November 2022

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

Do you have French ancestry? On this day in 1840, French Impressionist painter Claude Monet was born in Paris, France. A leading figure of the Impressionist movement, Monet’s work transformed French painting in the late 19th century. Image: Claude Monet / Wikimedia Commons He was born Oscar Claude Monet on November 14, 1840 to Claude Adolphe Monet and Louise Justine Aubrée. As a child, Monet was known locally for sketching charcoal caricatures and often drew members of his… Read the full story

It’s Veterans Day in the U.S. Today we honor all the men and women who have served in the armed forces. In honor of the holiday, we highlight General George S. Patton, who was also born on this day in 1885 in San Gabriel, California. Considered one of the most successful generals in history, Patton was instrumental in the liberation of Germany from the Nazis during World War II. Image: George S. Patton / Library of Congress Patton… 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

Today we celebrate Polish physicist Marie Curie, who was born on this day in 1867 in Warsaw, Poland. Not only was the pioneering scientist the first woman to win a Nobel Prize, but also the first person to win twice in two different fields. Image: Marie Curie / Smithsonian Institution, Flickr She was born Maria Skłodowska on November 7, 1867 and was the fifth and youngest child of Bronisława Boguska and Władysław Skłodowski, both well-known teachers…. 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.