May 2021

On this day in 1888, athlete Jim Thorpe was born. A versatile athlete, Thorpe is remembered as one of the most accomplished American athletes in history. Image: Jim Thorpe / Library of Congress Although the exact date of his birth is unknown, his birthday is generally stated as May 28, 1887 or 1888. He was born in a one-room cabin near what is today Prague, Oklahoma. Thorpe had a mix of European and Native American ancestry and was… Read the full story

Could we BE anymore excited!? After 17 years off the air, the entire cast of the hit television show Friends came together in a highly anticipated reunion special. Friends: The Reunion, also dubbed “The One Where They Get Back Together,” was released on May 27 after being delayed for a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. All six of the main cast, Jennifer Aniston, Courtney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry, and David Schwimmer,… Read the full story

Do you have a poet in your family tree? On this day in 1803, American essayist and poet Ralph Waldo Emerson was born in Boston, Massachusetts. Image: Ralph Waldo Emerson / Library of Congress The son of Rev. William Emerson and Ruth Haskins, Emerson was named after his mother’s brother Ralph and his father’s great grandmother, Rebecca Waldo. He is descended from Mayflower passengers John Howland and Elizabeth Tilley. In fact, he carried the mitochondrial DNA… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Bob Dylan! Today the iconic musician turns 80. A gifted songwriter, Dylan is often considered  to be one of the most influential musicians in the world. Image: Bob Dylan / Library of Congress Dylan was born Robert Allen Zimmerman on May 24, 1941 in Duluth, Minnesota. When Dylan first began performing in college he took on the name “Bob Dylan” after the poet Dylan Thomas. During the 1960s, Dylan became known as… Read the full story

Today we remember English fossil collector and paleontologist Mary Anning, who was born on this day in 1799. Image: Mary Anning / Wikimedia Commons Mary Anning was born on May 21, 1799 in Lyme Regis, a coastal town in Dorset, England. Her father, Richard Anning, was a cabinet maker who supplemented his income by mining the coastal cliffside for fossils to sell to tourists. Growing up, Anning often accompanied her father on fossil hunting expeditions… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Cher! Today the music icon turns 75. Image: Cher / Wikimedia Commons Cher was born Cherilyn Sarkisian on May 20, 1946 in El Centro, California to John Sarkisian and Jackie Jean Crouch. With dreams of becoming famous, Cher dropped out of school at 16 to pursue an acting career. She rose to stardom as part of a singing act with her husband, Sonny Bono, whom she met in 1962. The duo was… Read the full story

In celebration of Mother’s Day, we asked you to tell us the best piece of advice or words of wisdom you have received from your mom or from a mother-figure in your life. One lucky winner would receive a free year of Geni Pro. Today we are excited to announce the winner of our Mother’s Day Giveaway – Coyal M. Gorman! Coyal shared how her grandmother, Coyal Maxey, instilled the importance of family: “About 30… Read the full story

On this day in 1804, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark departed St. Louis, Missouri to begin their mission of exploring the American Northwest. After the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, President Thomas Jefferson wanted to get an accurate assessment of the new land and its resources. He enlisted Lewis to command the expedition, who recruited his close friend William Clark as his Second Lieutenant in command. The journey to the Pacific coast lasted two years. During this… Read the full story

Do you have any nurses in your family tree? On May 12, 1820, pioneering nurse Florence Nightingale was born in Florence, Italy. Image: Florence Nightingale / Library of Congress Named after her place of birth, Florence was born to a rich, upper-class British family. From a young age, she knew her calling was to become a nurse and help the ill and poor. During the Crimean War, reports about the horrific conditions for the wounded… Read the full story

On this day in 1840, famous Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky was born in Vyatka, Russia. Considered one of the most popular Russian composers in history, Tchaikovsky’s works included symphonies, concertos, operas, and ballets. Image: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky / Library of Congress Tchaikovsky began taking piano lessons at the age of five and showed an adept talent for music. Despite his passion, Tchaikovsky was educated for a career as a civil servant. He spent a short tenure as… Read the full story

Happy birthday to George Clooney! Today the actor turns 60. Image: George Clooney / U.S. National Archives and Records Administration Clooney was born on May 6, 1961 in Lexington, Kentucky to Nick Clooney, a former anchorman and television host, and Nina Warren, a former city councilwoman. His aunt, Rosemary Clooney, was a famous singer and actress. With his family’s background in show business, it was not a surprise when Clooney decided to move to Los… Read the full story

With Mother’s Day just around the corner, we thought it would be fun to celebrate the moms or mother-figures in our lives with a chance to win a free 1-year subscription of Geni Pro! Throughout our lives, we’ve heard countless pieces of advice or words of encouragement from our mothers. For this Mother’s Day giveaway, we want to hear about the best piece of advice you have received from your mom or mother-figure in your… Read the full story

Today we remember actress Audrey Hepburn on what would have been her 92nd birthday. Image: Audrey Hepburn / Wikimedia Commons Hepburn was born on May 4, 1929 in Brussels, Belgium. She was the daughter of Joseph Victor Anthony Ruston and Ella van Heemstra, a Dutch baroness. After her father left the family, her mother raised Hepburn on her own as a single mother. Her maternal grandfather, Aarnoud Van Heemstra, was the mayor of Arnhem and… Read the full story