April 2014

Have you come across a World War I draft registration card in your genealogy research? These draft cards can hold a wealth of genealogical information. In 1917, the United States passed the Selective Service Act, which allowed the government to raise a national army through a nationwide draft. From 1917 – 1918, every male between the ages of 18 – 45 living in the United States were required to sign up for the draft, regardless… Read the full story

Happy birthday Jerry Seinfeld! Can you believe today the comedian turns 60? Jerry was born Jerome Allen Seinfeld on April 29, 1954 in Brooklyn, New York. His father was a sign maker of Hungarian Jewish descent and his mother is of Syrian Jewish descent. He got his start in stand-up comedy while in college. In 1988, Jerry developed the hit sitcom Seinfeld with fellow comedian Larry David. The show proved to be a huge success, running… Read the full story

Everyone have a wonderful weekend? See what articles you may have missed last week! Image: Drones help find World War II’s missing soldiers / Engadget The Genealogy Sphere Drones help find World War II’s missing soldiers (Engadget) – Search uses drones to find missing soldiers of World War II Spotlighting a law that stripped U.S.-born women of citizenship (LA Times) – A look into the Expatriation Act of 1907 that required a woman who married… Read the full story

Have you ever used the Library of Congress for your genealogy research? On this day in 1800, President John Adams approved legislation to appropriate $5,000 to purchase “such books as may be necessary for the use of Congress,” thus establishing the Library of Congress. The initial books came from London and the collection was housed in the new Capitol. In 1814, invading British troops had set fire to several government buildings, including the Capitol, destroying… Read the full story

Are you a lover of Shakespeare? Today we celebrate the 450th birthday of the great bard, William Shakespeare. Although the exact day of his birth is not known, record of his christening at Holy Trinity Church in Stratford-upon-Avon show he was baptized on April 26, 1564. From this, scholars believe he was born on April 23, 1564. Considered one of the most influential writers in history, his writing is the second most quoted next to… Read the full story

Happy Earth Day! Each year on April 22, the world marks the anniversary of what many consider to be the birth of the modern environmental movement. Earth Day is celebrated in more than 192 countries, making it the largest and most celebrated environmental event worldwide. Together more than a billion people around the world are working to build a cleaner and healthier world for generations to come.  You can celebrate Earth Day here on Geni… Read the full story

Do you have ancestors that hail from Spain? On this day in 1451, Isabella I of Castile was born in Madrigal de las Altas Torres, Spain. As queen of Castile and León, she and her husband, Ferdinand II of Aragon, brought stability to the kingdoms that became the basis for the political unification of Spain under their grandson, Holy Roman Emperor Charles V. In 1492, Isabella and Ferdinand sponsored Christopher Columbus‘ westward expedition to the… Read the full story

Have a wonderful Easter weekend? Catch up on some family history articles you may have missed this past week! Image: Ethnic America, mapped: Your country’s biggest ancestral populations / The Washington Post The Genealogy Sphere The uplifting story behind a blunt obituary (Sverigesradio.se) – The story behind the simple death notice of Stig Kernell, written before his death Ethnic America, mapped: Your county’s biggest ancestral populations (The Washington Post) – A very cool map that… Read the full story

This week, the U.S. celebrates National Library Week. In honor of this literary celebration, we’re highlighting folktale storytellers the Brothers Grimm. Did you know Jacob Grimm also served as royal librarian for Napoleon Bonaparte‘s brother, Jérôme, King of Westphalia? Influenced by the rise of German romanticism in the 19th century, Jacob and his brother Wilhelm collected and recorded the folklore of their region, with an emphasis on recording German oral storytelling. Their collection would later be… Read the full story

Do you have any aviators in your family tree? On April 16, 1867, Wilbur Wright was born in Millville, Indiana. One half of the famous Wright Brothers, Wilbur and his brother Orville had shared a passion and curiosity for flight at a young age. Together they invented the world’s first successful airplane, making the first successful man-powered airplane flight near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina on December 17, 1903. The brothers always shared credit for their inventions… Read the full story

“In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” – Benjamin Franklin While we all dread doing our taxes year after year, there’s at least one good thing about them – when it comes to genealogy, tax records can hold a variety of information about our relatives. If there’s one record you can rely on for consistency, it’s the annual tax records that are diligently recorded and kept. These records… Read the full story

