2020

On September 17, 1923, country music’s first superstar Hank Williams was born in Butler County, Alabama. Best known for his hits “Your Cheatin’ Heart,” “Hey, Good Lookin’,” and “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry,” Williams is regarded as one of the most important country music artists of all time. Image: Hank Williams / Wikimedia Commons He was born Hiram Williams in Mount Olive, Alabama to Elonzo Huble Williams and Jessie Lillybelle Skipper. Born with spina… Read the full story

Today Mexico celebrates Independence Day! On this day in 1810, Catholic priest Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla issued the Cry of Dolores, a call to end Spanish rule in Mexico, triggering the start of the Mexican War of Independence. Image: Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla / Library of Congress As the parish priest in Dolores, Guanajuato, Mexico, Hidalgo promoted economic activities, such as introducing new methods of agriculture, to help the poor and rural members of the… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Prince Harry! Today the Duke of Sussex turns 36. Image: Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex / Wikimedia Commons Harry was born on September 15, 1984 at St. Mary’s Hospital in London, England. He was baptized Henry Charles Albert David at St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle. The second son of Charles, Prince of Wales and Princess Diana, Harry is currently sixth in the line of succession to the British throne. Harry was… Read the full story

Today we remember legendary actress and Princess of Monaco Grace Kelly, who passed away on this day in 1982 at the age of 52. Image: Grace Kelly / Wikimedia Commons Kelly was born on November 12, 1929 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to John B. Kelly, a three-time Olympic gold medalist for sculling, and Margaret Katherine Majer, a physical education teacher and first coach of women’s teams at the University of Pennsylvania. Despite her parents’ disapproval, Kelly… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Harry Connick, Jr.! Today the singer turns 53. Image: Harry Connick, Jr. / bg_nh2014, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0) Joseph Harry Fowler Connick, Jr. was born on September 11, 1967 in New Orleans, Louisiana. From an early age, Connick exhibited a talent for music. He learned the piano at the age of 3 and began performing publicly by the age of 5. He learned to develop his talents under the tutelage of… Read the full story

Today we remember English actress Diana Rigg, who has passed away at the age of 82. Best known as secret agent Emma Peel in the classic 1960s television series The Avengers, Rigg had found a new generation of fans as Lady Olenna Tyrell in the HBO fantasy drama, Game of Thrones. Image: Diana Rigg / Wikimedia Commons Rigg was born on July 20, 1938 in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, England to Louis Rigg, a railway engineer,… Read the full story

Do you know what occupations your ancestors held? If you haven’t been paying attention to what your relatives did for a living, you may want to start now. Knowing what occupations your relatives held can give you better insight into their everyday lives, their social status, education level, or even their migration patterns. Image: U.S. National Archives Occupations can also give you clues for new areas of research. Below are a some places where you… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Beyoncé! Today the music superstar celebrates her 39th birthday. Image: Beyoncé Knowles / Wikimedia Commons Born and raised in Houston, Texas, Beyoncé first catapulted to music stardom in the female R&B group Destiny’s Child. Since launching her own solo career, she has become one of the top selling female performers of all time with over 100 million records sold worldwide. Beyoncé is also the most nominated female artist in Grammy history, with… Read the full story

On this day in 1189, Richard I of England was crowned king in Westminster Abbey. Image: Richard I of England / Wikimedia Commons Born on September 8, 1157, Richard was the third of five sons born to King Henry II of England and Eleanor of Aquitaine. He was known as Richard the Lionheart for his reputation as a great military leader and warrior. During his reign, Richard spent the majority of his time outside of England…. Read the full story

On this day in 1948, high school teacher Christa McAuliffe was born in Boston, Massachusetts. McAuliffe made history when she became the first American civilian to be selected to go into space. Sadly, she died in the explosion of the space shuttle Challenger in 1986. Image: Christa McAuliffe / NASA In 1985, McAuliffe was selected to participate in the NASA Teacher in Space Project and become the first teacher to go to space. The purpose of the program was… Read the full story

After 72 years on the throne, King Louis XIV of France died on this day in 1715, just four days before his 77th birthday. Image: Louis XIV / Wikimedia Commons Louis XIV was born on September 5, 1638 to Louis XIII and Anne of Austria. Before his birth, his mother had experienced four stillbirths, and so he was named Louis Dieudonné, which was French for “Gift of God.” When he was four, Louis’s father passed away, leaving the… Read the full story

