2014

As we prepare to welcome in the new year, now is the perfect time to reflect on some of the amazing things we have accomplished in 2014. And what a year it’s been! Take a walk down memory lane with us as we reflect on the highlights from 2014. The year got off to an exciting start when we teamed up with best-selling author AJ Jacobs on his journey to hold the world’s largest family reunion in… Read the full story

On December 30, 1899, Norwegian explorer Helge Ingstad was born in Meråker, Norway. Ingstad and his wife, archaeologist Anne Stine, were the first to prove that the Vikings had reached North America 500 years before Christopher Columbus. In 1960, Ingstad discovered the remnants of a Viking settlement in the L’Anse aux Meadows of Newfoundland, Canada. The settlement has been dated to approximately 1,000 years ago and is the only known site of a Norse or Viking village… Read the full story

It’s our last genealogy recap for 2014! Check out these articles you may have missed over the holidays. Image: The Couple That Took the Same Christmas Portrait for 40 Years / The Atlantic The Genealogy Sphere The Couple That Took the Same Christmas Portrait for 40 Years (The Atlantic) – Anne and Richard Wagner took a photo in front of their tree every year from 1900 to 1942 ‘Bay Area’s Titanic’: 1901 shipwreck near Golden… Read the full story

Do you have any Russian heritage? On this day in 1777, Alexander I of Russia was born in Saint Petersburg. Between 1801 – 1825, Alexander reigned as Emperor of Russia, leading the empire during the chaotic period of the Napoleonic Wars. He succeeded to the throne after his father was murdered. Both he and his younger brother Constantine were raised by their grandmother, Catherine the Great. Some sources allege that Catherine had planned to remove her… Read the full story

Today we are excited to announce an easier and faster way to upload family photos on Geni! Whether you want to upload a few photos or hundreds at once, you can drag and drop photos from anywhere on your computer to share with your relatives on Geni. Image credit: U.S. National Archives Just in time for the holidays, we’ve simplified the process of uploading your family photos to make it easier than ever to share… Read the full story

Are you a fan of classical music? On this day in 1808, Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 made its world premiere in a mammoth concert at the Theater an der Wien in Vienna. The conditions of the four-hour concert were very difficult. With freezing temperatures in the theater and little rehearsal time, the orchestra did not play very well. Their poor performance had even forced Beethoven, who was also acting as conductor, to stop the music and… Read the full story

On December 19, 1843, Charles Dickens’s Christmas classic A Christmas Carol was first published in London. An instant success, Dickens’s novella significantly influenced the rejuvenation of the old Christmas traditions of England. Since it’s publication, the story has never been out of print. Children all around the world grow up hearing the tale of Ebenezer Scrooge and his spiritual visitors, the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come. Do you remember reading A Christmas Carol while… Read the full story

On December 17, 1830, Venezuelan military and political leader Simón Bolívar died at the age of 47. Considered one of the most influential politicians in the history of the Americas, Bolívar played an instrumental role in Latin America’s successful struggle for independence from the Spanish Empire. Bolívar’s surname was derived from the Bolívar aristocrats from the Basque Country La Puebla de Bolívar in Spain. In the sixteenth century, the family settled in Venezuela and prospered. Born into wealth, Simón… Read the full story

Do you have ancestors who participated in the Boston Tea Party? 241 years ago today, dozens of American colonists boarded three ships in Boston Harbor and threw 342 crates of tea overboard in protest of the Tea Act. An iconic event in American history, the Boston Tea Party helped pave the way for the American Revolution. “No taxation without representation.” Organized by the Sons of Liberty, the political protestors, some disguised as Native Americans, took to the wharf to destroy an entire shipment… Read the full story

Have a great weekend? Check out our genealogy roundup of articles! Image: Childhood Friends Reconnect After World War II, Japanese Interment Separated Them / Stripes.com The Genealogy Sphere MyHeritage Wants to Bring Genealogy to the Mainstream with Instant Discoveries™ (TechCrunch) – Our parent company MyHeritage has launched Instant Discoveries™! Watch the video to see people making family history discoveries in seconds Childhood Friends Reconnect After World War II, Japanese Internment Separated Them (Stripes.com) – The… Read the full story

