2016

Congratulations to Julia Louis-Dreyfus on her fifth consecutive Emmy win! Last night, the Veep star made Emmy Award history by breaking the record for most lead actress wins. She previously held the record in a three-way tie with Candice Bergen and Mary Tyler Moore. It was her sixth win for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy. Five were for her role as Selina Meyer in the HBO comedy Veep. In a hilarious and emotional speech, Julia dedicated her win to her father,… Read the full story

Genealogists love old family photos. It’s great when we can share these photos with loved ones in the family tree. Photographs lets us place a face with the names in the tree. When adding photos, have you ever found yourself a little frustrated when the photograph doesn’t quite appear the way you want? Below we’ll show you how to easily solve this simple problem in the tree. In your family tree, navigate to the person whose photo you… Read the full story

Do you remember reading the adventures of Curious George? On this day in 1898, illustrator and author H.A. Rey was born in Hamburg, Germany. Curious George is perhaps one of the most recognizable characters in children’s literature. Together with his wife Margaret, Rey brought to life the curious little monkey with his illustrations. Born Hans Augusto Reyersbach, Rey was the son of German Jews. He first met his wife in Hamburg at Margaret’s sister’s 16th birthday party. Years later,… Read the full story

Remember receiving the yellow pages on your door step? Now that we have the Internet at our fingertips, we see these books less and less. However, years ago, thick city directories were one of the few ways a person could look up the names and addresses of local businesses and residents. Old city directories provide a snapshot of a time and place, which makes them a perfect resource for genealogy researchers. 1889 Boston, Massachusetts city directory / MyHeritage SuperSearch Directories… Read the full story

Can you believe it’s been 50 years since Star Trek aired its first episode? On September 8, 1966, the iconic show made its debut and introduced audiences to Gene Roddenberry’s vision of future exploration and discovery. Image: Wikipedia Although canceled after just three seasons, the show’s devoted fanbase kept its spirit alive as a cult classic and eventually, a cultural phenomenon. The groundbreaking show tackled significant social issues of the era, including racism, sexism and war. It broke new ground when it became the first… Read the full story

Happy birthday, Bernie Sanders! Today the former Democratic presidential candidate turns 75. Sanders was born on September 8, 1941 in Brooklyn, New York to Jewish parents, Elias Sanders and Dorothy Glassberg. His father immigrated to the United States at the age of 17 from Słopnice, Poland, while his mother’s parents were immigrants from Poland and Russia. Many members of his family back in Poland perished during the Holocaust. He had an interest in politics at an… Read the full story

In the days just before Labor Day weekend, the Geni team went to Springfield, Illinois for the FGS 2016 National Conference hosted by the Federation of Genealogical Societies. The genealogy conference was held from August 31 – September 3. The home of Abraham Lincoln in Springfield, Illinois It was amazing to spend some time in the “Land of Lincoln” surrounded by so much history with some of the country’s leading family history researchers and genealogists. A big crowd in the… Read the full story

On this day in 1871, physicist Ernest Rutherford was born in Spring Grove, New Zealand. Dubbed the “Father of the Nuclear Age,” Rutherford’s scientific research led to the first splitting of the atom in 1917. He was the fourth of twelve children born to James Rutherford and Martha Thompson. His mother was a schoolteacher and placed a strong emphasis on the children’s education. When not in school, Rutherford spent his time helping with chores on the… Read the full story

Happy birthday, Michael Jackson! Today the King of Pop would have turned 58. Michael Joseph Jackson was born on August 29, 1958 in Gary, Indiana. He was the eighth of ten children born to Katherine Scruse and Joseph “Joe” Jackson. At the age of five, Michael began performing with his older brothers as a member of the Jackson 5. His talent was immediately apparent and it was long before Michael was made the group’s lead… Read the full story

Next week Geni will be heading to Springfield, Illinois for the Federation of Genealogical Societies 2016 National Conference. From August 31 – September 3, genealogists and family historians will come together at the Prairie Capital Convention Center in Springfield. This year’s theme is “Time Travel: Centuries of Memories” with tracks geared to inspire and enrich your family history. Attendees will have the opportunity to choose from a wide variety of sessions offered by many of the… Read the full story

Today the U.S. celebrates Women’s Equality Day, which commemorates the day when the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution was certified as law. In honor of the day, we’re highlighting Elizabeth Cady Stanton, who helped draft the historical amendment. A leading figure of the women’s rights movement, Stanton’s work helped pave the way for granting women the right to vote. In 1848, Stanton helped organize the Seneca Falls Convention, which was the first women’s rights convention to be… Read the full story

Do you have Russian ancestry? On this day in 1530, the first tsar of Russia, Ivan IV, was born in the Grand Duchy of Muscovy, Russia. From a young age, Ivan experienced much tragedy and pain. When he was 3, his father died of an infection from an abscess on his leg. At the request of his father, Ivan was made Grand Prince of Moscow, and his mother acted as regent. However, a few short… Read the full story

