June 2024

How are you related to the Tudors? On this day in 1491, Henry VIII of England was born at Greenwich Palace in London, England. Image: Henry VIII / Wikimedia Commons He was the third child and second son of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York. Of his six siblings, only three would survive infancy. His older brother, Arthur, was expected to inherit the throne. However, just 20 weeks after his marriage to Catherine of Aragon, Arthur… Read the full story

Today we remember author, activist, and lecturer Helen Keller, who was born on June 27, 1880 in Tuscumbia, Alabama. Image: Helen Keller / Library of Congress Helen Adams Keller spent her childhood living at her family’s homestead, Ivy Green, which was built by her grandfather in 1820. Born physically normal, Keller did not lose her sight or hearing until she was 19 months old due to an illness. Although her health recovered, the illness left her deaf and blind for the rest… Read the full story

On this day in 1911, American athlete Babe Didrikson Zaharias was born. Considered one of the greatest athletes of all time, Zaharias was an Olympic gold medal winner and excelled in the sports of golf, basketball, baseball, and track and field. Image: Babe Didrikson Zaharias / National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution CC0 She was born Mildred Ella Didrikson on June 26, 1911 in Port Arthur, Texas to Ole Didriksen and Hannah Olsen, both Norwegian immigrants…. Read the full story

Remember reading Nineteen Eighty-Four? On this day in 121 years ago, author George Orwell was born. Orwell is often considered one of the most influential voices of the 20th century. Image: George Orwell / Wikimedia Commons The author was born Eric Arthur Blair on June 25, 1903 in Motihari, Bihar, British India. His father, Richard Walmesley Blair, worked in the Opium Department of the Indian Civil Service. At the age of one, his mother took him and his sisters… Read the full story

Do you have any boxers in your family tree? On this day in 1895, boxing legend Jack Dempsey was born in Manassa, Colorado. The World Heavyweight Champion from 1919 to 1926, Dempsey’s aggressive style and impressive punching power made him one of the most popular boxers in history. Image: Jack Dempsey / Library of Congress He was born William Harrison Dempsey on June 24, 1895 to Mary Celia Smoot and Hiram Dempsey. Growing up poor, Dempsey… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Prince William! Today the British heir apparent celebrates his 42nd birthday. Image: Prince William, Duke of Cambridge / USAID,Vietnam Prince William was born on June 21, 1982 at St. Mary’s Hospital in London, England to Charles, Prince of Wales (later King Charles III) and Diana, Princess of Wales. Each of his three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, were also born at the same hospital. At the age of 15,… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Lionel Richie! Today the singer turns 75. Image: Lionel Richie / Photo by Shawn Miller, Library of Congress, Public domain He was born Lionel Brockman Richie, Jr. on June 20, 1949 in Tuskegee, Alabama to Alberta Foster and Lionel Brockman Richie, Sr. He grew up close to the the campus of the Tuskegee Institute, which was founded by Booker T. Washington. Two generations of his family have worked at the institution, including… Read the full story

Are you a baseball fan? On this day in 1903, baseball legend Lou Gehrig was born in Yorkville, New York. Image: Lou Gehrig / Library of Congress Henry Louis Gehrig was the second of four children born to German immigrant parents. The only child to survive infancy, Gehrig grew up in poverty but showed an aptitude for academics and sports. He attended Columbia University on a football scholarship and studied engineering. In 1923, Gehrig signed with the… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Paul McCartney! Today the legendary musician turns 82. Image: Paul McCartney / Nationaal Archief CC0, Wikimedia Commons McCartney was born on June 18, 1942 in Liverpool, England to James McCartney and Mary Mohin. Music was always a part of McCartney’s life growing up. His father was a trumpet player and pianist and encouraged his son’s pursuit of music. When he was 14, his mother died of an embolism shortly after surgery for… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Barry Manilow! Today the singer-songwriter turns 81. Image: Barry Manilow / Alan Light, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0) Manilow was born Barry Alan Pincus on June 17, 1943 in Brooklyn New York to Harold Pincus and Edna Manilow. His father left the family when he was two and he eventually adopted his mother’s maiden name as his last name. He began his career working as a commercial jingle writer, penning memorable jingles… Read the full story