Remember watching Gone with the Wind? 75 years ago, the epic film premiered in Atlanta, Georgia. The movie starred Clark Gable as Rhett Butler and Vivien Leigh as the Southern belle Scarlett O’Hara. The day of the film premiere was a statewide holiday in Georgia. Hundreds of thousands of people descended on the theater to watch the stars arrive. However, not all the stars of the film were allowed to attend. Hattie McDaniel had been barred from attending… Read the full story

Is the song “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” on your holiday playlist? Today, the voice behind the popular Christmas song, Brenda Lee, celebrates her 70th birthday! She was born Brenda Mae Tarpley on December 11, 1944 in Atlanta, Georgia. She began singing at the age of two, earning candy and coins for singing at the local candy store, and won a singing contest at the age of 6. Her family was poor, and when her father died… Read the full story

The holiday season is upon us! Are you still shopping for gifts for your relatives? Here are some ideas for the perfect gift for relatives interested in learning more about your family history. 1. Family photo album Make copies of old photos you have in your possession and put them into a family history photo album. This would make a perfect gift for the entire family! 2. Scrapbook supply kit Scrap booking and genealogy were… Read the full story

Happy birthday, Donny Osmond! Today the former teen idol turns 57. Born Donald Clark Osmond on December 9, 1957 in Ogden, Utah, Donny showed a flair for performing at a very young age. He joined his older brothers to form the musical group The Osmonds and quickly stood out for his lead vocals. In the 1970s, Donny branched out on his own with hits “Puppy Love” and “Go Away Little Girl.” He later partnered with… Read the full story

There have been a lot of great inventions throughout history that have made significant impacts on our lives. From the invention of photography to the creation of the smartphone, numerous devices have changed the way we interact and communicate with the world. Of course, for every successful invention, there are tons that couldn’t quite make it to production. While some proved to be impractical and cumbersome, others turned out to be rather bizarre. Here are a… Read the full story

Do you have ancestors that served in the American Civil War? On this day in 1839, Union General George Armstrong Custer was born in New Rumley, Ohio. Did you know that during the Civil War, the press frequently nicknamed him “The Boy General” in reference to his promotion to brigadier general at the age of 23? Despite his strong reputation for his bravery and heroism during the Civil War, Custer is perhaps best remembered for his… Read the full story

Happy birthday, Marisa Tomei! Today the actress turns 50. Born in Brooklyn New York to Patricia and Gary Tomei, Marisa caught the acting bug early after being captivated by the Broadway shows she watched with her family. Following string of small roles, her career exploded with her Oscar-winning performance in the 1992 film My Cousin Vinny. While investigating her Italian roots on the popular genealogy show Who Do You Think You Are?, Marisa discovered the true story… Read the full story

Do you have any black sheep in your family tree? On this day 200 years ago, the notorious Marquis de Sade died in an insane asylum. A highly controversial figure in history, de Sade’s scandalous life and work shocked and continues to shock audiences. For years, his descendants had long disowned their scandalous ancestor and eliminated the use of the marquis title well into the mid-twentieth century. Today, his living descendants have embraced their infamous ancestor, producing… Read the full story

We hope everyone had a fun and safe holiday! Here are some great family history articles to read with your Thanksgiving leftovers! Image: 7 Intriguing Turkey Recipes From the 1800s / mental_floss The Genealogy Sphere Uniting the World in One Tree (ShalomLife.com) – Another great article covering AJ Jacobs’ mission to throw the largest family reunion in history 7 Intriguing Turkey Recipes From the 1800s (mental_floss) – Possible new recipes to try next Thanksgiving? World’s Oldest… Read the full story

On this day in 1822, Pedro I was crowned the first Emperor of Brazil. Known as “the Liberator,” Pedro is best remembered for declaring Brazil’s independence from Portugal. Born in Lisbon, Portugal, Pedro was the fourth child of King Dom João VI of Portugal and Queen Carlota Joaquina. After the country was invaded by the French, Pedro and his family fled to Brazil, Portugal’s largest and wealthiest colony. He remained in Brazil as regent when his father returned… Read the full story

