May 2014

On May 30, 1539, Spanish explorer and conquistador Hernando de Soto landed in Florida. Born to a noble but poor family, de Soto was drawn to the glory and wealth garnered from military fame. A key figure in the successful conquest of Peru, he returned to Spain a wealthy man. In 1938, he set sail to North America with a fleet of 10 ships and a crew of 700 men in search for gold. His expedition… Read the full story

Did you miss our webinar with best-selling author A.J. Jacobs? Don’t worry – now you can watch the entire webinar below! AJ gave us a great overview of his journey into his family history and his upcoming attempt to enter the Guinness Book of Records for the largest family reunion ever. Check how you’re related to AJ on Geni with the AJ Jacobs Cousin Connector and follow the Global Family Reunion project on Geni to meet… Read the full story

Today we remember legendary poet, writer and civil rights activist Maya Agnelou, who has died at the age of 86. Beloved and admired by many, Angelou made literary history when she published her best-selling memoir, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, in 1969 and became the first African-American woman to have a non-fiction best-seller. She was a prolific writer, penning more than 30 books, and received numerous awards, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011…. Read the full story

Each year the U.S. celebrates Memorial Day in honor of the men and women who have given their lives while serving in the U.S. military. In celebration of the holiday, MyHeritage is providing free access to millions of military records all weekend, from May 23 – 26. Celebrate this Memorial Day by learning more about your military ancestors. Journey back in time to some of the most important conflicts in world history that not only impacted… Read the full story

On May 23, 1928, singer and actress Rosemary Clooney was born in Maysville, Kentucky. A successful jazz vocalist, Clooney first rose to prominence in the early 1950s with the novelty hit “Come On-a My House.” One of five children, she and several of her siblings became successful entertainers, as did their children. Today, her nephew, George Clooney, is one of the most highly sought after stars in Hollywood. Rosemary Clooney is connected to over 75… Read the full story

Best-selling author A.J. Jacobs is organizing the largest family reunion in history and you’re invited! Image: United Purpose A.J. Jacobs is a journalist, an editor-at-large at Esquire magazine, and author of four New York Times bestsellers. You may recognize him from his book, The Year of Living Biblically: One Man’s Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible, in which he chronicles the year he attempted to follow all of the rules in the Bible…. Read the full story

Today in 1932, aviator Amelia Earhart became the first woman to fly solo nonstop across the Atlantic Ocean. She started the flight on May 20, 1932 from Harbour Grace, Newfoundland and intended to fly to Paris, but do to bad weather she landed in a pasture in Derry, Northern Ireland. Earhart received the Distinguished Flying Cross from Congress, the Cross of Knight of the Legion of Honor from the French Government and the Gold Medal… Read the full story

Did you have any genealogy breakthroughs this weekend? Have some fun with these articles from around the web. Image: Found after 500 years, the wreck of Christopher Columbus’s flagship the Santa Maria / The Independent The Genealogy Sphere Still Paying for the Civil War (The Wall Street Journal) – Over a century later, families continue to receive Civil War benefits Exclusive: Found after 500 years, the wreck of Christopher Columbus’s flagship the Santa Maria (The… Read the full story

Today we remember Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, who passed away May 19, 1994 from cancer. She was born Jacqueline Lee Bouvier on July 28, 1929 in Southampton, New York. In 1953, Jackie married John F. Kennedy in a lavish ceremony, which was considered the social event of the season. During her husband’s presidency, she was the youngest first lady in nearly 80 years. Her keen sense of fashion made her a fashion icon worldwide. To this… Read the full story

Do you remember watching Yours, Mine and Ours? On this day in 1905, star Henry Fonda was born in Grand Island, Nebraska. Fonda was the patriarch of a family of famous actors, including children Jane and Peter Fonda and granddaughter Bridget Fonda. With a nearly 50-year career in the movies, Fonda is widely considered one of the greatest actors in history. Some of his other classic films include The Grapes of Wrath, 12 Angry Men, and… Read the full story

Did you love the story of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz while you were growing up? Author L. Frank Baum was born on May 15, 1856 in Chittenango, New York. A popular children’s book writer, Baum is best remembered for his story of Dorothy and her dog Toto and their adventure home after a tornado transports them to the magical land of Oz. First published on May 17, 1900, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz was a commercial and critical… Read the full story

Does longevity run in your family tree? Just recently, the world’s oldest living man was identified as 111-year old New Yorker Alexander Imich. The secret to his longevity? Imich credits good genes, a healthy diet and perhaps the fact that he and his wife never had children. His closest relative is an 84-year-old nephew. Image: NBC New York Imich was born on February 4, 1903 in Poland. Check out a few significant events that occurred the… Read the full story