On this day in 1749, German writer, poet, and statesman Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was born. He was born in Frankfurt, which was then an Imperial Free City of the Holy Roman Empire. Goethe’s father, Johann Caspar Goethe, was the son of a wealthy tailor and owner of one of the most distinguished guesthouses in Frankfurt. His mother, Katharina Elizabeth Textor, was the daughter of a prominent citizen of Frankfurt. Considered one of the greatest German… Read the full story

On this day in 1908, Lyndon B. Johnson, the 36th President of the United States, was born in a small farmhouse in Stonewall, Texas. Image: Lyndon B. Johnson / Library of Congress Johnson was the eldest of five children born to Samuel Ealy Johnson, Jr. and Rebekah Baines. His father was a businessman and a politician who served five terms in the Texas House of Representatives. Before pursuing a career in politics, Johnson briefly worked… Read the full story

On this day in 1819, Prince Albert was born. The husband of Queen Victoria, the Prince was one of the Queen’s most trusted advisors. His death at the age of 42 profoundly impacted Victoria for the rest of her life. Image: Albert, Prince Consort / Library of Congress Prince Albert was born on August 26, 1819 at Schloss Rosenau in Bavaria. He was the second son of Ernest III, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saafeld, and his first… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Sean Connery! Today the actor turns 90. Image: Sean Connery / Nationaal Archief Connery was born Thomas Sean Connery on August 25, 1930 in Edinburgh, Scotland. He was named after his paternal grandfather and was called “Tommy” for much of his youth. He grew up in a working class family and at the age of 13, quit school to work full time at a local dairy. Then at the age of 16,… Read the full story

Have you found your connection to royalty? On this day in 1765, William IV was born. The third son of King George III and Queen Charlotte, William was never expected to be king. However, in 1830, he ascended to the throne after the death of his brother, George IV. William was born on August 21, 1765 at Buckingham Palace. At the age of 13, he began his career with the Royal Navy and served in New York… Read the full story

Have you visited the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri? On this day in 1910, architect Eero Saarinen was born. Image: Eero Saarinen / Library of Congress Saarinen was born on August 20, 1910 in Kirkkonummi, Finland on his father’s 37th birthday. His father, Eliel Saarinen, was a notable Finnish architect and his mother, Loja Gesellius, was a textile designer and sculptor. When Saarinen was 13, his family immigrated to the United States and settled… Read the full story

Are you a Star Trek fan? On this day in 1921, Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry was born in El Paso, Texas. Image: Gene Roddenberry / NASA As a young man, Roddenberry became interested in aeronautical engineering and earned a pilot license through the Civilian Pilot Training Program. During World War II, Roddenberry enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps and flew an estimated 89 combat missions. He was awarded the Air Medal and the Distinguished Flying Cross…. Read the full story

Today marks the anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment, which stated “the right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex.” U.S. National Archives and Records Administration On August 18, 1920, the Tennessee House of Representatives voted to ratify the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution, finally granting women the right to vote. The… Read the full story

Are you related to American folk hero Davy Crockett? On this day in 1786, the famous frontiersman was born. Image: Davy Crockett / Library of Congress Crockett was born on August 17, 1786 to John M. Crockett and Rebecca Sullivan Crockett. He learned to shoot at the age of 8 and gained a reputation for hunting and story telling. In 1826, he was elected to Congress and served two terms before leaving politics to join the… Read the full story

MyHeritage has announced that they have unlocked their two popular photo tools – MyHeritage Photo Enhancer and MyHeritage In Color™ – for an entire month! From now until September 10, 2020, everyone can access these powerful photo tools for FREE! These two groundbreaking tools will bring new life to your old, faded, black and white family photos. Sharpen your blurry images with MyHeritage Photo Enhancer and bring them to life in vivid color with MyHeritage… Read the full story

Happy birthday, Steve Martin! Today the actor turns 75. Image: Steve Martin / David Shankbone, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0) Martin was born on August 14, 1945 in Waco, Texas to Mary Lee Stewart and Glenn Vernon Martin. When he was young, his family moved to southern California. As a teen, he became a cheerleader in high school and got his first job at Disneyland selling guidebooks and performing magic tricks. In 1977, Martin got his… Read the full story

On this day in 1899, legendary filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock was born. Image: Alfred Hitchcock / Library of Congress Hitchcock was born on August 13, 1899 in London, England to William Edgar Hitchcock and Emma Jane Wheland. He was the youngest of three children. Before stepping into the director’s chair, Hitchcock got his start as a title card designer for silent films. In 1929, he directed his first “talkie,” Blackmail, which would become a huge success…. Read the full story

