July 2014

While researching your genealogy, you will come across lots of records that will help you solve the puzzle of your family history. One of the best resources for family history information are obituaries. Obituaries can contain a wide range of information for the deceased, including: First and last name Maiden name Birth and death dates Cause of death Names of family members Birth and death location Place of burial Religious affiliation In many cases, obituaries… Read the full story

Happy birthday to J.K. Rowling! Today the “Harry Potter” author turns 49. She was born Joanne Rowling in Yate, England on July 31, 1965. Rowling adopted the pen name “J.K.” after her publishers asked her to use two initials, rather than her full name, anticipating that the target audience of young boys might not want to read a book written by a woman. She chose “K” as the second initial of her pen name from her… Read the full story

Are you a fan of the television show Modern Family? Tonight star Jesse Tyler Ferguson learns more about the life of his great grandfather, Jesse Wheat Uppercu, and his journey on the Alaskan trail in 1898. Uppercu had assembled a group of 65 men for an expedition to the Alaskan Klondike in search for gold. Along the way, Ferguson also discovers a shocking crime in his family. Did you know his Modern Family sibling is also… Read the full story

On July 29, 1567, James VI was crowned King of Scotland at the age of 13 months. In 1603, he succeeded Elizabeth I as King of England and Ireland, reigning as James I. His mother Mary, Queen of Scots’s reign was marred by scandal. Her unpopularity intensified after the death of James’s father, Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley. Only months after Lord Darnley was found murdered, Mary married James Hepburn, 4th Early of Bothwell, who was widely… Read the full story

Did you have fun researching your genealogy this weekend? Keep the fun going by checking out these articles from around the web. Image: Child Migrants Have Been Coming to America Alone Since Ellis Island / Mother Jones The Genealogy Sphere Old days in S.F. not so good (SF Gate) – San Francisco historian recounts how life in “good old days” were not so good in old San Francisco Tour the Beautiful Cemetery Where New York’s… Read the full story

Do you remember reading The Tale of Peter Rabbit? On July 28, 1866, author Beatrix Potter was born in Sawrey, England. From a young age, she had developed a love of nature and animals, often sketching her favorite subjects as she roamed the countryside with her brother, Bertram. Her artistic talents were recognized early on, and she was encouraged to develop them with private art lessons. In 1902, she published The Tale of Peter Rabbit and it… Read the full story

Do you remember reading The Call of the Wild? On this day in 1897, author Jack London set sail for the Klondike. At the age of 21, London embarked on this perilous trek to join the hundreds of thousands of prospectors looking to strike gold. He stayed in the Klondike for almost a year, living for a time in the frontier town of Dawson City. However, the harsh, cold climate of the Klondike left London… Read the full story

Happy Pioneer Day! On July 24, 1847, Brigham Young led the first group of Mormon pioneers into Utah’s Salt Lake Valley. Seeking religious and political freedom, Young and his fellow pioneers made the long 17 month journey west. Upon setting eyes on the valley, Young declared, “This is the place.” The first group of pioneers instantly made preparations for the thousands of Mormon migrants that would follow, thus establishing the foundations of what would become Salt Lake… Read the full story

The Global Family Reunion is only a year away and A.J. Jacobs has been busy spreading the word to all his cousins. AJ recently sat down with Caroline Modarressy-Tehrani on HuffPost Live’s Thrive on Live to discuss his quest to hold the largest family reunion in history and the importance of knowing our genealogy. He is joined via video chat by Mike Mallin, MyHeritage’s Chief Product Officer, and genealogists Thomas MacEntee and Jen Baldwin. AJ is… Read the full story

Tonight the popular genealogy show Who Do You Think You Are? returns with actress Cynthia Nixon as she uncovers a surprising mystery about her family history. Best known for her role in the HBO series Sex and the City, Nixon has received multiple awards, including Emmy, Grammy and Tony awards. In tonight’s episode, she discovers her third great grandmother Martha Mary Curnutt was once incarcerated in the Missouri State Penitentiary. In fact, Curnutt was only the second… Read the full story

Do you have aviators in your family tree? On this day in 1933, aviator Wiley Post became the first person to fly solo around the world. He accomplished this feat in 7 days, 18 hours and 49 minutes. Post was instantly recognizable by the patch he wore over his left eye, which he injured in an oil field accident. Today, he is remembered for making the first major practical advances in pressurized flight. In 1934,… Read the full story

Start the week with these interesting articles from around the web! Image: Time Travel Vacations Using Stereographs / FamilyTree Magazine blog The Genealogy Sphere 11 Childcare Inventions from 1900’s (ViralNova) – Oh my! These “helpful” childcare inventions from the early 20th century are a little scary Couple Married 63 Years Dies on the Same Day (The Huffington Post) – The bittersweet story of a couple married for 63 years and died within hours of each… Read the full story

Today we remember James Garner, who passed away July 19 at the age of 86. Garner was born in Norman, Oklahoma on April 7, 1928 and was the youngest of three children. Near the end of World War II, he joined the United States Merchant Marine at just 16 years old. However, he suffered from chronic seasickness and was soon back at school. Later, he served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He… Read the full story

