April 2012

Have you checked out some of these interesting articles in the world of genealogy? The Genealogy Sphere Genealogy Today: Ellis Island name-change rumors persist – (Green Valley News) – The truth behind the Ellis Island name-change myths Ancestry.com Acquires Archives.com: Addressing Genealogists’ Concerns (Family Tree Magazine) – Family Tree Magazine provides a summary of Ancestry’s conference call addressing genealogists’ concern over their acquisition of Archives Henry Louis Gates Digs Into Samuel L. Jackson’s Genealogy on… Read the full story

Today country music artist and activist Willie Nelson turns 79! Willie Nelson was born on April 30, 1933 in Abbott, Texas. Despite approaching 80, Willie has not let his age slow him down. To much of his fans’ delight, Willie continues to tour and perform in concerts with other major musicians. Did you know that his fourth great grandfather John Nelson served as a Major in the American Revolutionary War? Willie Nelson is connected to… Read the full story

Actor Rob Lowe is featured in tonight’s episode of Who Do You Think You Are? Will you be watching as Lowe travels to Germany and learns about his unexpected connection to the American Revolutionary War? Be sure to check out how Rob Lowe is related to Amy Poehler, Rashida Jones, Charlie Sheen and Helen Hunt here! Rob Lowe is connected to over 60 million profiles in Geni’s World Family Tree. How are you related?   View… Read the full story

This Friday’s episode of Who Do You Think You Are? features Rob Lowe and his journey to discover his ancestors. Since his family tree on Geni is already connected to the World Family Tree, we thought it would be fun to see how he was related to some of his celebrity pals! Rob currently stars in the critically acclaimed comedy Parks and Recreation as city manager Chris Traeger. Did you know he is also related to a couple… Read the full story

Today actress Carol Burnett turns 79! Burnett was born in San Antonio, Texas on April 26, 1933. For 11 years, she starred in the highly successful variety/sketch comedy show The Carol Burnett Show. During its run, the series won 25 Emmy Awards and today, it’s remembered as one of the best shows in television history. Did you know her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame is located in front of the Hollywood Pacific Theater where she worked… Read the full story

On April 25, 1874, Italian inventor Guglielmo Marconi was born. Marconi is often referred to as the father of long distance radio transmission. In 1909, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics along with Karl Ferdinand Braun for their contributions to the development of wireless telegraphy. Did you know that the two radio operators aboard the Titanic (Jack Phillips and Harold Bride) were employees of the Marconi International Marine Communication Company? The two men worked tirelessly… Read the full story

Alec Baldwin was born Alexander Rae Baldwin III on April 3, 1958 in Long Island, New York to Alexander Rae Baldwin, Jr., a high school history/social studies teacher and football coach and Carol Martineau, founder of the Carol M. Baldwin Breast Care Center of the University Hospital and Medical Center at Stony Brook, NY. Baldwin is an American actor who has appeared on stage, television and film. He first gained recognition through television for his… Read the full story

A recap of some interesting genealogy articles from last week: The Genealogy Sphere Dracula ‘inspired by ancestor tale’ (Leinster Express) – Historian Fiona Fitzsimons proposes that Bram Stoker’s Dracula was inspired by his ancestor and not Vlad the Impaler Stuart woman recalls life in years around recently released 1940 census (TCPalm.com) – A Florida woman finds herself in the 1940 census and discusses what life was like at the time Study reveals ‘extraordinary’ DNA of… Read the full story

On April 23, 1564, English poet and playwright William Shakespeare was born. Although his birth date has never been confirmed, records show he was baptized on April 26, and it was custom at the time to wait three days before baptizing a new born. Shakespeare died on the same day 52 years later on April 23, 1616. Shakespeare is widely considered to be the greatest dramatist of all time. Today, his plays are still performed… Read the full story

This Sunday, April 22, the world celebrates Earth Day! Over 175 countries around the world will join to spread awareness and appreciation of the Earth’s natural environment. Together these countries are working to build a clean and healthier world for generations to come. It’s around this time of year that everyone becomes a little more motivated to do their part in helping the environment. Let’s take a closer look at the history of Earth Day and… Read the full story

On April 20, 1808, French emperor Napoleon III was born in Paris, France. He was the nephew and heir of Napoleon Bonaparte. In 1848, he was elected President of the French Second Republic in a landslide victory. However, in 1851, Napoleon III initiated a coup d’etat and ascended to the throne as Emperor of the French in 1852. After a crushing defeat in the Franco-Prussian War, the Second French Empire fell and Napoleon III was… Read the full story

Today, April 19, is Holocaust Remembrance Day or Yom HaShoah. Established in Israel in 1953, the day is observed as Israel’s day of commemoration for the millions of Jews who perished in the Holocaust. Around the world, people of the Jewish community observe the day to remember the 6 million lives of friends and relatives lost. In honor of the lives lost and forever changed by the Holocaust, several genealogy projects are dedicated to finding… Read the full story

