2019

On this day in 1847, American outlaw Jesse James was born. The leader of the infamous James-Younger Gang, James is remembered to day as one of the most iconic figures of the American Old West. Image: Jesse James / Library of Congress James was born on September 5, 1847 in Clay County, Missouri to Robert James, a Baptist minister, and Zerelda Elizabeth Cole. When he was young, his father left the family to journey west to preach… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Beyoncé! Today the music superstar turns 38. Image: Beyoncé / Jen Keys, Wikimedia Commons Beyoncé Giselle Knowles on September 4, 1981 in Houston, Texas to Matthew and Celestine “Tina” Knowles. Her first name is a tribute to her mother’s maiden name, Beyincé. Her maternal grandparents were French-speaking Louisiana Creoles and it is through her mother’s branch of the family that she descends from Joseph Broussard, who led the first group of Acadians to what is today Louisiana. Broussard… Read the full story

MyHeritage LIVE 2019 is only a few days away! We’re excited to have the opportunity to participate in MyHeritage’s 2nd annual user conference, which will be held in Amsterdam in the Netherlands from September 6-8, 2019. This one-of-a-kind conference is the perfect place to get to know the MyHeritage and Geni teams in person. Attendees will have the opportunity to hear directly from MyHeritage Founder and CEO Gilad Japhet and Geni’s General Manager Mike Stangel, who will be giving a presentation… Read the full story

Today we remember American poet E.E. Cummings, who passed away on this day in 1962 at the age of 67. A prolific writer, Cummings is often regarded as one of the most important American poets of the 20th century. Image: E.E. Cummings / Library of Congress He was born Edward Estlin Cummings on October 14, 1894 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. His father, Edward Cmmings, was a professor and Unitarian minister. From a young age, Cummings began writing… Read the full story

Geni’s World Family Tree has grown to over 135 million profiles thanks to the hard work and collaboration of millions of users and our team of Geni curators. In his latest video, GeneaVlogger and curator Jarrett Ross gives a quick overview on the role of curators on Geni and the important role they play in maintaining the integrity of the World Family Tree. Geni curators are volunteer Geni users who have been granted special privileges by Geni to… Read the full story

We’re back from Washington, D.C., where Geni attended the Federation of Genealogical Society 2019 Family History Conference. The conference brought together many local family history groups as well as visitors from all around the country to learn from the many informative class sessions ranging from beginning genealogy topics to advanced sessions to take your genealogy research even further. Geni had a booth in the exhibit hall of the historic Omni Shoreham Hotel where we were happy to… Read the full story

On this day in 1632, English philosopher John Locke was born. Regarded as one of the most influential thinkers of the Enlightenment, Locke’s work formed the foundation of modern philosophical empiricism and political liberalism. Image: John Locke / Library of Congress Locke was born on August 29, 1632 in Wrington, Somerset, England to John Locke, a lawyer, and Agnese Keene. His father served as a captain during the English Civil War. After completing his studies… Read the full story

On this day in 1814, Irish horror writer Sheridan Le Fanu was born. Considered to be the leading ghost story writer of the 19th century, Le Fanu’s works played a significant role in shaping the genre during the Victorian era. Image: Sheridan Le Fanu / Wikimedia Commons Le Fanu was born Joseph Thomas Sheridan Le Fanu on August 28, 1814 in Dublin, Ireland. He was born into a literary family with many writers and playwrights, including his great… Read the full story

On this day in 1908, Lyndon B. Johnson was born. Elected as Vice President in 1960, Johnson was sworn in as the 36th President of the United States upon the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in 1963. Image: Lyndon B. Johnson / U.S. National Archives and Records Administration Lyndon Baines Johnson was born in a small farmhouse on August 27, 1908 near Johnson City, Texas. He was the first of five children born to Samuel Ealy… Read the full story

On this day in 1819, Prince Albert, the husband of Queen Victoria, was born in Schloss Rosenau, Germany. Image: Albert, Prince Consort / Library of Congress Born Albert Francis Charles Augustus Emmanuel of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, the Prince was the second son of Ernest I, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, and his first wife, Louise of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg. In 1840, he married his first cousin, Queen Victoria, who had inherited the English throne just a few years earlier at the… Read the full story

