2023

On this day in 1861, English poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning died at the age of 55. Remembered as one of the most popular poets of the Victorian Era, Elizabeth was very well known during her lifetime in Europe and America. Image: Elizabeth Barrett Browning / Library of Congress The eldest of twelve children, Elizabeth Barrett Moulton-Barrett was born on March 6, 1806 in Coxhoe Hall in County Durham, England. Her father’s family had acquired their wealth in… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Kathy Bates! Today the star turns 75. Image: Kathy Bates / Gage Skidmore, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0) She was born Kathleen Doyle Bates on June 28, 1948 in Memphis, Tennessee. She is the youngest of three daughters born to Langdon Doyle Bates and Bertye Kathleen Talbert. Her paternal grandfather, Finis L. Bates, was a lawyer and the author of The Escape and Suicide of John Wilkes Booth. In the book, he… Read the full story

On June 27, 1880, Helen Keller was born in Tuscumbia, Alabama. Image: Helen Keller / Library of Congress At just 18 months old, Keller contracted an illness that left her blind and deaf. During the early years of her childhood, Keller had very limited methods of communication and became very unruly. Her mother hired Anne Sullivan to help teach Keller. Sullivan began to teach Keller words by drawing the letters into her hands. After a… Read the full story

How are you related to royalty? On this day in 1830, George IV died at the age of 67. Image: George IV / Wikimedia Commons, Rijksmuseum Born on August 12, 1762, George was the eldest son of King George III and Queen Charlotte. In 1810, he became regent as his father’s health and mental stability deteriorated. He ascended to the throne in 1820 after his father’s death. Known for his extravagant, indulgent lifestyle and heavy drinking, George… Read the full story

On June 21, 1982, William, Prince of Wales, was born. Image: Prince William, Duke of Cambridge / USAID,Vietnam William was born in St. Mary’s Hospital in London during the reign of his grandmother Queen Elizabeth II. He is the eldest child of King Charles III and Diana, Princess of Wales and the heir apparent to the British throne. Sadly, at the age of 15, William lost his mother in a horrific car crash in Paris,… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Lionel Richie! Today the singer and songwriter turns 74. Image: Lionel Richie / U.S. State Department Photo, Public Domain He was born Lionel Brockman Richie on June 20, 1949 in Tuskegee, Alabama. He grew up at the Tuskegee Institute, where two generations of his family worked. After first gaining popularity as one of the founding members of the Commodores, Richie branched out on his own and established a highly successful solo career…. Read the full story

Today we remember Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg, who was born on this day in 1843. Considered one of the leading Norwegian composers of the Romantic Era, Grieg successfully brought the music of Norway to international audiences. Image: Edvard Grieg / Bergen Public Library Norway, Flickr Grieg was born on June 15, 1843 in Bergen, Norway to Alexander Greig, a merchant and vice-consul in Bergen, and Gesine Judithe Hagerup, a music teacher. Grieg grew up in a… Read the full story

Remember reading Uncle Tom’s Cabin? On this day in 1811, abolitionist and author Harriet Beecher Stowe was born in Litchfield, Connecticut. Image: Harriet Beecher Stowe / U.S. National Archives and Records Administration Stowe was the seventh of thirteen children born to Lyman Beecher, a Calvinist preacher, and Roxana Foote, who died when Stowe as just five years old. Her great grandfather, Andrew Ward V, was a general in the American Revolutionary War. Growing up, Stowe received… Read the full story

Image: William Butler Yeats / Library of Congress Have you read the poems by William Butler Yeats? On June 13, 1865, the Irish poet was born in Dublin, Ireland to John and Susan Yeats. Considered one of the foremost figures of 20th century literature, Yeats writings were a  driving force behind the Irish Literary Revival. In 1923, he became the first Irishman to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in Literature. Aware of the significance,… Read the full story

Architect Frank Lloyd Wright was born on this day in 1867 in the farming town of Richland Center, Wisconsin. Considered one of the greatest architects in history, Wright has designed some of the most iconic buildings in the world. Image: Frank Lloyd Wright / Library of Congress He was born Franklin Lincoln Wright on June 8, 1867 to William Cary Wright, a music teacher and minister, and Anna Lloyd Jones, a country school teacher. He was… Read the full story

