November 2016

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

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