January 2019

As Valentine’s Day approaches, we thought it would be the perfect opportunity to hear some wonderful love stories from your family’s history. And in celebration of the most romantic day of the year, we are also  giving away a free 1-year subscription of Geni Pro! Stories bring families together and nothing warms the heart more than hearing about some of the amazing love stories from your own family’s history. It’s important to share these stories to keep these wonderful memories from being forgotten. Whether… Read the full story

Today we remember Franklin D. Roosevelt, the 32nd President of the United States, who was born on this day in 1882. Regarded as one of the greatest U.S. presidents in history, Roosevelt successfully led the country through the Great Depression and World War II until his death in 1945. Roosevelt was a member of the prominent Roosevelt family, one of the oldest and wealthiest families in New York. He was a great admirer of his distant cousin, Theodore Roosevelt,… Read the full story

Today we remember William McKinley, the 25th President of the United States, who was born on this day in 1843. McKinley was born on January 29, 1843 in Niles, Ohio to William McKinley, Sr. and Nancy Campbell Allison. At the beginning of the American Civil War, McKinley joined the Union army as a private and eventually rose to the rank of brevet major before he was discharged. He would be the last president to have served in the Civil War…. Read the full story

Happy birthday to Alan Alda! Today the M*A*S*H star turns 83. The actor was born Alphonso Joseph D’Abruzzo on January 28, 1936 in New York City, New York. His father was an actor and performed under the name “Robert Alda.” Before becoming an actor himself, Alda served in the United States Army Reserve and did a six month tour in Korea. Alda began his career on the stage and earned his first Tony Award nomination in 1966…. Read the full story

Today we remember beloved actress Mary Tyler Moore on the second anniversary of her death. A television icon, Moore’s groundbreaking role on The Mary Tyler Moore Show helped to change the way woman were portrayed on television and influence generations of viewers. Moore was born on December 29, 1936 in Brooklyn, New York. She was the eldest of three children born to George Tyler Moore, a clerk, and Marjori Hackett. She began dancing while in high school and… Read the full story

On this day in 1788, English poet Lord Byron was born in London, England. A leading figure of the Romantic movement, Lord Byron is often regarded as one of the greatest poets in British history. George Gordon Byron was born on January 22, 1788 to Captain John “Mad Jack” Byron and his second wife, Catherine Gordon. At the age of 10, he inherited the English Barony of Byron of Rochdale after the death of his great… Read the full story

Today we remember legendary director Cecil B. DeMille, who died on this day 60 years ago. A director and producer of both silent and sound films, DeMille was known for his often lavish and epic motion pictures. He was born on August 12, 1881 in Ashfield, Massachusetts. His family was very much involved in theater; his father was a playwright and his mother ran an acting workshop. During the early days of film, DeMille was a dominant figure, directing… Read the full story

Today we remember actor Cary Grant, who was born on this day 115 years ago. The legendary actor was born Archibald Alexander Leach on January 18, 1904 in Bristol, England. He had an unhappy childhood and at the age of 13, left home to perform as a juggler in a comedy and acrobatic troupe. After coming to the United States, Grant began performing in vaudeville shows. In 1932, he signed a contract with Paramount Pictures and changed his name to… Read the full story

Happy birthday, Betty White! Today the beloved actress turns 97! Betty White was born on January 17, 1922 in Oak Park, Illinois. During the Great Depression, her family moved to California. Shortly after graduating from high school in 1939, White made her TV debut in an experimental television show in Los Angeles. In the early 1950s, White became one of the first female producers in Hollywood when she launched her first television series, Life with Elizabeth. Throughout the 1960s,… Read the full story

On this day in 1942, actress Carole Lombard died in a plane crash at the age of 33. At the time of the tragic accident, Lombard was returning home from a World War II war bond tour. Lombard was born Janice Alice Peters on October 6, 1908 in Fort Wayne, Indiana. At the age of 12, she landed her first on screen role in the silent film, A Perfect Crime. By 16, she had signed her first studio… Read the full story

On January 15, 1919, one of the strangest disasters in history occurred in Boston, Massachusetts when 2.3 million gallons of molasses poured down the streets of Boston, killing 21 people. The tragedy became known as the Boston Molasses Disaster or the Great Boston Molasses Flood. The Boston Daily Globe, January 16, 1919 / MyHeritage SuperSearch The disaster occurred at the Purity Distilling Company facility in the North End neighborhood of Boston. During this time, molasses was… Read the full story

The beginning of a new year is the perfect time to sit down and layout what you want to accomplish in your family history research this year. If you’re having trouble figuring out where to start, here are some genealogy research goals you may want to keep in mind for 2019. 1. Create research plans This year strive to create a research plan before jumping into your tree. With a specific focus in mind, you will be able to better… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Nicolas Cage! Today the actor turns 55. The versatile actor was born Nicolas Kim Coppola on January 7, 1964 in Long Beach, California. His father, August Coppola, was a literature professor and his mother, Joy Vogelsang, was a dancer and choreographer. By the age of 15, Cage had discovered his love for acting. Wanting to distance himself from his famous uncle, director Francis Ford Coppola, he changed his surname to “Cage” after the comic book… Read the full story

On this day in 1886, actress Florence Lawrence was born. Often referred to as “The First Movie Star,” Lawrence holds a unique place in film history as the first actress to have her name used to promote her films. Lawrence was born Florence Annie Bridgewood on January 2, 1886 in Ontario, Canada. Her father. George Bridgewood, was a carriage builder while her mother, Charlotte “Lotta” Dunn, was a vaudeville actress and director of the Lawrence Dramatic Company…. Read the full story