Geni curators spend a great deal of time working hard to ensure the World Family Tree is the highest-quality family tree of the entire world. Always eager to collaborate and interact in discussions and projects, our dedicated group of volunteers have assisted many Geni users over the years. If you haven’t yet had the pleasure of working with a curator, we thought it would be fun to get to know some members of the curator… Read the full story

Did you know that on this day in 1932, Amelia Earhart became the first woman to fly nonstop across the United States? A pioneer in aviation, Earhart set many records throughout her career. On August 24, 1932, she became the first woman to make a solo nonstop flight across the United States from Los Angeles, California to Newark, New Jersey. The flight took a total of 19 hours and 5 minutes and set a woman’s distance record… Read the full story

Do you remember watching I Dream of Jeannie? Today star Barbara Eden celebrates her 85th birthday. She was born Barbara Jean Morehead on August 23, 1931 in Tucson, Arizona. As she grew up during the Great Depression, her mother kept her entertained by singing songs. Her early exposure to music left a lasting impression and inspired her to pursue her love of singing and acting. After doing guest spots on a few shows, Eden landed the biggest role… Read the full story

Do you remember reading Fahrenheit 451? On this day in 1920, author Ray Bradbury was born in Waukegan, Illinois. He was the son of Esther Moberg, a Swedish immigrant, and Leonard Spaulding Bradbury, a power and telephone lineman. His seventh great grandmother was Mary Bradbury, who was tried, convicted and sentenced to hang as a witch in Salem, Massachusetts in 1692. She managed to escape execution until the Salem Witch Trials were discredited. Since he was… Read the full story

This past week, Geni headed to Seattle, Washington for the 36th IAJGS International Conference on Jewish Genealogy. We had an amazing time seeing old friends and meeting new visitors eager to learn more about collaborative genealogy in Geni’s World Family Tree. The Geni booth at IAJGS 2016 The conference got off to a fantastic start with the Share Fair on Sunday. The exhibit hall had a steady crowd all day with people reuniting with old friends and learning… Read the full story

Happy birthday, Madonna! Today the iconic singer turns 58. Madonna Louise Veronica Ciccone was born on August 16, 1958 in Bay City, Michigan to Silvio Anthony Ciccone and Madonna Louise Fortin. At the age of 5, Madonna lost her mother to breast cancer. The loss of her mother significantly affected Madonna as she grew up. Although she remained a straight-A student, Madonna gained attention for her unconventional behavior. After recording her first hit “Everybody,” Madonna’s fame skyrocketed. In… Read the full story

On this day in 1881, director and producer Cecil B. DeMille was born in Ashfield, Massachusetts to Henry de Mille and Matilda Samuel. His surname is of Dutch origin and was spelled as de Mille which he used in private life, however he chose to use the spelling DeMille for professional purposes. He is recognized as a founding father of the Hollywood film industry. Edendale, a historical name for a district in Los Angeles, California was originally… Read the full story

Today we remember Scottish American industrialist and philanthropist, Andrew Carnegie, who died on August 11, 1919 at the age of 83 in Lenox, Massachusetts. He founded the Keystone Bridge Company in 1865 which was an important bridge building company, but he made his fortune in the steel industry. In 1892 he started the Carnegie Steel Company, it was the largest manufacturer of pig iron, steel rails, and coke (a type of fuel derived from coal)… Read the full story

On this day in 1928, American country music singer and businessman Jimmy Dean was born in Plainview, Texas to George Otto Dean and Ruth Taylor. His best known song was in 1961 called “Big Bad John”; the song won Dean the 1962 Grammy Award for Best Country & Western Recording. Dean was also a television host, he had a variety TV series called The Jimmy Dean Show which featured comedy, popular music artists and country music… Read the full story

On August 9, 1854, Henry David Thoreau‘s novel Walden was published. Walden is Thoreau’s most famous novel, he also wrote the essay Civil Disobedience. Thoreau was also a poet, philosopher and abolitionist. His writings inspired many notable leaders such as Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr. and President John F. Kennedy. Henry David Thoreau was born on July 12, 1817 in Concord, Massachusetts to John Thoreau and Cynthia Dunbar. His name at birth was David Henry, named… Read the full story

On this day in 1974, Richard Nixon resigned from the office of the President of the United States in a nationwide television address. Do you remember watching? After serving as Vice President under President Dwight D. Eisenhower, Nixon made his bid for the presidency, but narrowly lost to John F. Kennedy. In 1968, he ran again and won. Nixon’s last years in office were marred by the Watergate scandal. At noon the next day after his televised… Read the full story

Next week, Geni will be at the 36th IAJGS International Conference on Jewish Genealogy in Seattle, Washington. The conference will be held from August 7-12, 2016 at the Sheraton Seattle Downtown Hotel. The local host this year is the Jewish Genealogical Society of Washington State. This year’s theme is “The Wandering Jew.” Come join us at one of the largest Jewish genealogy conferences in the world! If you’re planning to attend, be sure to stop by… Read the full story

On this day in 1923, Calvin Coolidge was sworn in as the 30th President of the United States, just hours after the death of President Warren G. Harding. John Calvin Coolidge, Jr. was born on July 4, 1872 in Plymouth, Vermont. He’s the only U.S. President to be born on Independence Day. Coolidge’s second great-grandfather, John Coolidge, served in the American Revolutionary War. On August 2, 1923, President Harding died suddenly in San Francisco. At… Read the full story

