2016

As we come to the end of the year, we take a look back at what we have accomplished in 2016. We are proud the milestones we’ve hit as well as the fantastic new features we’ve introduced this year to make Geni’s World Family Tree even better. Here are our highlights from 2016 on Geni: Geni hit a huge milestone in January when the World Family Tree surpassed 100 million profiles. Thanks to the collaborative efforts of the… Read the full story

Only one day after the death of her daughter, Carrie Fisher, legendary actress Debbie Reynolds passed away on December 28, 2016 at the age of 84. Reynolds launched to fame during the 1950s with a string of musicals, most notably starring in the classic film Singin’ in the Rain alongside Gene Kelly. Only 19 when she shot the film, Reynolds had never danced professionally before. She was born Mary Frances Reynolds on April 1, 1932 in El… Read the full story

On the morning of December 27, 2016, Star Wars icon Carrie Fisher passed away after suffering a heart attack on a flight from London to Los Angeles just four days earlier. Image: Gage Skidmore / Wikimedia Commons  An accomplished author, screenwriter and actress, Fisher was well known for her quick wit and candor. She held memorable parts in When Harry Met Sally and Hannah and Her Sisters, but she will perhaps forever be remembered for her iconic… Read the full story

On this day, actor Kiefer Sutherland was born. Kiefer William Frederick Dempsey George Rufus Sutherland was born on December 21, 1966 in London, England to actors Donald Sutherland and Shirley Douglas. He was named after writer-director Warren Kiefer, who had directed Donald Sutherland in his first featured film, Castle of the Living Dead. His maternal grandfather was Thomas “Tommy” Douglas, a Scottish-born Canadian politician and the seventh Premier of Saskatchewan from 1944 to 1961. Sutherland’s first… Read the full story

Do you remember writing letters to Santa Claus? What did you ask for? Every year, children all around the world take a moment to ask Santa for gifts for being good during the year. The Mountainair Independent, December 21, 1916 / MyHeritage SuperSearch Have you ever wondered what your ancestors may have asked for 100 years ago? Newspapers often printed children’s letters to Santa. Common gift requests included dolls, firecrackers, candy, and fruits, particularly apples and… Read the full story

Today we remember actor Alan Thicke, who passed away at the age of 69. Thicke was best remembered as the beloved dad, Jason Seaver, on the 80’s sitcom, Growing Pains. He was born Alan Willis Jeffrey on March 1, 1947 in Kirkland Lake, Ontario to Shirley Isobel Marie Greer, a nurse, and William Jeffrey, a stockbroker. He began his career on Canadian television before moving on to American TV. Although best known for his work in front… Read the full story

Looking for a great gift for the holidays? Whether you are looking for a gift for the family historian or genealogist in your circle of friends and family or just looking to share your love of family history with your relatives, here are some nifty gift ideas for this holiday season. For something nostalgic…   Poster of your family tree A family tree poster is an excellent gift to to give to your family. You can… Read the full story

On December 8, legendary astronaut John Glenn died at the age of 95. A hero of the space age and the last of the original Mercury 7, Glenn inspired generations of scientists and explorers. Image: NASA Remembered best as the first American to orbit Earth, Glenn was also a national war hero and former U.S. Senator. In honor of his memory, here are some interesting facts about the life of the American icon. 1. He grew up… Read the full story

On this day in 1916, actor Kirk Douglas was born. Image: Kirk Douglas / Wikimedia Commons, Nationaal Archief, CC0 The legendary actor was born Issur Danielovitch on December 9, 1916 in Amsterdam, New York to Bryna “Bertha” Sanglel and Herschel “Harry” Danielovitch. His parents were poor, Jewish immigrants from Russia and the family spoke Yiddish at home. His family adopted the last name “Demsky” when they arrived in the United States, and he grew up… Read the full story

Today marks the 75th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. On the morning of December 7, 1941, the Imperial Japanese Navy struck the U.S. navel base at Pearl Harbor in a surprise military attack. The attack lasted a couple of hours and left more than 1,000 wounded and 2,400 people dead. Image: U.S. Navy The attack was intended as a preventative action to keep the U.S. Pacific Fleet from interfering with the planned military actions of… Read the full story

