Author: Amanda

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

Profile of Day: Marie Curie http://www.geni.com/people/Maria-Sk%C5%82odowska-Curie/4754071530090030120

Anthony Perkins (1932-1992) was an American actor best known for his role as Norman Bates in Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho. In 1957, Perkins received an Academy Award nomination for best supporting actor for is role in the film, Friendly Persuasion. In recognition of his contributions to the film industry, Perkins received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Perkins was born in New York City to Janet Esselstyn Rane and Osgood Perkins. His father was a prominent American… Read the full story

Profile of the Day: Grace Kelly http://www.geni.com/people/Grace-Kelly/5163142858250067644

Profile of the Day: Paul Revere http://www.geni.com/people/Paul-Revere/6000000003938177401

Today we feature the Great Aviators project. In this project are some of the most notable aviators in history. There are currently 36 profiles included. Perhaps you may want to add more great aviators to Geni! Here’s a look at a few of the profiles included: Howard Hughes – He was an American aviator, engineer, film producer, philanthropist and one of the wealthiest people in the world. He set multiple world air-speed records and built… Read the full story

Profile of the Day: Jackie Robinson http://www.geni.com/people/Jackie-Robinson/6000000012255474287

City directories are one of the most often overlooked resources in genealogy. However, this resource is actually filled with very useful information for your genealogy research. Since city directories were published annually, they are an excellent way to track down the location of your ancestors in between census records. Here’s a quick look at how city directories can help you in your family tree research: What can I find in city directories? Your ancestors’ surname… Read the full story

Profile of the Day: John Steinbeck http://www.geni.com/people/John-Ernst-Steinbeck/6000000002814086158

Profile of the Day: Tiger Woods http://www.geni.com/people/Tiger-Woods/6000000010281654792

On April 12, 1861, South Carolina used force remove the U.S. army from their facilities in Charleston. Known as the Battle of Fort Sumter, it marked the beginning of the American Civil War.  Two days after the battle, President Abraham Lincoln called for thousands of volunteers to crush the Southern rebellion.  Four years later, the Confederate forces were defeated by the Union army. Through his leadership and resolve, Lincoln successfully preserved the Union and brought an… Read the full story

Profile of the Day: Harry S. Truman http://www.geni.com/people/Harry-S-Truman-33rd-President-of-the-USA/6000000000264958780

Profile of the Day: Winston Churchill http://www.geni.com/people/Sir-Winston-Churchill-Prime-Minister-of-the-United-Kingdom/6000000003222187286

This week we feature the New and Modern Masters project. This project is comprised of the great painters from the mid 19th century to the present. (For great painters from the mid 13th to mid 19th century, check out the Old Masters project). If you’re interested, you may want to join the project’s collaborators and add more notable modern painters to Geni! Here’s a look at a few of the profiles included: Andy Warhol –… Read the full story

Profile of the Day: Ashley Judd http://www.geni.com/people/Ashley-Judd/6000000002447366540

Probate records are an excellent source of genealogical information. Today, let’s take a closer look at probate records and how they can help enrich your genealogy research. What are probate records? Probate records are documents compiled by a court after someone has died regarding the division of their estate. Among some of the documents you may find in your ancestor’s probate records are: A death certificate Will Guardian ship petitions for minor children List of heirs… Read the full story

Profile of the Day: Ulysses S. Grant http://www.geni.com/people/Ulysses-S-Grant-18th-President-of-the-USA/6000000010349137529

Profile of the Day: Isaac Asimov http://www.geni.com/people/Isaac-Asimov/6000000010837269793

Henry Ford was an American industrialist and founder of the Ford Motor Company. By implementing the assembly line technique of mass production, Ford revolutionized the automobile industry. This new business technique was called “Fordism,” the mass production of inexpensive goods in conjunction with high wages for workers. Ford would become one of the richest men in the world. Ford was born on July 30, 1863 on a family farm in Michigan to William Ford and Mary Litogot and… Read the full story

Profile of the Day: Pocahontas http://www.geni.com/people/Matoaka-Powhatan/6000000005385138952

Profile of the Day: Francis Drake http://www.geni.com/people/Vice-Admiral-Sir-Francis-Drake/6000000006086120867

Interested in researching notable scientists in history? Check out this week’s featured project, Prominent Scientists: (ii) Medicine & Life Sciences. This project aims to organize and build the family trees for the scientists who have made major contributions to the fields of medicine and other life sciences. Perhaps you may want to join the project’s collaborators and add more profiles to the project! Are you related to any of the profiles included? Here’s a peek… Read the full story

Profile of the Day: Gwyneth Paltrow http://www.geni.com/people/Gwyneth-Paltrow/6000000010554089036