2022

As the year comes to a close, we’re taking a look back at 2022. We introduced some great, long-awaited features and we finally had the chance to see people in person once again! This year our team worked hard on some big projects. We were thrilled to announce the return of Family Tree Charts to Geni! The previous version had been unavailable for some time as we worked on moving the charts off of Flash…. Read the full story

On this day in 1856, Woodrow Wilson, the 28th President of the United States, was born in Staunton, Virginia. Image: Woodrow Wilson / Library of Congress Wilson was the third of four children born to Joseph Ruggles Wilson and Jessie Janet Woodrow. His paternal grandparents had immigrated to the United States from Ireland, while his maternal grandparents had come from Scotland. As President, Wilson led the country through World War I and helped craft the Treaty… Read the full story

On December 27, 1822, French scientist Louis Pasteur was born in Dole, France. Image: Louis Pasteur / Library of Congress Known for his scientific breakthroughs in the prevention of diseases, Pasteur made remarkable strides in the study of germs and was the first to encourage doctors to sanitize their hands and equipment before surgery. Perhaps his most famous scientific contribution was his development of pasteurization, which bears his name. In 1887, the Pasteur Institute was… Read the full story

We’re excited to announce a new feature for Geni Pro users – Inbox Search.  Over the years, we have often been asked to add the ability to search your Geni inbox to quickly locate specific messages. Today we’re delighted to deliver this long awaited feature!  As your tree grows and you begin communicating with other members on Geni, you’ll soon find yourself with a full inbox. Now you no longer need to waste time scrolling… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Jane Fonda! Today the actress turns 85. Image: Georges Biard / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0) She was born on December 21, 1937 to legendary actor Henry Fonda and Frances Ford Seymour in New York City. At the age of 12, her mother committed suicide while receiving treatment at a psychiatric hospital. After working as a model, Fonda decided to follow in her father’s footsteps and pursue an acting career. She rose to… Read the full story

Happy birthday, Dick Van Dyke! Today the lovable actor turns 97. Image: Dick Van Dyke / Wikimedia Commons He was born Richard Wayne Van Dyke on December 13, 1925 in West Plains, Missouri. During World War II, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps where he became a radio announcer, and later, transferred to the Special Services to entertain the troops. Over the course of his long and impressive career, Van Dyke has starred in… Read the full story

Happy birthday, Frank Sinatra! Today marks what would have been the legendary crooner’s 107th birthday. Image: Frank Sinatra / Library of Congress Francis Albert Sinatra was born on December 12, 1915 in an upstairs tenement in Hoboken, New Jersey. At 13.5 pounds, Sinatra’s birth was not an easy one. He was delivered with the aid of forceps, which left him with severe scars on this left cheek, neck, and ear, and a perforated eardrum. After getting… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Judi Dench! Today the actress turns 88. A legend on the stage and screen, Dench has won accolades for her work in theater, film, and television. Image: Thore Siebrands / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0) Dench was born on December 9, 1934 in Heworth, York, England to Eleanora Olive Jones and Reginald Arthur Dench. Her father was a doctor for the Theatre Royal in York and so Dench was often in presence… Read the full story

On this day in 1873, American author Willa Cather was born in Back Creek Valley, Virginia. She was best known for her novels O Pioneers!, The Song of the Lark, and My Ántonia, which vividly depicted frontier life on the Great Plains. Image: Willa Cather / Library of Congress She was born Wilella Sibert Cather on December 7, 1873 on her maternal grandmother’s farm in the Back Creek Valley near Winchester, Virginia. For six generations, her family had… Read the full story

Have you found connection to royalty? Today we remember William II of the Netherlands, who was born on this day in 1792. Image: William II of the Netherlands / Amsterdam Museum, Wikimedia Commons William II was the eldest son of William I of the Netherlands and Wihelmine of Prussia, who was the daughter of King Frederick William of Prussia and William I’s first cousin. In 1795, his entire family went into exile in Britain. At the age… Read the full story

