February 2013

On February 27, 1902, American writer John Steinbeck was born in Salinas, California. Widely known for his Pulitzer Prize-winning novel The Grapes of Wrath, Steinbeck’s work often examined the lives of the working class and migrant workers during the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression. In 1962, he received the Nobel Prize in Literature. John Steinbeck is connected to over 67 million people in Geni’s World Family Tree. How are you related?     View… Read the full story

John Foster Dulles served as U.S. Secretary of State under President Dwight D. Eisenhower from 1953-1959. He advocated an aggressive stance against communism throughout the world which made him a significant figure in the early Cold War era. He also advocated support of the French in their war against the Viet Minh in Indochina and it is widely believed that he refused to shake the hand of Zhou Enlai at the Geneva Conference in 1954…. Read the full story

On February 26, 1802, French poet and novelist Victor Hugo was born in Besançon, France. He is remembered as one of the most significant figures of French Romanticism. Did you know the most recent film adaptation of his novel, Les Misérables, won three Academy Awards on Sunday, including a win for Anne Hathaway for her portrayal of Fantine? Victor Hugo is connected to over 67 million people in Geni’s World Family Tree. How are you related?… Read the full story

Check out some interesting articles from the past week! The Genealogy Sphere The Wismer Saucepan (Adventures in Genealogy blog) – Deb Ruth shares her husband’s second cousin twice removed’s patent record for a new saucepan Harriet Tubman’s Tallahassee descendants loan artifacts to archives (Tallahassee.com) – In honor of Black History Month, Harriet Tubman’s descendants loan a few of her artifacts to the FAMU Black Archives Photochrom prints: images to use (The Legal Genealogist) – Judy Russell shares… Read the full story

Congratulations to Jennifer Lawrence for winning her first Academy Award! At just 22, Lawrence received her first Best Actress Oscar for her performance in Silver Linings Playbook. She took a little stumble on her way to the podium, but still managed to charm the crowed with her heartfelt acceptance speech. Jennifer Lawrence is connected to over 67 million people in Geni’s World Family Tree. How are you related?     View Jennifer Lawrence’s Geni Profile  … Read the full story

February is Black History month in the U.S., where we celebrate and remember the past and present achievements of African-Americans. In 1866, to help rebuild the country after the Civil War, the United States Congress established the first peacetime all-black regiment in the U.S. Army to help patrol the western frontier. About 6,000 African Americans were recruited into six regiments: 9th and 10th Cavalry and the 38th, 39th, 40th, and 41st Infantry Regiments. The last four… Read the full story

This Sunday, Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane will bring his off-color humor to the stage as host of the 85th Academy Awards. Did you know MacFarlane is also an Oscar nominee? He earned his first nomination for Best Original Song. Will you be watching the Academy Awards this weekend? Seth MacFarlane is connected to over 67 million people in Geni’s World Family Tree. How are you related?     View Seth MacFarlane’s Geni Profile   Image credit: Gage Skidmore

On February 21, 1848, Karl Marx published The Communist Manifesto. Written with the assistance of Friedrich Engels, it’s ideas were a significant force throughout the 20th century. By 1950, nearly half the world’s population lived under Marxist governments. Today, the Manifesto is considered one of the most influential political publications in history. Karl Marx is connected to over 67 million people in Geni’s World Family Tree. How are you related?     View Karl Marx’s… Read the full story

On February 20, 1902, American photographer Ansel Adams was born in San Francisco, California. Best known for his iconic black and white landscape photographs of the American West, Adams used his work to promote conservation of the American wilderness. His family came from New England, after having migrated from northern Ireland in the early 18th century. His grandfather founded a successful lumber business, which his father later inherited. Adams would later condemn the industry for… Read the full story

Harriet Beecher Stowe was an American abolitionist and author. She wrote the novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin which was a depiction of life for African-Americans under slavery, it became influential in the United States and United Kingdom. The novel energized anti-slavery forces in the American North, while provoking widespread anger in the South. She was influential both for her writings and her public stands on social issues of the day. After the start of the Civil War, Stowe… Read the full story