On this day in 1762, George IV of the United Kingdom was born. In 1820, he ascended throne after the death of his father, George III. Image: George IV of the United Kingdom / Rijksmuseum, Wikimedia Commons George was born at St. James’s Palace in London, England on August 12, 1762. He was the first child of King George III and his wife, Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. They would have 15 children together, only 13 would… Read the full story

On this day in 1928, singer Eddie Fisher was born. One of the most popular singers of the 1950s, Fisher is also remembered for his part in one of Hollywood’s most famous marital scandals. Image: Eddie Fisher / Wikimedia Commons Fisher was born Edwin Jack Fisher on August 10, 1928 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Kate Minnicker and Joseph Tisch, both Jewish immigrants from Russia. The family’s surname was later changed to Fisher. The fourth of… Read the full story

In a recent interview with the U.K’s Capital FM, singer Katy Perry was in for a genealogical surprise when host Sian Welby shared that she and Taylor Swift are distant cousins. Although Perry dismissed it as a bit of fan fiction, it turns out they really are related! MyHeritage found through Geni’s World Family Tree that the two are in fact 9th cousins! Although the pandemic derailed her planned destination wedding with actor Orlando Bloom… Read the full story

On this day in 1813, American abolitionist and suffragist Paulina Kellogg Wright Davis was born. An early supporter of the women’s suffrage movement, Davis was also a prominent lecturer on women’s health, anatomy, and physiology. Image: Paulina Kellogg Wright Davis / Library of Congress Davis was born on August 7, 1813 in Bloomfield, New York to Ebenezer Kellogg and Polly Saxton. In 1817, her family moved to the frontier near Niagara Falls, however, after the… Read the full story

Today we remember actress Lucille Ball, who was born on this day 109 years ago. Image: Lucille Ball / Wikimedia Commons Lucille Désirée Ball was born on August 6 ,1911 in Jamestown, New York. After her father died of typhoid fever in 1915, the family moved in with her maternal grandparents. She and her brother were later cared for by their step-grandparents after her mother remarried. As a teen, Ball attended the John Murray Anderson School… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Meghan, Duchess of Sussex! Today the Duchess turns 39. Image: Meghan, Duchess of Sussex / Northern Ireland Office, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0) She was born Rachel Meghan Markle on August 4, 1981 in Los Angeles, California to Thomas Markle, a television lighting and photography director, and Doria Ragland, a former social worker and yoga instructor. Her parents divorced when she was 6 years old. After struggling to find steady work as… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Arnold Schwarzenegger! Today the star turns 73. Image: Arnold Schwarzenegger / Library of Congress Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger was born in Thal, Austria to Gustave Schwarzenegger, a local police chief, and Aurelia Jadrny. His father was once a member of the Nazi party and favored his eldest son over Arnold. Struggling with a tough home life, Arnold turned to movies as an escape and dreamed of moving to the U.S. At 15, he began weight… Read the full story

On this day in 1567, James VI and I was crowned King of Scots at only 13 months old after his mother’s forced abdication. James was born in Edinburgh Castle on June 19, 1566. He was the only son of Mary, Queen of Scots, and her second husband, Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley. His mother’s unpopular reign was plagued by scandal. In February 1567, his father was murdered. A few short months later, his mother married… Read the full story

Today we remember legendary actress Olivia de Havilland, who passed away at the age of 104. With a career that spanned over five decades, de Havilland was one of the last major stars of Hollywood’s Golden Age. Image: Olivia de Havilland / Wikimedia Commons She was born on July 1, 1916 in Tokyo, Japan to Lillian Ruse, a stage actress, and Walter de Havilland, an English professor and attorney. Her first cousin was aviation pioneer… Read the full story

On this day in 1802, French author Alexandre Dumas was born. Image: Alexandre Dumas / Metropolitan Museum of Art, Wikimedia Commons Dumas was born Dumas Davy de la Pailleterie on July 24, 1802 in Villers-Cotterêts, Picardy, France to Marie-Louise Élisabeth Labouret and Thomas-Alexandre Dumas. His father was the son of the Marquis Alexandre Antoine Davy de La Pailleterie and Marie-Césette Dumas, a Haitian slave. He served as a French general and stands as one of… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Woody Harrelson! Today the actor celebrates his 59th birthday. Image: Woody Harrelson / LBJ Library photo by Gabriel Cristóver Pérez Harrelson was born Woodrow Tracy Harrelson on July 23, 1961 in Midland, Texas. His father was a convicted contract killer and received a life sentence in 1979. Raised by a single mother, Harrelson grew up in a very religious Presbyterian household. He later attend Hanover College on a Presbyterian scholarship. In 1985,… Read the full story