On this day in 1825, Pedro II of Brazil was born. The second and last monarch of the Empire of Brazil, Pedro II was nicknamed “the Magnanimous” and reigned for over 58 years. Image: Pedro II of Brazil / Library of Congress Pedro II was born on December 2, 1825 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He was the seventh child of Pedro I of Brazil and Maria Leopoldina of Austria. His mother’s sister, Marie Louise,… Read the full story

Today Bette Midler celebrates her 77th birthday! Image: Bette Midler / Alan Light, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0) The celebrated singer and actress was born on December 1, 1945 in Honolulu, Hawaii to Ruth Schindel and Fred Midler, who worked at a Navy base in Hawaii as a painter. She was named after actress Bette Davis, although she pronounces her name as one syllable. Her sisters, Susan and Judy, were also named after Hollywood stars, Susan Hayward and… Read the full story

Today we remember Winston Churchill, who was born on this day in 1874. Image: Winston Churchill / Library of Congress Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill was born into the aristocratic family of the Dukes of Marlborough, a branch of the prominent Spencer family. His father was a politician and his mother was an American socialite. Churchill was born two months premature in Blenheim Palace, a monumental country house that was rewarded to his ancestor, John Churchill, 1st… Read the full story

Are you looking forward to Thanksgiving? If you’re still looking for some interesting dish ideas, old newspapers are filled with recipe suggestions, with many submitted by their readers. We had some fun finding recipes that may give your Thanksgiving table a nice taste of the past. Several articles also offered a variety of menu suggestions for your Thanksgiving dinner. It’s interesting to see what was included in the holiday meal throughout time. In addition to… Read the full story

On this day in 1888, comedian Harpo Marx was born in New York City, New York. Image: Harpo Marx / Wikimedia Commons He was born Adolph Arthur Marx to Samuel “Frenchie” Marx and Minnie Schoenberg on November 23, 1888. The second oldest of five boys, Harpo and his brothers took on a variety of odd jobs to help support the family. In 1910, Harpo and his brothers, Leonard (“Chico”), Julius (“Groucho”) and Milton (“Gummo”) formed… Read the full story

Today we remember President John F. Kennedy, who was assassinated on this day 59 years ago in Dallas, Texas. Image: John F. Kennedy / U.S. National Archives and Records Administration On November 22, 1963, President Kennedy was fatally shot by a sniper while traveling in an open motorcade with his wife, Jacqueline. Celebrated as one of the most beloved Presidents of the United States, Kennedy’s sudden death shocked the entire nation. John Fitzgerald Kennedy was born on… Read the full story

On November 21, 1694, French Enlightenment philosopher Voltaire was born in Paris, France. Image: Voltaire / Wikimedia Commons He was born François-Marie Arouet and was the youngest of five children. He later adopted the name “Voltaire,” which is an anagram of “Arovet Li,” the Latinized spelling of his surname Arouet and the initial letters of “le jenue” (“the young”). As an outspoken advocate of freedom of religion, freedom of expression and separation of church and state,… Read the full story

Astronaut Alan Shepard was born on November 18, 1923. Shepard made history in 1961 when he became the first American to travel into space. Image: Alan Shepard / NASA Shepard was born in East Derry, New Hampshire to Alan Shepard, Sr.and Pauline Renza Emerson. Shepard was fascinated with flying from an early age. He graduated from the U.S. Navel Academy and served onboard the destroyer Cogswell during World War II. After the war, he became a test pilot for the Navy…. Read the full story

Do you or your family can and preserve fruits and vegetables? You can thank French chef Nicolas Appert, who was born on this day in 1749. Appert, also known as the “Father of Canning,” invented the airtight food preservation method in the early 19th century. Image: Nicolas Appert / Wikimedia Commons During the Napoleonic Wars, the French government offered a cash prize to an inventor who could develop a new method of preserving food. Appert experimented for 14 years until he… Read the full story

Do you have a favorite Clark Gable movie? Today we remember the legendary actor who died on this day in 1960. Image: Clark Gable / Wikimedia Commons William Clark Gable was born on February 1, 1901 in Cadiz, Ohio. While he was an infant, his mother died, possibly from a brain tumor. From a young age, Gable aspired to become an actor. He found work with second-class theater companies and eventually made his way across… Read the full story