On this day in 1588, English forces led by Lord Charles Howard and Sir Frances Drake defeated the Spanish Armada. Once referred to as the “Invincible Armada,” the defeat of the once-unbeatable Spanish force made England a dominating power in the world. During the late 1580s, tensions between Spain and England had greatly escalated. Queen Elizabeth I dispatched Drake to raid major Spanish ports to great success, which prompted Philip II of Spain to invade England. As… Read the full story

Today marks the birthday of author and illustrator Beatrix Potter. Many people grow up reading her beloved stories featuring the mischievous Peter Rabbit. Helen Beatrix Potter was born on July 28, 1866 in Kensington, London, England. She first published The Tale of Peter Rabbit in 1902 and found instant success. Since the book’s initial publication, it has become one of the best selling books of all time. Today readers around the world continue to enjoy her story and iconic… Read the full story

On this day in 1603, James VI of Scotland was crowned king of England, bringing the Kingdom of England and the Kingdom of Scotland into a personal union. James VI was born on June 19, 1577 in Edinburgh Castle, Scotland. He was the son of Mary, Queen of Scots, and a second great grandson of Henry VII. At just 13 months, he succeeded to the Scottish throne after his mother was compelled to abdicate in favor… Read the full story

For her 86th birthday, Marie Frey got an extra special gift – her 86th great-grandchild! Recently, the Today Show shared Marie’s amazing celebration. The family welcomed Blakely Grace Frey on June 23. Blakely is the fifth child born to Marie’s grandson, Kenny. Being one of seven children, Marie had lots of experience growing up in a large family. She and her husband Gerald were married for nearly 60 years before he passed at the age of 83…. Read the full story

Today we remember inspirational figure Nelson Mandela on what would have been his 98th birthday. Nelson Mandela was born on July 18, 1918 in the village of Mvezo in Umtata, South Africa. He was given the name Rolihlahla, a Xhosa term meaning “troublemaker.” In his 20s, Mandela became actively involved in the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa. He spent 27 years of his life in prison after he was convicted of conspiracy to overthrow the state…. Read the full story

Do you have Swedish ancestry? On this day in 1918, Swedish director Ingmar Bergman was born in Uppsala, Sweden. A powerful and creative filmmaker, Bergman is often considered one of the most accomplished and influential directors of all time. Bergman was born Ernst Ingmar Bergman on July 14, 1918 to Erik Bergman and Karin Åkerblom. His father was a Lutheran minister and chaplain to the King of Sweden. He grew up in a strict household under… Read the full story

If you have tried to navigate around a very large tree, chances are you may have encountered some fatigue while dragging your cursor across the screen. It’s possible you may have even gotten a bit lost as you followed a line from one branch to another. Did you know there are other ways to move around the family tree without having to drag it across the screen? Queen Elizabeth II’s family tree Here are a few options you may have overlooked to help you make your… Read the full story

Whether you’re just getting started researching your family history or have been doing genealogy for years, everybody makes mistakes. But if you have them in mind, you can take steps to make sure you don’t make some of the common mistakes that befall genealogists at some time or another. Here are five common genealogy mistakes for you to avoid: 1. Making assumptions One of the easiest and most common mistake to make is to make assumptions about… Read the full story

On this day in 1483, Richard III was crowned the King of England. Born on October 2, 1452, Richard was the last king of the House of York and the last of the Plantagenet dynasty. When his elder brother, Edward IV, died in 1483, Edward’s 12-year-old son, Edward V, was to succeed to the throne and Richard named Lord Protector of the realm. However, before Edward’s coronation could take place, his father’s marriage to his mother… Read the full story

Happy birthday, Olivia de Havilland! Today the actress turns 100. She was born on July 1, 1916 in Tokyo, Japan to English parents, Walter Augustus de Havilland and Lilian Augusta Ruse. De Havilland moved to California as a child with her mother and sister, Joan Fontaine, after her parents’ divorced. The sisters never got a long as children and as adults, their rivalry became one of the most famous and long-lasting feuds in Hollywood. De… Read the full story

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

Happy birthday, Lionel Richie! Today the singer turns 67. He was born Lionel Brockman Richie, Jr. on June 20, 1949 in Tuskegee, Alabama to Alberta Foster and Lionel Brockman Richie, Sr. He grew up close to the the campus of the Tuskegee Institute, which was founded by Booker T. Washington. Two generations of his family have worked at the institution, including his grandfather, who worked with Washington during his time at the school. It turns… 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

Do you have Spanish ancestry? On this day in 1599, Spanish painter Diego Velázquez was born in Seville, Spain. The first child of João Rodrigues da Silva and Jerónima Velázquez, Velázquez had shown a gift for art at a young age. At the age of 12, he began a six-year apprenticeship with painter Francisco Pacheco. He would later marry Pacheco’s daughter, Juana, and father two daughters. Remembered as one of the most important painters of the Spanish Golden… 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