Happy birthday, Jon Stewart! Today the comedian turns 52. He was born Jonathan Stuart Leibowitz in New York City, New York to a well-educated middle class, Jewish family. Did you know his grandfather, Nathan Laskin, immigrated to the U.S. from Tianjin, China, which is home to a thriving Jewish community? He worked in the family’s fur business and performed stand-up comedy for other merchants who did business in the city. Comedy must run in the… Read the full story

This Thursday, everyone across the United States will be celebrating Thanksgiving. One of the busiest holidays for travel, people from all over return home to celebrate the holiday with their loved ones. While feasting on your Thanksgiving meal this year, take this opportunity to involve your relatives in your family history research. And perhaps create even more lasting family memories! Here are some tips for working family history into your celebrations this year: Before the big day, ask… Read the full story

Do you remember watching Fantasy Island? On this day in 1920, star Ricardo Montalbán was born in Mexico City, Mexico. He was born Ricardo Gonzalo Pedro Montalbán y Merino to Spanish immigrants Ricarda Merino and Jenaro Montalbán. With a career spanning seven decades, Montalbán tackled a wide variety of roles on both the big and small screen. In addition to his memorable role as Mr. Roarke on Fantasy Island, Montalbán also played the iconic Star Trek… Read the full story

From time to time, family history researchers may find an odd request in an ancestors will. These can range from requests for large sums of money to be given to the deceased’s pet to a unique request of being buried in a glass box. Charles Vance Millar was a successful Canadian lawyer and financier, who loved jokes and pranks which played on people’s greed. On October 31, 1926, Millar died a bachelor at the age… Read the full story

Have Finnish ancestors? On this day in 1832, arctic explorer Adolf Erik Nordenskiöld was born in Helsinki, Finland. A member of the prominent Finnish-Swedish Nordenskiölds family, Adolf was one of the most internationally famous Finnish scientists. In 1878, he led the Vega Expedition, which would make history as the first Arctic expedition to navigate through the Northeast Passage. It was also the first voyage to circumnavigate Eurasia. Adolf Erik Nordenskiöld is connected to over 80… Read the full story

Ready for this week’s roundup of articles? Check them out below! This may be the oldest surviving photo of a human / CNN The Genealogy Sphere This may be the oldest surviving photo of a human (CNN) – A photo of a Paris street taken in 1838 by Louis Daguerre may be the oldest surviving photo of a live person At L.A. County Cemetery, Unclaimed Dead Await a Final Resting Place (The L.A. Times) –… Read the full story

Do you have French ancestry? On this day in 1755, Louis XVIII was born at the Palace of Versailles. Known as “the Desired,” Louis XVIII was the fourth son born to the dauphin Louis, the son of King Louis XV. For 23 years, he lived in exile, during the French Revolution and the First French Empire, and again during the Hundred Days of Napoleon I’s return from Elba. Louis XVIII remained king for slightly less… Read the full story

Happy birthday, Prince Charles! Today he turns 66. Th eldest child Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, the Prince was born at Buckingham Palace on November 14, 1948. He is the longest living heir apparent in history and the oldest person to be next in line for the throne since 1714. On July 22, 2013, Charles became a grandfather for the first time with the birth of Prince George. The little tyke will soon… Read the full story

On November 13, 1312, Edward III of England was born at Windsor Castle. He was crowned the King of England at the age of 14 after his father, Edward II, was deposed by his mother and her consort Roger Mortimer. Remembered for restoring royal authority after the disastrous reign of his father, Edward transformed the Kingdom of England into one of the most formidable military powers in Europe. In 1337, Edward claimed himself to be the rightful heir… Read the full story

Do you have any ancestors who came through Ellis Island? On November 12, 1954, Ellis Island closed its doors after welcoming 12 million immigrants to America. Located in Upper New York Bay, Ellis Island served as the gateway for millions of immigrants to the United States from 1892 – 1954. On January 1, 1892, a 17-year-old Irish girl named Annie Moore became the first immigrant to set foot through the famous immigration center. She was traveling… Read the full story

