June 2016

We’re excited to announce big news – Geni and Family Tree DNA, a global leader in genetic genealogy, have partnered to integrate Family Tree DNA test results into Geni’s World Family Tree. Today we are releasing a project that has been one and a half years in the making! As of today, Geni supports three major DNA technologies to enhance the World Family Tree – Y-DNA, mitochondrial DNA and autosomal DNA. Users can now link their… Read the full story

Have you read Gone with the Wind? On June 30, 1936, author Margaret Mitchell published her Pulitzer Prize winning novel. An instant hit with the public and critics, Mitchell earned a Pulitzer Prize for Fiction a year after the book’s publication. In 1939, the novel was adapted into an epic film starring Vivien Leigh and Clark Gable as the book’s central characters, Scarlett O’Hara and Rhett Butler. Sadly, Gone with the Wind would be the only novel Mitchell would… Read the full story

When relatives pass away, we may be lucky enough to inherit family heirlooms that have been passed on through generations. Some common family heirlooms include family Bibles, jewelry or furniture. However, sometimes we end up inheriting something that’s a little more unusual. (Image: U.S. National Archives) The Franklin D. Roosevelt Library holds an unusual family heirloom of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The image above is the Roosevelt Family Hairwork Bouquet, which was made from the hair… Read the full story

Does anyone in your family tree play the saxophone? On this day in 1846, inventor Adolphe Sax patented the saxophone. He was born Antoine-Joseph Sax on November 6, 1814 in Dinant, Belgium. The son of instrument designers, Sax learned to make his own instruments at an early age while also cultivating his talent for playing the flute and clarinet. Sax invented and improved upon several instruments, but his most famous invention was the saxophone. On June… Read the full story

Genealogy reports are an important part of family history research. Today, we’re happy to introduce Ancestor and Descendant Reports for your family tree on Geni. Ancestor and Descendant reports will enable you to view a compact list of a profile’s ancestors or descendants up to 20 generations. You may also export the report as a PDF to save to your computer, print it or share it with a friend or relative. To view a profile’s Ancestor and Descendant report, navigate… Read the full story

Summer is finally here! It’s the perfect time to get outdoors for some fun genealogy activities with your family. With longer days, you and your family can spend even more quality time together while also learning about your family’s heritage. Make the most of these long summer days with these family history activities: Photograph gravestones Now that the days are filled with sun, take your family on a trip to visit the graves of your ancestors or… Read the full story

Happy birthday, Prince William! Today the future king turns 34. The eldest son of Princess Diana and Prince Charles of Wales, William was born William Arthur Philip Louis at St. Mary’s Hospital in London. Only 15 years old when his mother died, Prince William was profoundly affected by her tragic death. In addition to his royal duties and charity work, the Duke of Cambridge continues to work as an air ambulance pilot. The first British royal… Read the full story

How’s this for a birthday gift? For her 100th birthday, Dorothy Martell witnessed the birth of her great-great grandson! KPNX reports that Weston Alexander Heiser was born on June 6, 2016, exactly 100 years to the day since Dorothy was born. Weston is the first son of Dorothy’s great granddaughter, Alyssa Heiser. Since finding out about her pregnancy, Alyssa had hoped she might give birth on her great grandmother’s birthday. She had gone into early labor… Read the full story

Did your ancestors fight in the American Revolutionary War? On this day in 1775, the Battle of Bunker Hill began. Commanding the American forces was Colonel William Prescott, who led 1,200 men onto the Charlestown peninsula to erect defenses on Bunker Hill. As the British advanced, Prescott famously told his men, “Don’t one of you fire until you see the whites of their eyes!” The American forces were successful in repelling two assaults the British,… Read the full story

On June 16, 1829, legendary Apache leader Geronimo was born in what was No-Doyohn Canyon, Mexico. He was born to the Bedonkohe band of the Apache and called Goyathlay, meaning “One Who Yawns.” In 1851, a band of Mexican soldiers attacked his camp, killing his mother, his wife and three small children. From then on, he harbored a deep hatred for Mexican soldiers. During the Apache Wars, Geronimo led his people against Mexico and the U.S as their… Read the full story

On June 10, 1692, Bridget Bishop became the first person to be hanged as a witch in Salem, Massachusetts. She was married three times, Bishop had a controversial reputation in Salem. Prior to 1692, she had been accused of witchcraft by her second husband, Thomas Oliver. After Oliver’s death, she married Edward Bishop, a well respected sawyer. On April 18, 1692, she was arrested on charges of witchcraft after she was accused of bewitching five… Read the full story

This weekend the Geni team headed over to the Los Angeles Marriott Burbank Airport for the 47th annual Southern California Genealogy Jamboree. Over 1,400 people attended this year’s conference. The Geni booth before the exhibit hall opened We had a wonderful time catching up with old friends, chatting with Geni users and introducing the power of collaboration on Geni’s World Family Tree to newcomers. The conference flew by as the exhibit hall was filled with attendees throughout… Read the full story

Thanks to the collaboration of millions of genealogists and family historians, Geni’s World Family Tree has over 100 million profiles connected. That’s over 100 million people connected to a single family tree! Here are 10 reasons why you should be collaborating in the World Family Tree now: 1. Work with others in projects Why research alone, when there’s an entire community who is just as passionate about genealogy as you? Who better to work with than… Read the full story

On this day in 1965, Edward White became the first American to “walk” in space. White was born on November 14, 1930 in San Antonio, Texas to Edward H. White, Sr., a Major General in the U.S. Air Force, and Mary Rosina Haller. In 1962, he was one of nine men chosen as part of NASA’s Astronaut Group 2. Considered to be a high-flier in the elite group, White was chosen as pilot of Gemini 4 along… Read the full story