2019

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 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

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

“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

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

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

Happy birthday to Cher! Today the music legend turns 77. Image: Cher / Wikimedia Commons Cher was born Cherilyn Sarkisian in El Centro, California on May 20, 1946 to John Sarkisian and Georgia Holt. From a young age, Cher knew she wanted to become famous. At 16, she dropped out of school and moved to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career. Cher first rose to fame as part of a music duo alongside her husband,… Read the full story

We’re back from St. Charles, Missouri, where we attended the National Genealogical Society 2019 Family History Conference. A total of 2,324 people were in attendance for this fun and informative gathering of genealogists and family history buffs. Doors to the exhibit hall A number of events were lined up throughout the conference including a wide array of sessions for all skill levels. Several sessions were even live streamed for those who couldn’t be there in person. The… Read the full story

If you missed Geni General Manager Mike Stangel’s webinar, “Advanced Features on Geni.com,” on Legacy Family Tree Webinars, you can now watch it online for free! In the webinar, Mike gives an overview of some of the more advanced features on Geni. If you are just getting started on your tree or if you are a longtime Geni user, you’ll find this webinar quite informative. Watch to learn more about how our new GEDCOM importer works, how to… Read the full story

On May 14, 1804, explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark left St. Louis, Missouri to begin their historic expedition to explore the lands of the American Northwest. Meriwether Lewis / Library of Congress President Thomas Jefferson commissioned the expedition after the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. Lewis and Clark were given the mission to explore the newly acquired territory, establish an American presence in the area, and find a practical route to the west. Along the way, they were to also… Read the full story

Join Geni’s General Manager Mike Stangel for a free webinar, “Advanced Features on Geni.com” with Legacy Family Tree Webinars on Tuesday, May 14, 2019. Take a deep dive into some of Geni’s more advanced features to grow and connect your family tree to the World Family Tree of over 130 million profiles. Learn about GEDCOM imports, merging duplicates, managing profiles, uploading images and documents, and much more. The live webinar will take place Tuesday, May… Read the full story

Today we remember actress and singer Doris Day, who passed away at the age of 97. Doris Day / Wikimedia Commons She was born Doris Mary Ann Kappelhoff on April 3, 1922 in Cincinnati, Ohio to Alma Weiz and William Joseph Kappelhoff. After a car accident derailed her hope of becoming a professional dancer, Day turned to singing. She gained popularity on radio and sang with several big bands, In addition to her successful singing career, Day was one of Hollywood’s most… Read the full story

Happy birthday to George Clooney! Today the star turns 58. George Clooney / Ed Van-West Garcia, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0) Clooney was born on May 6, 1961 in Lexington, Kentucky to Nina Warren, a former city councilwoman, and Nick Clooney, an anchorman and television host. His aunt was singer and actress Rosemary Clooney. With a family in the entertainment business, it was no surprise that Clooney would also catch the acting bug. After getting his start… Read the full story

This week Geni is heading to St. Charles, Missouri for the National Genealogical Society 2019 Family History Conference. The conference will take place May 8-11 at the St. Charles Convention Center. Come visit Geni in the exhibit hall at booth #506 and learn more about what’s new in the World Family Tree. The exhibit hall is free and open to the public, so if you’re in the area, feel free to stop by and say hi! Pick… Read the full story

Do you remember the first time you found out you were related to a famous historical figure or celebrity? Filmmaker Erik Anderson recently created the short film “Charlemagne” after learning he was a direct descendant of the Holy Roman Emperor. The film is a humorous take on one man’s reaction to discovering his connection to Charlemagne thanks to Geni’s World Family Tree. We took a little time to get to know a little more about Erik and how… Read the full story

On May 2, 1729, Russian Empress Catherine II was born. Also known as Catherine the Great, her long reign came to be known as the Golden Age of Russia. Catherine II / British Library, Flickr Although she would become the country’s longest-ruling female leader, Catherine was not Russian by birth. She was born Sophie Friederike Auguste von Anhalt-Zerbst in Stettin, then a part of Prussia. Her father was a minor Prussia prince and served as a general… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Gal Gadot! Today the Wonder Woman star turns 34. Gal Gadot / Gage Skidmore, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0) Gadot was born on April 30, 1985 in Petah Tikva, Israel. At the age of 18, she was crowned Miss Israel and went on to compete in the Miss Universe 2004 pageant in Ecuador. Although she did not win, the experience helped launch her career as a model. After completing her two mandatory years of military… Read the full story

Today we remember Italian inventor Guglielmo Marconi on what would have been his 145th birthday. A pioneer of wireless communication, Marconi is often credited as the father of long distance radio transmission. Guglielmo Marconi / Library of Congress Marconi as born on April 25, 1874 in Bologna, Italy to Giuseppe Marconi, a wealthy Italian landowner, and Annie Jameson, the granddaughter of John Jameson, the founder of the Jameson Irish Whisky Company. Growing up, Marconi was taught by… Read the full story

Geni’s World Family Tree currently connects over 130 million profiles from all over the world and enables people of all nationalities and cultures to work together to discover and preserve their shared ancestry. In order to better facilitate the collaboration between a multilingual community, we introduced the support of multilingual  profiles on Geni. This feature is perfect for when an individual is known by different names in multiple languages. Recently GeneaVlogger and Geni curator Jarrett Ross released a new video tutorial on how… Read the full story

