November 2021

On November 24, 1784, Zachary Taylor, the 12th President of the United States, was born. Image: Zachary Taylor / National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution Taylor was born on a plantation in Orange County, Virginia to a prominent family of planters. Before his presidency, Taylor was a career officer in the United States Army and a national hero for his victories during the Mexican-American War. In 1848, he was elected the 12th President of the United States, becoming… Read the full story

It was recently announced that MyHeritage and Expedia have partnered to help you plan the ultimate heritage tour. Together, MyHeritage and Expedia have launched the Heritage Travel Hub to make it easy for you to plan an incredible journey to the land of your ancestors. The site is housed on Expedia and features rich content that bridges family history research with planning a memorable, heritage-oriented trip. The Heritage Travel Hub will help you map an… Read the full story

On this day in 1887, legendary actor Boris Karloff was born. Today, Karloff’s frightening yet sympathetic turn as Frankenstein’s monster still remains an iconic figure in horror. Image: Boris Karloff / Wikimedia Commons Before he became known for the role of the “Monster” on the big screen, Karloff, born Willam Henry Pratt, was the youngest of nine children born to Edward Pratt and Eliza Millard. His great aunt was Anna Leonowens, an English writer and educator. Her experience… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Scarlett Johansson! Today the star turns 37. Image: Scarlett Johansson / Gage Skidmore, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0) Johansson was born on November 22, 1984 in New York City, New York to Karsten Olaf Johansson and Melanie Sloan. She and her twin brother, Hunter, are the youngest of four siblings. Coming from a creative family, it seemed natural for Johansson to follow in her family’s footsteps. Her father is an architect originally… Read the full story

Today we remember American radio host and writer Mary Margaret McBride, who was born on this day in 1899. Known as “the First Lady of Radio,” McBride’s popular radio shows spanned for more than 40 years with millions of listeners tuning in daily. Image: Eleanor Roosevelt and Mary Margaret McBride / U.S. National Archives and Records Adminstration McBride was born on November 16, 1899 to a farming family in Paris, Missouri. At the age of… Read the full story

Today we remember legendary icon Grace Kelly, who was born on this day in 1929. Image: Grace Kelly / Library of Congress Grace Kelly was born on November 12, 1929 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to a very affluent family. Her father John B. Kelly, Sr., a three-time Olympic gold medalist, was once appointed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt as the National Director of Physical Fitness. Her mother, Margaret Majer, taught physical education at the University of… Read the full story

On this day in 1885, General George Patton was born in San Gabriel, California. Remembered as one of the most successful generals in history, Patton was instrumental to the liberation of Germany from the Nazis during World War II. Image: George Patton / Library of Congress Patton’s family had an extensive military background. His paternal grandfather George Smith Patton, a Confederate general, commanded the 22nd Virginia Infantry in the American Civil War. Patton’s third great… Read the full story

On this day in 1871, anatomist and medical researcher Florence R. Sabin was born. A pioneer for women in science, Sabin made breakthroughs on the lymphatic system and was the first woman to be elected to the National Academy of Sciences. Image: Florence R. Sabin / Smithsonian Institution Sabin was born on November 8, 1871 in Central City, Colorado to George K. Sabin, a mining engineer, and Serena Miner, a schoolteacher. After the death of… Read the full story

Do you have Irish ancestry? 174 years ago today, Irish author Bram Stoker was born in Dublin, Ireland. In 1897, Stoker published his most famous novel, Dracula. Although he didn’t originate the concept of the vampire, Stoker’s Dracula came to define the undead creature in its modern form. Image: Bram Stoker / Wikimedia Commons Stoker was born Abraham Stoker on November 8, 1847 to Abraham Stoker, a civil servant, and Charlotte Mathilda Blake Thornley. The third of seven… Read the full story

On this day in 1879, vaudeville performer and cowboy humorist Will Rogers was born. Rogers is remembered as “America’s Cowboy Philosopher.” Image: Will Rogers / Library of Congress Rogers was the youngest of eight children born to Clement Vann Rogers and Mary America Schrimsher. Of his siblings, only he and three sisters survived into adulthood. Rogers was born on his parents’ Dog Iron Ranch in the Cherokee Nation of Indian Territory in what is near present-day… Read the full story

On this day in 1734, American frontiersman Daniel Boone was born. Famous for his exploration and settlement of what is now Kentucky, Boone is remembered as one of the most popular folk heroes in American history. Image: Daniel Boone / Library of Congress Boone was born to a large Quaker family at his family’s homestead in Pennsylvania. He was given his first rifle at the age of 12 and learned to hunt. Growing up on the frontier made Boone adept… Read the full story