2020

Happy birthday to Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall! Today the Duchess turns 73. She was born Camilla Rosemary Shand on July 17, 1947 at King’s College Hospital in London. She was the eldest of three children born to Bruce Shand, an officer in the British Army, and Rosalind Cubitt. Although her relationship with Prince Charles was once thought to be highly controversial, the couple was finally married in a civil ceremony in 2005 with the permission… Read the full story

Each year on July 4, the United States celebrates Independence Day in commemoration of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. Drafted by Thomas Jefferson, the document declared the freedom and independence of the 13 American colonies from the rule of the British Empire’s King George III. Have some fun this Independence Day by incorporating your passion for genealogy with your 4th of July celebrations! Thanks to Geni’s World Family Tree, you can see how… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Tom Cruise! Today the actor turns 58. Image: Tom Cruise / Gage Skidmore, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0) Tom Cruise was born Thomas Cruise Mapother IV on July 3, 1962 in Syracuse, New York. When he was young, Cruise had considered becoming a priest, however, he left after a year in seminary school. He was encouraged to join the drama department in high school and caught the bug for acting. After making… Read the full story

Today we remember comedy legend Carl Reiner, who has passed away at the age of 98. With a career that spanned seven decades, Reiner was not only a gifted comedic performer, but also a talented writer, director, and producer. Image: Carl Reiner / Wikimedia Commons Reiner was born on March 20, 1922 in the Bronx in New York City, New York to Irving Reiner, a watchmaker, and Bessie Mathias. From a young age, Reiner wanted… Read the full story

Today we remember actress Katharine Hepburn, who passed away on this day in 2003 at the age of 96. Image: Katharine Hepburn / Wikimedia Commons Katharine Houghton Hepburn was born on May 12, 1907 in Hartford, Connecticut. The second of six children, Hepburn grew up in a very progressive household. Her father, Thomas Norval Hepburn, was a successful urologist who sought to educate the public about venereal diseases. Her mother, Katharine Martha Houghton, was the head… Read the full story

This Father’s Day, we asked you to share with us your favorite memory of your dad or a father figure in your life for the chance to win a free 1-year subscription of Geni Pro. Today we want to congratulate Meli Alexander, the winner of our Father’s Day giveaway! Meli sent in her story of an epic water fight with her dad and cousin: My favorite Father’s Day memory was many years in the Bronx… Read the full story

Today we remember chef, author, and television personality Anthony Bourdain on what would have been his 64th birthday. Image: Anthony Bourdain / Peabody Awards, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0) Bourdain was born on June 25, 1956 in New York City, New York to Pierre Bourdain, a music executive, and Gladys Sacksman, a copy editor. Bourdain began his culinary career as a teen working as a dishwasher. He attended Vassar College for two years before dropping… Read the full story

Do you remember reading All Quiet on the Western Front? On this day in 1898, German author Erich Maria Remarque was born. Remarque is best known for his many works illustrating the realities and horrors of war. Image: Erich Maria Remarque / Nationaal Archief, Wikimedia Commons During World War I, Remarque was conscripted into the German Army at the age of 18. He fought on the Western Front and suffered several wounds durning battle. His experiences in the… Read the full story

Did you watch the Three Stooges? Today we remember Moe Howard, the de facto leader of the comedy trio, who was born on this day in 1897. Image: Wikimedia Commons Howard was born Moses Harry Horwitz on June 19, 1897 in Brooklyn, New York. He was the fourth of five sons born to Solomon Horwitz and Jennie Gorovitz, both of Lithuanian Jewish ancestry. From a young age, Howard developed an interest in performing. Eventually, Howard… Read the full story

With Father’s Day just a few days away, we thought it would be fun to offer yet another opportunity to win a free year of Geni Pro. Celebrate this Father’s Day by sending us your favorite memory of your dad or a father-figure in your life for a chance to win! Did you have a memorable fishing trip? How about a special memory of your dad walking you down the aisle? We want to hear… Read the full story

