September 2011

Family History month begins on Sunday in the US, and to celebrate we are running a month-long giveaway with daily prizes for genealogists and family history enthusiasts.  Signing up is easy and there are lots of prizes to go around. For each day of October we’ll be giving away a one-month Geni Plus account to the lucky winners, and on the last day of the month (Halloween) we will be awarding a grand prize…for now,… Read the full story

Madam C.J. Walker Madam C.J. Walker was an African American business woman, philanthropist and founder of the Madam C.J. Walker Manufacturing Company. According to the Guinness Book of Records, Walker was the first woman to become a millionaire by her own achievements. View Madam C.J. Walker’s Geni Profile

America is a land of immigrants. That is indisputably true, even though most of us have integrated into this society to a point where we no longer think of ourselves as “foreign” or “other.” I believe that natural human curiosity leads us to ask questions about who we are, where we came from and what life might have been like before we existed. That is where the genealogical quest comes in. With the exception of indigenous Americans — all of us have origins outside the continental boundaries of the place we were born and have always known as “home”.

Record Partners One of the most important aspects of genealogical research is accessing record collections to find hints and facts about your ancestors and family members.  And one of the challenges of the research is that these record collections exist in many places around the world, both on and off the web. As part of our efforts to create the best platform for genealogists to work together to build a single world family tree, we… Read the full story

Laura Ingalls Wilder Laura Ingalls Wilder was an American author best known for writing the Little House series, which was based on her own childhood experiences as a pioneer. The popularity of the series continued to grow after her death in 1957. In 1974, it was eventually adapted into the long running television show, Little House on the Prairie. Laura Ingalls Wilder is connected to over 59 million profiles in the World Family Tree. How… Read the full story

Today at sundown, the Jewish community will begin their celebration of Rosh Hashanah, the start of the Jewish New Year. Considered one of the holiest of Jewish holidays, it is traditionally celebrated over the course of two days and is best characterized as a holiday of reflection, introspection and renewal. Much time during the holiday is spent in prayer, with people asking God for forgiveness, giving penance and praying for a healthy new year. Like… Read the full story

Today we remember comedian and film star Harpo Marx, who died on September 28, 1964. Known for performing in silence, Marx used pantomine and often a horn or whistle to communicate during his performances. A gifted harp player, Marx often incorporated the harp into his films. View Harpo Marx’s Geni Profile

Author Herman Melville is perhaps best known for his novel, Moby-Dick. Although he achieved some notoriety during his lifetime, Melville’s fame had waned by the time of his death. It was not until after his death that Melville’s work was recognized once again and today, Moby-Dick is considered one of the greatest master pieces of American literature. Melville came from a well-to-do family, with roots that date back to the early history of the United States. He was… Read the full story

On September 27, 1722, Samuel Adams, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, was born. Adams was an important political leader during the American Revolution and in 1776, signed the Declaration of Independence. Did you know that Samuel Adams is the second cousin of President John Adams? Samuel Adams is connected to over 59 million profiles in Geni’s World Family Tree. How are you related? View Samuel Adams’s Geni Profile  

On September 26, 1888, American poet T.S. Eliot was born. Considered one of the greatest poets in history, Eliot was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1948. T.S. Eliot is connected to over 59 million profiles in Geni’s World Family Tree. How are you related? View T.S. Eliot’s Geni Profile

On September 26, 1949, Bruce Springsteen was born. Throughout his highly successful career, Springsteen has earned several awards and sold over 200 million records worldwide. In 1999, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. How are you related to “The Boss”? View Bruce Springsteen’s Geni Profile

Most of us know only the people who were/are living during our lifetimes. But how far back can we go?

For most African Americans, it is absolutely possible to trace families back to 1870. That was the year of the first Federal census that recorded African Americans as people (rather than property), with surnames and families. Unless your ancestors were “in motion,” or not responsive to the census (for whatever reasons), their names will be on this census. Beyond this, recent developments in historic research have made it possible for many people to go all the way back to the arrival of their ancestors into America from Africa and/or the Caribbean.