With the holidays just around the corner, chances are you will be getting together with your relatives to celebrate. It may also present a great opportunity to catch a few relatives for an interview about your family history! Before seeing your relatives this holiday season, here are some tips to help prepare for an interview with your relatives. 1. Plan ahead First, take a look at what information you have and what you may still be… Read the full story

Who are the artists in your family tree? On this day in 1887, American artist Georgia O’Keeffe was born in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin. Image: Georgia O’Keeffe / Library of Congress The second of seven children, Georgia Totto O’Keeffe grew up on a dairy farm. She was named after her maternal grandfather, George Victor Otto, a Hungarian who had immigrated to the United States. After the death of her husband, O’Keeffe moved to New Mexico where she… Read the full story

On this day in 1871, journalist and explorer Henry Morton Stanley finally located missing explorer Dr. David Livingstone in Ujiji, near Lake Tanganyika in present-day Tanzania. He famously greeted him with, “Dr. Livingstone, I presume?” Image: Henry Morton Stanley / Smithsonian Institution, Flickr In 1865, Dr. Livingstone had set out to Africa on a two year expedition to find the source of the Nile River. However, six years after his expedition began, little was heard… Read the full story

Today we celebrate actress Hedy Lamarr, who was born on this day in 1914. Image: Hedy Lamarr / Wikimedia Commons She was born Hedwig Eva Maria Kiesler on November 9, 1914 in Vienna, Austria-Hungry. A top actress of Hollywood’s Golden Age, Lamarr was discovered as a teenager by an Austrian film director. At 19, she married Friedrich Mandl, a wealthy Austrian military arms merchant who did business with Mussolini and Hitler. The marriage was an… Read the full story

Award-winning author Margaret Mitchell was born on this day in 1900. Remembered as the author of the literary classic, Gone With the Wind, Mitchell would only publish one novel during her lifetime. Image: Margaret Mitchell / Library of Congress Mitchell was born on November 8, 1900 in Atlanta, Georgia to a wealthy and prominent family. Both of Mitchell’s grandfather’s served in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War. Her paternal grandfather, Russell Crawford Mitchell, was severely… Read the full story

On November 4, 1879, American cowboy, social commentator, and actor Will Rogers was born. Image: Will Rogers / Wikimedia Commons Known as “Oklahoma’s Favorite Son,” Rogers was born to a prominent Cherokee Nation family in what is now Oklahoma. After performing in Wild West shows as a young man, he broke out in vaudeville and film to become one of the most famous actors in the world in the 1920s and ’30s. In addition to… Read the full story

On this day in 1926, legendary sharpshooter Annie Oakley died at the age of 66. A major star of Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show, Oakley gained fame by showcasing her excellent marksmanship abilities. Image: Annie Oakley / Library of Congress She was born Phoebe Anne Mosey on August 13, 1860 in a cabin in Darke County, Ohio. She was the fifth of seven surviving children born to Jacob Mosey and Susan Wise. Oakley honed her… Read the full story

On this day in 1755, Marie Antoinette was born in Vienna, Austria. Image: Marie Antoinette / Wikimedia Commons She was the 15th child born to Empress Maria Theresa, the ruler of the Habsburg empire, and Frances I, Holy Roman Emperor. At 15 years old, Marie Antoinette married the future French king Louis XVI to secure an alliance between the Habsburg Empire and France. After the death of Louis XV in 1774, Louis XVI ascended to the French… Read the full story

Remember reading The Red Badge of Courage? Author Stephen Crane was born on November 1, 1871 in Newark, New Jersey.

Do you have any Dutch ancestry? Today we highlight Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer, who was born around October 31, 1632. Although little is known about the early years of his life, records show he was baptized on October 31 in Delft in the Netherlands. Image: Johannes Vermeer / Wikimedia Commons Vermeer was born to Digna Baltens and Reijnier Jansz, a silk weaver who produced caffa, a fine satin fabric. His father later became an innkeeper and… Read the full story

Today we are excited to announce the release of the Source Assistant – a quick and easy way to extract information from your confirmed Record Matches and Smart Matches™ from MyHeritage to the family tree on Geni.  Now when you confirm a Record Match or a Smart Match™, you can quickly add new or updated information from the MyHeritage match to your relatives’ Geni profiles with just a few clicks. The new Source Assistant We… Read the full story

