a week reach soldiers? (BBC News) – Read how letters from home reached WWI soldiers in the battlefield Mystery girl in iconic photo comes to life (MSN News) – Amazing story of how a genealogist identified… Read the full story

Do you remember reading the plays by Arthur Miller? On this day in 2005, the American playwright died in his home in Roxbury, Connecticut at the age of 89. Miller is perhaps best remembered for his plays Death of a Salesman, The Crucible and A View from the Bridge. In 1956, he married Marilyn Monroe and later that year, the House of Un-American Activities Committee refused to renew Miller’s passport and called him in to appear before… Read the full story

Are you a fan of Garth Brooks? Today the country music superstar turns 52! He was born Troyal Garth Brooks in Tulsa, Oklahoma to Troyal Raymond Brooks, Jr. and Colleen McElroy Carroll. Garth’s integration of rock elements into his recordings and live performances earned him immense popularity. This approach helped him dominate the country music scene and crossover into the mainstream. With record breaking sales, Garth is one of the most successful and best selling… Read the full story

Do you remember listening to Bob Marley? On February 6, 1945, Jamaican musician Bob Marley was born in St. Ann Parish, Jamaica. Marley achieved international fame for his distinctive vocal style and introduced the world to reggae music. Sadly, he passed away from cancer at the age of 36. Marley sold over 20 million records and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994. What’s your favorite Bob Marley song? Explore Bob… Read the full story

On February 5, 1919, comedian and actor Red Buttons was born in New York City, New York. The fiery-haired comedian was born Aaron Chwatt to Jewish immigrants Sophie and Michael Chwatt. Did you know Red acquired is famous moniker at the age of 16, while working as a bellhop at Ryan’s Tavern? The combination of his red hair and the large, shiny buttons of his uniform inspired orchestra leader Charles “Dirty” Moore to call him… Read the full story

The good news keeps rolling in! We’re excited to share with you that 815 million U.S. Public Records of people living in the United States have been added to MyHeritage’s growing collection of historical records. You can find these records available to you through Record Matches on your Geni profiles or in SuperSearch™, MyHeritage’s powerful search engine for historical records. With information that spans the last five decades for hundreds of millions of people living… Read the full story

Still recovering from yesterday’s Super Bowl party? Treat yourself with these articles from around the web. Image: Loot No Longer / The New York Times The Genealogy Sphere Are You My Cousin? (The New York Times) – Author A.J. Jacobs is organizing the largest family reunion and you’re invited! Geni is proud to be a part of this journey! Loot No Longer (The New York Times) – MyHeritage CEO Gilad Japhet is featured in The New York… Read the full story

We’re excited to announce that more than 160 million new U.S. and UK historical records have been added to MyHeritage’s growing collection of historical records. These new records are available now in your Record Matches for your Geni profiles and through SuperSearch™, MyHeritage’s powerful search engine for historical records. These records come from hundreds of collections containing vital records for births, baptisms, marriages and deaths, military records, censuses and much more. What’s new?   For the… Read the full story

Earlier this week, American folk singer and activist Pete Seeger died at the age of 94. A fixture of the American music scene, Seeger was pivotal in the revival of American folk music. Over the years, many of his hits, including “Where Have All the Flowers Gone?” and “Turn, Turn, Turn,” have since been recorded by several other artists. He is perhaps just as well known for his political activism in support of causes such as international disarmament,… Read the full story

Happy Chinese New Year! Today, January 31st, marks the first day of the Year of the Horse on the lunar calendar, which is believed to bring prosperity and wealth. Also known as the Spring Festival or the Lunar New Year, the holiday is considered one of the most important traditional Chinese holidays, which holds a deep significance to families. Not solely confined to China, the Lunar New Year is celebrated across the world in countries and… Read the full story

Debra Jeanne Ryon-Weathers is from North Las Vegas, Nevada. She was born to Helen Jeanne Bay-Ryon-Jarviz and William Eugene Ryon. Debra’s parents met while her father was stationed at the Naval Base in Astoria, Oregon and married when Helen was only 14 years old. When she was three, her mother left the family and started a new life with Gene Jarvis. Her father became a fisherman and worked the sea from Astoria to Alaska in… Read the full story

Happy 60th birthday, Oprah Winfrey! Born in the rural town of Kosciusko, Mississippi, Oprah’s story is truly a rags to riches journey. She experienced considerable hardship and poverty growing up. While still in high school, she began working at a local radio station, and by the age of 19 was co-anchoring the local evening news. In 1986, she launched her own, widely popular talk show The Oprah Winfrey Show, which aired for 25 seasons. Along… Read the full story

Do you remember watching M*A*S*H? Today star Alan Alda turns 78! He was born Alphonso Joseph D’Abruzzo in 1936 in New York City to Robert Alda (born Alphonso Giuseppe Giovanni Roberto D’Abruzzo), an actor and singer, and Joan Browne, a former showgirl. After graduating from college, he served in the U.S. Army Reserve. Best known for his role as Hawkeye on the hugely popular television series M*A*S*H, Alda was nominated for 21 Emmy Awards and won… Read the full story

Catch up on what you may have missed in the past week! Image: ‘Lost child of the Titanic and the fraud that haunted her family,’ The Telegraph The Genealogy Sphere Replica miniature homes chronicle 500 years of family history (The Telegraph) – A couple builds miniature models of their ancestors’ home spanning 500 years of family history This Guy Was Exploring His Grandpa’s Attic. What He Found is Mysteriously Awesome…Whoa (Viralnova.com) – A man discovers… Read the full story