This week we’re releasing some minor enhancements and fixes, including the addition of the Report tool for projects. Users can now report a project for Spam, Inappropriate Content or as an Abandoned Project. And if you’re a Geni Plus user, you can now see your very own Plus badge on the tree! Take a look at our full release notes below: Enhancements: Added “Report” option to the Actions menu for projects. Profile hovercards added to… Read the full story

Progeny Genealogy recently announced an exciting new feature to Charting Companion – Embroidery Charts! Perfect for family reunions, embroidery charts allow you to showcase your family tree to the world. Proudly wear your family tree on a T-shirt, sweater or whatever you choose. This fantastic new feature is available exclusively to Geni users right now, with other versions to be rolled out at later date. You can embroider two types of charts, Ancestor Fan and Descendant Fan Charts, and… Read the full story

On September 22, 1862, President Abraham Lincoln issued the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, which declared that all slaves in rebel states should be free as of January 1, 1863. The final proclamation made abolition a central goal of the American Civil War. Check out Abraham Lincoln’s family tree and see how you’re related! View Abraham Lincoln’s Geni Profile

It was announced a few months ago that actress Angelina Jolie would take on the role of Cleopatra in an upcoming biopic. We thought it would be interesting to see how Angelina Jolie is related to the Egyptian queen and look what we found: Cleopatra is Angelina Jolie’s 57th great grandmother! Check out how Angelina Jolie is related to other notable celebrities in Geni’s World Family Tree! The World Family Tree is quickly approaching 60 million… Read the full story

On September 21, 1937, The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien was published. The highly popular fantasy children’s book will be adapted into a movie by director Peter Jackson, who famously brought Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings Trilogy to the big screen. How are you related to the fantasy author? View J.R.R. Tolkien’s Geni Profile

On September 20, 1934, actress Sophia Loren was born in Rome, Italy. Loren achieved international fame for her award winning work in film and is known as an icon of beauty and glamour. Did you know in 1962, Loren became the first actress to win an Academy Award for a non-English speaking performance for her role in the film, Two Women? How are  you related? View Sophia Loren’s Geni Profile

On September 19, 1928, actor Adam West was born. While West is most notable for his lead role in the 1960’s Batman TV series, today he is known for playing eccentric mayor, Adam West, on the animated TV show, Family Guy. How are you related to Adam West? View Adam West’s Geni Profile

On September 16, 1924, actress Lauren Bacall was born. Known for her husky voice and sultry looks, Bacall earned multiple awards for her performances in film and Broadway. How are you related? View Lauren Bacall’s Geni Profile

If you are interested in genealogy, know that effective research entails commitment. It is a long term journey with many twists and turns. If you are to succeed, you will need a road map. And that road map begins with you.

The very first thing you must do is write down what  you know about yourself. When and where were you born? What would you like for future generations to remember about you? It is useful to make copies of important documents to keep in your file. Your birth certificate, marriage certificate, school documents, social security card. These are all things future researchers would want if you were gone and they were looking for you. Make it easy for them. And don’t forget to include photographs: You as a baby, graduating from school, your wedding day…

Today, TelGen announced the release of their new World Family Tree app, which enables you to browse your Geni family tree from your mobile device. Supported platforms include iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad and Android devices.   The app caches your family tree data locally, which will help you access your tree faster once it has downloaded. Now all users can easily browse their family tree in a variety of ways from the convenience of a… Read the full story

Today, September 15, marks Prince Harry’s 27th birthday. As the youngest son of Prince Charles and Princes Diana, he is third in the line of succession to the throne of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth Realms. Check out his family tree and see how you’re related! View Prince Harry’s Geni Profile

Today we remember dancer Isadora Duncan, who passed away on September 14, 1927. Dubbed the creator of modern dance, Duncan broke away from convention and developed free, emotional and natural movements. How are you related? View Isadora Duncan’s Geni Profile

Update March 2014: For current membership offers and subscription pricing, please visit the Geni Help Center. Today we are introducing a new subscription package called Geni Plus. The Plus account offers many of the perks of Geni Pro at a fraction of the cost.  Geni Plus is a monthly offering priced at $4.95 USD, or about 40% of the cost of a monthly Geni Pro subscription. Among the many benefits of Geni Plus are: No… Read the full story

