2023

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

Did you read The Wonderful Wizard of Oz growing up? On this day in 1856, author L. Frank Baum was born in Chittenango, New York. Image: L.Frank Baum / Library of Congress The popular children’s book author was born Lyman Frank Baum to Cynthia Ann Stanton and Benjamin Ward Baum, a successful businessman, and grew up on his family’s estate, Rose Lawn. A sickly child, Baum began writing at a young age. After his father gifted him a cheap… 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

On this day in 1884, President Harry S. Truman was born. Truman served as the 33rd President of the United States. Image: Harry S. Truman / Library of Congress Truman was born on May 8, 1884 in Lamar, Missouri to John Anderson Truman and Martha Ellen Young. His parents named him after his maternal uncle, Harrison “Harry” Young,  but had difficulty settling on a middle name. Ultimately, they simply chose to use the letter “S” in tribute… 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

Today marks the birth of American journalist, inventor, and record-breaker Nellie Bly! Image: Nellie Bly / Library of Congress She was born Elizabeth Jane Cochrane on May 5, 1864 in Cochran’s Mills, Pennsylvania. Writing under the the pen name “Nellie Bly,” Bly was a pioneer of her field and launched a new kind of investigative journalism. As a reporter for Joseph Pulitzer’s New York World, Bly wrote one of her earliest and most provocative pieces, a startling exposé on… 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 1852, American frontierswoman and folk hero Calamity Jane was born near Princeton, Missouri. Image: Calamity Jane / Library of Congress Calamity Jane’s early life is a mystery. Much about what is known comes from an autobiographical booklet from 1896. The booklet, dictated by Calamity Jane, was written for publicity purposes, and thus, some of the information was likely exaggerated or false. What is known is that she was born Martha Jane… Read the full story

On this day in 1758, James Monroe was born in his family home in Westmoreland County, Virginia. A Founding Father, Monroe served as the 5th President of the United States. Image: James Monroe / Wikimedia Commons During the American Revolution, Monroe left college to join the Continental Army. He served as part of General George Washington’s army at the Battle of Trenton, where he was severely wounded. As president, Monroe oversaw major westward expansion of the U.S…. 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

On this day in 1816, author Charlotte Brontë was born. Image: Charlotte Brontë / Wikimedia Commons Brontë was born on April 21, 1816 in Thornton, Yorkshire, England. She was the third of six children born to Maria Branwell and Patrick Brontë, a clergyman. After her mother and two older sisters died, her father educated Brontë and her siblings, Emily, Anne, and Branwell, at home. As children the siblings were left to explore their imagination. They… 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 1866, American educator Anne Sullivan was born. Best remembered as the teacher and lifelong companion of Helen Keller, Sullivan taught Keller, who was blind and deaf, to communicate and read Braille. Image: Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan / Library of Congress Sullivan was born on April 14, 1866 in Feeding Hills, Massachusetts to Thomas Sullivan and Alice Cloesy. Her parents had emigrated to the United States from Ireland during the Great… 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

On this day in 1869, Norwegian sculptor Gustav Vigeland was born. Considered one of the most important artists in Norwegian history, Vigeland is perhaps best known for his creation of Vigeland Park in Oslo, Norway. The impressive art installation is the world’s largest sculpture park made by a single artist. Image: Gustav Vigeland / National Library of Norway, Flickr Vigeland was born Adolf Gustav Thorsen on April 11, 1869 in Mandal. Born to a family of… Read the full story

Today we celebrate what would have been actor Omar Sharif’s 91st birthday! A Hollywood legend, Sharif was best known for his roles in Doctor Zhivago and Lawrence of Arabia. Image: Omar Sharif / Wikimedia Commons He was born Michel Demetri Chalhoub on April 10, 1932 in Alexandria, Egypt. After studying mathematics and physics at the University of Cairo, Sharif worked at his father’s precious wood business before leaving to study acting in London, England. In 1955, he converted to Islam… 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