Are you related to the U.S. President? On this day in 1833, Benjamin Harrison, the 23rd President of the United States was born. Image: Library of Congress Harrison was born to a prominent political family. His paternal grandfather was William Henry Harrison, the 9th President of the United States. Harrison was only 7 years old when his grandfather was elected president. Unfortunately, his grandfather would only serve for 31 days before dying of pneumonia. His great grandfather,… Read the full story

Next week Geni is heading to Washington, D.C. for the Federation of Genealogical Societies 2019 Family History Conference. The conference will take place August 21-24 at the historic Omni Shoreham Hotel. Fun fact: the hotel was the site of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s first Inaugural Ball in 1933. Come visit Geni in the exhibit hall at booth #406 for your chance to talk with members of the Geni team. If you have any questions or simply want to try… Read the full story

On this day in 1860, sharpshooter Annie Oakley was born. Known for her incredible marksmanship, Oakley became an international star as a performer in Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show. Image: Annie Oakley / Library of Congress Oakley was born Phoebe Ann Mosey on August 13, 1860 in a log cabin in Darke County, Ohio. She was the fifth of seven surviving children born to Jacob Mosey and Susan Wise. Oakley began shooting at the age of 8 and… Read the full story

We’re back from Cleveland, Ohio where we attended the 39th IAJGS International Conference on Jewish Genealogy. It was a blast to meet other Geni users, spend time with our great team of Geni curators, and connect with old friends. The Geni booth was packed with people on the opening day of the exhibit hall and the SHARE Fair. Many people stopped by to learn how to get started on Geni and connect to the World… Read the full story

Today we remember American novelist Toni Morrison, who has passed away at the age of 88. Known for her rich depiction of the black experience in America, Morrison became the first African American woman to be awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1993. Image: Toni Morrison / Angela Radulescu, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0) She was born Chloe Ardelia Wofford on February 18, 1931 in Lorain, Ohio to George Wofford and Ella Ramah Willis. She was… Read the full story

Happy birthday to author J.K. Rowling! Image: J.K. Rowling / Daniel Ogren, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0) Joanne Rowling was born on July 31, 1965 in Yale, England to Peter James Rowling, a Rolls-Royce aircraft engineer, and Anne Volant, a science technician. Her great grandfather, Louis Volant was a French soldier in World War I. He was awarded the Croix de Guerre for exceptional bravery in defending the village of Courcelles-le-Comte. A single mother at… Read the full story

The 39th IAJGS International Conference on Jewish Genealogy is coming up soon! The conference will take place July 28 – August 2 in Cleveland, Ohio. Come visit Geni in the exhibit hall, July 28-31, to say hi and to ask any questions. We’ll be offering an exclusive conference discount on Geni Pro subscriptions that you wont want to miss! If you’re not ready to upgrade but would like the opportunity to try out some of our premium… Read the full story

Today we remember pioneer aviator Amelia Earhart on her 122nd birthday. Image: Amelia Earhart / San Diego Air and Space Museum Archive Amelia Mary Earhart was born on July 24, 1897 in Atchison, Kansas. She was named after her two grandmothers, Amelia Josephine Otis and Mary Wells Earhart. From a young age, Amelia had an adventurist spirit. After Charles Lindbergh’s solo flight across the Atlantic, she knew she wanted to be the first woman to do the same…. Read the full story

Happy birthday to Daniel Radcliffe! Today the Harry Potter star turns 30. Image: Daniel Radcliffe / Gage Skidmore, (CC BY-SA 2.0) Radcliffe was born on July 23, 1989 in London England to Alan George Radcliffe, a literary agent, and Marcia Jeannine Jacobson, a casting agent. Before he landed the role of a lifetime as Harry Potter, Radcliffe made his acting debut at the age of 10 in the BBC’s adaptation of Charles Dickens’ novel David Copperfield…. Read the full story

Happy birthday, Benedict Cumberbatch! Today the star turns 43. Image: Benedict Cumberbatch / Gage Skidmore, Wikimedia Commons, (CC BY-SA 2.0) Cumberbatch was born on July 19, 1976 in London, England to actors Timothy Carlton and Wanda Ventham. From a young age, Cumberbatch took an interest in acting and eventually went on to study drama at the University of Manchester and earn a Master’s degree in classical acting from the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. Cumberbatch rose… Read the full story