Hope everyone had a great long weekend! Check out some interesting genealogy articles from the past week! The Genealogy Sphere Genealogy for African-Americans challenging (Standard-Examiner) – An aritcle examining the challenges of African-American genealogy Carpe Diem! Missed Genealogy Opportunities (The Olive Tree Genealogy) – Do you have any missed genealogy opportunities? A 1913 will and property owned 120 years ago (Footsteps and Footprints blog) – Roger Glass shares the last will and testemant of his great-great… Read the full story

On February 19, 1473, astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus was born in Torun, Poland. Copernicus’s revolutionary concept of a heliocentric solar system, which identified the sun as the center of the solar system, significantly changed scientific thinking. His theories laid the basis for the coming of the Scientific Revolution. Nicolaus Copernicus is connected to over 67 million people in Geni’s World Family Tree. How are you related?     View Nicolaus Copernicus’s Geni Profile  

On February 15, 1820, civil rights leader Susan B. Anthony was born in Adams, Massachusetts. An instrumental figure of the 19th century women’s suffrage movement, Anthony helped draft the 19th amendment to the United States Constitution, which finally gave women the right to vote. Susan B. Anthony is connected to over 67 million people in Geni’s World Family Tree. How are you related?     View Susan B. Anthony’s Geni Profile  

It’s Valentine’s Day! Valentine’s Day brings out the romantic in many of us and what better way to spend Valentine’s Day than to read about great love stories in history. Baylor University, in collaboration with Wellesly College digitized the love letters between English poets Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett. The entire collection is now available online for your viewing pleasure. Elizabeth Barrett came from a prominent and wealthy family and she was already a well… Read the full story

Happy Valentine’s Day! In honor of this day, we’re highlighting Geoffrey Chaucer‘s Geni profile. Dubbed the “Father of English literature,” Chaucer is widely considered the greatest English poet of the Middle Ages. It was during Chaucer’s time that Valentine’s Day first became associated with romantic love. His poem, Parlement of Foules, made one of the first references to the idea that Valentine’s Day was a special day for lovers. Geoffrey Chaucer is connected to over… Read the full story

This morning the nominations for the 48th annual Academy of Country Music Awards were announced. Taylor Swift nabbed the most nods for a female artist, tying Miranda Lambert with 5 nominations. Will she score her third consecutive ACM win for Entertainer of the Year? Swift recently won a Grammy for her Hunger Games tune “Safe & Sound.”  Taylor Swift is connected to over 67 million people in Geni’s World Family Tree. How are you related?     View Taylor Swift’s… Read the full story

Edward Everett Hale was an American author, historian and Unitarian clergyman. He was a child prodigy who exhibited extraordinary literary skills. He graduated from Boston Latin School at age 13, then enrolled at Harvard University where he won two Bowdoin prizes and was elected the Class Poet. In 1839, Hale graduated second in his class and then studied at Harvard Divinity School. He was licensed to preach as a Unitarian minister in 1842 by the… Read the full story

Today we remember President Abraham Lincoln, who was born on February 12, 1809 in a one bedroom log cabin in Hodgenville, Kentucky. Remembered as one of the greatest presidents of the United States, Lincoln successfully led the country through its greatest internal crisis, the American Civil War, preserving the Union and ending slavery. Abraham Lincoln is connected to over 67 million people in Geni’s World Family Tree. How are you related?     View Abraham… Read the full story

We hope everyone had a great weekend! Check out some interesting articles in the world of genealogy below! The Genealogy Sphere MN Woman Discovers Heritage in Swedish Reality Show (KSTP.com) – A woman from Minnesota learns of her ancestry through a reality show in Sweden A tool for finding urban ancestors (GenerousGenealogists.com) – Tips for using city directories to find relatives Why the princes in the tower are staying six feet under (The Guardian) – Interesting article… Read the full story