On April 15, 1452, famed inventor and artist Leonardo da Vinci was born in Vinci, Italy. An Italian Renaissance polymath, his genius, perhaps more than that of any other figure, epitomized the Renaissance humanist ideal. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest painters of all time; some of his famous works include the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper. His technological ingenuity was unparalleled, conceptualizing designs for flying machines and tanks well ahead of… Read the full story

Have a great genealogy-filled weekend? Check out these family history articles you may have missed. Image: Heirloom Bible discovered in Denver thrift store / 9news.com The Genealogy Sphere The Genetics of Procrastination (MotherBoard) – Scientists discover that your penchant for procrastination may be in the genes Watch L.A., Paris and Sao Paulo Grow in These Pretty Visualizations (Gizmodo) – Amazing visualizations of growing populations over time 100-Year-Old Message in a Bottle Plucked From Baltic Sea… Read the full story

On this day in 1865, President Abraham Lincoln was shot in Ford’s Theatre by John Wilkes Booth. Mortally wounded, President Lincoln was carried to a lodging house across from the theater. He would die early the next morning, making him the first U.S. president to be assassinated. The attack came just days after Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered his army at Appomattox Court House, Virginia, effectively ending the American Civil War. President Abraham Lincoln… Read the full story

Congratulations to Stephen Colbert! It was announced yesterday that the talented host of Comedy Central’s The Colbert Report will be succeeding David Letterman as the host of the The Late Show after Letterman retires in 2015. Funny must run in the family, it tuns out Letterman is Colbert’s 7th cousin once removed! Letterman will be celebrating his 67th birthday on April 12. Maybe the pair can make it a family affair with a double celebration. What… Read the full story

Do you remember where you were when you heard The Beatles were breaking up? On this day in 1970, Paul McCartney announced he was leaving The Beatles. McCartney’s songwriting partnership with John Lennon was one of the most celebrated of the 20th century. By the end of 1969 and into the beginning of 1970, their working relationship had fallen apart and the group as whole began to disintegrate. After the band’s break-up, the members pursued their… Read the full story

Spring is in the air! 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… Read the full story

On April 9, 1413, Henry V was crowned King of England at Westminster Abbey. Considered one of the great warrior kings in English history, Henry V led two successful invasions of France, culminating in his famous victory at the Battle of Agincourt in 1415. After his sudden death in 1422, he was succeeded by his infant son, who reigned as Henry VI. Fun fact: Henry V was featured in three plays by his cousin William Shakespeare. The… Read the full story

Take a break from your Monday grind with these fascinating articles from the past week! Image: Who’s the man in the ‘mirror’? / CNN The Genealogy Sphere Who’s the man in the ‘mirror’? Historians investigate mystery photo booth portraits (CNN) – Mystery photo booth photos puzzle historians Our time traveling doll (The Guardian) – A family tradition sees a doll passed down through seven generations of daughters Band of ten brothers: When the call came… Read the full story

Today we remember legendary entertainer Mickey Rooney, who passed away yesterday at the age of 93. Rooney was born Joseph Yule, Jr. in Brooklyn, New York on September 23, 1920. A performer since he was a toddler, Rooney made his first stage appearance in his parents’ vaudeville act. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for entertaining the troops in combat zones. Although his career… Read the full story

Do you know where your ancestors once lived? Over time, the names of streets and cities change and borders shift. Landscapes and towns continue to develop and before you know it, what was once a family farm or local schoolhouse, is a parking lot today. When researching our genealogy, it’s important not to overlook the value of historic maps, which can provide a vast number of clues and new leads for you to investigate. Bronx, New… Read the full story

Do you remember reading “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”? On April 3, 1783, author Washington Irving was born in New York City, New York. He was one of eleven children born to Scottish-English immigrants. The family belonged to the city’s small, vibrant merchant class. Born just as the American Revolution came to its end, Irving’s mother named him after the hero of the revolution, George Washington. At the age of six, Irving would meet his… Read the full story

Do you remember watching Singin’ in the Rain? Today star Debbie Reynolds turns 82. She was born Mary Frances Reynolds on April 1, 1932 in El Paso, Texas. Reynolds big break came opposite Gene Kelly in the musical Singin’ in the Rain. In 1955, she married actor Eddie Fisher and had two children. Their daughter, Carrie, would follow in her parents’ footsteps and become an accomplished actress and writer. Despite her cheerful and sunny persona… Read the full story