2013

Have you ever found an old photo that appears to have a ghostly presence amongst the individuals pictured? You may have stumbled upon a “spirit” photograph. During the late 19th century, spirit photography sprang into popularity. The practice attempted to capture images of a passed loved one’s ghost or spirit within a photograph. With Halloween upon us, let’s take a closer look at the history behind these spooky photos. In the 1860s, photographer William H. Mumler discovered… Read the full story

Today the United States celebrates the scariest night of the year, Halloween! In honor of this night of horror, we’re highlighting Vlad the Impaler, Prince of Wallachia. Born in 1431, he was known by his patronymic name Dracula before he was posthumously dubbed Vlad the Impaler due to his reputation for excessive cruelty. The tales were so famous that he became the inspiration for one of the most well known horror figures in history, Bram… Read the full story

Here’s some excellent news to add to your Halloween festivities – millions of gravestone records and obituaries are now available to Geni users through Record Matches and MyHeritage’s SuperSearch™! This new addition includes 5.5 million gravestone records from BillionGraves and 3.5 million obituaries from Tributes.com. Using MyHeritage’s powerful matching technologies, Geni users will receive Record Matches whenever these new records match your family tree. These records will also be accessible directly through your relatives’ Geni… Read the full story

Seventy-five years ago today, Orson Welles broadcasted his radio play of H.G. Wells‘s The War of the Worlds, causing severe anxiety to many audiences across the United States. Presented as a series of news bulletins, many listeners mistakenly believed that Welles’ show was an actual live broadcast of an alien invasion. The widespread panic created by the program and media attention thereafter skyrocketed Welles’s notoriety and became one of the most famous radio broadcasts in… Read the full story

Have a great weekend? Check out some interesting articles you may have missed in the passed week! The Genealogy Sphere Map: Six Decades of the Most Popular Names for Girls, State-by-State (Jezebel.com) – Fascinating maps of the most popular girl names. Do any of these pop up in your family tree? Eerie Cemeteries Left to Nature (PHOTOS) – Haunting images of nature reclaiming old cemeteries Blended families, blended names (CBC.ca) – Modern couples opting for… Read the full story

Happy birthday, Julia Roberts! Today the Oscar-winning actress turns 46. Did you know Julia has a fascinating story about her birth? She was born in 1967 in Atlanta, Georgia to Betty Lou Bredemus and Walter Grady Roberts. The one time actors and playwrights  were co-founders of the Atlanta Actors and Writers Workshop in Georgia. While Betty Lou was pregnant with Julia, the couple ran an acting school for children. Among their students were the children of… Read the full story

On October 25, 1760, George III became the King of Great Britain and Ireland. His long reign was marked by a series of conflicts, including the American Revolutionary War in which Britain would lose its colonies in the Americas. He would become one of the longest living and reigning monarchs before his granddaughter Queen Victoria‘s reign. In the later part of his life, George III suffered from bouts of mental illness that earned him the… Read the full story

On October 24, 1926, legendary illusionist Harry Houdini made his last performance at the Garrick Theater in Detroit, Michigan. Although suffering from appendicitis, Houdini proceeded to complete his performance for the theater’s audience despite being in constant pain. A few days later he died of peritonitis caused by a ruptured appendix. Celebrated as one of the greatest illusionists of all time, Houdini had a remarkable ability to escape from handcuffs, chains, ropes and straitjackets. He also detested… Read the full story

On October 23, 1715, Peter II of Russia was born in St. Petersburg, Russia. He was the only son of Tsarevich Alexie Petrovich, who was the son of Peter the Great. Peter II’s father was accused of treason by Peter the Great and died in prison. From a young age, Peter II was kept in seclusion, with little attention paid towards his education. It wasn’t until the reign of Catherine the Great that it became… Read the full story

On October 22, 1966, The Supremes became the first all-female music group to have a number 1 selling album on the Billboard charts. The album The Supremes A’ Go-Go sold over 1 million copies in the U.S. and 3.5 million copies worldwide. In honor of this anniversary, we’re highlighting founding member and lead singer Diana Ross‘ family tree. As a part of The Supremes, Ross’s popularity skyrocketed and she eventually left the group to embark on… Read the full story

