2025

Today we remember Star Wars icon Carrie Fisher, who was born on this day in 1956. Image: Carrie Fisher / Gage Skidmore, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0) The daughter of Hollywood stars Eddie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds, Fisher was an avid reader growing up and became known in her family as “the bookworm.” At the age of 18, Fisher made her film debut in the 1975 film Shampoo. Two years later, she catapulted to stardom when she was… Read the full story

On this day in 1915, American playwright Arthur Miller was born in Harlem, New York. Image: Arthur Miller / Nationaal Archief Arthur Asher Miller was born to Augusta Barnett and Isidore Miller. His father owned a successful women’s clothing manufacturing business and the family lived a comfortable lifestyle until nearly losing everything during the Great Depression. In 1956, he married for the second time to actress Marilyn Monroe. Their high profile relationship thrusted him into the Hollywood spotlight. Shortly… Read the full story

On this day in 1925, actress Angela Lansbury was born. Image: Angela Lansbury / Eva Rinaldi, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0) The Murder, She Wrote actress was born in London, England on October 16, 1925 to Edgar Lansbury, a politician, and stage and film actress Moyna Macgill. When she was nine, her father died from stomach cancer. She had stated that his death was a defining moment of her life. At the onset of the Blitz in 1940,… Read the full story

On this day in 1951, the classic television show I Love Lucy premiered for the first time on CBS. The beloved sitcom starred real-life couple Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz as Lucy and Ricky Ricardo and William Frawley and Vivian Vance as the Ricardo’s best friends and neighbors, Fred and Ethel Mertz. Image: Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz / Wikimedia Commons Originally, executives pursued Ball to adapt her popular radio series, My Favorite Husband, for television. She… Read the full story

On this day in 1890, Dwight D. Eisenhower, the 34th President of the United States, was born. Image: Dwight D. Eisenhower / U.S. National Archives and Records Administration The third of seven sons, Eisenhower was born on October 14, 1890. Growing up, Eisenhower went by the nickname “Ike,” which was an abbreviation of his last name. After graduating from West Point in 1915, Eisenhower married Mamie Doud. The couple would have two children, but only their son John… Read the full story

On this day in 1861, Norwegian explorer, scientist, and humanitarian Fridtjof Nansen was born. In 1922, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his work helping displaced refugees after World War I. Image: Fridtjof Nansen / National Library of Norway Nansen was born on October 10, 1861 in Oslo, Norway to Baldur Fridtjof Nansen and Adelaide Johanne Thekla Isidore Bølling Wedel-Jarlsberg. His mother was the niece of Norwegian statesman Herman Wedel Jarlsberg, who had an… Read the full story

Along your journey to uncover your family history, you’ve probably spent countless hours reviewing old documents and adding as much information as you can into the family tree on Geni, helping to connect the dots between your ancestors, distant relatives, and even famous historical figures. While hard at work, you may not realize that Geni’s Statistics feature can provide you with a new perspective on your family. What is the Statistics feature on Geni? The… Read the full story

“A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is reality.” Today we remember singer John Lennon on what would have been his 85th birthday. Image: John Lennon / Library of Congress Lennon was born on October 9, 1940 in Liverpool, England to Julia Stanley and Alfred Lennon. He was named John Winston after his paternal grandfather, John “Jack” Lennon, and then-Prime Minister Winston Churchill. By the age of 4,… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Sigourney Weaver! Today the star turns 76. Image: Sigourney Weaver / Gage Skidmore, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0) Sigourney Weaver was born Susan Alexandra Weaver on October 8, 1949 in New York City, New York. Her mother, Elizabeth Inglis, was an English actress and her father, Sylvester “Pat” Weaver, was the former president of NBC. By the age of 14, Weaver began going by the name “Sigourney” after discovering the name in F. Scott… Read the full story

On this day in 1849, poet Edgar Allan Poe died under mysterious circumstances at the age of 40. Known for his mysterious and macabre tales, it seems almost fitting that his death would be just as strange. Image: Edgar Allan Poe / U.S. National Archives and Records Administration Poe was born on January 19, 1809 in Boston, Massachusetts. Death plagued much of the early years of his life. Within three years after his birth, both of… Read the full story

On this day in 1820, Swedish opera singer Jenny Lind was born in Stockholm, Sweden. Image: Jenny Lind / National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution CC0 Nicknamed the “Swedish Nightingale,” Lind was one of America’s first female celebrities. A sensation across Europe, Lind was persuaded by American showman P.T. Barnum to undertake a tour in the United States. Barnum succeeded in creating great publicity in anticipation for her arrival. Soon everyone in the country knew of Lind and her… Read the full story

Do you remember watching The Andy Griffith Show? 65 years ago today, the classic sitcom starring Andy Griffith premiered. Image: Andy Griffith / Wikimedia Commons Set in the small town of Mayberry, the show followed the lives of the widowed sheriff, Andy Taylor, his deputy Barney Fife, his young son, Opie, and his Aunt Bee. From the moment it premiered, the show was a success. For all 8 seasons, the show consistently remained one of the most popular… Read the full story