On this day in 1917, singer and actor Dean Martin was born in Steubenville, Ohio. Image: Dean Martin / Wikimedia Commons He was born Dino Paul Crocetti to Gaetano Alfonso Crocetti and Angela Barra. At home, Martin first learned to speak Italian and didn’t learn to speak English until he first went to school at the age of 5. After dropping out of high school, Martin bootlegged liquor, served as a speakeasy croupier, worked as a blackjack… Read the full story

On this day in 1840, Victorian poet and novelist Thomas Hardy was born in Dorset, England. Considered one of the most renowned writers in the history of English literature, Hardy’s works were often critical of Victorian society and the decline of rural life. Image: Thomas Hardy / National Science and Media Museum, Flickr Hardy was the eldest of four children born to Thomas Hardy, a stonemason and local builder, and his wife, Jemima Hand. His early… Read the full story

Today we remember Hollywood icon Marilyn Monroe on what would have been her 97th birthday. Image: Marilyn Monroe / Wikimedia Commons She was born Norma Jean Mortenson on June 1, 1926 in Los Angeles, California to Gladys Pearl Baker. Shortly after her birth, her name was changed to Baker. Her father’s identity remains unknown. Marilyn’s mother suffered from mental illness and spent much of her life in and out of hospitals. Growing up, Marilyn lived with… Read the full story

On this day in 1951, astronaut Sally Ride was born. In 1983, Ride made history when she became the first American woman to fly in space. Image: Sally Ride / NASA Ride as born on May 26, 1951 in Encino, California to Dale Burdell Ride and Carol Joyce Anderson. Her father was a political science professor and her mother was a counselor at a women’s correctional facility. As a child, she was always fascinated by… Read the full story

Come see Geni at the National Genealogical Society 2023 Family History Conference in Richmond, Virginia. The conference will take place May 31 – June 3 at the Greater Richmond Convention Center. Geni is excited to once again be a Silver sponsor of the conference. If you are planning to attend, be sure to stop by the Geni booth (304, 306) in the exhibit hall and learn about what’s new on Geni. We’re excited to see… Read the full story

“What hath God wrought?” This was the message Samuel F.B. Morse sent from the Old Supreme Court Chamber in the United States Capital to his assistant, Alfred Vail, in Baltimore, Maryland, to inaugurate the first telegraph line on May 24, 1844. Image: Library of Congress Morse was born on April 27, 1791 in Charlestown, Massachusetts to Jedediah Morse, a pastor and geographer, and Elizabeth Ann Finley Breese. Morse had established a career as a painter when a… Read the full story

Sherlock Holmes author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was born on this day in 1859. Image: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle / Library of Congress Doyle was born in Edinburgh, Scotland to Charles Altamont Doyle and Mary Foley. Supported by wealthy uncles, Doyle studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh. It was during this time that he began writing short stories. In 1887, he published his first Sherlock Holmes story. Doyle partially based the character of Holmes on… Read the full story

On this day in 1953, pioneering aviator Jacqueline Cochran became the first woman to break the sound barrier. Image: Jacqueline Cochran / San Diego Air and Space Museum Archive, Flickr Cochran was born Bessie Lee Pittman on May 11, 1906 to Ira Pittman and Mary Grant. After divorcing her first husband, Robert Cochran, she began using the name Jacqueline or “Jackie.” Cochran moved to New York where she landed a position at the prestigious Saks Fifth… Read the full story

Do you remember watching Tarzan? On this day in 1911, Irish actress Maureen O’Sullivan was born. Often considered Ireland’s first film star, O’Sullivan is perhaps best remembered for her portrayal of Jane in six Tarzan films. Image: Maureen O’Sullivan / Wikimedia Commons O’Sullivan was born on May 17, 1911 in Boyle, Roscommon, Ireland to Mary Eva Frazer and Charles Joseph O’Sullivan, who was an officer in the Connaught Rangers and served in World War I. Growing up, she went to school in Dublin… Read the full story

Did you know that the first Academy Awards ceremony was held on May 16, 1929? The ceremony’s first host was none other than the Academy’s first president, actor Douglas Fairbanks, Sr. Image: Douglas Fairbanks / Library of Congress Long before it would become Hollywood’s biggest night, the first Academy Awards were handed out at a dinner party for around 270 guests at the Roosevelt Hotel in Los Angeles, California. The ceremony lasted just 15 minutes… Read the full story