Here are some interesting articles to start off your week! The Genealogy Sphere Living Relatives of 5,300-Year-Old Mummy Located in Austria (redOrbit) – Through DNA testing, scientists were able to identify living relatives to a 5,300-year-old mummy Adopted daughter rode the school bus for seven years before she discovered the conductor was her real mother (Daily Mail) – A woman discovers her childhood bus driver is her biological mother Goats successfully uncover graves at Md…. Read the full story

Happy birthday to Carrie Fisher! Today the Star Wars icon turns 57. Born to actors Eddie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds, Carrie got an early start in show business. Despite also becoming a best selling writer, Carrie remains best known for her portrayal of Princess Leia in the original Star Wars trilogy. Carrie Fisher is connected to over 70 million people in Geni’s World Family Tree. How are you related?     View Carrie Fisher’s Geni Profile  

Today the remake of the horror classic Carrie opens in the United States. Based on horror mastermind Stephen King‘s 1974 novel, the story follows a shy high-school girl who upon discovering telekinetic powers, seeks revenge on those who tease her. Do you remember watching Sissy Spacek as the original Carrie? In its most recent film incarnation, actress Chloë Grace Moretz takes on the titular role. Is Carrie on your must watch list this Halloween season? Stephen King is connected to over 70 million people… Read the full story

It’s competition time! Help come up with a unique caption for the image below for your chance to win a free Geni Pro subscription. With Geni Pro you will have access to advanced tools to help grow your family tree, including: Tree Matches – achieve faster tree growth with instant tree matches to connect with new relatives Unlimited data – upload unlimited photos, videos and documents Premium support – communicate directly with our expert support staff… Read the full story

Are you a fan of Superman? Today Margot Kidder turns 65. She was born in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada to Jocelyn Wilson, a history teacher, and Kendal Kidder, an explosives expert and mining engineer. She rose to fame in her most memorable role as Lois Lane opposite Christopher Reeve‘s Clark Kent in four Superman films. Did you know Christopher Reeve is Margot Kidder’s 16th cousin once removed? Margot Kidder is connected to over 70 million people… Read the full story

Happy birthday Angela Lansbury! Today the actress turns 88. She was born in London, England to Moyna MacGill, an Irish actress, and Edgar Lansbury, a wealthy English timber merchant and politician. Her paternal grandfather was the Labor Party leader and prominent pacifist activist George Lansbury. As a young girl, she became transfixed with the world of cinema and in 1940, began her studies in acting. With a career spanning seven decades, Lansbury has earned numerous… Read the full story

Happy birthday Fergie! Today Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York was born in London England. The second daughter of Major Ronald Ferguson and his wife Susan Mary Wright, she married Prince Andrew in 1986. The couple divorced ten years later amidst much media tumult. They had two daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie of York. Sarah, Duchess of York is connected to over 70 million people in Geni’s World Family Tree. How are you related?    … Read the full story

When we first introduced Record Matches and Smart Matches™ on Geni, we promised that additional historical record collections would be coming in the future. Today we are excited to announce that our parent company MyHeritage has entered into a strategic partnership with leading genealogy organization FamilySearch; this partnership will bring billions of global historical records and family tree profiles spanning hundreds of years to MyHeritage. What does this mean for Geni? These new additions to MyHeritage’s… Read the full story

Let’s get this week started with some great family history articles! The Genealogy Sphere Spotting a Copy (Family Tree Magazine blog) – Photo detective Maureen Taylor walks through how to spot a photo copy of an earlier image Here’s Why There Are So Many German-Americans in the U.S. (Business Insider) – A look into the history of early German immigration to the United States Ricky Gervais Asked Grandparents to Share the Most Important Lesson They… Read the full story

