2014

“You are the stars and the world is watching you. By your presence, you send a message to every village, every city, every nation. A message of hope. A message of victory.” Today we remember Eunice Kennedy Shriver, who passed away on August 11, 2009 at the age of 88. A member of the Kennedy family, Eunice was the fifth of nine children born to Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr. and Rose Elizabeth Fitzgerald. A passionate… Read the full story

On this day in 1974, President Richard Nixon announced his resignation from the office of the President in a nationwide television address. In doing so, he became the first president in American history to resign the office. Born in Yorba Linda, California on January 9, 1913, Nixon’s early life was marked by hardship. He later quoted a saying of Eisenhower to describe his childhood, “We were poor, but the glory of it was we didn’t… Read the full story

As we learn more about our family history, some of us may have the fortune to discover the military records of our ancestors. One of the oldest military awards still given to members of the U.S. military is the Purple Heart. Did you know that the Purple Heart was originally known as the Badge of Military Merit? On August 7, 1782, George Washington, then commander-in-chief of the Continental Army, ordered the creation of the Badge of… Read the full story

On this day in 1903, famed paleoanthropologist and archaeologist Louis Leakey was born in Kabete, Kenya. He was born to British Christian missionaries, who had been sent to live among the Kikuyu, Kenya’s largest tribe. Growing up in Africa, Leakey had always had a keen interest in his natural surroundings, amassing a personal collection of natural objects and stone arrowheads and tools. It was this early interest that would spark his lifelong passion towards the study… Read the full story

Are you enjoying watching this season’s crop of stars on Who Do You Think You Are? Tonight’s episode features actress Rachel McAdams and her sister Kayleen as they investigate their Canadian roots. Their search reveals an English ancestor who worked as a footman. Rachel McAdams was born on November 17, 1978 in London, Ontario. She is best known for her roles in The Notebook, Mean Girls, and Sherlock Holmes.  Do you have English or Canadian roots?… Read the full story

On August 5, 1962, actress Marilyn Monroe passed away at the age of 36. She was born Norma Jean Mortenson in Los Angeles, California on June 1, 1926. Soon after her birth, her last name was changed to Baker. After spending much of her childhood in foster homes, Monroe began a career as a model and small parts in film. She soon caught the attention of major studios, and went on to star in films… Read the full story

We hope you had a great genealogy-fun filled weekend! Let’s start off the new week with these family history articles from around the web. Image: Australian transitions 1914-2014 / ABC News Australia The Genealogy Sphere We Are Family: A Family Tree of the Entire Human Race (mental_floss) – Best selling author AJ Jacobs penned this great article about creating the family tree of the entire world and the Global Family Reunoin 10 Heroic Women of World… Read the full story

Have you seen today’s Google doodle commemorating the 180th birthday of English philosopher John Venn? He is most famous for inventing the Venn diagram, a useful way to describe logical relationships between sets. Image: Google John Venn was born August 4, 1834 in Kingston upon Hull, Yorkshire to Martha Sykes and Henry Venn, who was the rector of the parish of Drypool. Venn was descended from a long line of church evangelicals, including his grandfather Rev…. Read the full story

Do you have any frontiersmen in your family tree? On this day in 1903, American frontierswoman and folk hero Calamity Jane died in South Dakota. She was born Mary Jane Cannary on May 1, 1852 and was the eldest of six children. Little hard facts are known about her life and much of what was said was likely embellished or fabricated by writers and storytellers of the day. However, it is known that by the… Read the full story

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

Check out these articles from around the web! Image: The 7 Deadliest Fashion Trends of All Time / io9.com The Genealogy Sphere Geni.com Relaxes Privacy Rules – A Good Thing (Genea-Musings Blog) – Geneablogger Randy Seaver gives his favorable opinion about Geni’s upcoming privacy changes The 7 Deadliest Fashion Trends of All Time (io9.com) – These dangerous fashion trends of our ancestors may have had some deadly consequences The Advantages of Working with a One… Read the full story

Seventy-eight years ago today, Margaret Mitchell published her beloved novel Gone with the Wind. The book was an instant hit, topping the American fiction bestseller list in its first two years of publication. Only a year after publishing her first novel, Mitchell received the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. Her story continued to thrive when it was adapted into a film in 1939. The movie, starring Vivien Leigh and Clark Gable, would prove to be a… Read the full story

On June 26, 1844, President John Tyler became the first president to marry while in office. At the age of 54, he married for the second time to 24-year-old Julia Gardiner. His first wife, with whom he had 8 children, died of a stroke two years earlier. The couple’s road to marriage began with an unfortunate tragedy and narrow escape. Julia, her sister and her father had joined a presidential excursion on the new steam… Read the full story