Remember the song “Splish Splash”? On May 14, 1936, singer Bobby Darin was born in the Bronx, New York. Darin recorded his first mega hit “Splish Splash” in 1958, and followed with a string of best selling records that brought him world fame. He was raised by his grandparents, who he believed were his parents for most of his life. When his mother became pregnant at the age of 16, the family hatched the plan to… Read the full story

Do you have ancestors who served in the Mexican-American War? On May 13, 1846, the U.S. Congress overwhelmingly approved President James K. Polk’s request to declare war on Mexico in the wake of a dispute over Texas. The Republic of Texas had declared their independence from Mexico after the Texas Revolution, and sought to join the United States as a new state. Boundary disputes lead to increasing tension between the two nations, eventually escalating to war. After… Read the full story

We hope everyone had a very enjoyable Mother’s Day weekend. Jump start the new week with these fascinating family history stories from around the web! Image: Woman finds  love letter 6 decades old and tracks down soldier who wrote it / The Washington Post The Genealogy Sphere Rudyard Kipling and the century-old WWI mystery (The Star) – The story of the disappearance of Rudyard Kipling’s disappearance while in combat in 1915 France After His Death,… Read the full story

Do you have a favorite Katharine Hepburn movie? On May 12, 1907, the legendary actress was born in Hartford, Connecticut. Katharine came from wealthy and progressive family. Her father was a noted urologist and proponent of educating the public about venereal diseases and her mother headed the Connecticut Woman Suffrage Association. With her headstrong independence and unconventional attitude, Katharine came to epitomize the “modern woman” in 20th century America. Throughout her long and notable career,… Read the full story

This year marks the 100th anniversary of Mother’s Day in the U.S. Variations of Mother’s Day have been celebrated at different times throughout history all over the world. The official celebration of Mother’s Day in the U.S. began in the early 20th century thanks to the efforts of a woman named Anna Jarvis. A few years after the death of her mother, Anna was inspired to organize a day to not only honor her mother, but… Read the full story

Do you have World War II veterans in your family tree? On May 8, 1945, the Allied nations celebrated Victory in Europe Day. Millions throughout Western Europe took to the streets to celebrate the unconditional surrender of the Nazis, which effectively marked the end of World War II in Europe. Check out some interesting facts about V-E Day: The official act of military surrender was signed on May 7, 1945 After the suicide of Adolf… Read the full story

Do you remember watching Little House on the Prairie? Today star Melissa Gilbert turns 50! Born in Los Angeles, California, Melissa grew up in the entertainment business. She was adopted by actor Paul Gilbert and actress Barbara Crane, the daughter of The Honeymooners creator Harry Crane. She began her career at a young age, appearing in numerous commercials and guest spots on television. In 1974, she landed the role of Laura Ingalls Wilder on the series… Read the full story

On May 7, 1919, Eva Perón, one of the most influential women in South American history, was born in the rural village of Los Toldos, Argentina. With little-to-no money, she moved to the nation’s capital at the age of 15 to pursue a career as a model and actress. In 1945, she married Juan Perón, who became president of Argentina the following year. As the First Lady of Argentina, Eva used her position to fight for women’s… Read the full story

On May 5, 1942, country musician Tammy Wynette was born in Bounds, Mississippi. Her birth name was Virginia Wynette Pugh, she decided to use the stage name Tammy Wynette once she was signed with Epic Records. Wynette’s best known song was “Stand by Your Man” and she was called the “First Lady of Country Music”. She charted 23 No. 1 songs in the late 1960s to early 1970s which included “Stand by Your Man”, “Take… Read the full story

We are excited to announce an exclusive webinar with A.J. Jacobs, well-known author, editor and genealogist. Hear first-hand about A.J.’s own journey to his past, and his upcoming attempt to enter the Guinness Book of Records for the largest family reunion in history. A.J.’s mission to break the Guinness world record for the largest family reunion was recently reported in the New York Times and in interviews on NPR and CBC Radio. Using Geni and MyHeritage, A.J…. Read the full story

Did you or your parents use Benjamin Spock’s parenting advice book Common Sense Book of Baby and Child Care? On this day in 1903, the American pediatrician was born in New Haven, Connecticut. Published in 1946, the parenting book is one of the best-selling books of all time. Throughout its first 52 years, Baby and Child Care was the second-best-selling book, next to the Bible. At the time of publication, his ideas about childcare were a great… Read the full story

On May 1, 1851, the Great Exhibition opened at the Crystal Palace in London. Conceived by Prince Albert, the exhibit was the first in a series of World’s Fair exhibitions of culture and industrial innovation. When Prince Albert married Queen Victoria at the age of 20, he found himself constrained by his position as consort. Over time, he adopted many public causes, such as educational reform and a worldwide abolition of slavery. Prince Albert also… Read the full story