Today the United States celebrates Columbus Day! The holiday commemorates the arrival of Christopher Columbus in the New World in 1492, sailing across the Atlantic with his ships the Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Maria. Although his is technically not the first to arrive to the American continent, Columbus’s expeditions played a significant role in Spain’s colonization of the New World. Christopher Columbus is connected to over 70 million people in Geni’s World Family Tree. How are you… Read the full story

Have you wondered about what creative ideas are out there to get your kids more excited to learn about their family history? In honor of Family History Month, here’s a sample of DIY games that’s loads of fun for the entire family. Guess Who? Family Edition Image credit: Mads Memories blog Here’s a clever idea from the Mads Memories blog. Take the classic game Guess Who? and make it your own. Replace the game’s photos with those… Read the full story

This month marks the 50th anniversary of French singer Edit Piaf‘s death. Remembered as one of France’s greatest international stars, Edith became known as “The Little Sparrow” throughout her life because of her nervous energy and small stature. She became a popular performer in France during World War II and after the war, her international fame spread quickly. In 2007, her life’s story became the subject of the film La Vie en Rose starring Marion Cotillard,… Read the full story

On October 10, 1924, American filmmaker Ed Wood was born in Poughkeepsie, New York. In the 1950s, Wood made a number of low-budget science fiction, horror and cowboy genre films, intercutting stock footage. His films developed a large cult following who continue to celebrate his campy films today. Did you know in 1942, after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Wood enlisted in the United States Marine Corps? He was involved in the Battle of Tarawa and… Read the full story

Today we remember John Lennon on what would have been his 73rd birthday. Born and raised in Liverpool, England, John skyrocketed to stardom as one-fourth of the musical phenomena the Beatles. He shares his birthday with his son, Sean Lennon, who was born in 1975. Do you have a favorite John Lennon song? Check out his family tree on Geni!     View John Lennon’s Geni Profile  

Happy birthday Sigourney Weaver! Today the actress turns 64. She was born Susan Alexandra Weaver in New York City and began calling herself Sigourney at the age of 14 after a character in the F. Scott Fitzgerald novel The Great Gatsby. She is best known for her iconic role of Ellen Ripley in the four Alien films, which also earned her an Academy Award nomination in 1986. Sigourney Weaver is connected to over 70 million… Read the full story

Here’s our weekly roundup of interesting genealogy and family history articles. Enjoy! The Genealogy Sphere 19 Ways to Find Someone’s Birth Information (The Ancestor Hunt blog) – Check out 19 great resources to track down birth data The alien rebel and his land (The Legal Genealogist blog) – Judy Russell looks deeper into land record to discover how a German-born ex-Confederate soldier claimed federal land The Changing Face of America (National Geographic) – An intriguing… Read the full story

Today we remember poet Edgar Allan Poe, who died on October 7, 1849 at the age of 40. Best known for his tales of mystery and the macabre, Poe is generally credited with being the first to to write the modern detective story. His poem “The Raven” ranks as one of the best known pieces of poetry in American literature. Are you a fan of his spooky tales? Edgar Allan Poe is connected to over 70… Read the full story

It’s that time of year again! October is Family History Month – an entire month devoted to the celebration genealogy. Learning about your family history gives us a greater appreciation of our past and a better understanding of where we come from. Check out  these 5 fun activities to celebrate Family History Month! 1. Interview your relatives Take this month to see which relatives you have yet to interview and record their stories. Nothing makes… Read the full story

Happy anniversary, Leave It to Beaver! On October 4, 1957, the legendary television show Leave It to Beaver aired its first episode and become one of the nation’s most beloved comedies. In honor of the sitcom’s 56th anniversary, we’re highlighting Barbara Bilingsley‘s profile on Geni. Alongside her on-screen husband Hugh Beaumont, and Tony Dow and Jerry Mathers as their sons Wally and Beaver, the Cleavers stood as the idyllic American suburban family of the mid-20th century…. Read the full story

Today we remember author Tom Clancy, who passed away on October 1, 2013. Born in Baltimore, Maryland in 1947, Clancy was best known for his military thrillers and stories of espionage set in the aftermath of the Cold War. Seventeen of his novels were best-sellers, with over 100 million copies in print. Even if you haven’t read his novels, it is likely you may have seen their movie adaptations, including The Hunt For Red October,… Read the full story