Happy International Nurses Day! Today honors nurses all around the world on the anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birth. Image: Florence Nightingale / Library of Congress Florence Nightingale was born on May 12, 1820 in Florence, Italy to a rich, upper-class British family. From a young age, she felt it was her calling from God to devote her life to the service of others. Despite her family’s strong objects, Nightingale worked hard to educate herself in nursing…. Read the full story

On this day in 1904, surrealist painter Salvador Dalí was born in Figueres, Spain. Image: Salvador Dali / Library of Congress Salvador Felipe Jacinto Dalí i Domènech was born nine months after the death of his older brother, who was also named Salvador. At the age of five, his parents took him to his brothers grave where they told him that he was his brother’s reincarnation. He would come to believe it to be true… Read the full story

Legendary actor Fred Astaire was born on May 10, 1899 in Omaha, Nebraska. Considered one of the greatest entertainers of Old Hollywood, Astaire dazzled audiences on the stage and screen with his charisma and energy. Image: Fred Astaire / Wikimedia Commons He was the son of Johanna Geilus and Frederic Austerlitz and had an older sister Adele, who proved to a natural dancer and singer. Together, the siblings developed a vaudeville act as children and became quite… Read the full story

We’re excited to share some new enhancements to the family map on Geni. For many years, we’ve had the family map to show you where your relatives are located around the world. Now we’ve made a few improvements that will help you better visualize the locations of your relatives on Geni. To find the Map, simply click on “Family” at the top of the page and select “Map.” Show Death and Burial Locations Previously, you… Read the full story

Remember the story of Peter Pan? On this day in 1860, author J.M. Barrie was born in Kirriemuir, Angus, Scotland.  Image: National Science and Media Museum, Flickr Barrie was born James Matthew Barrie to David Barrie and Margaret Ogilvy. The ninth of ten children, Barrie was drawn to storytelling as a small child. He first found work as a writer and journalist, but discovered his work in theater increasing as time passed. During his third play, he met… Read the full story

This weekend Charles III will officially be crowned King of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth realms. The coronation will take place on May 6, 2023, which coincidentally falls on the fourth birthday of his grandson, Archie. In preparation of this historic event, here are some interesting facts to know before His Majesty’s coronation. Image: Charles III / Dan Marsh, Flickr (CC BY-SA 2.0) 1. Charles was born on November 14, 1948 in Buckingham Palace and… Read the full story

Do you have a favorite Audrey Hepburn movie? Today marks what would have been the legendary actress’s 94th birthday. Image: Audrey Hepburn / Wikimedia Commons Hepburn was born Audrey Kathleen Ruston on May 4, 1929 in Brussels, Belgium. Her mother, Baroness Ella van Heemstra, was a Dutch aristocrat and after divorcing Hepburn’s father, raised her alone as a single mother. She studied ballet and quickly became a “star pupil.” The Nazi’s occupation of the Netherlands during… Read the full story

On this day in 1469, Italian Renaissance historian and philosopher Niccolò Machiavelli was born in the Republic of Florence. Today, he is remembered as one of the fathers of modern political theory. Image: Niccolò Machiavelli / Wikimedia Commons He was born during a tumultuous era when Italy was still divided into city-states. A strong proponent of a unified Italy, Machiavelli served for many years as a senior official for the Florentine Republic and dealt with diplomatic and… Read the full story

On this day in 1729, Catherine the Great was born. Catherine the Great reigned over Russia from 1762 until her death in 1796 at the age of 67. Image: Catherine the Great / British Library, Flickr She was born Sophie Friederike Auguste von Anhalt-Zerbst-Dornburg on May 2, 1729. Her father belonged to the ruling German family of Anhalt, but held the rank of a Prussian general. After converting to the Russian Orthodox Church, she received… Read the full story