In addition to introducing Geni Plus, we have also released bug fixes to the site. Here’s a list of fixes in today’s release. Fixes: Fixed bug causing birth surname to reset when a user edits the location details on a profile Fixed issue where burial location was not displaying on revision compare screen Birthday and anniversary gifts are now working on Internet Explorer 7 Fixed multiple pop-up issue when making a profile public from the… Read the full story

Agatha Christie Agatha Christie is one of the best selling mystery novelists of all time. Over her long and distinguished career, Christie published over 90 books and 17 plays, and has been translated into over 100 different languages. Christie was born on September 15, 1890 in England. She was the daughter of Frederick Alvah Miller, a wealthy American, and Clarissa Boehmer Miller, who was the daughter of Frederick Boemher, a British Army captain. In 1914,… Read the full story

Today, we remember American rapper and actor Tupac Shakur, who died on September 13, 1996. Even after his death, Shakur has become one of the best selling music artists in the world, having sold over 75 million albums worldwide. Check out his Geni profile and perhaps you can help build his family tree! View Tupac Shakur’s Geni Profile

At this Saturday’s 2011 Creative Arts Primetime Emmy Awards, Justin Timberlake took home two Emmys for his work on Saturday Night Live. Check out his family tree and see how you’re related! View Justin Timberlake’s Geni Profile

On September 9, 1960, British actor Hugh Grant was born. Grant achieved international fame in films such as Four Weddings and a Funeral, Bridget Jones’s Diary and Love Actually. Check out how you’re related to Hugh Grant! View Hugh Grant’s Geni Profile

This blog series provides information on how to conduct family research — with a special focus on the challenges that apply for African Americans. Our goal is to help you appreciate history, learn how to research your family and be inspired to join a community – Geni.com – that seeks to unite the entire world into one big family. Join us for an adventure that is sure to last a lifetime!

On September 8, 1925, British actor Peter Sellers was born. Sellers gained international fame for playing the inept French police inspector, Jacque Clousau, in The Pink Panther film series. Check out Peter Seller’s family tree on Geni and see how you’re related! View Peter Sellers’s Geni Profile

On September 7, 1533, Elizabeth I was born at Greenwich Palace. She was the second child of Henry VIII of England. Her reign is often referred to as the “Elizabethan Age,” during which England prospered and emerged as the dominant European power in politics, trade and the arts. How are you related? View Elizabeth I’s Geni Profile

F. Scott Fitzgerald is regarded as one of the greatest American authors of the 20th century. Along with writers Ernest Hemingway and T.S. Eliot, he was considered a member of the “Lost Generation,” the 1920s expatriate community in post-war Paris. In 1925, Fitzgerald published his most famous novel, The Great Gatsby, which is still widely read today. Fitzgerald was born on September 24, 1896 in Saint Paul Minnesota. He was named after his famous second cousin… Read the full story

The Federation of Genealogy Societies is holding their annual conference in Springfield, Illinois from the 7th to the 10th of this month. There will be many classes and panels available at the conference for those of you looking for more genealogy training. If you’re interested in coming, here is the information you need about how to register at the event. Geni is proud to have a booth at the 2011 FGS Conference, so we hope… Read the full story

On September 6, 1860, American social reformer and author Jane Addams was born. As a prominent leader of the Progressive Era and woman’s suffrage, Addams helped bring to the nation’s attention towards issues of public health and world peace. In 1931, she became the first American woman to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Check out her family tree on Geni! View Jane Addams’s Geni Profile

This blog series provides information on how to conduct family research — with a special focus on the challenges that apply for African Americans. Our goal is to help you appreciate history, learn how to research your family and be inspired to join a community – Geni.com – that seeks to unite the entire world into one big family. Join us for an adventure that is sure to last a lifetime!

On September 2, 1964 actor Keanu Reeves was born in Beirut, Lebanon. He is perhaps best known for his roles in Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure, Speed and The Matrix trilogy. Check out Keanue Reeves’s family tree and see how you’re related! View Keanu Reeves’s Geni Profile

It was recently announced that the remains of Australian folk hero Ned Kelly has been identified using DNA analysis. Scientists compared the remains with the DNA samples from the great grandson of Kelly’s sister, Ellen, which confirmed that the bones belonged to Kelly. In the late 19th century, Kelly led a gang of bank robbers in Australia and became a symbol of the Irish working class’s resistance against the oppression of the British ruling class in Australia. Check… Read the full story