Today we remember Roy Orbison, who died on this day in 1988. Orbison was born on April 23, 1936 in Vernon, Texas to a working class family. He showed an interest in music at an early age when his father gave him a guitar for his 6th birthday. By the age of 8, Orbison began singing on a local radio show. Known for his trademark glasses and distinctive voice, Orbison is often considered one of the… Read the full story

We love hearing of stories from users who have discovered a new piece of their family on Geni. Today we share a story from Jens Petter Kleven, who grew up knowing very little about his father’s family. What he found on Geni would open up an entirely new world to him. Jens was born in September 1950 in Oslo, Norway. He describes his childhood as difficult from day one.  His mother had denied his father… Read the full story

When trees overlap on Geni, they are merged together to create a single, more complete family tree. Usually this happens when you encounter a Tree Match notifying you of a duplicate profile. But did you know you can still merge duplicate profiles even without a Tree Match? There are multiple ways to merge duplicates, but here we will cover how to begin a merge from a profile page. To merge the duplicate profile, first click on… Read the full story

On this day in 1582, William Shakespeare and Anne Hathaway were married in Stratford-upon-Avon. Six months later, Hathaway gave birth to their daughter, Susanna. Although not much is known about Hathaway’s life beyond references in legal papers, much has been speculated about her relationship with the legendary Bard. She is believed to have grown up in a farmhouse in the village of Shottery. At the time of their marriage, Shakespeare was 18 and Hathaway was 26 and pregnant… Read the full story

Happy Thanksgiving! Here’s a conversation starter for Thanksgiving dinner – share with your relatives how your family is related to William Bradford, governor of the Plymouth Colony in Massachusetts and organizer of the very first Thanksgiving. A passenger of the Mayflower and signatory of the Mayflower Compact, Bradford was known as the leader of the early Plymouth Colony settlers. He served as governor of the colony for 30 years. His journal, Of Plymouth Plantation, is considered to be… Read the full story

As we get ready to enjoy Thanksgiving with family, we are reminded of the many traditions that come with the holiday. From the huge family feast of turkey and stuffing to football and even the annual Thanksgiving Day parade, traditions help make the holiday we spend with family special. But there’s an old American tradition that many may not be aware of from a time when Thanksgiving looked a little different than today. Image: Library of… Read the full story

What’s your favorite Goldie Hawn movie? Today the actress celebrates her 71st birthday. Goldie Jeanne Hawn was born on November 21, 1945 in Washington, D.C. She was named after her maternal great aunt, Goldie Hochhauser. Starting at the age of three, Hawn took ballet and tap dance lessons. She began her career as a professional dancer before getting her big break on the popular variety show, Laugh-In. Hawn easily segued into film and landed her first major film role in the… Read the full story

Have you found your connection to royalty? On this day in 1558, Mary I of England died at the age of 42. With no children of her own, her half-sister Elizabeth succeeded to the throne. The eldest daughter of King Henry VIII, Mary came to power after the death of her Protestant half-brother, Edward VI. A devoted Catholic, Mary restored England to Roman Catholicism during her five-year reign. She had hundreds of Protestant dissenters burned at… Read the full story

Today we celebrate the 125th birthday of Canadian scientist Frederick Banting, whose research led to the discovery of insulin to treat diabetics. Banting was born on November 14, 1891 in Alliston, Ontario. He was the youngest of five children born to William Thompson Banting and Margaret Grant. During World War I, he served in the Canadian Army Medical Corps. In 1918, he was wounded during the Battle of Cambrai, but despite his injuries, Banting continued to… Read the full story

Today we celebrate Veterans Day in recognition of the men and women who have served in the armed forces. In honor of the holiday, here’s a look at a few famous veterans in Geni’s World Family Tree: 1. Buster Keaton Buster Keaton’s WWI draft card / NARA Remembered as one of the funniest comedians of the Silent Film Era, Buster Keaton served in the United States Army in France with the 40th Infantry Division during World War I…. Read the full story