“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” – Anne Frank Today we remember Anne Frank, who was born June 12, 1929 in Frankfurt, Germany. Image: Anne Frank / Wikimedia Commons During World War II, her family went into hiding to escape the Nazis. While in hiding, Anne kept a diary of her thoughts, desires and experiences. For two years, the family lived in secret with… Read the full story

Today we remember actor Gene Wilder, who was born on this day in 1933. Image: Gene Wilder / Library of Congress Wilder was born Jerome Silberman on June 11, 1933 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He was the son of William J. Silberman, a Russian Jewish immigrant and a salesman, and Jeanne Baer. When his mother was diagnosed with rheumatic fever, an 8-year-old Wilder was told by her doctor to try to make her laugh. This point… Read the full story

Do you have Russian ancestry? On this day in 1672, Peter the Great was born in Moscow, Russia. Image: Peter the Great / Wikimedia Commons Peter was the son of Tsar Alexis I and his second wife, Natalya Kirillovna Naryshkina. Unlike his older half-brothers, Peter had proven to be a healthy and inquisitive child. At the age of 10, he was named tsar of Russia and reigned jointly with his sickly half-brother Ivan V. After… Read the full story

Today marks the anniversary of the Allied invasion of Normandy. In honor of D-Day, we’re highlighting the Easy Company – Band of Brothers, a collaborative project dedicated to the Easy Company, 2nd Battalion of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division in the United States Army. Created in 1942, the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment was an experimental airborne regiment created to jump from C-47 transport planes into hostile territory. Operation Overlord Image:… Read the full story

Today we remember Robert F. Kennedy, who was shot after giving a speech at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, California on June 5, 1968. He would succumb to his wounds the next day. Image: Robert F. Kennedy / LBJ Library Robert Francis Kennedy was born on November 20, 1925 in Brookline, Massachusetts. He was the seventh child born to Joseph Kennedy, Sr. and Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy. After successfully managing his brother’s presidential campaign, Kennedy was… Read the full story

On this day in 1953, New Zealand mountaineer and explorer Edmund Hillary and Nepalese Sherpa Tenzing Norgay became the first climbers known to reach the summit of Mount Everest. Image: The Windsor Daily Star, July 3, 1953 / MyHeritage SuperSearch The duo reached the summit at 11:30am and spent 15 minutes atop the highest point on Earth. Hillary and Tenzing were a part of the ninth British expedition to Everest, led by John Hunt. Upon their… Read the full story

Do you have any gun-slingers in your family tree? On this day in 1837, legendary gunfighter Wild Bill Hickok was born in Troy Grove, Illinois. Born James Butler Hickok, “Wild Bill” was an excellent marksman from a very young age. His adventurous life was ripe for legendary status. During the American Civil War, he served as a civilian scout for the Union Army. Although no records exist, some believe he may have even served as a Union spy in… Read the full story

As we enter Memorial Day weekend, we take the time to remember the men and women who have died while serving in the country’s armed forces. Originally called Decoration Day, the tradition of the holiday was born after the Civil War. On Decoration Day, the graves of Civil War soldiers were decorated with flowers. However, after the devastation of World War I, the holiday was expanded to honor all soldiers who died during military service. Although several… Read the full story

On May 21, 1881, Clara Barton founded the American Red Cross in Washington, D.C. Image: Clara Barton / Library of Congress Barton became known as the “Angel of the Battlefield” during the American Civil War for her tireless work with the sick and wounded. She often risked her life to bring supplies and aid to soldiers in the field. At the end of the war, she ran the Office of Missing Soldiers to identify and… Read the full story

On this day in 1868, Nicholas II of Russia was born. Image: Nicholas II of Russia / Library of Congress Born Nikolai Alekasndrovich Romanov, Nicholas II was the eldest son Alexander III and Maria Feodorovna of Russia. He was related to several monarchs in Europe, including his first cousin King George V. In 1894, Nicholas II ascended to the Russian throne after the death of his father. During his reign, the Russian Empire fell from… Read the full story

