August 2021

Have you found your connection to Dutch royalty? On this day in 1880, Wilhelmina of the Netherlands was born. Image: Wilhelmina of the Netherlands / Wikimedia Commons Wilhelmina Helena Pauline Maria was born on August 31, 1880 at Noordeinde Palace in The Hague, Netherlands. The only surviving child of King Willem III and his second wife, Emma of Waldeck and Pyrmont, Wilhelmina became queen at the age of 10 after her father’s death in 1890…. Read the full story

Today we remember Ed Asner, who passed away yesterday at the age of 91. Image: Ed Asner / Department of Defense, William D Moss Asner was born on November 15, 1929 in Kansas City, Missouri to Morris David Asner and Elizabeth Seliger. the youngest of five children, Asner was raised in an Orthodox Jewish family. After high school, he was accepted at the University of Chicago and studied journalism before dropping out. He worked a… Read the full story

Today we remember actor Sean Connery on what would have been his 91st birthday. Image: Sean Connery / Nationaal Archief, CC0 Thomas Sean Connery was born on August 25, 1930 in Edinburgh, Scotland to Euphemia McBain, a cleaning woman, and Joseph Connery, a factory worker and lorry driver. Named after his paternal grandfather, Connery went by the name “Tommy” growing up. Before becoming an actor, Connery’s first job was a milkman at the age of… Read the full story

On August 24, 1899, Argentine writer and poet Jorge Luis Borges was born. Explore his family tree on Geni.

On this day in 1833, Benjamin Harrison was born. Harrison served as the 23rd President of the United States from 1889 to 1893. Image: Benjamin Harrison / Library of Congress Harrison was born on August 20, 1833 to John Harrelson and Elizabeth Irwin in North Bed, Ohio. He was the grandson of William Henry Harrison, the 9th President of the United States and first governor of the Indiana Territory. Harrison was seven years old when his grandfather was… Read the full story

On this day in 1871, pioneering aviator Orville Wright was born. In 1903, Orville and his brother Wilbur made history by making the world’s first sustained, man-powered, heavier-than-air flight. Image: Orville Wright / Library of Congress Orville Wright was born on August 19, 1871 in Dayton, Ohio to Milton Wright, a bishop, and Susan Koerner. He was the sixth of seven children. Growing up, Orville and his siblings were encouraged to pursue their intellectual interests… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Robert Redford! Today the actor turns 85. Image: Robert Redford / San Diego Air and Space Museum Archive Charles Robert Redford, Jr. was born on August 18, 1936 in Santa Monica, California. He was the only child born to Martha W. Hart and Charles Robert Redford, Sr., a milkman-turned-accountant. After starting out with small roles on television, Redford became a major star after co-starring with Paul Newman in the box office hit Butch Cassidy and… Read the full story

Today marks the 235th birthday of American folk hero Davy Crockett. Image: Davy Crockett / Library of Congress David “Davy” Crockett was born on August 17, 1786 in what is present day Tennessee. During the Creek War, Crockett joined the state militia as a scout and spent much of his time hunting wild game for the soldiers. He later served as third sergeant in the War of 1812, but saw little action. After returning home, he served… Read the full story

On this day in 2018, legendary singer Aretha Franklin died at the age of 76. Image: Aretha Franklin / U.S. National Archives and Records Administration Franklin was born on March 25, 1942 in Memphis, Tennessee to C.L. Franklin, a Baptist minister, and Barbara Siggers, an accomplished pianist and vocalist. Franklin’s musical talent was apparent at an early age and she was encouraged to sing in front of her father’s congregation. By 14, she was traveling… Read the full story

On this day in 1818, orator, abolitionist, and suffragist Lucy Stone was born. Image: Lucy Stone / Library of Congress Stone was born on August 13, 1818 on her family’s farm in West Brookfield, Massachusetts to Francis Stone and Hannah Matthews. From an early age, Stone was frustrated by the restrictions placed on women. Although her father ridiculed her desire to further her education, Stone was determined to go to college. She secured a position… Read the full story

Do you have any writers in your family tree? On this day in 1937, author Edith Wharton died at the age of 75 in Saint-Brice-sous-Forêt, France. Image: Edith Wharton / Wikimedia Commons Wharton was born Edith Newbold Jones on January 24, 1862 to George Frederic Jones and Lucretia Stevens Rhinelander. The saying “keeping up with the Joneses” is said to refer to her paternal family, who were a very wealthy and socially prominent New York… Read the full story

On this day in 1928, American artist Andy Warhol was born. A leading figure of the Pop art movement, Warhol’s work explored the relationship between celebrity culture, advertising, and artistic expression. Image: Andy Warhol / Library of Congress Warhol was born Andrew Warhola on August 6, 1928 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Andrej Warhola and Julia Zavacká. His parents were Carpatho-Rusyn immigrants from what is now eastern Slovakia. As a child, Warhol suffered from Sydenham’s chorea,… Read the full story

Today we remember astronaut Neil Armstrong, who was born on this day in 1930. Image: Neil Armstrong / NASA Armstrong was born in Wapakoneta, Ohio to Stephen Armstrong, an auditor, and Viola Engel. From a young age, Armstrong developed a passion for aviation. At the age of six, his father took him on his first ride in a Ford Trimotor, known as the “Tin Goose.” By the age of 16, Armstrong had earned his student… Read the full story

On this day in 1901, Jazz icon Louis Armstrong was born. Image: Louis Armstrong / Library of Congress Armstrong was born on August 4, 1901 in New Orleans, Louisiana to William Armstrong and Maryann Albert. Shortly after his birth, his father abandoned the family. He grew up in poverty in a rough neighborhood known as “The Battlefield.” Armstrong only had a fifth grade education, having left school at a young age to work. He found… Read the full story

The Tokyo 2020 Olympic games has seen a number of exciting, history making performances this year. On August 3, Norwegian hurdler Karsten Warholm not only won gold in the men’s 400-meter hurdles, but also set a new world record! Image: Karsten Warholm / Yann Caradec, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0) In what has been called one of the greatest races in Olympics history, Warholm won at 45.94 seconds, crushing his own world record by .76…. Read the full story