Today the U.S. celebrates Veterans Day! Do you have any military veterans in your family? Check out some famous faces you may not have known served in the military: 1. Bea Arthur Bea Arthur Did you know actress Bea Arthur served in the United States Marine Corp during World War II? Before she became a Golden Girl, Arthur served as a truck driver for 30 months as one of the first members of the Women’s Reserve. 2…. Read the full story

Check out this week’s roundup of articles from around the web! A Melancholy List of Edgar Allan Poe’s Debts, From his Bankruptcy Petition of 1842 / Slate The Genealogy Sphere 14 Vintage Baby Girl Names that are Waiting to be Rediscovered (The Huffington Post) – Do you have any of these names in your family tree? Finding Children Between the Census Years (LisaLisson.com) – Great tips on how to find children not recorded in the census… Read the full story

Any genealogy researcher will tell you that death certificates and obituaries hold a great deal of valuable information for your family tree. These often contain the name of the deceased, place of residence, place of death, the names of family members and cause of death. It’s always fascinating when you stumble upon an unusual cause of death. Here’s a clipping from The Ocala Evening Star dated April 3, 1908. A woman, Mrs. Anna Ferrer of New York, laughed herself to death while attending… Read the full story

Do you have ancestors who fought in the American Civil War? On this day in 1861, Jefferson Davis was elected president of the Confederacy. Davis was born on June 3, 1808 in Christian County, Kentucky. He married twice, losing his first wife Sara Knox Taylor to malaria only three months into their marriage. Sara was the daughter of his commanding officer, Zachary Taylor, who would later become the 12th President of the United States. In 1845,… Read the full story

Did you miss our Google+ Hangout on Air with best-selling author A.J. Jacobs? Don’t worry, you can catch what you missed in the video below! A lot has happened since AJ first announced the Global Family Reunion. In this hangout, AJ gave us an update on his latest celebrity-cousin discoveries, dished on upcoming television appearances and explained ways for you to get involved. Here are some ways you can help: Connect for the Cure – Help… Read the full story

Today is Guy Fawkes Day in the UK! “Remember, remember! The fifth of November, The Gunpowder treason and plot; I know of no reason, why the Gunpowder treason should ever be forgot!” On this day in 1605, the infamous Guy Fawkes was thwarted in his attempt to assassinate the Protestant King James I of England. Fawkes was caught in the cellars of the House of Lords with 36 barrels of gunpowder with the intention of blowing… Read the full story

Did you watch The Honeymooners? Today we remember actor Art Carney, who was born on November 4, 1918 in Mount Vernon, New York. During World War II, Carney was drafted as an infantryman. He was wounded in the leg by shrapnel during the Battle of Normandy. As a result of his injury, Carney walked with a limp for the rest of his life. His right leg was 3/4-inch shorter than his left. After starting in radio,… Read the full story

We hope everyone had a safe and fun Halloween! Now to kickstart the month of November, check out our roundup of articles from around the web! Image: 100-Year-Old Notebook Found Encased in Antarctic Ice / Tech Times The Genealogy Sphere 13 Tips for Landing a Wife (in the 19th Century) (mental_floss) – Here are some 19th century tips for landing that special someone Can You Marry Your Cousin? (Eastman’s Online Genealogy Newsletter) – Dick Eastman discusses the question… Read the full story

Thirty-eight years ago today, the horror film classic Carrie opened in theaters. The film, starring new comer Sissy Spacek, was based on Stephen King’s best-selling first novel about an outcast teen who uses her telekinetic powers to seek revenge against her tormentors. Born on Christmas day in 1949, Spacek originally pursued a career in music before deciding to become an actor. She received her first Oscar nomination for her breakout performance as Carrie White. In 1980, she… Read the full story

Happy Halloween! A yearly celebration in many countries, Halloween is a fun holiday filled with candy, costumes and parties. But do you know where these Halloween activities originated? From Samhain to Halloween The origin of Halloween dates back the Celtic harvest festival Samhain, which was annually celebrated on November 1. During this time, it was believed spirits or fairies could more easily come into our world. Bonfires were lit and offerings of food and drink were left in… Read the full story