Have you read The Canterbury Tales? English poet Geoffrey Chaucer died on this day in 1400. Known as the “father of English literature,” Chaucer was the first writer to be buried in Poets’ Corner of Westminster Abbey. Image: Geoffrey Chaucer / British Library, Flickr He was born around 1343 in what was probably London, but not much is known about the early years of his life. Through his royal connections, Chaucer held various positions including a noblewoman’s page,… Read the full story

On this day in 1956, Carrie Fisher was born. A cultural icon, Fisher would have turned 66 today. Image: Gage Skidmore, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0) As the daughter of singer Eddie Fisher and movie star Debbie Reynolds, it seemed Fisher was destined to follow her parents into show business. She began her acting career at the age of 15 in the Broadway show Irene starring her mother. A couple of years later, she made… Read the full story

Do you remember the first scary movie you ever saw? Today we remember horror movie icon Bela Lugosi, who was born on October 20, 1882 in Lugos, Hungary. Image: Bela Lugosi / Wikimedia Commons Dubbed the King of Horror, Lugosi was a dominant figure of 1930’s horror. He most notably portrayed Count Dracula, which to this day is still considered by many to be the definitive portrayal of the vampire legend. Lugosi was born Béla Ferenc Deszõ Blaskó on… Read the full story

On this day in 1850, mountaineer, lecturer, and suffragist Annie Smith Peck was born. Image: Annie Smith Peck / Library of Congress Peck was born on October 19, 1850 in Providence, Rhode Island and was the youngest of five children born to George Bacheler Peck and Ann Power Smith. Growing up, Peck wished to attend Brown University, just like her father and brothers had done, but she was refused admission due to her gender. She… Read the full story

Today we remember legendary actress and dancer Rita Hayworth on what would have been her 104th birthday. Image: Rita Hayworth / Wikimedia Commons She was born Margarita Carmen Cansino on October 17, 1918 in Brooklyn, New York. Hayworth was the oldest child of two dancers, Eduardo Cansino, Sr. and Volga Hayworth. Her paternal grandfather was Antonio Cansino, a renowned Spanish classical dancer. She was dancing professionally by the age of 12 alongside her father. The pair… Read the full story

Geni Curator Jarrett Ross, also known as the GeneaVlogger, has released a great new video all about making a family tree for the entire world through collaboration. In this video, Jarrett looks back at the early days of Geni and the beginnings of the World Family Tree, which today connects over 172 million profiles. Learn more about Geni’s World Family Tree. This video also includes a great discussion with fellow curator Randy Schoenberg that is… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Paul Simon! Today the legendary singer-songwriter turns 81. Image: Paul Simon / National Archief, Wikimedia Commons Simon was born on October 13, 1941 in Newark, New Jersey to Hungarian Jewish parents. His road to musical stardom began at the tender age of 11, when he met Art Garfunkel. The young musicians performed together in their sixth grade production of Alice in Wonderland. At 13, the duo were soon singing under the name “Tom &… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Hugh Jackman! Today the actor turns 54. Image: Hugh Jackman / Eva Rinaldi, Flickr (CC BY-SA 2.0) Jackman was born on October 12, 1968 in Sydney, Australia to Grace McNeil (Greenwood) and Christopher John Jackman. His parents were English and had come to Australia as part of the “Ten Pound Poms” immigration in 1967. Implemented after World War II, the immigration program was an effort to increase the population of Australia. Emigrants… Read the full story

On October 11, 1884, former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt was born. Image: Eleanor Roosevelt / Library of Congress Anne Eleanor Roosevelt was born in New York City, New York to Elliot Roosevelt and Anna Rebecca Hall. Born into the prominent Roosevelt family, Eleanor was the niece of Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th President of the United States. She was an orphan by the age of 10 and grew up in the home of her maternal grandmother,… Read the full story

Do you have singers in your family tree? On this day in 1820, Swedish opera singer Jenny Lind was born in Stockholm, Sweden. Image: Jenny Lind / National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution CC0 Born Johanna Maria Lind on October 6, 1820, Lind was the illegitimate daughter of Niclas Jonas Lind, a bookkeeper, and Anne-Marie Felborg, a school teacher. Although divorced from her first husband, Lind’s mother refused to remarry until after his death in 1834. Her… Read the full story