Today we remember legendary Canadian singer-songwriter and poet Leonard Cohen, who passed away at the age of 82. Leonard Norman Cohen was born on September 21, 1934 in Westmount, Quebec to a middle-class Jewish family. His mother, Masha Klonitsky, was the daughter of a Talmudic writer and was of Lithuanian Jewish ancestry. His father, Nathan Cohen, owned a clothing store and died when Cohen was just 9 years old. Growing up, he was encouraged by… Read the full story

It’s Election Day in the U.S. Today, millions of Americans will head to the polls to cast their votes for President. This presidential election between Republican candidate Donald Trump and Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton will certainly go down into the history books and may possibly result in the country’s first female president. As voters take to the polls, we take a minute to remember that many of our ancestors may have also participated in elections during their lifetimes. Did your ancestors vote? Voter… Read the full story

It’s Movember again, an annual event where men grow out their mustaches during the month of November to raise awareness for men’s health. When looking through old family photos, it’s likely you’ve come across some mustachioed ancestors. Mustache styles have changed over time, so your ancestor’s facial hair may even be a clue to help you date your photo. In honor of Movember, here’s a fun look at some epic mustaches of the past. Image: Australian National… Read the full story

On this day in 1922, archaeologist Howard Carter discovered the entrance to the tomb of the Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamun. Tutankhamun became the Egyptian pharaoh of the 18th dynasty at the age of 9. When he came to power, there was much unrest in Egypt. He reversed several changes made during his father’s reign, including restoring the worship of the old gods. He ruled for nearly 10 years before his death around the age of 18. Howard Carter had spent… Read the full story

Do you remember watching Carrie? The classic horror film starring Sissy Spacek celebrates its 40th anniversary today. Based on Stephen King’s best-selling first novel of the same name, the movie was released in theaters on November 3, 1976 to widely positive reviews. Not only did it succeed in frightening audiences, it also became one of the rare horror films to be nominated for multiple Academy Awards. An unknown actress when she was first cast, Spacek earned her first Oscar nomination for… Read the full story

On this day in 1947, Hollywood producer and aviator Howard Hughes flew the Spruce Goose on its first and only flight. Also called the Hughes Flying Boat, the plane was the largest aircraft ever built at the time. Hughes was a successful and extremely wealthy movie producer when he founded the Hughes Aircraft Company in 1932. Hughes had a lifelong passion for aviation and was an avid pilot. He even set a few aviation records himself, including a… Read the full story

November 1 and 2 marks the celebration of the Day of the Dead or Día de los Muertos, a traditionally Mexican holiday focused on the remembrance of friends and family who have died. Although the holiday is particularly a Mexican holiday, the Day of the Dead is observed by many cultures throughout the world. The colorful and festive holiday is celebrated with family and friends in remembrance of their loved ones who have died. In honor of… Read the full story

We love to hear stories from our users about the fascinating discoveries they have made on Geni. Below we share a story from Angela Sinickas Shiromani, who connected with descendants of her grandmother’s siblings through Geni. This amazing discovery finally united two lines of the family after being separated across two continents for over 60 years. In June 2013, while on a trip to Lithuania to speak at the Lithuanian World Economic Forum, Angela decided… Read the full story

Happy birthday, Bill Gates! Today the Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist turns 61. William Henry Gates III was born on October 28, 1955 in Seattle, Washington to William H. Gates, Sr. and Mary Maxwell. By the age of 13, Gates began to show an interest in computer programming and continued to pursue his passion during college. He would drop out of Harvard University to form a company called “Micro-soft” with his childhood friend Paul Allen. Later dropping… Read the full story

Before Geni introduced documents, users were able to upload records, such as census records or passenger lists, as photos. Now years later, many people are still not aware that you can convert those old photos into documents. By converting these types of photos into documents, you make these records even more useful in your family tree. Once the image is made into a document, you can use them as sources for your family’s profiles. For each profile… Read the full story

