Author: Amanda

Profile of the Day: Aldous Huxley http://www.geni.com/people/Aldous-Leonard-Huxley/6000000010799521427

Profile of the Day: Alexander Graham Bell http://www.geni.com/people/Alexander-Bell/6000000011624971392

This week we highlight the Great Composers of Classical Music project. This project includes some of the most renowned classical composers whose music has left a significant mark in history. Today, their compositions are performed and enjoyed throughout the world. Here’s a look at a few of the profiles included: Ludwig van Beethoven – He is considered one of the most famous and influential composers of all time. Even after he became completely deaf, Beethoven… Read the full story

Profile of the Day: Lionel Richie http://www.geni.com/people/Lionel-Richie/6000000007008689102

While court records may be a little more difficult to research, they may yield some unique information you may not find anywhere else. Before you jump into these documents, you will first need to have an idea about what type of court records you are looking for and in what location. This is key to knowing which archives to search. Remember, county, state and federal cases are archived at different levels. Here are a few of… Read the full story

Profile of the Day: Francis Scott Key http://www.geni.com/people/Francis-Scott-Key/6000000001180341043

Profile of the Day: Dr. Seuss http://www.geni.com/people/Theodor-Geisel/5529202663300088565

Oscar winning actor and director George Clooney is best known for his roles on the television show ER and movies such as Ocean’s Eleven, Syriana and Good Night, and Good Luck which he co-wrote and directed. Clooney has also devoted much of his time to his humanitarian work, raising awareness for the conflict in Darfur and raising funds for several recent natural disasters throughout the world. Clooney was born on May 6, 1961 to parents Nick and… Read the full story

Profile of the Day: Johnny Cash http://www.geni.com/people/Johnny-Cash/6000000000315787220

Profile of the Day: Natalie Portman http://www.geni.com/people/Natalie-Portman/6000000009677719251

Today we feature the Authors of Great Literature project. From the times of ancient Greece to the 20th century, the works of these authors have withstood the test of time and continue to be read by new generations today. Is your favorite author included? Check out the Authors of Great Literature project and help contribute more great authors to Geni! Here’s a look at a few of the 127 profiles already included in this project:… Read the full story

Profile of the Day: Kim Cattrall http://www.geni.com/people/Kim-Cattrall/6000000011348794972

The purchase and sale of land is one of the most well documented sources you may find in your genealogy research. In the U.S., the sale of public land can be traced back to the beginnings of westward expansion and the passage of the Homestead Act. In many cases, you can even trace the ownership of land back to when America was first colonized and land grants were distributed to early settlers. After the American Revolutionary War, the… Read the full story

Profile of the Day: Ella Fitzgerald http://www.geni.com/people/Ella-Fitzgerald/6000000004569848355

Profile of the Day: Coretta Scott King http://www.geni.com/people/Coretta-King/6000000004024016334

J. Paul Getty was an American industrialist and founder of the Getty Oil Company. Getty’s father, George, was a lawyer and successful oilman, amassing a great fortune at the time of his death. After taking over the family business, J. Paul Getty’s successes in the oil industry made him one of the richest men in the world. An avid collector of arts and antiquities, Getty founded the J. Paul Getty Museum, which holds an impressive… Read the full story

Profile of the Day: George Washington http://www.geni.com/people/George-Washington-1st-President-of-the-USA/6000000008211776777

This coming Monday is Presidents Day in the U.S. Also known as Washington’s Birthday, the holiday has evolved overtime to not only honor George Washington‘s birthday (February 22, 1732), but also Abraham Lincoln‘s birthday (February 12, 1809) and the legacies of all U.S. presidents. Today we highlight the U.S. Presidents and Vice Presidents project in honor of  the upcoming holiday. In this project you can find the master profiles of all 44 U.S. presidents and their vice… Read the full story

Profile of the Day: Rosie O’Donnell http://www.geni.com/people/Rosie-O-Donnell/6000000011112054103

Although church records may not have been kept with genealogy in mind, these records can provide genealogists with vital information to help fill the gaps in their research. Even if your ancestor was not a regular attendant, you may find detailed information on births, baptisms, marriages, deaths and burials. How do you go about obtaining these records? If you’re lucky enough to have access to your family Bible, you may be able to gather enough… Read the full story

Profile of the Day: Halle Berry http://www.geni.com/people/Halle-Berry/6000000008470524294

Profile of the Day: Spike Lee http://www.geni.com/people/Shelton-Lee/6000000007578022502

During his career, legendary actor John Barrymore was hailed as one of the greatest performers on the screen and stage. He is remembered for his highly lauded interpretations of Shakespeare’s Richard III and Hamlet. For his contributions to the motion picture industry, Barrymore was posthumously given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Barrymore was born on February 15, 1882 into a theatrical family. His parents were Broadway stage actors Maurice Barrymore and Georgiana Drew…. Read the full story

Profile of the Day: Susan B. Anthony http://www.geni.com/people/Susan-B-Anthony/6000000009126877247

Profile of the Day: Geoffrey Chaucer http://www.geni.com/people/Geoffrey-Chaucer/6000000000779479226