Legendary astronaut John Glenn was born on July 18, 1921 in Cambridge, Ohio. Glenn made history when he became the first American to orbit the Earth in 1962. Image: John Glenn / NASA John Hershel Glenn, Jr. was the son of John Hershel Glenn, Sr., owner of a plumbing business, and Clara Teresa Sproat, a teacher. In 1943, Glenn married his high school sweetheart, Anna Castor. The couple met as toddlers and were married for 73 years… Read the full story

On this day in 1955, Walt Disney opened Disneyland for the first time in Anaheim, California. Image: Walt Disney / U.S. National Archives and Records Administration After visiting various amusement parks with his daughters, Disney was inspired to build his own theme park where adults and children could enjoy rides and attractions together. The construction of Disneyland began on July 16, 1954 and would cost $17 million to complete. One year later on July 17, 1955,… Read the full story

Today we celebrate Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen on what would have been his 147th birthday. Image: Roald Amundsen / National Library of Norway, Flickr He was born on July 16, 1872 in Borge, Norway to Jens Amundsen, a successful sea captain, and Hanna Sahlquist. Although he came from a family of ship builders and captains, his mother hoped he would pursue a career in medicine instead. However, after her death in 1893, Amundsen chose to quit school… Read the full story

Since releasing our new enhancements to Geni relationship paths, users have been having a blast finding new and surprising connections in the World Family Tree. Now Geni will find the shortest blood path and the shortest in-law path between two individuals, if either can be found. Here’s some of the great feedback we’ve heard so far: “My heroes! Been praying someone would develop an app that could do this!” – Debbie G. “Oh my goodness. This… Read the full story

On this day in 1817, American essayist and poet Henry David Thoreau was born. Image: Henry David Thoreau / Wikimedia Commons He was born David Henry Thoreau on July 12, 1817 in Concord, Massachusetts to John Thoreau, a pencil maker, and Cynthia Dunbar. He was named after his recently deceased paternal uncle. It was not until after finishing school that he began to call himself “Henry David.” It was after college that he was encouraged… Read the full story

On this day in 1819, American inventor Elias Howe was born. Remembered for patenting the first practical sewing machine, Howe’s invention revolutionized the manufacturing of garments. Image: Elias Howe / Wikimedia Commons Howe was born on July 9, 1819 in Spencer, Massachusetts to Dr. Elias Howe, Sr. and Polly Bemis. At 16, Howe began an apprenticeship in a textile factory. However, the Panic of 1837 cost Howe his job. He later began working at a machinist’s shop, where… Read the full story

Happy birthday, Tom Cruise! Today the star turns 57. Image: Tom Cruise / Gage Skidmore, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0) The popular movie star was born Thomas Cruise Mapother, IV on July 3, 1962 in Syracuse, New York. After making notable appearances in the films Taps  and The Outsiders, Cruise went on to star in two highly successful films Risky Business and Top Gun, cementing his status as a major Hollywood superstar. Since then, Cruise has headlined numerous… Read the full story

We are very excited to announce multiple relationship paths on Geni! Now when relationship paths are calculated between individuals, you will see a blood path and an in-law path, if either can be found. One of the most fun aspects of being connected to the World Family Tree is the ability to see how you are related to anyone else also connected to the tree. Before, Geni would calculate the shortest relationship between the profile… Read the full story

“There is no king who has not had a slave among his ancestors, and no slave who has not had a king among his.” Today we remember Helen Keller, who was born on June 27, 1880 in Tuscumbia, Alabama. Helen Keller / Library of Congress Struck blind and deaf before the age of two, Keller had very limited means of communication. Her family was referred to Alexander Graham Bell, who recommended they travel to the… Read the full story

On this day in 1892, author Pearl S. Buck was born. In 1938, Buck became the first American woman to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature. Pearl Buck / Library of Congress Buck was born Pearl Sydenstricker in Hillsboro, West Virginia on June 26, 1892 to Southern Presbyterian missionaries, Absalom and Caroline Sydenstricker. When Buck was 5 months old, the family moved to China, where she would live for much of her life. In 1931, Buck published… Read the full story