Today we remember poet and civil rights activist Maya Angelou on what would have been her 95th birthday. The award-winning author published numerous books of poetry, essays, and autobiographies which dealt with themes of economic, racial, and sexual oppression. Image: Maya Angelou / Wikimedia Commons Angelou was born Marguerite Annie Johnson on April 4, 1928 in St. Louis, Missouri to Bailey Johnson, a doorman and navy dietitian, and Vivian Baxter, a nurse and card dealer. By the… 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 we remember actress Doris Day on what would have been her 101st birthday. Image: Doris Day / Library of Congress Day was born Doris Mary Anne Kappelhoff on April 3, 1922 in Cincinnati, Ohio to Alma Sophia Weiz and William Joseph Kappelhoff. For most of her life, Day believed she was born in 1924. It was not until her 95th birthday that she learned she was actually born in 1922 after the Associated Press… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Christopher Walken! Today the actor celebrates his 80th birthday. Image: Tabercil, Flickr (CC BY-SA 2.0) Walken was born Ronald Walken on March 31, 1943 in Queens, New York to Rosalie Russell and Paul Walken. His father owned and operated a bakery, Walken’s Bakery, in Astoria. From a young age, Walken was a performer. He took dancing lessons as a young child and auditioned for many bit parts that were open for children… 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

Are you a country music fan? Today American country music singer Reba McEntire turns 68. Image: Gage Skidmore / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0) She was born on March 28, 1955 in McAlester, Oklahoma to Jacqueline and Clark Vincent McEntire. Named after her maternal grandmother Reba Estelle Smith, the music legend learned to sing and play guitar at a young age. Her father and grandfather were both champion steer ropers, so as a child, she… Read the full story

Do you remember watching Sunset Boulevard? On this day in 1899, legendary actress Gloria Swanson was born. Image: Gloria Swanson / Library of Congress Swanson was born on March 27, 1899 to Joseph Theodore Swanson and Adelaide Klanowski in a small house in Chicago, Illinois. Since her father was a soldier in the army, she moved frequently. She spent part of her childhood in Puerto Rico, where she learned Spanish and saw her first films…. Read the full story

On this day in 1874, illusionist and escape artist Harry Houdini was born. Image: Harry Houdini / Library of Congress Houdini was born Erik Weisz on March 24, 1874 in Budapest, Hungary. He was one of seven children born to Rabbi Mayer Samuel Weisz and Cecilia Steiner. Set on becoming a professional magician, Erik changed his name to Harry Houdini, after the French magician, Jean Eugène Robert-Houdini. He became widely known as “The Handcuff King” for… 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

On this day in 1806, Benito Juarez was born. Juarez was the President of Mexico and is today remembered as a national hero for his resistance of French occupation and victory in overthrowing Emperor Maximilian I. Image: Benito Juarez / Library of Congress Juarez was born to a Zapotec peasant family on March 21, 1806 in a small adobe house in San Pablo Guelato, Oaxaca, Mexico. He was an orphan by the age of three… Read the full story

Remember watching Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood growing up? Today we remember everyone’s favorite neighbor Fred Rogers on what would have been his 95th birthday. Image: Fred Rogers awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President George W. Bush / U.S. National Archives and Records Administration Fred McFeely Rogers was born on March 20, 1928 in Latrobe, Pennsylvania to James and Nancy Rogers. Rogers did not originally intend to pursue a career in television. After college, he studied to… Read the full story

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Celebrated annually on March 17 for over a thousand years, this Irish cultural and religious holiday honors the memory of St. Patrick, Ireland’s patron saint. Image: St. Patrick / Library of Congress At the age of 16, Patrick was kidnapped from his home by pirates and taken to Ireland. During his enslavement, he discovered his call to Christianity and escaped his captors after six years. He returned to Ireland as a… 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

On this day in 1855, astronomer Percival Lowell was born in Boston, Massachusetts. The founder of the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona, Lowell’s research would form the beginnings of the work that led to the discovery of Pluto 14 years after his death. Image: Percival Lowell / Library of Congress Lowell was born to a wealthy and prominent New England family. His great grandfather, John Lowell, was one of the first Judges to be appointed by President George Washington,… Read the full story