2022

Today we remember screen legend Lauren Bacall on what would have been her 98th birthday. Image: Lauren Bacall / Wikimedia Commons Actress Lauren Bacall was born Betty Joan Perske on September 16, 1924 in New York City, New York. She was the only child of William Perske and Natalie Weinstein, who later legally changed her surname to Bacal. After her parents divorced, Bacall was raised by her mother. Bacall began her career as a model before catching the… Read the full story

On the morning after the Battle of Baltimore, lawyer and poet Francis Scott Key was inspired to write the poem “Defence of Fort McHenry,” which would become the lyrics to “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Image: Francis Scott Key / Library of Congress During the War of 1812, Key accompanied Colonel John Stuart Skinner aboard the British ship HMS Tonnant to negotiate the release of prisoners. During the negotiations, the British attacked Fort McHenry, leaving Key and Skinner powerless… Read the full story

Happy Roald Dahl Day! On this day in 1916, author Roald Dahl was born in Llandaff, Wales. Image: Roald Dahl / Library of Congress Dahl was the son of Norwegian parents, Harald Dahl and and Sofie Hesselberg. Dahl’s father was a wealthy shipbuilder and had emigrated from Sarpsborg, Norway and settled in Cardiff, Wales in the 1880s. His mother later immigrated to the UK and married his father in 1911. During World War I, Dahl… Read the full story

Today we remember rock and roll legend Buddy Holly, who was born on this day in 1936. Image: Buddy Holly / Wikimedia Commons Charles Hardin Holley was born on September 7, 1936 in Lubbock, Texas. He was the fourth child born to Lawrence Odell “L.O.” Holley and Ella Pauline Drake and nicknamed “Buddy” by his mother. Growing up, Buddy wasn’t the only member of the family interested in music. His older brothers performed in local talent shows and… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Richard Gere! Today the actor turns 73. Image: Richard Gere / Francesco, Flickr (CC BY 2.0) The popular actor was born Richard Tiffany Gere in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on August 31, 1949. His middle name comes from his mother, whose maiden name was Tiffany. Gere’s family had deep early American roots. He descends from Mayflower passengers through both his mother and father. As a teen, Gere excelled at gymnastics and even earned a… Read the full story

Have you read the story of Frankenstein? On this day in 1797, author Mary Shelley was born. Image: Mary Shelley / Wikimedia Commons She was born Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin on August 30, 1797 in London, England. She was the daughter of philosopher and novelist William Godwin and Mary Wollstonecraft, a writer and women’s rights advocate. Shortly after her birth, Shelley’s mother died, leaving her father to raise her and her older half sister, Fanny Imlay. At the age… Read the full story

On this day in 1930, actor Sean Connery was born. Image: Sean Connery / Nationaal Archief, CC0 The James Bond star was born Thomas Sean Connery on August 25, 1930 in Edinburgh, Scotland. He was named after his paternal grandfather, Thomas Connery, and was called “Tommy” throughout his childhood. Connery quit school at a young age and got his first job working as a milkman before joining the Royal Navy. After he was discharged for… Read the full story

On this day in 1754, Louis XVI of France was born at the Palace of Versailles. The French monarch was the last King of France before the fall of the monarchy during the French Revolution. Image: Louis XVI of France / New York Public Library Louis-Auguste was the second son of Louis, the Dauphin of France, and Marie-Josèphe of Saxony, the daughter of Augustus III, the King of Poland. Louis became the Dauphin at the age of… Read the full story

On this day in 1920, author Ray Bradbury was born. Image: Ray Bradbury / Alan Light, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0) Bradbury was born on August 22, 1920 in Waukegan, Illinois to Esther Moberg, a Swedish immigrant, and Leonard Spaulding Bradbury, a power and telephone lineman of English descent. Bradbury began writing his own stories as a child. During the Great Depression, he would sometimes use butcher paper to compose his works. It was his… Read the full story

September is just around the corner and that means it’s almost time for Webtember, Legacy Family Tree Webinars’ third annual free, month-long online genealogy conference! Every Friday for the entire month of September, Legacy Family Tree Webinars will host live and pre-recorded webinars. Join live each Friday to learn how you can take your genealogy skills to the next level. If you can’t make the live sessions, you can enjoy all 31 recordings at your… Read the full story