Today we remember Michael Jackson, who died on this day in 2009 at the age of 50. Even though five years have passed since his death, the King of Pop’s legacy continues to remain very much alive. Jackson was born in Gary, Indiana on August 29, 1958. At the age of 5, he began performing with is older brothers as a member of The Jackson 5. In 1971, he embarked on his solo career and… Read the full story

We’d like to inform you of some important upcoming changes to Geni’s privacy rules. These changes are intended to enhance the privacy of profiles you want kept private, while at the same time move Geni closer to the widely-accepted genealogical practice of collaborating by sharing information about deceased persons. Changes to private profiles The privacy of private profiles will be increased. Private profiles will now display less information to non-family members: The name will be… Read the full story

On June 24, 1509, Henry VIII was crowned the king of England at the age of 17. Shortly before his coronation, Henry married Catherine of Aragon, his older brother’s widow, in a private ceremony at Greenwich Church. Henry ruled over England for 38 years, bringing significant changes to the English Constitution and the establishment of the Church of England as a separate entity from the Roman Catholic Church. Despite the historical significance of many of… Read the full story

Kickstart your week with this interesting articles from around the web! Image: Lost First World War bracelet returned to Arthur Erickson’s family / CBC The Genealogy Sphere 10 Dangerous Ways to Amuse Yourself from an 1820 Book (Mental Floss) – How times have changed! This 1820 book lists some crazy and very dangerous ways to amuse yourself in your spare time. Why Finnish babies sleep in cardboard boxes (BBC News) – For 75 years Finland’s… Read the full story

Today Spain has a new king. Felipe VI was officially sworn in as the new king of Spain at the Spanish parliament Thursday morning, following the abdication of his father, Juan Carlos. Felipe was born in Madrid, Spain on January 30, 1968. Like several members of his family, Felipe was an Olympic athlete. He competed as a member of the Spanish Olympic sailing team in 1992. In 2004, he married former CNN journalist Letizia Ortiz Rocasolano…. Read the full story

On this day in 1885, the Statue of Liberty, America’s iconic symbol of freedom and independence, arrived in New York Harbor in Manhattan, New York after a long voyage across the Atlantic. Over two hundred thousand people lined the docks and boarded hundreds of boats to welcome the French steamer Isère and catch a glimpse of the copper and iron statue. The statue was shipped disassembled in over 300 individual pieces and packed in over 200… Read the full story

On June 17, 1579, during his attempt to circumnavigate the globe, English privateer Sir Francis Drake landed of the coast on what is today California and claimed it for England. Named “Nova Albion” by Drake, the land was one of the earliest English territorial claims in the New World. In 1581, he was awarded a knighthood by Queen Elizabeth I. The precise location of Nova Albion was carefully guarded to keep it a secret from… Read the full story

We hope everyone had a great Father’s Day weekend! Here’s a few articles to kickstart your week. Image: Returned photos reveal a father never known, 50-year-old promise kept / Stripes.com The Genealogy Sphere The world’s largest family reunion…we’re all invited! (TED) – Check out author AJ Jacobs’s entertaining TED talk about the Global Family Reunion Eight decades in the wrong grave: Mac map collection helps solve family mystery (TheSpec.com) – A man solves a family… Read the full story

Do you remember watching Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho? On June 16, 1960, the classic horror film made its premiere in New York City. Starring Janet Leigh and Anthony Perkins, the film is considered one of Hitchcock’s best and has become one of the most recognizable films in cinema history. With surprising plot twists and carefully framed scenes, the film broke from traditional conventions of movie making to terrify audiences for years to come. Did Hitchcock’s classic… Read the full story

This Sunday, June 15, the U.S. celebrates Father’s Day in honor of fathers, grandfathers and other paternal figures in our lives. Throughout the country, families take advantage of the approaching summer weather by celebrating with outdoor activities and barbecues. Inspired by Mother’s Day, the popular holiday to honor motherhood, Father’s Day was celebrated for decades before officially being recognized as a federal holiday. In 1910 Spokane, Washington, Sonora Smart Dodd sought to honor her father… Read the full story

Are you a fan of Westerns? Today we remember John Wayne, who died on June 11, 1979 at the age of 72. One of the top box office draws for three decades, Wayne continues to endure as one of America’s greatest cultural icons. He was born Marion Robert Morrison in Winterset, Iowa on May 26, 1907. His middle name was soon changed to Mitchell when his parents decided to name their next son Robert. The… Read the full story