MyHeritage has released the full schedule for MyHeritage LIVE 2019 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The second annual MyHeritage user conference will take place September 6-8, 2019. Attendees will have the opportunity to choose from three tracks: Genealogy, DNA, and hands-on workshops. The conference has a full line-up of international speakers and local experts as well as several MyHeritage staff members, including MyHeritage Founder and CEO Gilad Japhet. See the full MyHeritage LIVE 2019 schedule Geni’s General Manager, Mike… Read the full story

Today we remember singer George Michael on what would have been his 56th birthday. Image: Courtesy of Special Collections, University of Houston Libraries Michael was born Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou on June 25, 1963 in London, England. His father, Kyriacos Panayiotou, was a Greek Cypriot restauranteur and his mother, Lesley Angold Harrison, was an English dancer. From an early age, Michael had a passion for music. He met future Wham! partner Andrew Ridgeley as a teen in school… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Lionel Richie! Today the popular singer turns 70. Lionel Richie / U.S. State Department Richie was born on June 20, 1949 in Tuskegee, Alabama. He spent much of his childhood growing up on the campus of the Tuskegee Institute, where two generations of his family worked. In fact, his grandfather worked with the famous founder and educator, Booker T. Washington, at the university. Music was a part of Richie’s life from a young age. His grandmother was… Read the full story

Are you a baseball fan? On this day in 1903, baseball legend Lou Gehrig was born in Yorkville, New York. Lou Gehrig / Library of Congress Henry Louis Gehrig was the second of four children born to German immigrant parents. The only child to survive infancy, Gehrig grew up in poverty but showed an aptitude for academics and sports. He attended Columbia University on a football scholarship and studied engineering. In 1923, Gehrig signed with the New… Read the full story

On this day in 1983, astronaut Sally Ride became the first American woman in space aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger for NASA’s 7th space shuttle mission. Sally Ride / U.S. National Archives and Records Administration Ride was born on May 26, 1951 to Dale Burdell Ride and Carol Joyce Anderson in Encino, California. Her path to NASA began when she responded to an advertisement in the Stanford student newspaper for NASA’s Astronaut Group 8. It would be the first time… Read the full story

On June 14, the United States celebrates Flag Day in commemoration of the adoption of the U.S. flag. In honor of Flag Day, here are some interesting facts about the Stars and Stripes. 1. On June 14, 1777, the Second Continental Congress passed a resolution to adopt the official flag of the United States, which had 13 alternating red and white stripes and 13 stars in a blue field. That same day, the Continental Congress also established the Continental Army…. Read the full story

Do you have Irish ancestors? On this day in 1865, Irish poet W.B. Yeats was born in Dublin, Ireland. W.B. Yeats / Library of Congress William Butler Yeats was the son of John Butler Yeats, a lawyer and portrait painter, and Susan Mary Pollexfen, whose wealthy merchant family owned a milling and shipping business. His father was not the only artist of the family. His brother Jack became a well-known artist and Olympic medalist, while his… Read the full story

“Where there’s hope, there’s life. It fills us with fresh courage and makes us strong again.” – Anne Frank Ninety years ago today, Anne Frank was born in Frankfurt, Germany to Edith Holländer Frank and Otto Frank, a businessman. By 1934, the family had moved to Amsterdam after the Nazi party came to power in Germany. Image: Wikimedia Commons For her 13th birthday, Anne was given a diary and immediately began writing in it. Shortly after, her older sister,… Read the full story

Do you remember watching Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory? On this day in 1933, actor Gene Wilder was born. Image: Gene Wilder / Nationaal Archief, CC0 Wilder was born Jerome Silberman on June 11, 1933 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He first gained an interest in acting after his mother was diagnosed with rheumatic fever. The doctor had told the 8-year-old Wilder that he should try to make his mother laugh. By the age of 13, he began studying acting… Read the full story

Today Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, celebrates his 98th birthday! Image: Nationaal Archief Prince Philip was born on June 10, 1921 in Mon Repos on the Greek Island of Corfu. He was the only son and fifth child born to Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark and Princess Alice of Battenberg. Through his maternal grandmother, Philip is a direct descendant of Queen Victoria, who is his second great grandmother. As an infant, his family was banished from Greece after… Read the full story