On this day in 1764, future President John Adams married Abigail Smith at the Smith family home in Weymouth, Massachusetts. Abigail Adams was born on November 22, 1744 to Elizabeth Quincy and William Smith, a pastor. The couple had known each other since they were children and throughout their courtship and marriage exchanged over 1,100 letters. Their letters were filled with intellectual discussions on government and politics and provided a unique window into 18th century life and personal insight… Read the full story

On this day in 1632, Dutch tradesman Antoni van Leeuwenhoek was born. Known as the “Father of microbiology,” van Leeuwenhoek is considered to be the first person to observe microbes. He was born in Delft in the Netherlands to Philips Antonisz van Leeuwenhoek, a basket maker, and Margaretha Bel van den Berch, who had come from a brewer family. A draper, van Leeuwenhoek made for an unlikely scientist. He became interested in lensmaking while working in… Read the full story

On this day in 1833, Swedish inventor and philanthropist Alfred Nobel was born in Stockholm, Sweden. Although today Nobel is best remembered for establishing the Nobel Prizes, he first earned his fortune as the inventor of dynamite. After his brother died in an explosion at his father’s arms factory, Nobel sought to find a safer substance than the unstable nitroglycerin. It was after a newspaper incorrectly published Nobel’s obituary that he became concerned with how he would be remembered by… Read the full story

On this day in 1931, baseball legend Mickey Mantle was born in Spavinaw, Oklahoma. He was born to Elvin Charles “Mutt” Mantle, a lead miner, and Lovell Richardson. A huge baseball fan, Mantle’s father had named him after Mickey Cochrane, a Hall of Fame catcher. A gifted athlete while in school, Mantle was scouted and signed to a minor league contract right out of high school. By the age of 19, Mantle was playing for the… Read the full story

On October 19, 1469, Ferdinand II of Aragon married Isabella I of Castile. Their marriage would pave the way for the unification of Aragon and Castile into the single country of Spain. In 1492, the monarchs brought the Reconquista to an end when the last Islamic state in Iberia at Granada finally fell to the expanding Christian kingdoms. Soon after, Ferdinand and Isabella agreed to sponsor Christopher Columbus on an expedition to reach the Indies by sailing… Read the full story

On this day in 1831, German Emperor Frederick III was born in the New Palace at Potsdam, Prussia. The only son of Emperor Wilhelm I, Frederick was celebrated for his leadership and successes during the Second Schleswig, Austro-Prussian and Franco-Prussian Wars. Despite his military success, Frederick was known to dislike warfare and was often praised for his humane conduct. After the death of his father at the age of 90 on March 9, 1888, Frederick… Read the full story

Today marks the 950th anniversary of the Battle of Hastings. On this day in 1066, William the Conqueror led his forces to defeat King Harold II of England. In January 1066, the death of the childless King Edward the Confessor resulted in a struggle for succession to the English throne. After his death, Harold II was browed king. However, William, then Duke of Normandy, had claimed he was the rightful heir to the throne. According… Read the full story

Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Barbara Zinn first became interested in family history in 1998 when her husband’s aunt sent the couple his family history. Since then, Barbara had been doing her husband’s genealogy off and on.  After researching her husband’s family for a number of years, Barbara became interested in seeing what she could find about her own family. Mary Louise Spencer (Barbara’s paternal grandmother) / Courtesy of Barbara Zinn “Because of my upbringing, and… Read the full story

Congratulations to Bob Dylan! It was announced today that legendary singer and songwriter was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature for “having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition.” Dylan’s win for the Nobel Prize was a surprise for many. He is the first American to win the Nobel Prize in Literature since author Toni Morrison won the prize in 1993. He’s also the first person who is considered primarily a musician to… Read the full story

On October 11, 1890, the Daughters of the American Revolution was founded. The non-profit organization and genealogical scoeity welcomes women who are directly descended from Patriots who served in the American Revolutionary War. The group works to promote historic preservation, education and patriotism. Check out these fast facts about the founding of the Daughters of the American Revolution: 1. It emerged during a time of renewed passion and interest in the early days of American history. Image: Library… Read the full story