Are you a fan of Star Trek? Today we celebrate the birthday of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry, who was born on this day in 1921. Image: Gene Roddenberry / NASA Before finding success as a screenwriter and producer, Roddenberry served in the United States Army Air Force. During World War II, he flew 89 combat missions and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal. After the war, he continued to work as a commercial pilot… Read the full story

On this day in 1786, American frontiersman and folk hero Davy Crockett was born. Image: Davy Crockett / National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution CC0 David Crockett was born to John Wesley Crockett and Rebecca Hawkins in what is today Tennessee. He was named after his paternal grandfather, who was killed in a Cherokee raid at the onset of the Cherokee-American wars. Crockett gained fame for his many larger-than-life exploits. A skilled woodsman, an excellent hunter, and gifted storyteller, Crockett developed… Read the full story

Today we remember the King of Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley, who passed away on August 16, 1977 at the age of 42. Image: Elvis Presley / Wikimedia Commons Elvis was born on January 8, 1935 in Tupelo, Mississippi to Vernon and Gladys Presley. From very humble beginnings, Elvis would go on to be one of the most successful musicians in history. In 1956, he scored his first number one hit, “Heartbreak Hotel.” Shortly after, he made his big… Read the full story

Do you have royal blood? On this day in 1762, George IV of the United Kingdom was born. Image: George IV / Wikimedia Commons, Rijksmuseum The first child of King George III and Queen Charlotte, George became Prince Regent in 1811 during his father’s mental illnesses and ascended to the throne following his death in 1820. George enjoyed living an extravagant lifestyle and at the age of 23, secretly and illegally married Maria Fitzherbert, a twice-widowed commoner and a Roman… Read the full story

On this day in 1782, Vicente Guerrero, a leading general of the Mexican War of Independence and later President of Mexico, was born. A champion of the common people, Guerrero is remembered as one of the most influential leaders in Mexican history. Image: Vicente Guerrero / Wikimedia Commons Guerrero was born on August 10, 1782 in Tixtia, a small town in what is today his namesake state of Guerrero in Mexico. He was of Afro-mestizo descent and… Read the full story

On this day in 1908, space pioneer Mary G. Ross was born in Park Hill, Oklahoma. Remembered for being the first Native American female engineer, Ross’s contributions would become crucial to the development of the American space program. Image: Mary G. Ross / San Diego Air and Space Museum Ross was the second of five children born to William Ross and Mary Henrietta Moore. Her second great grandfather was John Ross, who was the longest serving Chief of… Read the full story

Today we celebrate what would have been astronaut Neil Armstrong’s 92nd birthday! Image: Neil Armstrong / NASA Neil Alden Armstrong was born to Stephen Koenig Armstrong and Viola Louise in Wapakoneta, Ohio on August 5, 1930. Armstrong’s love of flying began at a young age when his father took him on his first airplane flight at the age of five. After serving in the Korean War and finishing college, Armstrong joined the National Advisory Committee for… Read the full story

On this day in 1792, poet Percy Bysshe Shelley was born in Sussex, England. Regarded as one of the greatest English Romantic poets of the 19th century, Shelley’s work was often characterized as visionary and radical by his peers. Image: Percy Bysshe Shelley / Wikimedia Commons Shelley was the eldest legitimate son born to Sir Timothy Shelley, a member of Parliament, and Elizabeth Pilfold. He grew up learning to fish and hunt in the meadows around… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Tony Bennett! Today the iconic singer turns 96. Image: Tony Bennett / Nationaal Archief, CC0 Bennett was born Anthony Dominick Benedetto on August 3, 1926 in Queens, New York to John Benedetto, a grocer, and Anna Suraci, a seamstress. Growing up, Bennett had a passion for music and the arts. He began singing at the age of 10 and as a teen he worked as a singing waiter in several Italian restaurants…. Read the full story

On this day in 1589, Henry III of France died at the hands of a religious fanatic. Image: Henry III of France / Rijksmuseum, Wikimedia Commons Henry III was born on September 19, 1551 at the royal Château de Fontainebleau. The fourth son of King Henry II and Catherine de Medici, Henry was never expected to become the King of France. He ruled as the King of the Polish-Lithuanian commonwealth before inheriting the French throne… Read the full story

