Author: Amanda

On June 7, 1982, Graceland, the former home of legendary musician Elvis Presley, was opened to the public. Referred to as the “King of Rock and Roll,” Presley revolutionized the music industry and is perhaps one of the most important cultural icons of the 20th century. He has been inducted to four music halls of fame, including the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986. In 1935, Elvis was born in Tupelo, Mississippi to Vernon… Read the full story

Profile of the Day: Louis XIV http://www.geni.com/people/Louis-XIV-Roi-de-France-et-Navarre/6000000000842131607

Profile of the Day: Dwight D. Eisenhower http://www.geni.com/people/Dwight-D-Eisenhower-34th-President-of-the-USA/6000000003055068438

Do you have an ancestor who was involved in the Salem witch trials? This week we highlight the Salem Witch Trials: Colonial America in 1692 project. The goal of this project is to discover our ancestors involved in the notorious “Salem Witch Trials,” validate their family trees and our own connections to them, and create quality, genealogically valid mini biographies for the Profiles. If you’re interested in helping out, join the project’s collaborators! Perhaps you may… Read the full story

Profile of the Day: Angelina Jolie http://www.geni.com/people/Angelina-Jolie/6000000002742902340

When researching your genealogy, school records may not be one of the first resources that come to mind. However, you may be surprised to realize how information found in school records can help supplement your research with other documented sources. They can even provide clues to other areas to search. Let’s take a look at how school records can help you. Record of attendance Teachers often wrote notes recording why a student was absent for… Read the full story

Profile of the Day: George Orwell http://www.geni.com/people/Eric-Arthur-Blair-George-Orwell/6000000001510467133

Profile of the Day: Helen Keller http://www.geni.com/people/Helen-Keller/6000000006811385682

American poet Emily Dickinson lived in Amherst, Massachusetts for most of her life. While much of the public was unaware of her writings during her lifetime, Dickinson gained significant prominence after her death. Today, she is one of the most celebrated writers of the 19th century. Her writing style and unconventional use of capitalization and punctuation were unique for the era in which she wrote. Because she lived much of her life in seclusion, Dickinson… Read the full story

Profile of the Day: Audie Murphy http://www.geni.com/people/Audie-Murphy/6000000002062280945

On Monday, May 30, the U.S. will celebrate Memorial Day, which honors the men and women who have lost their lives while in military service to the United States. Originally conceived to remember the fallen Union and Confederate soldiers of the U.S. Civil War, after World War I, the observance was extended to include all American soldiers who have died in the service of the country. Today, we highlight the U.S. Civil War Notables and… Read the full story

Profile of the Day: Vincent Price http://www.geni.com/people/Vincent-Price/6000000004138493752

While census records and other official documents are excellent resources for your ancestor’s vital information, none compare to having your family Bible in your possession. Family Bibles provide not only great genealogical information, but also offer an intimate connection with your ancestors. Contained in these Bibles are family records written in the hands of your own relatives and passed on from generation to generation. What can I find in my family Bible? You will find… Read the full story

Profile of the Day: Bram Stoker http://www.geni.com/people/Abraham-Bram-Stoker/6000000010663773201

Profile of the Day: Oprah Winfrey http://www.geni.com/people/Oprah-Winfrey/6000000009948468501

Christopher Reeve Christopher Reeve was an American actor, director, screenwriter and author. Although he played many diverse roles throughout his career, he is perhaps best remembered for his portrayal of Superman in four feature films. After a horse riding accident resulted in him becoming a quadriplegic, Reeve spent much of the later part of his life as an advocate of stem cell research. He founded the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, which is dedicated to… Read the full story

Profile of the Day: Queen Victoria http://www.geni.com/people/Queen-Victoria-of-the-United-Kingdom/6000000008852088113

Profile of the Day: Douglas Fairbanks http://www.geni.com/people/Douglas-Fairbanks-Sr/6000000006839568160

Today we highlight the Age of Discovery project. The years between 1200-1600 were known as Europe’s Age of Discovery. During this time, Europeans engaged in heavy exploration of the world, established contact with other continents and people and proceeded to map the world. This overseas expansion lead to the rise of colonial empires and the establishment of new trade routes. These routes allowed for the exchange of exotic goods, culture and peoples (slaves). Check out the early… Read the full story

Profile of the Day: Levi Strauss http://www.geni.com/people/Loeb-Levi-Strauss/6000000007400348419

Using historic maps as a resource in genealogy can be very valuable, however, sometimes you may discover that the town or village you are searching for is not on the map. Did you know you can also use gazetteers to help you locate places where your ancestors may have lived? If you’re unfamiliar with gazetteers, here’s a brief look at what they are and how they are useful to genealogists. What is a gazetteer? A… Read the full story

Profile of the Day: Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis http://www.geni.com/people/Jacqueline-Bouvier/6000000003098416206

Profile of the Day: Napoleon Bonaparte http://www.geni.com/people/Napol%C3%A9on-I-Emperor-of-the-French/6000000000350860821

Academy award winning actress Katharine Hepburn is hailed as one of the greatest actresses in film history. Hepburn holds the record for the most Oscar wins, with a total of 4 wins out of 12 nominations. Hepburn was born on May 12, 1907 in Hartford, Connecticut to a wealthy family. Her father, Thomas Hepburn, was a prominent surgeon and Connecticut’s first urologists. He co-founded the American Social Hygiene Association, which was dedicated to educating the public about… Read the full story