We’re thrilled to announce massive discounts on DNA tests. As technology for DNA analysis has advanced and hit the mainstream, DNA tests for genealogy are now much more affordable. Today we’re happy to say that we are passing on these savings directly to you. With a simple cheek-swab DNA test, you can be on your way to making discoveries you never knew were possible. Discover your origins and find new relatives – DNA matching can… Read the full story

Do you remember watching My Favorite Martian? On this day in 1934, star Bill Bixby was born in San Francisco, California. A fourth-generation Californian of English descent, Bixby was the only child of Wilfred Everett and Jane Bixby. His career spanned over three decades, in which he appeared on stage, film and television. He is perhaps best known for his roles in the TV series My Favorite Martian and The Incredible Hulk. Did you know Bill… Read the full story

Do you have Civil War ancestors? Today marks the 190th birthday of Lt. General Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson. The Confederate soldier was born January 21, 1824 in Clarksburg, Virginia (now West Virginia). Considered one of the most gifted tactical commanders in U.S. history, Jackson’s death proved to be a set back for the Confederacy, greatly affecting its military prospects and moral. The American Civil War is often referred to as a war of “brother against brother.”… Read the full story

Celebrate the holiday with these fascinating articles! Image: 10 Animations that show how faces age over time / TwistedSifter.com The Genealogy Sphere 11 Little-Known Worlds For Specific Family Members (Mental Floss) – Did you know English had these words for specific family members? Digging for their lives: Russia’s volunteer body hunters (BBC News) – These volunteers undertake the dangerous task of finding soldiers killed during World War II Merle Barwis is Canada’s last remaining link… Read the full story

Today the United States celebrates Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Commemorating what would have been the 85th birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr., today we honor the legacy of the iconic civil rights leader. He was born January 15, 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia to Reverend Martin Luther King Sr. and Alberta Williams King. As the leading advocate of nonviolent protests during the United States Civil Rights Movement, King sought to bring an end to racial discrimination through peaceful… Read the full story

Are you a history buff? On January 17, 1706, Benjamin Franklin was born in colonial Boston, Massachusetts. He was born to Josiah Franklin, a native of England and soap maker, and his second wife Abiah Folger. Franklin excelled in a variety of fields as an author, printer, political theorist, postmaster, scientist, inventor and diplomat. A Founding Father of the United States, Franklin helped draft one of the most important documents in American history, the Declaration of… Read the full story

If you’re lucky enough to have old photographs of your ancestors in your possession, then you already have a unique peak into the past. Unfortunately, that isn’t always the case when researching your family history. Never fear – there are plenty of other ways you can find out what your ancestors may have looked like. Let’s examine a few places you can find a photo or description of how your ancestors may have looked. Naturalization… Read the full story

On January 15, 1559, Elizabeth I was crowned Queen of England in Westminster Abbey after the death of her sister, Queen Mary I of England. The daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, Elizabeth would go on to reign for 44 years, in what would be dubbed by historians as the “Elizabethan Era.” Remembered as one of history’s greatest monarchs, Elizabeth’s reign brought England an age of stability, prosperity and discovery. Elizabeth I is connected… Read the full story

Do you remember reading Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland? Today we remember author Lewis Carroll, who died January 14, 1898 at the age of 65. Although born Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, he used the pen name Lewis Carroll to publish his books. Carroll loved to entertain children and had spent much time delighting his friend Henry George Liddell’s children with stories. It was Liddell’s daughter, Alice, who would serve as the inspiration of “Alice” in his tales. She was also the… Read the full story

Looking for something to perk up your Monday? Take a look at these interesting articles from around the web! Image: 10 Surprising Laws Passed During the First World War / Imperial War Museum The Genealogy Sphere Family who spent more than 60 years apart are reunited…after discovering they lived just yards away from each other (DailyMail UK) – Amazing story of a family reunited and discovered they were neighbors Holocaust Survivor Meets Her Liberator Nearly… Read the full story

Are you a Seinfeld fan? Julia Louis-Dreyfus was born January 13, 1961 in Manhattan, New York to Judith, a writer and special needs tutor, and billionaire Gérard Louis-Dreyfus. Her second great grandfather, Léopold Louis-Dreyfus founded a French commodities and shipping conglomerate in 1851. For 9 years, she made us laugh as Elaine Benes on the hit television show, Seinfeld. Today she continues to tickle our funny bone as the star of Veep, for which she most… Read the full story

Jennifer Lynn Young loves genealogy. Born in San Jose, California, Jennifer has held a variety of professions, from the graphic arts to owning a bookstore and her passion for genealogy has helped unite her many interests. She’s even working towards her certification as a genealogist, which she will complete this spring. At the family homestead, 1945 Her passion for genealogy didn’t begin with such enthusiasm at first. A proud fifth-generation Californian, Jennifer was always fascinated… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge! Today the Duchess turns 32. She was born Catherine Elizabeth Middleton in Reading England to Michael Middleton, a pilot, and Carole Goldsmith, a flight attendant. The past year has been a whirlwind for Kate and her husband, Prince William, with much media frenzy surrounding her pregnancy. On July 22, 2013, the royal couple welcomed their first son, George Alexander Louis. Explore the royal family tree on Geni and see how you’re… Read the full story