To celebrate Mother’s Day, we asked the community to share their favorite memories of their mother or a mother-figure in their lives. From the submitted entries, one lucky winner would receive a free 1-year Geni Pro subscription. Today, we’re excited to congratulate Lynn Grieder, the winner of our Mother’s Day giveaway! Lynn shared this special memory she has of her mother, Ethel Martin neé Hukkala: In 2002 we took my Mom on a “roots” trip… Read the full story

Today marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of Florence Nightingale, a social reformer and the founder of modern nursing. A pioneer of her field, Nightingale’s work to improve sanitation, reform health care, and formalize nursing education helped pave the way for the important role of nurses in health care today. Image: Florence Nightingale / Library of Congress Nightingale was born on May 12, 1820 in Florence, Italy to an affluent family. From a young… Read the full story

Mother’s Day is just around the corner. Celebrate your mother or a mother-figure in your life by sharing with us your favorite memory that you have together. Send in your stories to us and you can win a free 1-year Geni Pro subscription! If it’s a day trip to the beach or a special dress your mother made for you, we want to hear your stories! And if you have a photo, feel free to… Read the full story

Playwright William Shakespeare died on April 23, 1616 in Straford-upon-Avon, England. Considered one of the greatest writers of the English language, Shakespeare’s body of work has been translated into every major language. Explore some fascinating facts about the Bard that you may not have known. 1. The exact date of his birth is unknown. Baptism of William Shakespeare / MyHeritage SuperSearch Shakespeare was the third of eight children born to John Shakespeare, an alderman and… Read the full story

Happy 94th birthday to Queen Elizabeth II! The Queen is not only Britain’s longest reigning monarch, but also the longest serving living monarch in the world today. Image: Queen Elizabeth II / NASA, Bill Ingalls She was born on April 21, 1926 during the reign of her paternal grandfather, King George V. Her father was the second son of the King, and thus at the time of her birth, no one would have expected her to one… Read the full story

As many of us are self-isolating at home, you may be looking for something to do to help pass the time. Although we may all be at home in isolation, we can still continue to work together as a community on our shared family history. Below we’ve made a list of suggestions to help focus your work and perhaps help provide you with a welcomed distraction to pass the time productively. Review your family tree… Read the full story

Today The Great Gatsby turns 95! Published on April 10, 1925, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel is widely considered to be “the Great American Novel.” However, the book’s success was far from instant. The novel debuted to mixed reviews and poor sales. When Fitzgerald died, he believed it to be a failure. Image: F. Scott Fitzgerald / Library of Congress It was not until World War II that The Great Gatsby would experience a huge revival. In 1942, a group of publishing… Read the full story

This week actor John Krasinski launched Some Good News, a delightful new YouTube show to bring good news into everyone’s home. The inaugural episode also featured a mini-reunion with his former co-star from The Office, Steve Carell, to celebrate the hit comedy’s 15th anniversary. Since its premier in 2005, the critically acclaimed show has gained a devoted following. Today the beloved sitcom remains as popular as ever, if not more so, with new generations of… Read the full story

Today marks the 215th birthday of the world’s favorite fairy tale author, Hans Christian Andersen. Image: Hans Christian Andersen / Bergen Public Library, Flickr He was born on April 2, 1805 in Odense, Denmark and was an only child. Although his family did not have much money, Andersen was well educated and attended boarding schools for the privileged, which fueled speculation that he was an illegitimate member of the Danish royal family. However, the rumors… Read the full story

On this day in 1685, German composer Johann Sebastian Bach was born. Image: Johann Sebastian Bach / Wikimedia Commons Bach was born on March 31, 1685 in Eisenach, Germany to a musical family. His father, Johann Ambrosius Bach, was a court trumpeter and director of the town musicians. According to Bach’s own genealogy research, the family’s musical tradition stretches back to his second great grandfather, Veit Bach, a miller and amateur musician. Orphaned by the… Read the full story