Today we remember Dick Clark, who passed away yesterday at the age of 82. As the host of American Bandstand, Clark introduced the country to rock ‘n’ roll and transformed it into a cultural force. For decades, his show helped launch the careers of some of music’s biggest names to viewers of all ages. For the last four decades, Clark counted down the New Year at Times Square in New York City. In 2004, he… Read the full story

On April 18, 1882, orchestral conductor Leopold Stokowski was born in London. Stokowski was known for popularizing classical music throughout his 60-year career. Today he is revered as one of the greatest conductors of the 20th century. Perhaps his most well known accomplishment is his work conducting the musical score for the Disney film, Fantasia. In 1942, Stokowski was awarded with an honorary Academy Award for his unique achievement in bringing music to the screen… Read the full story

Stephen Benét was an American author, poet, short story writer, and novelist. He is best known for his narrative poem of the American Civil War, John Brown’s Body (1928), for which he won a Pulitzer Prize in 1929, and for two short stories, “The Devil and Daniel Webster” (1937) and “By the Waters of Babylon”. Benét was born on July 22, 1898 in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania to James Walker Benét, a colonel in the United States Army,… Read the full story

On April 17, 1974, Victoria Beckham was born. She rose to fame as a member of the British pop sensation, the Spice Girls. Together they sold over 75 million records worldwide, making them the best-selling female group of all time. Dubbed Posh Spice during her Spice Girls days, Victoria has found continued success as a fashion designer and style icon. In 1999, Victoria married soccer superstar David Beckham at Luttrellstown Castle, Ireland. Are you a fan of… Read the full story

Here’s the latest in the world of genealogy: The Genealogy Sphere What Does the 1940 Census Mean to the Genealogy Community? (Thomas MacEntee) – Thomas MacEntee likens the release of the 1940 census to Christmas for genealogists Most-Wired Generation Meets Greatest Generation in Census Frenzy (SF Gate) – A look into the 1940 census frenzy among genealogists Unsinkable Molly Brown’s daughter chose Paris over Titanic (Greenwichtime.com) – What could have been – a descendant of… Read the full story

Today, April 16, Pope Benedict XVI celebrates his 85th birthday. He was born Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger in 1927. In 2005, Pope Benedict succeeded John Paul II as the 265th Pope of the Catholic Church. This is just the first of Pope Benedict’s milestones this month. April 19 marks the 7th anniversary of his election as pope and April 24 is the anniversary of the beginning of his pontificate. Pope Benedict XVI’s family tree is still… Read the full story

In anticipation of the Titanic‘s 100th anniversary, a group of dedicated Geni users made it their mission to build the family trees of every Titanic passenger and crew member. Yes, that’s right – every single one. The RMS Titanic project was created to identify and list the survivors and casualties of the sinking of the Titanic. Today, they are proud to report that they were successful in accomplishing their goal! Through a truly collaborative effort, and spearheaded by… Read the full story

Today’s Titanic passenger story involves love, a sapphire necklace and tragedy. Remember the necklace worn by Kate Winslet’s character in James Cameron’s film Titanic? It was inspired by today’s tragic Titanic love story. Henry Samuel Morley was a confectioner from England. Although he was married and had a 12-year-old daughter, Henry made plans to leave England and travel to California. He told his friends he was traveling to the United States to recuperate from illness, however he was… Read the full story

Last week we showcased a few celebrities we found in the 1940 U.S. census. During our research, we also discovered some celebrity neighbors! Mary Pickford, Fred Astaire and Charlie Chaplin all lived on the same street in Beverly Hills, California! Actress Mary Pickford was living at 1143 Summit Drive with her husband Charles Buddy Rogers. During her marriage with Douglas Fairbanks, the home was known as “Pickfair” by the press and was once a hot… Read the full story

Colonel Archibald Gracie, IV was an American writer, amateur historian and a first class passenger aboard the Titanic. He spent much of the voyage chaperoning various unaccompanied women, including American author Helen Churchill Candee. After the Titanic struck the iceberg, Gracie put on his life-jacket and helped escort the women he had chaperoned into the lifeboats. Once all the regular boats had launched, Gracie assisted Second Officer Charles Lightoller in freeing the four collapsible boats that were… Read the full story

Perhaps one of the most famous passenger stories from the Titanic is that of Isidor and Ida Straus. Isidor Straus was a former U.S. Congressman and the co-owner of Macy’s department store with his brother Nathan. He and his wife Ida were traveling back to the U.S. from Germany on board the RMS Titanic. Their infant grandson, Stuart Scheftel, had caught a cold and had been left behind in England with his nurse. After the Titanic struck… Read the full story

Today we highlight Violet Jessop, who was a stewardess aboard the Titanic. Amazingly, Jessop survived three different maritime disasters within a span of five years. In 1911, while working as a stewardess on the HMS Olympic, the ship collided with the Royal Navy cruiser HMS Hawke, causing major flooding and damage. Fortunately, no lives were lost. Coincidentally, the Olympic was commanded by Captain Edward Smith, who would later captain the Titanic. On April 10, 1912,… Read the full story