On this day in 1811, American writer and abolitionist Harriet Beecher Stowe was born in Litchfield, Connecticut. Image: Harriet Beecher Stowe / U.S. National Archives and Records Administration She was the seventh of thirteen children born to Lyman Beecher, a Calvinist preacher, and Roxana Foote. The Beecher family was a prominent New England family known for their involvement in political issues regarding religion, civil rights and social reform. Her great grandfather, General Andrew Ward V,… Read the full story

Do you have Irish ancestors? On this day in 1865, Irish poet W.B. Yeats was born in Dublin, Ireland. Image: W.B. Yeats / Library of Congress William Butler Yeats was the son of John Butler Yeats, a lawyer and portrait painter, and Susan Mary Pollexfen, whose wealthy merchant family owned a milling and shipping business. His father was not the only artist of the family. His brother Jack became a well-known artist and Olympic medalist, while… Read the full story

Today we remember Anne Frank on what would have been her 95th birthday. Image: Anne Frank / Wikimedia Commons It was 82 years ago today that Anne received her famous diary as a gift for her 13th birthday. Her father had given it to her after she had pointed it out in a store window days before. The red checkered autograph book had a small lock on the front, so Anne decided to use it… Read the full story

Do you remember watching Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory? On this day in 1933, actor Gene Wilder was born. Image: Gene Wilder / Nationaal Archief, CC0 Wilder was born Jerome Silberman on June 11, 1933 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He first gained an interest in acting after his mother was diagnosed with rheumatic fever. The doctor had told the 8-year-old Wilder that he should try to make his mother laugh. By the age of 13, he began studying acting… Read the full story

Today we remember Judy Garland on what would have been her 102nd birthday. A star by the age of 16, Garland is remembered as one of the greatest performers in film history. Image: Judy Garland / Wikimedia Commons She was born Frances Ethel Gumm on June 10, 1922 to Ethel Marion and Frances Avent Gumm in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. The daughter of vaudeville performers, Garland had a knack for song and dance and made her… Read the full story

Today we remember Prince on what would have been his 66th birthday. Image: Prince / Scott Penner, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0) Prince Rogers Nelson was born on June 7, 1958 in Minneapolis, Minnesota to John Lewis Nelson, a jazz musician, and Mattie Della Shaw. He was named after his father, who used the stage name Prince Rogers while performing with his jazz group, the Prince Rogers Trio. With music a big part of his… Read the full story

Do you have Spanish ancestry? On this day in 1599, Spanish painter Diego Velázquez was born in Seville, Spain. Image: Diego Velázquez / Wikimedia Commons The first child of João Rodrigues da Silva and Jerónima Velázquez, Velázquez showed a gift for art at a young age. At the age of 12, he began a six-year apprenticeship with painter Francisco Pacheco. He would later marry Pacheco’s daughter, Juana, and have two daughters. Remembered as one of the most important… Read the full story

Today we remember Robert F. Kennedy on the anniversary of his assassination. After winning the California presidential primary, Kennedy was shot at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles shortly after midnight on June 5, 1968. He would succumb to his wounds the following day. Image: Library of Congress Kennedy was the seventh child born to Joseph Kennedy, Sr. And Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy. During his brother’s presidency, Kennedy served as the Attorney General of the United States… Read the full story

On this day in 1738, King George III was born. He ruled for over 59 years until his death in 1820. Image: King George III / Library of Congress Born two months prematurely, George was not expected to survive. He was the eldest son born to Frederick, Prince of Wales, and Princess Augusta of Saxe-Gotha. When his father unexpectedly died in 1751, the young George became the heir apparent to the throne. Nine years later in 1760,… Read the full story

Have you found your connection to the British royal family? On this day in 1865, George V was born in Marlborough House, London. Image: George V / Library of Congress The grandson of Queen Victoria and the second son of Prince and Princess of Wales, Albert Edward and Alexandra, George was not expected to be king. In 1892, his older brother, Prince Albert Victor, died of pneumonia just six weeks after announcing his engagement to… Read the full story