We had a great time at the Southern California Genealogical Society’s 50th Genealogy Jamboree. The annual conference is a favorite for us because it is located right in our own backyard in Burbank, California. The Geni booth before the start of the conference Many genealogists flocked to the Los Angeles Marriott Burbank Airport Hotel to participate in this fun and engaging conference. The exhibit hall was open to the public, so even those who didn’t… Read the full story

On this day in 1599, Spanish painter Diego Velázquez was born. Today Velázquez is remembered as one of the most important Spanish painters of the 17th century. Diego Velázquez / Wikimedia Commons He was born Diego Rodríguez de Silva y Velázquez in Seville, Spain to João Rodrigues de Silva and Jerónima Velázquez. His paternal grandparents were from Portugal and were possibly Jewish coversos. At the age of 12, Velázquez apprenticed under the painter Francisco Pacheco. After completing… Read the full story

On this day in 1968, Robert F. Kennedy was shot three times at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles. Kennedy died of his wounds the following day. Robert F. Kennedy / Nationaal Archief, CC0 He was born Robert Francis Kennedy on November 20, 1925 to Joseph Kennedy, Sr. and Rose Fitzgerald in Brookline, Massachusetts. The seventh child of the prominent Kennedy clan, Kennedy grew up in a close but competitive environment. In 1950, he married Ethel Skakel and together… Read the full story

Have you found your connection to royalty? On this day in 1738, King George III was born. He ruled for over 59 years until his death in 1820. King George III / Library of Congress Born two months prematurely, George was not expected to survive. He was the eldest son born to Frederick, Prince of Wales, and Princess Augusta of Saxe-Gotha. When his father unexpectedly died in 1751, the young George became the heir apparent to the… Read the full story

Today marks the 200th birthday of American poet Walt Whitman! Considered to be one of the most influential poets in American literature, Whitman is often called the “father of free verse.” Walt Whitman /  Library of Congress Whitman was born on May 31, 1819 in West Hills, New York and was the second of nine children. By the age of 11, he had left school and began working to help support his family. He learned the… Read the full story

On this day in 1431, Joan of Arc was burned at the stake for heresy by an English tribunal. Joan of Arc / Wikimedia Commons A peasant girl from France, Joan of Arc was the daughter of poor tenant farmers Jacques d’ Arc and Isabelle Romée. At the age of 16, she claimed to hear the voices of the Archangel Michael, Saint Margaret, and Saint Catherine of Alexandria, which told her to help Charles VII recapture… Read the full story

Do you remember laughing at the comedic genius of Bob Hope? Hope was born on this day 116 years ago. Bob Hope / State Library of New South Wales, Flickr He was born Leslie Townes Hope on May 29, 1903 in Eltham, England. With a career spanning over 60 years, Hope conquered almost every entertainment medium, including vaudeville, radio, stage, and television. He appeared in over 70 films and shorts, authored numerous books and hosted the Academy… Read the full story

Next week Geni will be heading to the Southern California Genealogical Society’s Genealogy Jamboree in Burbank, California. This year is extra special because Jamboree is also celebrating their 50th birthday! The conference has grown into four great events, Jamboree, Genetic Genealogy, JamboFree, and Workshops, with the exhibit hall open May 31 – June 2 at the Los Angeles Marriott Burbank Airport Hotel. The exhibit hall will be free to the public, so if you’re in the area, feel free to stop by… Read the full story

On this day in 1907, legendary actor Laurence Olivier was born. Laurence Olivier / Library of Congress Olivier was born on May 22, 1907 in Dorking, Surry, England to Gerard Kerr Olivier, a reverend, and Agnes Louise Crookenden. Although he came from a family of clergymen, Olivier was encouraged from a young age to pursue a career in acting. A prominent figure on both the stage and screen, Olivier became known for bringing the plays of William Shakespeare… Read the full story

Remember the tongue twister, “She sells seashells on the seashore?” On this day 220 years ago, Mary Anning, the English fossil collector and pioneering paleontologist who inspired the tongue twister, was born. Mary Anning / Wikimedia Commons Anning grew up in the coastal town of Lyme Regis in Dorset, England. Her father, Richard Anning, was a cabinetmaker and supplemented his income by selling curiosities found along the coastal cliffside near the town to tourists. After… Read the full story