Do you remember watching Bob Hope onscreen? The comedian died on this day in 2003 at the age of 100. Image: Bob Hope / U.S. National Archives and Records Administration He was born Leslie Townes Hope on May 29, 1903 in Eltham, London. He was the fifth of seven sons born to William Henry Hope, a stonemason, and Avis Townes, an amateur opera singer and cleaner. In 1908, the family emigrated to the United States on… Read the full story

Remember reading A Farewell to Arms? On this day in 1899, author Ernest Hemingway was born in Oak Park, Illinois. Image: Ernest Hemingway / U.S. National Archives and Records Administration During World War I, Hemingway enlisted with the Red Cross to become an ambulance driver in Italy. On July 8, 1918, he was seriously wounded by mortar fire and despite his injuries, Hemingway assisted Italian soldiers to safety. He would receive the Italian Silver Medal of Bravery… Read the full story

Today we remember Italian inventor Guglielmo Marconi, who died on this day in 1937. Known for his pioneering work on long-distance radio transmission, Marconi was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for his contributions to the development of wireless technology. Image: Smithsonian Institution Marconi was born on April 25, 1874 in Bologna, Italy to a wealthy Italian family. His father, Giuseppe Marconi, was an Italian aristocratic landowner, while his mother, Annie Jameson, was the granddaughter… Read the full story

On July 19, 1834, painter and sculptor Edgar Degas was born in Paris, France. Image: Edgar Degas / Wikimedia Commons At the beginning of his career, Degas aspired to become a history painter, which required rigorous academic training. However, he later changed course and turned to capturing moments of modern life. Although he is regarded as one of the founders of Impressionism, Degas rejected the term and preferred to be called a realist. His highly… Read the full story

Today we remember legendary astronaut John Glenn on what would have been his 101st birthday. Image: John Glenn / NASA John Herschel Glenn, Jr. was born on July 18, 1921 to John Herschel Glenn, Sr. and Clara Sproat in Cambridge, Ohio. In 1943, Glenn married his high school sweetheart, Anna Castor. The couple had met when they were just toddlers and remained married for 73 years until his death. An original member of the Mercury… Read the full story

Do you have Dutch ancestry? Dutch artist Rembrandt van Rijn was born on this day in 1606 in Leiden in the Dutch Republic, now known as the Netherlands. Image: Rembrandt van Rijn / Wikimedia Commons The ninth child born to Harmen Gerritszoon van Rijn and Neeltgen Willemsdochter van Zuytbrouck, Rembrandt was put through school in preparation for a career in the government or ministry. However, by the age of 15, he abandoned his studies to pursue… Read the full story

Happy 80th birthday to Harrison Ford! Image: Harrison Ford / Wikimedia Commons, Gage Skidmore (CC BY-SA 2.0) He was born on July 13, 1942 in Chicago, Illinois to Christopher Ford and Dorothy Nidelman. His maternal grandparents, Harrison Nidelman and Annie Lifshitz, were Jewish immigrants from Minsk, Belarus. While his paternal grandparents, John Fitzgerald Ford and Florence Niehaus, were of Irish and German ancestry. Ford was working as a carpenter before he finally found success as… Read the full story

Today marks writer Henry David Thoreau’s 205th birthday! Image: Henry David Thoreau / Wikimedia Commons He was born David Henry Thoreau on July 12, 1817 in Concord, Massachusetts to John Thoreau, a pencil maker, and Cynthia Dunbar. His maternal grandfather, Asa Dunbar, had led Harvard’s 1766 “Butter Rebellion,” the first recorded student protest in the colonies. Thoreau was a leading transcendentalist and naturalist and often wrote about nature and the environment. He is best remembered for… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Kevin Bacon! Today the actor turns 64. Image: Kevin Bacon / Gage Skidmore, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0) Kevin Norwood Bacon was born on July 8, 1958 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Edmund Norwood Bacon, a prominent architect, and Ruth Hilda Holmes, a teacher and activist. The youngest of six children, Bacon left home at the age of 17 to pursue an acting career full time. In 1984, Bacon skyrocketed to fame after starring in the box-office… Read the full story

Today we celebrate musician Ringo Starr’s 82nd birthday! Image: Ringo Starr / Library of Congress The former Beatle was born Richard Starkey to Elsie Gleave and Richard Starkey in Liverpool, England. He spent some of his childhood in and out of hospitals. After an appendectomy at the age of 6, he contracted peritonitis, which left him living in a children’s hospital for a year while he recovered. A few years later, he contracted tuberculosis and was… Read the full story