Profile of the Day: Johnny Depp http://www.geni.com/people/Johnny-Depp/6000000005384950154

Profile of the Day: Joan of Arc http://www.geni.com/people/Joan-of-Arc-d-Arc/6000000000429623932

Profile of the Day: James K. Polk http://www.geni.com/people/James-K-Polk-11th-President-of-the-USA/6000000002926000992

Profile of the Day: Florence Nightingale http://www.geni.com/people/Florence-Nightingale-The-Lady-with-the-Lamp/6000000001611627567

Profile of the Day: Constantine the Great http://www.geni.com/people/Constantine-I-the-Great-Roman-Emperor/6000000002119283341

Profile of the Day: Louis XVI http://www.geni.com/people/Louis-XVI-Roi-de-France/6000000000843362199

Nelson Mandela http://www.geni.com/people/Nelson-Mandela/6000000008671183222

Today we highlight the Fast & Furious project, which is dedicated to those who have made significant contributions to the automotive industry. The project ranges from entrepreneurs, inventors, prominent race car drivers and many more. If your interested in the history of the auto industry or have a love for fast cars, perhaps you’ll want to join this project and help build the family trees of other significant automotive figures on Geni! Here’s a look at… Read the full story

Today is Cinco de Mayo, a holiday primarily observed in the United States as a celebration of Mexican heritage and culture. We thought it would be interesting to take a look at some useful resources when tracing your Mexican ancestry. Talk to your relatives The best way to begin your search is by first asking your family questions. Find out as much as you can about the names and relationships of your ancestors, birth/death dates,… Read the full story

Profile of the Day: Alan Shepard, Jr. http://www.geni.com/people/Alan-Shepard/5661722986450058459

Profile of the Day: Audrey Hepburn http://www.geni.com/people/Audrey-Hepburn/6000000003615923316

American actor Humphrey Bogart is considered one of the greatest screen legends in the history of film. During his 30 year career, Bogart appeared in 75 films. He may be best remembered for his role in the classic 1942 film, Casablanca. In 1960, Bogart was posthumously given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Humphrey Bogart was born in New York City to Dr. Belmont DeForest Bogart and Maud Humphrey. His father was a wealthy cardiopulmonary surgeon… Read the full story

Profile of the Day: Joe DiMaggio http://www.geni.com/people/Joseph-Joe-DiMaggio/6000000005395891848

Profile of the Day: Leonardo da Vinci http://www.geni.com/people/Leonardo-da-Vinci/6000000010762979987

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame was established in 1986 to record the history of the most influential musical artists in the world. These artists include individual performers, bands and producers who have made significant impacts in the music industry. This project aims to add the family trees all the members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame to Geni. Are you interested in the genealogy of some of the greatest musicians in… Read the full story

Profiles of the Day: Prince William and Kate Middleton

Have you discovered that your ancestor was an inventor? Did you know that their patent records can provide you with some great genealogical information?  Let’s take a look at how patents can be an excellent genealogy resource! Genealogical information found in patent records include: First and last name of the inventor Each patent in the U.S. must contain the first and last name of the inventor or co-inventors and their address. You may be able… Read the full story

Profile of the Day: James Monroe http://www.geni.com/people/James-Monroe-5th-President-of-the-USA/4239120304610034677

Profile of the Day: Samuel Morse http://www.geni.com/people/Prof-Samuel-Morse-inventor-of-the-code/6000000010908940959

Jesse James was an infamous American outlaw of the Wild West. He is portrayed in American folklore as a Robin Hood-like figure, stealing from the rich and giving to the poor. During the Civil War, Jesse and his brother Frank fought as Confederate guerrilla soldiers. After the war, they joined up with Cole Younger and his brothers to form the James-Younger Gang. The gang carried out a string of robberies, robbing banks, stagecoaches and trains…. Read the full story

Profile of the Day: John James Audubon http://www.geni.com/people/John-James-Audubon/6000000012366233513

Profile of the Day: William Shakespeare http://www.geni.com/people/William-Shakespeare/6000000003051311313

Yesterday we gave you tips on using fraternal organization records in genealogy. Today we highlight the Freemasons in America project. The Freemasons have played an integral part in the early history of America. Some of the most prominent members of this fraternal organization include U.S. presidents, CEOs and actors.  If you’re interested in learning more about Freemasons in America, check out this project. Perhaps you may want to join the project’s contributers and add more… Read the full story

Profile of the Day: Al Gore http://www.geni.com/people/Albert-A-Gore-Jr-45th-Vice-President-of-the-USA/6000000003626809721

While researching your family history, you wonder what an acronym in your ancestors’ records or a symbol on their tombstone signifies. It’s possible that your ancestor was a member of a fraternal organization. While the practices and ceremonies of these types of organizations are secretive, you will find that many people will identify themselves in some way that they are a member of an exclusive organization. These membership organizations have been around throughout history and… Read the full story

Profile of the Day: Queen Elizabeth II http://www.geni.com/people/Queen-Elizabeth-II/6000000003075071669