On this day in 1451, Isabella I of Castile was born. Her marriage to Ferdinand II of Aragon brought stability to the kingdoms of the region and paved the way for the unification of Spain under their grandson, Charles V. Isabella I of Castile / Wikimedia Commons Isabella I was the daughter of John II of Castile and his second wife, Isabella of Portugal. At the time of her birth, her half-brother, Henry IV of… Read the full story

Are you planning for your next family reunion? The warm weather and breaks from school makes summer the perfect time to throw a family get-together. And before you know it, summer will be here so It’s important to get started early. With lots of planning and a little creativity, you can make it a reunion that your family will not soon forget. Check out these quick tips to help you get organized for your next family reunion. 1. Gather your team Family reunions… Read the full story

On this day in 1867, aviator Wilbur Wright was born. A pioneer in aviation, Wright and his brother Orville, are best remembered for developing the first successful airplane. Wilbur Wright / Library of Congress Wright was born on April 16, 1867 near Millville, Indiana to Milton Wright, a Bishop in the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, and Susan Koerner. The third of seven children, Wright and his brother developed a fascination for aviation at an early age… Read the full story

We’re back from NERGC 2019 in Manchester, New Hampshire. This was a great opportunity to meet Geni users and connect with new members who were eager to learn more about collaboration and the World Family Tree. The conference offered many workshops, sessions, and special events for genealogists and family history enthusiasts of all experience levels. The Geni booth before the start of the conference The exhibit hall was free and open to the public and everyone was encouraged… Read the full story

On this day in 1865, Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered his army to Union General Ulysses S. Grant, effectively bringing an end to the American Civil War. Lee served as Confederate President Jefferson Davis’s senior military adviser during the first year of the Civl War. Once he took command of the main field army, the Army of Northern Virginia, Lee led the Confederate forces to many early victories on the battlefield. However, his defeat at the Battle… Read the full story

Happy birthday Robert Downey, Jr.! Today the Iron Man star turns 54. He was born on April 4, 1965 in New York City, New York to Robert Downey Sr., an avant-garde filmmaker, and Elsie Ford, an actress. Downey made his screen debut at the age of 5 as a puppy in his father’s film, Pound. Although his career soared during the 1980’s and early 1990’s, his personal struggles with addiction became a constant focus of headlines. In… Read the full story

What’s your favorite fairy tale? On this day in 1805, Danish author Hans Christian Andersen was born. Andersen was born on April 2, 1805 in Odense, Denmark to Hans Andersen, Sr. and Anne Marie Andersdatter. He first developed an interest in literature from his father, who would entertain him with stories from the Arabian Nights. At the age of 14, Andersen left school to pursue a career as an actor in Copenhagen. After being accepted to the Royal Danish Theater,… Read the full story

While at RootsTech 2019 in Salt Lake City, Utah, GeneaVlogger and Geni Curator Jarrett Ross took some time to interview Geni’s General Manager Mike Stangel at the Geni booth. Jarrett and Mike at the Geni booth at RootsTech See our Highlights from RootsTech 2019 During their discussion, they talked about the history of Geni’s World Family Tree and our acquisition by MyHeritage in 2012. Mike also talked about the recent release of our new and improved GEDCOM importer and shared what new features… Read the full story

Next week Geni is heading to Manchester, New Hampshire for the 15th New England Regional Genealogical Conference. NERGC 2019 will take place April 3-6 at the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel. The conference will offer presentations, workshops, and fun events, such as the Ancestors Road Show and Society Fair. The exhibit hall will be free and open to the public. If you are planning to attend or are in the area, come visit the Geni booth (105/107). We’re happy to hear your family stories… Read the full story

On this day in 1625, Charles I ascended to the throne and became king of England, Scotland, and Ireland after the death of his father King James VI and I. Charles was born on November 19, 1600 in Dunfermline Palace in Fife, Scotland. The second son of James IV and I and Anne of Denmark, Charles became the heir apparent after his older brother, Henry, died of typhoid fever in 1612. On March 25, 1625, Charles became king… Read the full story

On this day in 1828, Norwegian playwright and poet Henrik Ibsen was born. Ibsen was the oldest of five children born to Knud Ibsen and Marichen Altenburg in the small costal town of Skien in Telemark County, Norway. His maternal grandfather, Johan Andreas Altenburg was a wealthy merchant and shipowner in Skien. Although they were once a wealthy merchant family, by the time Ibsen was 8, they had been thrown into poverty. At the age of 15,… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Glenn Close! Today the star turns 72. The versatile actress was born on March 19, 1947 in Greenwich, Connecticut. Her father was a prominent doctor and opened a clinic in the Belgian Congo. He also served as the personal physician of Mobutu Sese Seko, the President of Zaire. After graduating with a degree in drama from the College of William and Mary, Close made her Broadway debut in 1974’s Love for Love. As her success in theater grew,… Read the full story

On this day in 1937, writer H.P. Lovecraft died at the age of 46. Today, Lovecraft is remembered as one of the most significant writers of horror fiction. He was born Howard Phillips Lovecraft on August 20, 1890 in Providence, Rhode Island. When Lovecraft was 3, his father was committed to a psychiatric facility and remained there until his death in 1898. An only child, Lovecraft became an avid reader and developed a keen interest in science… Read the full story