Today we remember artist Frida Kahlo, who was born on this day 115 years ago. Magdalena Carmen Frida Kahlo y Calderón was born on July 6, 1907 in Coyoacán, a village outside of Mexico City, Mexico. Her father, Guillermo Kahlo, was a photographer born in Germany and immigrated to Mexico in 1891. At the age of 6, Kahlo contracted polio, which left her right leg shorter than her left. Kahlo first began painting after she was… Read the full story

Trailblazing performer and civil rights activist Lena Horne was born on this day in 1917. Horne was born on June 30, 1917 in Brooklyn, New York. At the age of 16, she dropped out of school and began performing at the Cotton Club in Harlem. It was at the infamous club that Horne was first introduced to the jazz community. She made her Broadway debut in the chorus of the 1934 show Dance With Your… Read the full story

Today we remember legendary actress Katharine Hepburn, who passed away on this day in 2003. Remembered as one of Hollywood’s most celebrated actresses in film history, Hepburn earned a record 4 Academy Awards for Best Actress, more than any other performer and still holds the record to this day. Image: Katharine Hepburn / Wikimedia Commons Hepburn was born on May 12, 1907 to a very progressive family. Her father, Thomas Norval Hepburn, was a urologist who helped establish… Read the full story

On June 28, 1491, Henry VIII was born at Greenwich. The second son of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York, Henry was not expected to become king. However, the sudden death of his brother, Arthur, in 1502 made Henry the heir-apparent. Image: Henry VIII of England / Paul Hermans, Wikimedia Commons Still intent on securing an alliance between England and Spain, Henry VII offered Henry in marriage to Arthur’s widow, Catherine of Aragon, the youngest surviving child of… Read the full story

“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched – they must be felt with the heart.” – Helen Keller Image: Helen Keller / Library of Congress On this day in 1880, inspirational author and activist Helen Keller was born in Tuscumbia, Alabama. Her father, Arthur Keller, was a captain for the Confederate Army and a second cousin to General Robert E. Lee. She was not blind and deaf at birth. At 19… Read the full story

For this Father’s Day, we asked the community to share the best advice they had ever received from their dad or father-figure in their life. One lucky winner would be chosen at random to receive a free 1-year subscription of Geni Pro. Today we are excited to announce the winner of our Father’s Day giveaway is Paula Wertheim! Paula shared a lovely story about her husband’s late stepfather, John P. Walther. My husband’s late stepfather… Read the full story

On this day in 1895, boxing legend Jack Dempsey was born. Nicknamed “The Manassa Mauler,” Dempsey’s  powerful punch made him one of the most popular boxers in history. Image: Jack Dempsey / Library of Congress He was born William Harrison Dempsey in Manassa, Colorado to Mary Celia Smoot and Hiram Dempsey. Dempsey grew up in a poor family. By the age of 8, he had landed his first job as a crop picker. After working a… Read the full story

On this day in 1929, country singer June Carter Cash was born. Image: Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash / Wikimedia Commons She was born Valerie June Carter on June 23, 1929 in Maces Spring, Virginia and grew up in a famous musical family. Her mother, Maybelle Addington, was a part of the original Carter Family singing group, which was also one of the first commercial rural country music groups. Her father, Ezra Carter, managed the… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Meryl Streep! Today the star turns 73. Image: Meryl Streep / Wikimedia Commons Mary Louise Streep was born on June 22, 1949 in Summit, New Jersey to Mary Wilkinson Streep, a commercial artist and art editor, and Harry William Streep, a pharmaceutical executive. A graduate of Yale Drama School, Streep began her career on the stage. Before long, she lit up the big screen opposite Robert De Niro in The Deer Hunter and earned… Read the full story

Today Prince William celebrates his 40th birthday! Born June 21, 1982, the Duke of Cambridge was the first child of Prince Charles and Princess Diana and the second in the line of succession to the British throne. Image: Prince William, Duke of Cambridge / USAID/Vietnam He was born at St. Mary’s Hospital in London, making him the first direct heir of the British throne to be born in a hospital. Since then, all three of… Read the full story