“Give me your tired, your poor,Your huddled Masses yearning to breathe free” – Emma Lazarus, “The New Colossus” These are the iconic lines inscribed on a bronze plaque at the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty. The words were written by American poet Emma Lazarus in 1883 in her sonnet “The New Colossus.” Image: Emma Lazarus / Library of Congress The poem was originally written to help raise funds for the construction of the statue’s pedestal, but… Read the full story

Today we remember actor Robin Williams on what would have been his 69th birthday. Image: Robin Williams / Eva Rinaldi, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0) Williams was born on July 21, 1951 in Chicago, Illinois to Robert Fitzgerald Williams and Laurie McLaurin. His second great grandfather, Anselm J. McLaurin, served as a senator for Mississippi and later, the state’s 34th governor. Williams described himself as a shy child and didn’t break out of his shell… Read the full story

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

Are you a fan of old fashioned Hollywood musicals? Today we remember Ginger Rogers, who was born on this day in 1911. Image: Ginger Rogers / Wikimedia Commons Rogers was born Virginia Katherine McMath on July 16, 1911 in Independence, Missouri. She started her career in vaudeville after a win at a Charleston dance contest earned her a spot with a traveling vaudeville act. She became most famous for her musical and dance partnership with Fred… Read the full story

On this day in 1606, Dutch painter Rembrandt van Rijn was born. An artist during the Dutch Golden Age, today Rembrandt is considered to be one of the greatest and most important Dutch painters in history. Image: Rembrandt van Rijn / Wikimedia Commons Rembrandt was born on July 15, 1606 in Leiden, Dutch Republic, which is now the Netherlands. He was the ninth child born to Harmen Gerritszoon van Rijn, a miller, and Neeltgen Willemsdochter… Read the full story

Today we celebrate the 164th birthday of inventor Nikola Tesla! Tesla is remembered for his groundbreaking discoveries in the production, transmission, and application of electric power. Image: Nikola Tesla / Library of Congress Tesla was born in what is now Smiljan, Croatia on July 10, 1856. He was one of five children born to Milutin Tesla, an Eastern Orthodox priest, and Đuka Mandić.  In 1884, Tesla came to the United States and began working for Thomas Edison. However, a… Read the full story

Happy birthday, Tom Hanks! Today the popular actor turns 64. Image: Tom Hanks / U.S. Department of State Thomas Jeffery Hanks was born on July 9, 1956 in Concord, California. In 1960, his parents divorced and Tom, along with his two oldest siblings, went to live with their father. His youngest brother stayed with their mother. He got his big break when he was cast as the lead in the television sitcom Bosom Buddies. Although the… Read the full story

Happy birthday to actor Kevin Bacon! Today the star turns 62. Image: Gage Skidmore / Wikimedia Commons, (CC BY-SA 2.0) Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on July 8, 1958, Bacon was the youngest of six children born to architect Edmund Bacon and Ruth Holmes, a teacher and social activist. From a young age he showed a gift for acting, earning a full scholarship to attend the Pennsylvania Governor’s School for the Arts at 16. Bacon skyrocketed… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Ringo Starr! Today the legendary musician turns 80. Image: Eva Rinaldi / Wikimedia Commons, (CC BY-SA 2.0) The Beatles drummer was born Richard Starkey in Liverpool, England on July 7, 1940. He was in and out of hospitals for much of his childhood. After contracting tuberculosis in 1953, he was admitted to a sanitarium where he stayed for two years. To help stimulate his motor activity and relieve boredom, Starr was encouraged… 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

On this day in 1937, aviator Amelia Earhart and navigator Frederick Noonan went missing over the Pacific while attempting to make the first flight around the world along the equator. Image: Amelia Earhart / Library of Congress Earhart was born on July 24, 1987 in Atchison, Kansas to Edwin Stanton Earhart and Amelia Otis. In 1920, Earhart took a plane ride an airshow in Long Beach, California that would change her life. Although the experience… Read the full story

Today we remember Princess Diana on what would have been her 59th birthday. Image: Diana, Princess of Wales / Wikimedia Commons She was born Diana Frances Spencer in Sandringham, England to John Spencer, Viscount Althorp, and Frances Burk Rouche, Viscountess Althorp. Her parents would divorce when she was eight years old. She became known as Lady Diana when her father inherited the title of Earl Spencer in 1975. In 1981, she married Prince Charles in a lavish… 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