On this day in 1927, American civil rights activist Coretta Scott King was born in Marion, Alabama. Image: Coretta Scott King / Library of Congress The widow of Civil Rights icon Martin Luther King, Jr., King also made significant contributions to the Civil Rights movement both before and after her husband’s death. She was the third child born to Obadiah Scott and Bernice McMurray. Her father was the first black person in their neighborhood to… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Carol Burnett! Today the funny actress turns 90. Known for her legendary comedic chops, Burnett became a household name as the star of The Carol Burnett Show. The show ran for 11 seasons and marked the first time a TV variety show was hosted by a woman. Image: Carol Burnett / Wikimedia Commons Burnett was born in San Antonio, Texas on April 26, 1933 to Joseph Burnett, a movie theater manager, and Ina… Read the full story

Love listening to the sound of Jazz? On this day in 1917, Jazz legend Ella Fitzgerald was born in Newport News, Virginia. Image: Ella Fitzgerald / Library of Congress From her earliest days as a small child, the Queen of Jazz was passionate about music and spent hours listening to Jazz records her mother brought home. After the death of her mother when she was 15, Ella was sent to live with her aunt in Harlem. She suffered… Read the full story

On April 24, 1942, legendary singer and actress Barbra Streisand was born in Brooklyn, New York. Image: Barbra Streisand / National Institutes of Health Over her long career, Streisand has sold over 150 million albums worldwide, making her one of the best-selling recording artists of all time. She has amassed a great number of music and acting awards, including 2 Academy Awards and 10 Grammys. She is also one of the few entertainers who can… Read the full story

Do you have French ancestry in your family tree? On this day in 1808, Napoleon III was born in Paris, France. Image: Napoleon III / Library of Congress The nephew and heir of Napoleon Bonaparte, Napoleon III grew up in exile. Determined to return to France and regain the French crown, Napoleon began asserting his views in political writings and even attempted a failed coup. Following the Revolution of 1848, Napoleon seized the opportunity to return to France… Read the full story

Today we remember French physicist Pierre Curie, who died on April 19, 1906 at the age of 46. Considered one of the founding fathers of modern physics, Curie is best known for his groundbreaking work in radioactive studies alongside his wife, Marie Curie.  Image: Pierre Curie / Wikimedia Commons Curie was born on May 15, 1859 to Eugène Curie and Sophie-Claire Depouilly. His father was a doctor and trained Curie in math and science. From a young age,… Read the full story

On the night of April 18, 1775, Paul Revere began his infamous ride to warn American colonists that British forces were advancing toward Lexington and Concord. Image: Paul Revere’s ride / U.S. National Archives and Records Administration Revere and fellow rider William Dawes successfully reached Lexington to warn Patriot leaders Samuel Adams and John Hancock before setting out towards Concord. Along the way, they were joined by Samuel Prescott, a young patriot. Of the three men,… Read the full story

Today we remember Benjamin Franklin, who died on April 17, 1790 at the age of 84. Not only was Franklin one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, but he was also a leading author, scientist, inventor, diplomat, and more. Image: Benjamin Franklin / Smithsonian Institution, National Portrait Gallery CC0 Franklin was born on January 17, 1706 in Boston, Massachusetts to Josiah Franklin, a candlemaker, and his second wife, Abiah Folger. He was one… Read the full story

On this day in 1743, Thomas Jefferson was born at the Shadwell plantation in colonial Virginia. One of America’s Founding Fathers, Jefferson was the principal author of the Declaration of Independence and served as the third President of the United States. Image: Thomas Jefferson / Wikimedia Commons Jefferson was born to a prominent Virginia family. His father, Peter Jefferson, was a planter and surveyor. In 1751, he created the Fry-Jefferson Map in collaboration with Joshua Fry, which accurately depicted… Read the full story

Today we remember children’s book author Beverly Cleary on what would have been her 107th birthday. Image: Beverly Cleary / Washington State Archives, Wikimedia Commons Cleary was born Beverly Atlee Bunn on April 12, 1916 in McMinniville, Oregon to Chester Lloyd Bunn, a farmer, and Mabel Atlee, a schoolteacher. A passionate reader, Cleary studied to become a children’s librarian. She earned a B.A. in English from the University of California, Berkeley and a second bachelor’s… Read the full story

Today we remember actor James Garner on what would have been his 95th birthday. Image: James Garner / Wikimedia Commons Garner was born James Scott Bumgarner on April 7, 1928 in Norman, Oklahoma to Weldon Warren Bumgarner and Mildred Scott Meek. The youngest of 3 sons, Garner had a difficult childhood. When he was 4, his mother died and by the time he was 7, his father had left him and his brothers to be… Read the full story

