January 2015

Can you image discovering rare, undeveloped photographs from WWII and then being the first person to ever view them? Recently, photographer Levi Bettweiser made such a discovery after coming across 31 undeveloped rolls of film shot by a soldier during World War II. Bettweiser launched the Rescued Film Project in an effort to find and rescue old and undeveloped rolls of film. In 2014, he found the undeveloped batch of rolls at an auction in Ohio. Other than the… Read the full story

Do you remember reading The Catcher in the Rye? On this day five years ago, author J.D. Salinger died at the age of 91 in his home in Cornish, New Hampshire. Jerome David Salinger was born on New Year’s Day, 1919 in New York City. He began writing at a young age, publishing several short stories before serving in World War II. In the spring of 1942, Salinger was drafted into the army. He saw combat in… Read the full story

Have a great genealogy-filled weekend? Check out our roundup of articles from around the web! The Crowded Cemeteries of Hong Kong / The Guardian The Genealogy Sphere The Crowded Cemeteries of Hong Kong – in pictures (The Guardian) – See these amazing pictures of the crowded cemeteries of Hong Kong 109-Year-Old Woman Says Secret to Long Life is Avoiding Men (The Huffington Post) – Does longevity run in your family tree? The oldest living woman in… Read the full story

Today marks the 50th anniversary of Winston Churchill’s death. Considered one of the greatest leaders in history, Churchill was a master orator and statesman. In honor of this momentous anniversary, here are some things you may not have known about Winston Churchill: 1. He comes from an aristocratic family Churchill was born into the aristocratic family of the Dukes of Marlborough, a branch of the Spencer family. His 6th great grandfather was John Churchill, the… Read the full story

Do you remember watching MacGyver? Today star Richard Dean Anderson turns 65. Anderson was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota to Stuart Jay Anderson and Jocelyn Rhae Carter. In the early days of his career, he worked as a whale handler in a marine mammal show, a musician in medieval dinner theater and as a street mime and juggler. He finally received his first role on the daytime soap General Hospital. He rose to fame after snagging the lead role… Read the full story

If you have taken a stroll through a cemetery, you may notice a few graves that are not quite like the others. Many families choose unique markers that are reflective of who the person was when they were alive, while others offer grand tributes to the deceased. Have you come across one? Check out these unique gravestones: 1. Goff Memorial at Rock Creek Cemetery in Washington D.C. Image: Sarah Stierch, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0) 2. Holding… Read the full story

On this day in 1547, Ivan IV of Russia, commonly known as Ivan the Terrible, was crowned tsar of Russia. He was the first tsar of all of Russia. The grandson of Ivan the Great, Ivan IV’s long reign saw the transformation of Russia into a vast, multiethnic empire. His territorial conquests spanned far and wide, making Russia the largest nation on the planet. Accounts of his complex personality vary. He was an able diplomate, a… Read the full story

Do you have Norwegian ancestry? On January 15, 1812, Norwegian writer and zoologist Peter Christen Asbjørnsen was born in Christiana (now Oslo), Norway. Working alongside his close friend, Jørgen Moe, the duo collected and published Norwegian folklore. Inspired by the Brothers Grimm, the pair collected the fairy tales and legends of Norway. Together they published Norske Folkeeventyr (Norwegian Folktales). Their work had a significant influence on Norwegian culture and their names became synonymous for Norwegian folk stories. Asbjørnsen and Moe followed the… Read the full story

We’ve all been there – surrounded by a mountain of paper work as we’re trying to break through that brick wall or uncover that elusive ancestor. A snippet of a newspaper or an old photograph can easily get lost amongst the clutter. How can you avoid getting lost in the mess of research? Check out these tips to stay organized and help you keep track of your family history research. Do it as you go The best way to stay… Read the full story

Do you have ancestors who fought in the American Revolutionary War? On this day in 1741, infamous American Revolutionary War General Benedict Arnold was born in Connecticut. Before the war, Benedict Arnold was a successful business man. He joined the Continental Army as soon as the war broke out and was distinguished for his bravery and skill as a leader. Despite his successes, Arnold was passed over for promotion by the Continental Congress. His growing… Read the full story

Happy birthday, Patrick Dempsey! Today the Grey’s Anatomy star turns 49. Dempsey was born in Lewiston, Maine on January 13, 1966. An adept juggler, Dempsey once tied for second place in a national juggling competition. He discovered a love for acting at a young age and by the late 1980s, Dempsey was a star. With hits like the romantic comedies, Heaven Help Us and Loverboy, Dempsey became a teen heartthrob. He later transitioned to television, and found a resurgence of… Read the full story

We hope everyone had a wonderful time celebrating the holidays! Now read up on some fantastic articles you may have missed! Image: Coins, newspapers found as time capsule is opened / The Boston Globe The Genealogy Sphere The Edwardian Sartorialist (Mashable) – Take a look at fashion trends from the streets of London c. 1905-1908 Japanese family who tended Briton’s grave for 140 years finally learn his identity (The Guardian) – For 140 years, a Japanese… Read the full story

Do you remember watching All in the Family? On this day in 1971, the classic sitcom premiered on television. Staring Carroll O’Connor and Jean Stapleton, the groundbreaking show tacked many controversial issues including racism, women’s liberation and the Vietnam War. For five consecutive seasons, All in the Family was the #1 watched show on television. Throughout it’s run, the show won multiple awards and was the first sitcom to have all of its lead actors win Emmys. Today,… Read the full story

What’s behind a name? Typically, surnames are passed down through many generations, creating a web of connected family members. The use of surnames is common in most countries around the world, but did you know they didn’t always exist? During the 13th and 14th centuries in Britain, hereditary surnames were adopted, first amongst the aristocracy and then eventually everyone. These early surnames were often derived from patronymics, places, personal characteristics and occupations. Because of this, surnames can give… Read the full story

Happy birthday, Nicolas Cage! Today the actor turns 51. Born Nicolas Kim Coppola in Long Beach, California, Nicolas is the son of literature professor August Floyd Coppola and Joy Vogelsang, a dancer and choreographer. Nicolas discovered his love for acting at 15 after attending a summer class at the American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco. The nephew of iconic director Francis Ford Coppola, Nicolas changed his name to forge his own identity separate from his famous pedigree…. Read the full story

Best-selling author A.J. Jacobs is organizing the largest family reunion in history and he’s inviting all 7 billion of his cousins to the party! During this holiday season, the Global Family Reunion team is holding a fun holiday photo contest. Winners will receive some amazing prizes! AJ Jacobs Entering the contest is easy. All you need to do is submit a photo holding an “I am a Cousin” sign by January 9, 2015 to info@worldfamily.us. There are six categories to… Read the full story