Do you remember the comic strip Peanuts? On October 2, 1950, the beloved comic by Charles M. Schulz was first published. Featuring the classic characters Snoopy, Charlie Brown and many others, Peanuts ran until February 14, 2000, with nearly 18,000 strips published in all. Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Schulz developed an early interest in comics. He based the character of Charlie Brown on himself, while the inspiration for Snoopy came from his childhood pet. Today,… Read the full story

Happy birthday Jimmy Carter! Today the former President turns 89. In 2002, Carter was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his work “to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development” through The Carter Center, a non-profit devoted to the advancement of human rights and alleviation of human suffering. He holds the honor of being the only President to be awarded the prize after… Read the full story

Start the new week off right with some great articles from the past week! The Genealogy Sphere Webscape: Tracing your family history (BBC News) – Learn more about MyHeritage in this BBC report How to Get on Genealogy Roadshow (Or Not) (Taneya’s Genealogy Blog) – Read how genealogy blogger Taneya Koonce auditioned for PBS’s latest genealogy series Genealogy Roadshow Flooding of Chicago Effects Local Cemeteries (Finding Our Ancestors blog) – Check out first hand account… Read the full story

Today we remember author Truman Capote, who was born September 30, 1924 in New Orleans, Louisiana. As a child, he was sent to live with relatives in Monroeville, Alabama where he befriended  future Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Harper Lee. The pair would continue to remain best friends throughout their lives. Considered one of the most recognizable authors of the 20th century, many of Capote’s works have been adapted for film and television, including his most popular literary classics Breakfast… Read the full story

Not even death can keep this couple apart. Below are the graves of Colonel JWC van Gorkum, a Protestant, and the Catholic CJHP van Aefferden, a woman of nobility in the region. In 1842, the Dutch couple were married in the Netherlands. Because of their different religious affiliations, their “mixed” union was quite controversial for the time. Despite the scandal, the couple remained married for 40 years, until van Gorkum died in 1880. He was… Read the full story

Are you a Grease fan? This day in 1948, star Olivia Newton-John was born in Cambridge, England. Raised in Melbourne, Australia, Olivia began her career performing in clubs and television spots during the 1960s in England. It wasn’t until her breakthrough performance as Sandy in the musical Grease that she became known as an international star. Did you know she is the granddaughter of the Nobel Prize-winning atomic physicist Max Born? His work was instrumental in… Read the full story

Happy birthday Michael Douglas! Today the Hollywood star turns 69. Did you know he also shares a birthday with his wife Catherine Zeta-Jones? Michael has had plenty of reasons to celebrate this week. Just this past Sunday, Michael won an Emmy award for his portrayal of Liberace in the film Behind the Candelabra. What’s your favorite Michael Douglas performance? Michael Douglas is connected to over 70 million people in Geni’s World Family Tree. How are you related?  … Read the full story

Today we remember beloved children’s book author Theodor Seuss Geisel, who passed away 22 years ago at the age of 87. Affectionately remembered by his pen name Dr. Seuss, Geisel published 46 children’s books that featured his unique blend of imaginative characters and rhymes. His most celebrated books include Green Eggs and Ham, The Cat in the Hat and How the Grinch Stole Christmas! Did you know that during World War II he worked in an animation… Read the full story

Start your week off right with these interesting genealogy and family history articles! The Genealogy Sphere DNA Stories: Did She Marry Her Cousin? (The Huffington Post) – Genealogist Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak shares how she used DNA testing to tackle her own family history Clues in Cookbooks (Genealogy Tip of the Day) – Great tip to look into the cookbooks of your ancestors for clues Tombstone’s origin a cold case mystery that’s finally solved (The Daily… Read the full story

If you’re lucky enough to have tons of old family photos stored in your home, chances are they are tucked away in a box, perhaps in a closet, never to see the light of day. Your old family photographs are just waiting for you to bring them to light in a creative, unique display in your home. Check out how a few crafty folks have created some beautiful pieces of jewelry to display their family… Read the full story