On this day in 1909, explorer Robert Edwin Peary and his assistant, Matthew Henson, reached what they determined to be the North Pole. Image: Robert Edwin Peary / Library of Congress Peary was born on May 6, 1856 in Cresson, Pennsylvania to Charles Nutter Peary and Mary Dole Wiley. He joined the U.S. Navy Civil Engineers Corps before beginning his career as an explorer. Determined to become the first person to reach the North Pole,… Read the full story

On this day in 1856, Booker T. Washington was born. Regarded as one of the most influential African-American educators of the late 19th century, Washington founded the Tuskegee Institute, known today as Tuskegee University, in Alabama. Image: Booker T. Washington / Library of Congress Washington was born into slavery in Virginia and was the son of Jane, a slave, and an unknown white man. He was named Booker Taliaferro and later adopted the surname Washington. After emancipation,… Read the full story

When you collaborate in a shared world tree, it is important to be able to see the history of changes in the family tree. Geni profiles show a robust revision history of a profile, so you know what was changed and by whom. This is especially important if you notice a change that was not correct. Geni’s revision histories make it easy to revert the change, so you can make sure the information in the… Read the full story

Today singer Celine Dion celebrates her 55th birthday! Image: Celine Dion / Georges Biard, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0) Celine Marie Claudette Dion was born on March 30, 1968 in Charlegmagne, Quebec, Canada to a large family. The youngest of 14 children, Dion grew up in a close-knit family filled with music. From a young age, Dion dreamed of becoming a performer. At the age of 5, she made her first public appearance singing with… Read the full story

On March 29, 1867, legendary baseball player Cy Young was born. Image: Cy Young / Library of Congress Young was born Denton True Young to Nancy Miller and McKinzie Young. The oldest of five children, Young stopped his formal education after the sixth grade to help out on his family’s farm. Around this same time, Young discovered a love for baseball. He played in local baseball teams before he was signed to play for the… Read the full story

On this day in 1905, actress Joan Crawford was born in San Antonio, Texas. Image: Joan Crawford / Wikimedia Commons Born Lucille Fay LeSueur, Crawford was the youngest of three children born to Thomas E. LeSueur and Anna Bell Johnson. Her parents separated while Crawford was young and her mother remarried Harry Cassin, a theater owner. Growing up, she would use the name Billie Cassin. With a love for dancing, Crawford left school to pursue a dancing… Read the full story

Today we celebrate the 100th birthday of French mime Marcel Marceau. Before he became one of the most famous mimes in the world, Marceau helped save many Jewish children from the Nazis during World War II. Image: Marcel Marceau / Library of Congress Marceau was born Marcel Mangel on March 22, 1923 in Strasbourg, France to a Jewish family. From a young age, Marceau was an avid fan of silent films, especially those of Charlie… Read the full story

James Madison, the fourth President of the United States of America, was born on this day, March 16, 1751. Image: James Madison / National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution CC0 Madison was born at the Belle Grove Plantation near Port Conway, Virginia to a prominent slaving-owning family. He was the eldest of twelve children. One of America’s Founding Fathers, Madison was instrumental in drafting the U.S. Constitution and laid the foundation for the Bill of Rights. He became… Read the full story

Today we remember Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on what would have been her 90th birthday. Image: Ruth Bader Ginsburg / Wikimedia Commons Ginsburg was born Joan Ruth Bader on March 15, 1933 in Brooklyn, New York. She was the second child born to Nathan Bader, a Jewish emigrant from Odessa, Ukraine, and Celia Amster, whose family came from Kraków, Poland. In 1956, Ginsburg enrolled in Harvard Law School, where she was one of… Read the full story

Happy birthday, Billy Crystal! Today the comedian and actor turns 75. Image: Billy Crystal / Gage Skidmore, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0) William Edward Crystal was born on March 14, 1948 in New York City, New York. His father, Jack Crystal, worked as a jazz promoter, producer and owner of Commodore Music Store. He sometimes brought home comedy albums featuring Bob Newhart and Sid Caesar, which had a great influence on Crystal growing up. After starting… Read the full story