This week marks the 100th anniversary of the RMS Titanic‘s fateful voyage. Let’s take a look at some interesting facts about the Titanic and learn a little bit more about some of the most notable passengers on board. Want to learn more about other Titanic passengers? Check out the RMS Titanic project on Geni and join other users working hard to build the family trees of all the Titanic passengers and crew! Are you related to a Titanic passenger?… Read the full story

Since the 1940 U.S. census was released last Monday, there were a large number of census related articles. Check out a few interesting articles below! The Genealogy Sphere J.D. Salinger Found Using NYPL’s 1940 Census Tool (Gothamist) – J.D. Salinger was found in the 1940 census using the New York Public Library’s research tool Citations Explained – A Don’t Miss Resource for all Genealogists (About.com) – With the release of the 1940 census, Kimberly Powell goes… Read the full story

In honor of the Titanic‘s 100th anniversary, we will be highlighting Titanic passengers this week. Our first Titanic passenger is Joseph Laroche, a Paris-educated Haitian engineer who was traveling on board the Titanic with his family. Although Laroche was from a powerful family in Haiti, he did not experience the same privileged lifestyle in France. Unable to find employment in France because of his race, Laroche decided to return to home to Haiti with his expectant wife and… Read the full story

Now that the 1940 U.S. census images are up, we thought it would be fun to see where some of Hollywood’s biggest celebrities were living at the time. Check out a few big name Hollywood players in the 1940 census! Click on the census images to get a better view. Shirley Temple   Dimpled actress Shirley Temple was 11 when the census was taken. If you weren’t looking carefully, it would have been easy to… Read the full story

Tonight’s episode of Who Do You Think You Are? features actress Edie Falco. Will you be watching tonight as she investigates her maternal ancestors and makes a startling discovery about a tragic event in her family’s past? Edie Falco’s tree is still pretty small. Perhaps after tonight’s episode, you will be able to help expand her tree and connected her to over 60 million people in Geni’s World Family Tree. View Edie Falco’s Geni Profile

Are you a fan of country music? Did you catch Taylor Swift win her second consecutive Entertainer of the Year Award at this past Sunday’s Academy of Country Music Awards? The gala was co-hosted by country singers Blake Shelton and Reba McEntire. Did you know Taylor Swift and Reba McEntire are related? Reba is Taylor Swift’s 15th cousin once removed! It’s no wonder Taylor Swift has found success – country music runs in her veins…. Read the full story

Today we remember musician Kurt Cobain, who died from a self-inflicted shotgun wound on April 5, 1994. As the lead singer of the grunge band Nirvana, Cobain redefined the music of the 90’s. To this day, Cobain is remembered as one of the most iconic rock musicians in history. Kurt Cobain is connected to over 60 million profiles in Geni’s World Family Tree. How are you related? View Kurt Cobain’s Geni Profile  

Yesterday marked the anniversary of the first Pony Express mail delivery service. On April 3, 1860, the first relay teams of horses and riders made their way from St. Joseph, Missouri and Sacramento, California simultaneously. Ten days later, the westbound rider arrived in Sacramento, beating the eastbound rider to St. Joseph by two days. The Pony Express’s delivery speed was nearly unheard of at the time. The Pony Express was co-founded by William Russell, Alexander Majors and William Waddell with… Read the full story

Today we remember civil rights activist Martin Luther King, Jr., who was fatally shot in Memphis, Tennessee on April 4, 1968. Dr. King was in town to support striking African American sanitation workers. Years after his death, his legacy lives on. Considered one of the most iconic civil rights activists in history, Dr. King’s work to end racial discrimination and inequality through nonviolent methods continues to inspire people all around the world. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s… Read the full story

On April 3, 1934, British primatologist Jane Goodall was born. Considered to be the world’s foremost expert on chimpanzees, Goodall is perhaps best known for her 45-year study of wild chimpanzees in Tanzania. In 1977, she founded the Jane Goodall Institute, which is dedicated to bringing awareness to the preservation of animals and the conservation of their habitats. Jane Goodall’s family tree is still pretty small. Perhaps you can help connect her to over 60… Read the full story

It’s been an exciting day today with the release of the 1940 U.S. census. While you wait for your images to load, take a look at some interesting genealogy articles from the past week. The Genealogy Sphere Genealogy Art (Past-Present-Future) – Smadar Belkind Gerson shares a piece from her husband’s art work inspired by their ancestors Unlocking a new door to the 1940s (Chicago Tribune) – Some tips on how to search the 1940 census… Read the full story

Today, the 1940 U.S. census is finally available to the public! The U.S. National Archives has released the 1940 census images online for free. These records contain information for over 132 million U.S. citizens and hold a plethora of genealogical treasures. Are you ready to find your relatives in the 1940 census? Here are steps to get started: Visit the National Archives’ official website for the 1940 U.S. Census Search census maps and descriptions to… Read the full story

On April 2, 1802, American activist Dorothea Dix was born. Dix has often been described as “the most effective advocate of humanitarian reform in American mental institutions during the nineteenth century.” She successfully lobbied state legislatures and the U.S. Congress to create the first generation of American mental asylums. Dorothea Dix is connected to over 60 million profiles in Geni’s World Family Tree. How are you related?   View Dorothea Dix’s Geni Profile