On this day in 1925, World War II hero Audie Murphy was born in Kingston, Texas. One of the most decorated American combat soldiers of World War II, Murphy received every military combat award for valor available from the U.S. Army. After the war, he enjoyed a successful acting career and became one of Hollywood’s most popular stars. Image: Audie Murphy / Wikimedia Commons Murphy was the seventh of twelve children born to Emmett Berry… Read the full story

On this day in 1882, Russian composer Igor Stravinsky was born. Today Stravinsky is remembered as one of the most important and influential composers of the 20th century. Image: Igor Stravinsky / Library of Congress Stravinsky was born on June 17, 1882 in Oranienbaum, St. Petersburg, Russia. He was the son of Fyodor Ignatievich Stravinsky, a notable bass singer, and Anna Kholodovskaa, an accomplished pianist. From a young age, Stravinsky studied the piano and music theory, however,… Read the full story

Happy Bloomsday! The day celebrates the work of Irish writer James Joyce, whose most famous novel, Ulysses, takes place entirely on June 16, 1904. Image: James Joyce / Wikimedia Commons Bloomsday is observed annually on June 16 in Dublin, Ireland and other places throughout the world. The day is celebrated with a variety of events from public readings of Ulysses to pub crawls. Avid readers will often dress in Edwardian costumes and retrace Ulysses protagonist Leopold Bloom’s route around Dublin. The… Read the full story

Have you found any Norwegian connections? On this day in 1843, Norwegian composer and pianist Edvard Grieg was born in Bergen, Norway. Widely considered one of the leading Norwegian composers of the Romantic era, Grieg brought the national folk music of Norway to international audiences. Image: Edvard Grieg / Bergen Public Library, Flickr Grieg was born on June 15, 1843 to Alexander Greig, a merchant and vice-consul in Bergen, and Gesine Judith Hagerup, a music teacher… Read the full story

Image: Harriet Beecher Stowe / U.S. National Archives and Records Administration “So you are the little woman who wrote the book that started this great war.” According to legend, these are the words President Abraham Lincoln said upon meeting Harriet Beecher Stowe, author of the popular anti-slavery novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin, shortly after the start of the American Civil War. The novel’s vivid depiction of the realities of slavery is often credited with helping to change the public’s… Read the full story

Do you have ancestors who were on the Titanic? On this day in 1863, famous Titanic passenger Lady Lucy Duff-Gordon was born in London, England. Image: Lady Lucy Duff-Gordon / Library of Congress She was born Lucy Christiana Sutherland to Douglas Sutherland, a civil engineer, and Elinor Saunders. Lady Duff-Gordon was known one of England’s leading fashion designers and an innovator in couture styles. She originated the “mannequin parade,” which was the precursor to the modern fashion… Read the full story

With Father’s Day coming up soon, we want to hear from you the best advice you have received from your dad or a father-figure in your life. Share their words of wisdom with us, along with a picture of your father, and you can win a free year of Geni Pro! Over the years, our dads have given us lots of advice. From small tips to bigger life lessons, a father’s wise words can leave… Read the full story

155 years ago today, iconic architect Frank Lloyd Wright was born in Richland Center, Wisconsin. Image: Frank Lloyd Wright / Library of Congress Wright was born on June 8, 1867 to William Cary Wright, a minister and occasional lawyer, and Anna Lloyd Jones, a country school teacher. During her pregnancy, Wright’s mother had proclaimed that her child would come to build beautiful buildings and thus, decorated Wright’s nursery with engravings of English cathedrals to encourage… Read the full story

Do you have a favorite Prince song? On this day in 1958, the iconic musician was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Image: Scott Penner, Flickr (CC BY-SA 3.0) He was born Prince Rogers Nelson to John Lewis Nelson, a jazz musician, and Mattie Della Shaw. He was named after his father, who used the stage name Prince Rogers when performing. Throughout his life, Prince’s father was a significant influence on his music. He wrote his first song… Read the full story

Do you have American Revolutionary War ancestors? On this day in 1756, artist John Trumbull was born. Trumbull is often referred to as “The Painter of the Revolution” for his iconic historical paintings and portraits. Image: John Trumbull / Yale University Art Gallery, Wikimedia Commons Trumbull was born in Lebanon in colonial Connecticut on June 6, 1756 to Jonathan Trumbull and Faith Robinson. His father served as the Governor of Connecticut Colony, and then after the American… Read the full story