Happy birthday Trisha Yearwood! Today the country music artist turns 49. Earlier this month Trisha was featured on an episode of the genealogy show Who Do You Think You Are? where she traced her paternal side of the family to England. There she discovered a surprising royal connection – her ancestors stole, wounded and killed “several fat bucks” from English royal hunting grounds in the 1700s. Did you catch her episode when it aired? Trisha Yearwood… Read the full story

On September 18, 1905, legendary actress Greta Garbo was born in Stockholm, Sweden. She was the third youngest child of Anna Lovisa Karlsson, a homemaker who later worked at a jam factory, and Karl Alfred Gustafsson, a laborer. The family lived an impoverished life and at the age of 13, Garbo dripped out of school to stay home and look after her ill father. She began her cinematic career in Sweden and at 19, came… Read the full story

Check out some interesting articles you may have missed! The Genealogy Sphere Effective Genealogy Writing: Tips to Attract Family Members to Family History (The Huffington Post) – Are you a genealogy writer? Here are some good tips to attract your family to your genealogy This girl ages into an old woman before your eyes without you noticing (io9.com) – An impressive video showing the aging process using a composit of portraits from related, multi-generational family… Read the full story

Happy birthday, Lauren Bacall! Today the sultry actress turns 89. She was born Betty Joan Perske in New York City to Jewish parents. Her mother immigrated from Romania, and her father was born in New Jersey, to parents from Poland. She first emerged as a leading lady in the Humphrey Bogart film, To Have and Have Not. In 1945, the co-stars married and remained married until Bogart’s death.  Did you know that she is a first cousin… Read the full story

There have been a great many products invented over the years and if you have any imaginative inventors in your family, you may have come across some of their patents during your family history research, some successful, some maybe not so successful. Generally speaking, new inventions intend to provide improvements or benefits to a person’s life. During the early 20th century, people began to move in larger numbers into the cities. Attracted by the promise… Read the full story

Today we remember Johnny Cash, who passed away on September 12, 2003, less than four months after his wife June Carter Cash passed. Considered one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, Cash’s music transcended multiple genres, affording him the rare honor of induction in the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Gospel Music Hall of Fame. What’s your favorite Johnny Cash song? Johnny Cash… Read the full story

Happy birthday Harry Connick, Jr.! Today the singer and actor turns 46. It’s a big year for the versatile star, who will be joining the latest season of American Idol as the newest addition to the judges table. Born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana, Harry exhibited his musical talents at an early age. He started learning the keyboards at the age of 3, performing publicly at the age of 5 and recording with a jazz band… Read the full story

Tonight’s season finale of Who Do You Think You Are? follows The Big Bang Theory‘s Jim Parsons as he explores his father’s heritage. His journey takes him to Louisiana, where he discovers his ancestor Dr. Jean Baptiste Hacker once practiced medicine after graduating from medical school. From there, he traces his lineage to France, revealing his family’s imprint in history. Before tonight’s episode, check out Jim Parsons’ family tree on Geni and see how you’re related!… Read the full story

Check out some interesting articles from the past week! The Genealogy Sphere Scientists as Kids: 18 Science & Tech Luminaries When They Were Youngsters (Huffington Post) – Check out some childhood photos of famous scientists Do You Have an Artificial Brick Wall? (Reclaiming Kin blog) – Interesting article about you “brick wall” Remembering Mararethe (The Legal Genealogist blog) – Judy Russell remembers the short life of her third great grandparents’ young daughter The map that… Read the full story

Today we celebrate fried chicken entrepreneur Colonel Sanders‘s 123rd birthday! On September 9, 1890, he was born Harland David Sanders in Henryville, Indiana to Wilber David and Margaret Ann Sanders. At the age of 40, Sanders was running a service station in Kentucky which catered to feeding traveling customers. Over the years, he perfected his “Secret Recipe” for fried chicken. His food was so notable that he was eventually named a Kentucky Colonel in 1949… Read the full story