On this day in 1853, Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh was born in Zundert, Netherlands. Image: Vincent van Gogh / Art Institute of Chicago, CCO He shared the name Vincent with his paternal grandfather and stillborn brother, who died a year before his birth. Despite his family’s status as an upper-middle class family, van Gogh lived much of his life in poverty in pursuit of his art. Although today he is considered one of the greatest artists… Read the full story

If you are at home in isolation and are looking for a fun way to pass the time and enjoy genealogy, you may want to check out MyHeritage In Color™, MyHeritage’s groundbreaking new feature to automatically colorize old black and white photos. For a limited time, MyHeritage is providing free and unlimited access to MyHeritage In Color™ to everyone! Normally, only 10 photos can be colorized for users without a MyHeritage Complete Plan. However, from… Read the full story

Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen was born on March 20, 1828. Known as “the father of prose drama,” Ibsen is often considered to be one of the greatest playwrights since William Shakespeare. Image: Henrik Ibsen / National Library of Norway Ibsen was born to a wealthy merchant family in Skien, Telemark County, Norway. However, by the time he was 8 years old, the family’s fortunes had taken a significant turn and they were thrown into poverty…. Read the full story

As COVID-19 increasingly impacts our day-to-day lives, we would like to update everyone that all is well at Geni and our Los Angeles-based team. Our top priority is the health and safety of our employees and as of March 12, the entire Geni team has been working from home. We are well suited to work remotely and will be able to continue serving our users without disruption.  We encourage our dedicated team of volunteer curators… Read the full story

It’s St. Patrick’s Day! In honor of the holiday, we took a look into the World Family Tree to explore the surprising Irish heritage of a few celebrities. Check them out below and share how you’re connected too! Martin Sheen Georges Biard / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0) Actor Martin Sheen was born Ramón Antonio Gerardo Estévez to Francsico Malabe Estévez and Mary Anne Phelan. Both of Sheen’s parents were immigrants to the United Sates…. Read the full story

On this day in 1750, astronomer Caroline Herschel was born. A pioneer in the field of astronomy, Herschel was not only the first woman to discover a comet, but also the first woman astronomer to be recognized professionally for her scientific work. Image: Caroline Herschel / Wikimedia Commons Herschel was born on March 16, 1750 in Hanover, Germany to Isaac Herschel and Anna Ilse Mortizen. One of ten children, Herschel was educated at home by… Read the full story

Happy birthday, Chuck Norris! Today the star turns 80. Image: Chuck Norris / Wikimedia Commons Carlos Ray Norris was born in Ryan, Oklahoma to Wilma Scarberry and Ray Norris, who was a World War II Army soldier. In 1958, Norris joined the U.S. Air Force as an Air Policeman. It was while he was based in South Korea that he began training in martial arts. After he was discharged, Norris rose to fame as a martial artist… Read the full story

We’re back from RootsTech 2020 where we had a fantastic time meeting new people, seeing old friends, and connecting with Geni users. This year thousands of people came together at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, Utah to celebrate the 10th anniversary of RootsTech. Since making its debut 10 years ago, RootsTech has become the largest genealogy gathering in the world. During the first days of the conference, the Geni booth was… Read the full story

Are you a fan of the works by Michelangelo? On this day in 1475, the Italian Renaissance artist was born in Caprese near Arezzo, Tuscany, today known as Caprese Michelangelo. Image: Michelangelo / Library of Congress He was born Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni to a family of bankers. As a child, Michelangelo was sent to live with a nanny and her husband, who was a stonecutter, and it was there that he first developed his love for… Read the full story

On this day in 1637, Dutch painter and inventor Jan van der Heyden was born. Image: Jan van der Heyden / Wikimedia Commons A prolific painter, van der Heyden was one of the first Dutch painters to specialize in townscapes. He became known as one of the leading architectural painters of the Dutch Golden Age. In addition to his paintings, van der Heyden made his mark in history for his contributions to firefighting technology. Along… Read the full story