In just a few days, millions of children and adults will celebrate Halloween. For those looking for a scare, haunted houses and hayrides are frightening and fun activities to partake in. With costumes of all shapes and sizes, families get to enjoy trick-or-treating for candy, costume parties and pumpkin carvings. It wasn’t until the 1930s that Halloween costumes were mass-produced and sold to consumers. Before then, costumes were made by hand. Do you remember what costumes you wore on Halloween? If you’re still… Read the full story

Ready for Halloween? Check out this week’s roundup of articles to get you pumped for the upcoming week! Image: The Secret in Abraham Lincoln’s Pocket Watch / Mashable The Genealogy Sphere The 16th Century Dance Plague (mental_floss) – Have you heard of the dance plague that may have afflicted our 16th century ancestors? How MyHeritage Uses DNA to Track Family History (Bloomberg) – Watch this interview with MyHeritage CEO Gilad Japhet announcing MyHeritage’s new partnership with… Read the full story

“Though lovers be lost love shall not; And death shall have no dominion.” – Dylan Thomas (1914 – 1953) 100 years ago today, Welsh poet Dylan Thomas was born in Swansea, Wales. His father, David John Thomas, was a teacher and his mother, Florence Hannah, was a seamstress. He left school at the age of 16 to become a reporter for the South Wales Daily Post. A little over a year later, he quit his job and… Read the full story

Do you have old postcards in your collection of family history mementos? Before email and texts, postcards were a perfect way to send short messages to family and friends. Because of this, postcards often hold wonderful anecdotes of family memories written in the hand of your relative. Whether your relative was traveling or just sending well wishes during the holidays, postcards bring us an intimate connection with your family’s past. With Halloween season upon us, check out… Read the full story

Earlier this month, we shared some great ways to celebrate Family History month. One suggestion was to plan a trip to the cemetery, a fun activity to explore the outdoors and to take in some family history. To help inspire your next cemetery field trip, Geni user Georgette Tan shares her experiences photographing cemeteries in her country of Malaysia. Born in Sarawak in East Malaysia, Georgette works as a journalist with the local English daily,… Read the full story

Do you remember catching episodes of The Three Stooges? On this day in 1903, Curly Howard was born in Brooklyn, New York. He was born Jerome Lester Horwitz and was the fifth of the five Horwitz brothers. As the youngest child, his brothers nicknamed him “Babe.” He didn’t acquire the nickname “Curly” until joining his brothers in their vaudeville act as one of the Stooges. Known as the most outrageous member of The Three Stooges, Curly’s comedic… Read the full story

Do you have Swedish connections? 181 years ago today, Swedish chemist and inventor Alfred Nobel was born in Stockholm, Sweden. The fourth son of Immanuel Nobel, an inventor and engineer, and Karolina Andriette Ahlsell, Alfred was the one of eight children born to the couple. Only he and his three brothers survived past childhood. His third great grandfather, Olof Rudbeck, was a Swedish scientist and writer. Alfred developed an interest in technology through his family, especially… Read the full story

Ready for this week’s roundup of articles? Check them out below! Image: Rare photo shows Robert E. Lee’s slave, Selina Gray – the hero of Arlington House / The Washington Post The Genealogy Sphere Rare photo shows Robert E. Lee’s slave, Selina Gray – the hero of Arlington House (The Washington Post) – An incredible find! Rare photograph discovered on Ebay has been acquired by the National Park Service In defense of family history (The Guardian)… Read the full story

Happy 64th birthday to Tom Petty! The lead vocalist of the Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Thomas Early Petty was born October 20, 1950 in Gainesville, Florida. His love of rock and roll music began at the age of ten when he met Elvis Presley on the set of his film Follow That Dream. He began playing with local bands in his teens, but didn’t find success until joining the Heartbreakers in 1975. The following year, the band… Read the full story

When doing genealogy research, you may come across significant disasters that occurred during your ancestors’ lifetime. These significant incidents can include fires, such as the Great Chicago Fire in 1871 or natural disasters, such as the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. One of history’s more bizarre disasters occurred 200 years ago today when over 323,000 gallons of beer flooded the streets of the London parish of St. Giles. The date was October 17, 1814 in the parish of St. Giles, London,… Read the full story