Do you love playing board games with your family? Most cultures and societies have been playing board games throughout history. From ancient Egypt and Rome to our homes today, board games have been a staple of entertainment for families all around the world. Here’s a brief history of some early board games, some of which we still play today: The Mansion of Happiness The Mansion of Happiness / Library of Congress The first board game… Read the full story

Happy 93rd birthday, John Glenn! The legendary space pioneer was born in Cambridge, Ohio on July 18, 1921. An original member of the Mercury Seven, Glenn was one of the first people ever in space and the first American to orbit the Earth. After retiring from NASA,  he entered politics and represented Ohio in the U.S. Senate for 24 years. On October 15, 1998, Glenn made history yet again by becoming the oldest person in space…. Read the full story

Happy birthday to Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall! She was born Camilla Rosemary Shand on July 17, 1947 in London, England. She is the eldest child of Major Bruce Shand, an officer in the British army and wine merchant, and the Honorable Rosalind Cubitt, who was the daughter of the 3rd Baron Ashcombe. In 2005, Camillia and Prince Charles were married in a civil ceremony attended by her son from her first marriage and Prince… Read the full story

Do you remember reading the poem “A Visit from St. Nicholas”? On July 15, 1779, author Clement Clarke Moore was born in New York City. The famous poem was first published anonymously in the Troy, New York, Sentinel on December 23, 1823. It wasn’t until years later that Moore acknowledged that he was the poem’s author. Did you know “A Visit from St. Nicholas” is largely responsible for our conception of Santa Clause today? The poem… Read the full story

Get your genealogy news fix with these family history articles from around the web. Image: Before and After: 30 of the Most Creative Recreations of Childhood Photos / BoredPanda The Genealogy Sphere Genealogy research reveals blood feud between local families (Tbo.com) – A local Tampa man researching his genealogy learns of an old family blood feud Mystery haunts woman left on doorstep as baby (NorwalkReflector.com) – A woman who discovered she was abandoned on a doorstep… Read the full story

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of World War I. On July 28, 1914, the Austro-Hungarian Empire invaded Serbia, beginning a war unlike any others. The devastating war would last 4 years and see the deaths of more than 9 million soldiers. Do you have ancestors who served in the Great War? From now until the end of July, MyHeritage is offering free access to the following military record collections: Silver War Badge… Read the full story

On this day in 1804, Vice President Aaron Burr mortally wounded Alexander Hamilton in a duel. Burr and Hamilton were long time political enemies. Tensions were high during the 1800 presidential elections when Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr were running mates for the Democratic-Republican party. At the time, presidents and vice presidents were voted for separately by the House of Representatives. Although Burr was always intended to be Jefferson’s vice president, the vote resulted in… Read the full story

This week legislation was introduced to honor American Revolutionary War hero Bernardo de Gálvez. Two-hundred years after his death, the Spanish general may be posthumously granted honorary American citizenship for his invaluable support to the 13 American colonies both before and after Spain’s official entry into the Revolutionary War. Gálvez successfully defeated the British at the Siege of Pensacola, which significantly diluted the British’s strength in the south. The Continental Congress formally declared their gratitude to… Read the full story

One of the best things about Geni’s World Family Tree is the ability to discover how we’re all related to each other and to historical figures and celebrities. While you are finding these new connections, you may see relationships such as “second cousin once removed” or “sixth cousin twice removed.” With all the talk about “cousins” and “removes,” do you ever wonder, “What exactly does this mean?” This short video created by CGP Grey gives… Read the full story

Did you have an excellent 4th of July weekend? Kickstart the new work week right with these family history articles from around the web. Image: Many English Last Names Began as Nicknames – Here are their Original Meanings / Business Insider The Genealogy Sphere Calculating age at death – and why (Vita-Brevis.org) – A good explanation of how early colonial America calculated the deceased’s age in years, months and days for tombstone engravings Many English… Read the full story

On July 4, 1804, American novelist Nathaniel Hawthorne was born in Salem, Massachusetts. Throughout his lifetime, Nathaniel published several short stories and novels, including The House of Seven Gables and The Scarlet Letter. His third great grandfather, William Hathorne, was the first of his ancestors to arrive in the New World in 1630. He became an important member of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, where he held many political positions including magistrate and judge, becoming infamous for his harsh… Read the full story

The United States Census Bureau has created this amazing map that details the movement of the country’s mean center of population over the last 220 years. The data is from the U.S. census records from 1790 – 2010. What is the mean center of population? According the the U.S. Census Bureau, the mean center of population is “the point at which an imaginary, flat weightless, and rigid map of the United States would balance if… Read the full story

Fifty years ago today, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 into law in a nationally televised ceremony at the White House. Hundreds of guests were invited to the historic signing, including civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. During his presidency, President John F. Kennedy fought for a strong civil rights bill to give all Americans equal rights and opportunities. Five days after Kennedy’s assassination, President Johnson urged lawmakers “to… Read the full story

It is always rewarding when we can introduce younger generations to the wonders of genealogy. Fostering that early interest in one’s family history is essential to preserving the stories of our family heritage. For the last few months, the history class of West Valley Middle School in Knoxville, Tennessee have been using Geni and our sister site WorldVitalRecords for their family history project. Spearheaded by their teacher, John Martin, this budding group of genealogists used Geni… Read the full story