On February 11, 1936, actor Burt Reynolds was born in Lansing, Michigan. Although he had been a regular face on television for a number of years, it wasn’t until his breakout performance in Deliverance in 1972 that Reynolds became a star. In 1998, Reynolds earned an Academy Award nomination for his supporting role in Boogie Nights. Burt Reynolds is connected to over 67 million people in Geni’s World Family Tree. How are you related?    … Read the full story

We’re thrilled to announce that DNA tests for genealogy are now available on Geni! Take your genealogy into the new millennium with this cutting-edge technology to enhance your family history research. And for a limited time, we’re offering you a special discount on this revolutionary technology! Have you hit a brick wall in your genealogy research? You can break through these brick walls by identifying your direct paternal line (Y-DNA), direct maternal line (mtDNA) and… Read the full story

On February 8, 1828, science fiction author Jules Verne was born in Nantes, France. Often referred to as the “Father of Science Fiction,” Verne’s writings depicted technologies that were far advanced for the day and would later become commonplace in everyday life. Did you know Verne is the second most translated author of all time? Jules Verne is not yet connected to the World Family Tree. Perhaps you can help connect him to over 67… Read the full story

On February 7, 1867, acclaimed author Laura Ingalls Wilder was born in a log cabin outside of Pepin, Wisconsin. Her life in the “Big Woods” of Wisconsin formed the basis of her popular “Little House” series. Based on her childhood in a pioneer family, Wilder’s “Little House” books have been continually in print since the initial publication of Little House in the Big Woods in 1932. Laura Ingalls Wilder is connected to over 67 million people in Geni’s World… Read the full story

On February 6, 1756, Aaron Burr was born in Newark, New Jersey. Burr served as the third Vice President of the United States under President Thomas Jefferson. He is probably best remembered for killing his political rival Alexander Hamilton during a duel in 1804. Charges against Burr were eventually dropped, however, Burr’s political career ended with Hamilton’s death. Aaron Burr is connected to over 67 million people on Geni’s World Family Tree. How are you… Read the full story

Oliver Ames was the 35th Governor of Massachusetts during 1887-1890 and a financier. Prior to being governor he was lieutenant-governor of Massachusetts from 1882-1886. Ames had entered public life avowedly to vindicate his father’s memory. Ames was born on February 4, 1831 in North Easton, Massachusetts to Oakes Ames and Eveline Gilmore. Oakes Ames was an American manufacturer, capitalist, and member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Massachusetts. As a congressman, he is credited… Read the full story

Did you watch the Super Bowl on Sunday? The showdown between the Baltimore Ravens and the San Francisco 49ers was one of the most watched programs in television history. The game was a bit of a family affair as well, with Ravens head coach John Harbaugh facing off against his younger brother Jim Harbaugh, head coach of the 49ers. John ultimately defeated his brother, with the Ravens winning 34 – 31. John Harbaugh is connected to… Read the full story

Check out this week’s recap! The Genealogy Sphere Digging up the past: Passing the family history torch (Afterthekidsleave.com) – A good way to get your kids into genealogy: tell them they’re descended from Vikings! Use SMART goals for your family history and genealogy planning (Examiner.com) – Great tips on how to plan your family history research Richard III dig: DNA confirms bones are king’s (BBC News) – The remains of Richard III of England have… Read the full story

It was announced today that archaeologists have identified the skeletal remains found in Leicester as Richard III of England. The king had died during the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485. After extracting DNA from the bone samples, the archaeological team was able to compare it with the DNA of a Canadian family who are direct descendants of Anne of York, Richard III’s eldest sister. Richard III of England is connected to over 67 million people in… Read the full story

On February 1, 1902, American poet, novelist and playwright Langston Hughes was born in Joplin, Missouri. Hughes was one of the earliest innovators of jazz poetry and a leading figure of the Harlem Renaissance. Raised mainly by his maternal grandmother, Mary Patterson, Hughes often credited her for instilling in him a lasting sense of racial pride. Langston Hughes is connected to over 67 million people on Geni’s World Family Tree. How are you related?   View Langston… Read the full story