2020

On this day in 1911, American athlete Babe Didrikson Zaharias was born. Considered one of the greatest athletes of all time, Zaharias was an Olympic gold medal winner and excelled in the sports of golf, basketball, baseball, and track and field. Image: Babe Didrikson Zaharias / National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution She was born Mildred Ella Didrikson on June 26, 1911 in Port Arthur, Texas to Ole Didriksen and Hannah Olsen, both Norwegian immigrants. From… 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 have any boxers in your family tree? On this day in 1895, boxing legend Jack Dempsey was born in Manassa Colorado. The World Heavyweight Champion from 1919 to 1926, Dempsey’s aggressive style and impressive punching power made him one of the most popular boxers in history. Image: Jack Dempsey / Library of Congress He was born William Harrison Dempsey on June 24, 1895 to Mary Celia Smoot and Hiram Dempsey. Growing up poor, Dempsey… 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

Happy birthday to Paul McCartney! Today the legendary musician turns 78. Image: Paul McCartney / Nationaal Archief, Wikimedia Commons McCartney was born on June 18, 1942 in Liverpool, England to James McCartney and Mary Mohin. Music was always a part of McCartney’s life growing up. His father was a trumpet player and pianist and encouraged his son’s pursuit of music. When he was 14, his mother died of an embolism shortly after surgery for breast… Read the full story

On this day in 1808, Norwegian poet, playwright, and historian Henrik Wergeland was born. Remembered as one of Norway’s foremost poets, Wergeland is often regarded as a symbol of the country’s independence. Image: Henrik Wergeland / National Library of Norway Wergeland was born on June 16, 1808 in Kirstiansand, Norway. He was the oldest son of Alette Dorthea Thaulow and Nicolai Wergeland, who served as a member of the Norwegian Constituent Assembly at Eidsvoll in… 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

What’s your connection to royalty? On this day in 1738, George III, King of Great Britain and Ireland, was born. George III was Great Britain’s longest living and reigning monarch until the reign of his granddaughter, Queen Victoria. Image: George III / U.S. National Archives and Records Administration The eldest son of Frederick, Prince of Wales, and Augusta of Saxa-Gota, George was born two months prematurely and was not expected to survive. When his father… Read the full story

Have you found your connection to the British royal family? On this day in 1865, George V was born in Marlborough House, London. Image: George V / Library of Congress The grandson of Queen Victoria and the second son of Prince and Princess of Wales, Albert Edward and Alexandra, George was not expected to be king. In 1892, his older brother, Prince Albert Victor, died of pneumonia just six weeks after announcing his engagement to… 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

Today we remember athlete Jim Thorpe, who was born on this day in 1888. Considered one of the most versatile athletes of modern sports, Thorpe was not only an Olympic champion, but also played professional football, baseball, and basketball. Image: Jim Thorpe / Library of Congress Thorpe was born in Indian Territory near the town of Prague, Oklahoma to Hiram Thorpe and Charlotte Vieux. Thorpe had a mix of European and Native American ancestry and… 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

Are you a fan of Sherlock Holmes? On this day in 1859, author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was born in Edinburgh, Scotland. Image: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle / Library of Congress Supported by wealthy uncles, Doyle was sent to the Roman Catholic Jesuit preparatory school, Hodder Place, Stonyhurst, at the age of 9. He studied medicine at the University of Ediniburgh Medical School and it was there that he began writing short stories. In 1887,… 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

On this day in 1856, author L. Frank Baum was born. The noted children’s book writer is perhaps best remembered as the author of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and its sequels. Image: L. Frank Baum / Library of Congress Baum was born on May 15, 1856 in Chittenango, New York. He was the seventh of nine children born to Cynthia Ann Stanton and Benjamin Ward Baum. Named after his uncle, Lyman, Baum preferred to… Read the full story

Happy birthday to George Lucas! Today the filmmaker turns 76. Image: George Lucas / Nicolas Genin, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0) Lucas was born on May 14, 1944 in Modesto, California to Dorothy Ellinore Bomberger and George Walton Lucas, Sr., a stationary store owner. In his youth, Lucas dreamed of becoming a race car driver. However, just days before his high school graduation, Lucas was involved in a near-fatal accident and quickly changed his mind…. 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

On this day in 1884, Harry S. Truman, the 33rd President of the United States, was born. Image: Harry S. Truman / Library of Congress Truman was the eldest of three children born to John Anderson Truman and Martha Ellen Young. He was given the middle name “S” to honor both of his grandfathers, Anderson Shipp Truman and Solomon Young. After the death of President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1945, Truman was sworn into office… Read the full story