We love hearing stories of families reunited through Geni. Recently, Eli Rabinowitz finally found his first cousin Zara Smushkovich after being separated for over 35 years! The discovery was made thanks to the help of a friendly person on Facebook who found the family tree on Geni. Zara’s father, David, and Eli’s mother, Rachel Zara’s father, David Zeldin, and Eli’s mother, Rachel, were siblings. During World War II, David had joined the Soviet Army. His children, Mendel and… Read the full story

It’s Family History Month! Throughout the month of October, we’ll be sharing stories from the Geni community in celebration of genealogy and family history. Read below of one Geni user’s journey into genealogy and her excitement for the endless possibilities of connecting and collaborating in the World Family Tree. Born in Brooklyn, New York, Tamar Weinberg likes to call herself a professional hustler. A work-at-home mom with 4 kids under the age of 7, Tamar… Read the full story

Today we remember innovator Steve Jobs, who died on this day five years ago. Steve Jobs was born on February 24, 1955 in San Francisco, California to Joanne Schieble and Abdulfatah Jandali. His biological parents were two graduate students from the University of Wisconsin and decided to put him up for adoption. He was adopted by Paul and Clara Jobs, who encouraged his education and hobby of tinkering with electronics. The co-founder of Apple, Jobs’… Read the full story

Do you have a favorite Janis Joplin song? Today we remember the legendary singer on the 46th anniversary of her death. Janis Lyn Joplin was born on January 19, 1943 in Port Arthur, Texas. From an early age, Joplin had a love of music. It was in her teens that she was first introduced to blues and jazz. Joplin was known for her bluesy, uninhibited, and gutsy singing style that was not seen in other female… Read the full story

When getting started on your family history research, one of the best places to begin is your family. Your living relatives are an incredible resource for your family’s genealogy. While it’s important to make sure ask basic questions about names, birth dates and locations for the person you are interviewing and for other relatives, it’s also just as imperative to get them to open up with stories about their lives or your family history. Image: Powerhouse Museum, Flickr Some of… Read the full story

Genealogy can often bring about a good chuckle. Funny names, amusing newspaper articles, unusual census entries can often lead to some amusing discoveries. We’ve previously shared some funny and unusual names found in Geni’s World Family Tree. Now here are a few more funny names to add to the collection of names. Check out the funny names below: 1. Captain Preserved Fish 2. Cookie Baker 3. Happy Card 4. Houston Texas Whitecotton 5. Olive Pitt 6. Ima Hogg 7…. Read the full story

On this day in 1761, George III was crowned King of the Kingdom of Great Britain at the age of 22. He succeeded to the throne after the death of his grandfather, George II. Just a couple of weeks before his coronation, he married Princess Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, whom he did not meet until their wedding day. Together they were crowned King and Queen at Westminster Abbey on September 22, 1761. In his accession speech, George declared, “Born… Read the full story

Overtime, the information on gravestones may deteriorate and disappear forever. Taking photographs of these markers now is essential to preserving them for future generations. This fun activity is perfect for genealogists and family historians. Here are some tips to keep in mind for your next adventure to the cemetery: 1. Ask for permission Before taking your first snapshot, make sure you have permission to take photographs in the cemetery. A quick search online for the cemetery’s website or a… Read the full story

Happy birthday, Bill Murray! Today the actor turns 66. William James Murray was born on September 21, 1950 in Evanston, Illinois. He is the fifth of nine children born to Lucille Collins, a mail room clerk, and Edward Joseph Murray, II, a lumber salesman. At the age of 20, Murray was arrested at Chicago’s O’Hara Airport for trying to smuggle 10 lbs of cannabis. He was convicted and sentenced to probation. Looking for a new direction, Murray accepted his… Read the full story

On this day in 1519, Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan set sail from Spain to find a better route to the Spice Islands of Indonesia. The voyage would result in the first circumnavigation of world. Magellan was born to a Portuguese noble family around 1480. After the death of his parents, he became a page to Queen Leonor, the wife of John II of Portugal. He studied cartography, astronomy and celestial navigation, which would serve him well… Read the full story