This week we highlight the Food & Beverage People project, which features individuals who have made significant impacts in the food industry. Their successes have contributed a wide array of food and beverages that we all still enjoy today. There are already 17 profiles included in this project. Perhaps  you’ll want to help add some more people whose creations have satisfied our stomachs! Take a look at a few of the profiles included: Will Kellogg… Read the full story

Profile of the Day: Tim McGraw http://www.geni.com/people/Tim-McGraw/6000000011310252279

Making tombstone rubbings is an easy and fun activity to preserve the headstones of your ancestors. Before embarking on your adventure to the cemetery, make sure to first get permission from the proper authorities. Some cemeteries have banned this practice in order to preserve fragile headstones and prevent further damage. Once you have permission, it’s very important that you check the structural integrity of the tombstone. Do not attempt a rubbing on a stone that… Read the full story

Profile of the Day: Marvin Gaye http://www.geni.com/people/Marvin-Gaye/3930934667570041304

Profile of the Day: Harriet Beecher Stowe http://www.geni.com/people/Harriet-Beecher-Stowe/6000000000695208641

Born Francis Albert Sinatra, Sinatra was an American singer and motion-picture actor who became one of the most sought-after performers in the entertainment industry. Sinatra enjoyed a multitude of success in both music and film. In 1953, he won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in the film From Here to Eternity. Sinatra was the only child of his Italian immigrant parents. His father, Anthony Martin Sinatra was a fireman and professional boxer,… Read the full story

Profile of the Day: Walt Disney http://www.geni.com/people/Walt-Disney/6000000005291270001

Profile of the Day: Aaron Rodgers http://www.geni.com/people/Aaron-Rodgers/6000000011335677500

Today we highlight the Inventors Project. The inventors included in this project have each made their mark in the everyday lives people and in history through their discoveries and creations. This project aims to include all inventors on Geni and learn how we are all related to them. Currently there are 44 profiles in the project. Take a peak at a few of the profiles included: Samuel Morse – He was an American contributer to the… Read the full story

Born Vincent Damon Furnier, rocker Alice Cooper turns 63 today. Cooper’s pioneering stage theatrics and violent brand of heavy metal introduced horror imagery to rock and transformed the genre. It was announced in December 2010 that the original Alice Cooper band would be inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Take a look at his Geni profile!

Profile of the Day: Vanessa Williams http://www.geni.com/people/Vanessa-Williams/6000000011301524473

February is Black History Month in the U.S., where we celebrate and remember the past and present achievements of African-Americans. If you are researching your African-American heritage, finding documentation about your ancestors before 1870 can be a challenge. Here are a few resources you may find helpful in your research: U.S. Census Records Census records from 1850 and 1860 included special slave schedules, which provide the name of the slave owner and the number of… Read the full story

Profile of the Day: Nat King Cole http://www.geni.com/people/Nat-King-Cole/6000000008339022423

Profile of the Day: George Washington Carver http://www.geni.com/people/George-Washington-Carver/6000000004550009055

Newspaper tycoon and politician William Randolph Hearst was the leading newspaper publisher of the late 19th century and early 20th century. Through his newspapers and magazines, Hearst exercised enormous political influence over the American public. During the late 19th century, Hearst engaged in a bitter circulation war with Joseph Pulitzer‘s New York World, which led to the creation of yellow journalism. Nevertheless, Hearst successfully created one of the largest newspaper and magazine businesses in the… Read the full story

Profile of the Day: Robert Frost http://www.geni.com/people/Robert-Frost/6000000005767685846

This week we highlight the Old Masters Project. This project is dedicated to all of the great painters from the mid 13th to the mid 19th century. There are currently 48 profiles included in the project. Perhaps you’ll want to contribute by adding more great artists in history to Geni? Here’s a look at some of the profiles included: Jean Fouquet – He is considered one of the best French painters of 15th century. He… Read the full story

Profile of the Day: D.W. Griffith http://www.geni.com/people/D-W-Griffith/6000000004594579922

Although DNA testing has been around for a while, only recently have genealogists started using DNA to help trace the origins of their ancestors. While DNA testing cannot give you specific information (names, dates etc.), when used in conjunction with your other research, genetic testing can help us prove/disprove ancestral lines while also leading us in possible new directions to pursue. Let’s take a quick look at how DNA testing can help you trace your ancestry…. Read the full story

Profile of the Day: Jane Austen http://www.geni.com/people/Jane-Austen/6000000001319623144

Profile of the Day: Vincent van Gogh http://www.geni.com/people/Vincent-van-Gogh/6000000007292432351

Last week, we gave tips on visiting cemeteries. We reminded you to take lots of pictures during your visit. This week we offer tips on how to take great gravestone pictures. While some genealogists prefer creating tombstone rubbings, cameras are an excellent non-destructive tool for recording a gravestone. Rubbings may cause damage to the gravestone, especially to older, more fragile markers. A camera gives you the opportunity to take multiple pictures from many different angles… Read the full story

Cemeteries are not only a rich source of genealogical information, but they can also offer us an intimate connection with our ancestors. Tombstones often provide dates, birth places, maiden names, names of spouses and parents. They may also yield information regarding military service and religious affiliation. Keep in mind that nearby graves may lead to the discovery of other relatives. Often small unmarked stones are the only source for an ancestor who died as an… Read the full story