Poet and playwright Robert Browning was born on May 7, 1812 in Camberwell, England. Widely recognized as a master of dramatic monologue, Browning is considered to be one of the foremost poets of the Victorian age. Image: Robert Browning / Library of Congress Browning was the only son of Sara Anna Wiedermann, an accomplished pianist, and Robert Browning, a clerk for the Bank of England. Browning grew up surrounded by books. His father had amassed… Read the full story

On this day in 1915, Orson Welles was born. An actor, writer, director, and producer, Welles is remembered as one of the most influential filmmakers in history. Image: Orson Welles / Library of Congress Welles was born on May 6, 1915 in Kenosha, Wisconsin to Beatrice Ives, a pianist, and Richard Head Welles, an inventor of a popular bicycle lamp. After his father’s death in 1930, Welles traveled to Ireland, where he made his acting debut… 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

Happy birthday to Willie Nelson! Today the music icon turns 87. Image: Willie Nelson / Library of Congress Nelson was born on April 29, 1933 in Abbott, Texas to Ira Doyle Nelson and Myrle Marie Greenhaw. Raised by his grandparents in Arkansas, music was an important part of his upbringing. At the age of 6, his grandfather gifted him his first guitar and by 7, he had written his first song. During the 1960s, Nelson… Read the full story

On this day in 1926, author Harper Lee was born. Today Lee’s novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, is one of the mostly widely read books in the United States. Image: Harper Lee receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President George W. Bush / NARA She was born Nelle Harper Lee on April 28, 1926 in Monroeville, Alabama to Amasa Coleman Lee, a lawyer, and Frances Cunningham Finch. The youngest of four children, Lee received… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Barbra Streisand! Today the icon turns 78. Image: Barbra Streisand / Wikimedia Commons She was born on April 24, 1942 in Brooklyn, New York to Diana and Emanuel Streisand. Before reaching her first birthday, Streisand’s father died suddenly of complications from an epileptic seizure. After his death, the family fell into poverty. From a young age, Streisand dreamed of becoming famous and after graduating high school at 16, she immediately began pursuing a… 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

230 years ago today, Benjamin Franklin died at the age of 84. One of the United States’ most influential Founding Fathers, Franklin was also a renowned polymath. He was not only a notable politician and diplomat, but also an author, inventor, philosopher, and scientist. Image: Benjamin Franklin / Library of Congress Franklin was born on January 6, 1706 in Boston, Massachusetts to Josiah Franklin, a candlemaker, and his second wife, Abiah Folger. From his two marriages,… 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

On this day in 1865, Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered to Union General Ulysses S. Grant, effectively ending the American Civil War. Image: Library of Congress During the first year of the war, Lee served as a senior military advisor to Confederate President Jefferson Davis. In 1882, he assumed command of the Army of Northern Virginia and lead many battlefield victories. However, Lee’s defeat at the Battle of Gettysburg was a crushing blow to the Confederate. The… Read the full story

On this day in 1909, American explorer Robert E. Peary and his assistant, Matthew A. Henson, purportedly became the first men to reach the North Pole. Image: U.S. National Archives and Records Administration Born in Cresson, Pennsylvania, Peary joined the United States Navy in 1881 as a civil engineer. It was during his time in the Navy that he resolved to be the first man to reach the North Pole. Peary studied the survival techniques of the… 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

On this day in 1874, poet Robert Frost was born. One of the most celebrated poets in American history, Frost remains the only poet to receive four Pulitzer Prizes for Poetry. Image: Robert Frost / Library of Congress Frost was born on March 26, 1874 in San Francisco, California to William Prescott Frost, Jr., a journalist, and Isabelle Moodie. After his father’s death in 1885, the family moved to Lawrence, Massachusetts. A gifted student, Frost… Read the full story

Today we remember music icon Aretha Franklin on what would have been her 78th birthday. Image: Aretha Franklin / Wikimedia Commons Franklin was born on March 25, 1942 at her family’s home in Memphis, Tennessee. Her father, Clarence LaVaughn Franklin, was a Baptist minster and civil rights activist, while her mother, Barbara Siggers, was an accomplished piano player and vocalist. Franklin began singing at a young age and would accompany her father on his “gospel… 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

Do you have outlaws or lawmen in your family tree? On this day in 1848, Wyatt Earp was born. An iconic figure of the American Wild West, Earp is best remembered for his involvement in the famous gunfight at the O.K. Corral in Tombstone, Arizona. Image: Wyatt Earp / Wikimedia Commons He was born on March 19, 1848 in Monmouth, Illinois. An American frontiersman, gambler, and lawman, Earp moved constantly throughout his life. He eventually… Read the full story