Pioneering physicist and inventor Robert H. Goddard was born on October 5, 1882 in Worcester, Massachusetts. Known as the father of modern rocket propulsion, Goddard is credited with creating, building, and launching the world’s first liquid-fueled rocket.  Image: Robert H. Goddard / NASA Despite his groundbreaking work, Goddard received very little public support for his research. Ahead of his time, Goddard recognized the potential of rockets for atmospheric research, missiles and space travel. He even noted the possibility of a… Read the full story

Today we remember country music icon Loretta Lynn, who has passed away at the age of 90. Image: Loretta Lynn / Scott Schram, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0) Lynn was born Loretta Webb on April 14, 1932 in Butcher Hollow, Kentucky. She was the second child and eldest daughter born to Melvin “Ted” Webb and Clara Marie “Clary” Ramey. Named after actress Loretta Young, Lynn grew up in a poor Appalachian mining town. At the… Read the full story

Today we remember Holocaust survivor, human rights activist, and Nobel Peace-prize winner Elie Wiesel, who was born on this day in 1928. Image: Elie Wiesel / Library of Congress Wiesel was born on September 30, 1928 in Sighet, Romania and grew up in a close-knit Jewish community. At the age of 15, Wiesel and his family were sent to Auschwitz, where his mother and sister were killed. He and his father were later sent to… Read the full story

Do you have Spanish ancestors? Today in 1547, author Miguel de Cervantes was born in Alacalá de Henares, Spain. Image: Miguel de Cervantes / New York Public Library He was the fourth of seven children born to Rodrigo Cervantes Torreblanca, a barber-surgeon, and Leonor de Cortinas, the daughter of a nobleman. His paternal grandfather, Juan de Cervantes, was a prominent and influential lawyer, while his uncle, Andrés de Cervantes, served as mayor of the city of Cabra…. Read the full story

Do you remember watching The Ed Sullivan Show? On this day in 1901, Ed Sullivan was born. Image: Ed Sullivan / Library of Congress Edward Vincent Sullivan was born on September 28, 1901 in Harlem, New York City, New York to Peter Arthur Sullivan and Elizabeth Smith. He was born a twin, but his brother Danny died a few months after birth. Growing up, Sullivan excelled in sports and wrote for his school newspaper. After graduating, he landed… Read the full story

Today we remember Ray Charles on what would have been his 92nd birthday. Image: Ray Charles / Nationaal Archief, CC0 Ray Charles Robinson was born on September 23, 1930 in Albany, Georgia. He was the son of Bailey Robinson, a mechanic, and Aretha Williams, a laundress. Around the age of four or five, Charles began to lose his sight and by the age of seven, he was completely blind. Although the family had little money,… Read the full story

On this day in 1791, English physicist Michael Faraday was born in Surrey, England. Faraday is remembered for his groundbreaking discoveries in electromagnetism. Image: Michael Faraday / Science History Institute Faraday was the third child born to James Faraday and Margaret Hastwell. His family was not well off and could only afford him a basic education. At the age of 14, he began an apprenticeship with a local bookseller and educated himself by reading a wide… Read the full story

On this day in 1866, The Time Machine author H.G. Wells was born in Bromley, Kent, England. Image: H.G. Wells / LSE Library, Flickr Wells was the fourth child born to Joseph Wells and Sarah Neal, both shopkeepers. The family struggled financially and by the age of 14, Wells became an apprentice to a draper. After finishing school, Wells became a science teacher. In 1891, he married his cousin, Isabel Mary Wells, however, the marriage did not… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Sophia Loren! Today the Italian actress turns 88. Image: Sophia Loren / Wikimedia Commons She was born Sofia Villani Scicolone on September 20, 1934 in Rome, Italy to Romilda Villani and Riccardo Scicolone. Raised in poverty, Loren would become one of Italy’s most renowned and honored actresses. Loren began her path to international stardom after entering a beauty pageant at the age of 15. In 1957, she starred in her first Hollywood film, The… Read the full story