Do you have Quaker ancestors? On this day in 1681, Charles II of England granted William Penn a charter for a large piece of land in America, which would become Pennsylvania. Image: William Penn / New York Public Library William Penn was the son of Margaret Jasper and English Admiral Sir William Penn. Admiral Penn took part in the restoration of Charles II and was eventually knighted and served in the Royal Navy. In 1861, Charles… Read the full story

Do you have any artists in your family tree? Today we celebrate the life of French artist Pierre-Auguste Renoir on his 179th birthday. Image: Pierre-Auguste Renoir / Bibliothèque national de France Renoir was born on February 25, 1841 in Limoges, Haute-Vienne, France to a working-class family. As a boy, he worked in a porcelain factory and utilized his talents to paint designs on fine china. Intent on pursuing his craft, Renoir enrolled in art school and… Read the full story

On February 21, 1728, Peter III, Emperor of Russia, was born. Although he didn’t speak much Russian, Peter III was named heir presumptive by his aunt Elizabeth, Empress of Russia, who also arranged for Peter to marry his second cousin, Sophie Friederike Auguste. Sophie would take on the name Catherine after converting to the Russian Orthodox Church. In 1762,  Peter succeeded to the throne, but proved to be an unpopular ruler. He served a mere… Read the full story

Next week Geni will be heading to Salt Lake City, Utah for RootsTech 2020! Between February 26-29, thousands of genealogists and family history enthusiasts will come together at the Salt Palace Convention Center to partake in the world’s largest family history event of the year. This year RootsTech celebrates its 10th anniversary with an exciting line up of keynote speakers, including Pro Football Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith and Leigh Anne Tuohy, whose family served… Read the full story

On this day in 1847, Anna Howard Shaw was born. A leader of the women’s suffrage movement in the United States, Shaw was also a physician and one of the first ordained female Methodist ministers in the country. Image: Anna Howard Shaw / Library of Congress Shaw was born on February 14, 1847 in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England. At about the age of 4, Shaw and her family immigrated to the United States and settled in Massachusetts…. Read the full story

Will you be at RootsTech 2020 on February 26-29 in Salt Lake City, Utah? Wonder if any new cousins will also be there? The Geni Pathfinder can now send you a notification to let you know if new relatives are also attending the conference. Simply go to the RootsTech 2020 Pathfinder event page or scan the QR code below to register for notifications. On the pathfinder event page, select how you would like to be… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Laura Dern! Today the actress not only celebrates her 53rd birthday, but also her first Oscar win! Last night, Dern won her first Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in Marriage Story. In her acceptance speech, Dern called it “the best birthday present ever.” Image: Laura Dern / Georges Biard, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0) Dern was born on February 10, 1967 in Los Angeles, California to stars Bruce… Read the full story

On this day in 1812, Victorian writer Charles Dickens was born in Landport, Portsmouth, England. Considered the greatest writer of the Victorian era, Dickens’s work was widely popular during his lifetime. Image: Charles Dickens / Library of Congress Dickens was the second of eight children born to Elizabeth Barrow and John Dickens, a clerk in the Royal Navy Pay Office. The family struggled financially and eventually, his father was sent to Marshalsea Debtor’s Prison for his… Read the full story

Today we remember Hollywood icon Kirk Douglas, who passed away yesterday at the age of 103. Image: Kirk Douglas / Wikimedia Commons Douglas was born Issur Danielovitch on December 9, 1916 in Amsterdam, New York. The family had adopted the surname “Demsky” after arriving to the United States. As the son of Russian-Jewish immigrants, Douglas grew up speaking Yiddish at home. In his youth, Douglas took on a series of odd jobs to help support… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Gene Hackman! Today the actor celebrates his 90th birthday. Image: Gene Hackman / Christopher Michael Little, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0) He was born Eugene Allen Hackman on January 30, 1930 in San Bernardino, California to Lyda Gray and Eugene Hackman. At 16, Hackman left home to join the U.S. Marine Corps, where he served as a field radio operator. After his stint in the Marines, Hackman took on a series of jobs before deciding to… Read the full story