“Be the change that you wish to see in the world.” – Mahatma Gandhi On this day in 1869, Mahatma Gandhi was born. Known as “the father of the nation,” Gandhi led India to independence from British rule through nonviolent civil protest. His leadership would inspire movements for civil rights and freedom through non-violent disobedience all around the world. Image: Mahatma Gandhi / Nationaal Archief, Wikimedia Commons He was born Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi to a… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Julie Andrews! Today the beloved star turns 90. Image: Eva Rinaldi, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0) Julie Andrews was born Julia Elizabeth Wells on October 1, 1935 in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, England. When she was young, her parents divorced and remarried. She later adopted her stepfather’s surname, Andrews. By the age of 10, she began performing with her mother and stepfather on stage. Since making her Broadway debut in 1954, Andrews has starred as… Read the full story

On this day in 1924, author Truman Capote was born. Image: Truman Capote / Library of Congress Capote was born Truman Streckfus Persons on September 30, 1924 in New Orleans, Louisiana. When he was four years old, his parents divorced and he was sent to live with his mother’s relatives in Monroeville, Alabama. A lonely child, Capote spent much of his time reading and writing. He became best friends with his neighbor and future author… Read the full story

Have you read Don Quixote? On this day in 1547, author Miguel de Cervantes was born. Today Cervantes is regarded as one of the greatest writers of the Spanish language. Image: Miguel de Cervantes / New York Public Library Cervantes was born near Madrid, Spain and was the fourth of seven children. His father, Rodrigo de Cervantes, was a barber-surgeon and his mother, Leonor de Cortinas, was the daughter of a nobleman. Dubbed “El Príncipe de… Read the full story

On this day in 1774, the real Johnny Appleseed, John Chapman, was born. The American folk hero became known as “Johnny Appleseed” for planting apple trees across 1,200 acres of land. Image: Harper’s New Monthly Magazine, 1871 / Internet Archives Chapman was born on September 26, 1774 in Leominster, Massachusetts. He was the eldest son of Nathaniel Chapman and Elizabeth Simonds, who died while giving birth to a second son. During the American Revolutionary War, his father was… Read the full story

Remember watching Superman? Today we remember star Christopher Reeve on what would have been his 73rd birthday. Image: Christopher Reeve / Jbfrankel, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0) Reeve was born on September 25, 1952 in New York City, New York to Barbara Pitney Lamb and Franklin D’Olier Reeve. He grew up in a wealthy and well-educated family. His mother worked as a journalist and his father was a prominent writer, poet, and academic. His great grandfather, Franklin D’Olier, was… Read the full story

Remember reading The Great Gatsby? On this day in 1896, author F. Scott Fitzgerald was born. Today Fitzgerald is often regarded as one of the greatest American writers of the 20th century. Image: F. Scott Fitzgerald / Library of Congress Francis Scott Fitzgerald was born on September 24, 1896 in St. Paul, Minnesota. He was named after his famous relative, Francis Scott Key, who wrote “The Star-Spangled Banner.” His maternal grandfather, Philip Francis McQuillan was an Irish immigrant… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Bruce Springsteen! Today the Boss turns 76. Image: Bruce Springsteen / Takahiro Kyono, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0) Bruce Frederick Springsteen was born on September 23, 1949 in Long Branch, New Jersey to a working-class family. His father, Douglas Springsteen, held various jobs including that of a bus driver and millworker. His mother, Adele Zerilli, worked as a legal secretary and was the main breadwinner of the family. His maternal great grandmother,… Read the full story

On this day in 1791, English physicist and chemist Michael Faraday was born. Considered one of the greatest scientists in history, Faraday’s work significantly contributed to the understanding of electromagnetism. Image: Michael Faraday / Community Archives, Flickr Commons Faraday was born on September 22, 1791 in Newington, Surrey, England to James Faraday, a blacksmith, and Margaret Hastwell. While growing up, his father was often ill and incapable of maintaining steady work. As a result, the… Read the full story

Remember watching Batman on TV? Today we remember Adam West on what would have been his 97th birthday. Image: Adam West / Wikimedia Commons The television star was born William West Anderson on September 19, 1928 in Walla Walla, Washington. His father was a farmer and his mother was a former opera singer and concert pianist. While serving in the U.S. Army, West worked as an announcer on American Forces Network television. After getting his… Read the full story

Today we celebrate the life of Hollywood icon Greta Garbo, who was born on this day 120 years ago. Image: Greta Garbo / Library of Congress Greta Lovisa Gustafsson was born in Stockholm, Sweden on September 18, 1905 to Anna Lovisa and Karl Alfred Gustafsson. The youngest of three children, Garbo dropped out of school at the age of 13 to care for her ailing father. He would die in 1920 when she was 14…. Read the full story

On September 17, 1923, country music’s first superstar Hank Williams was born in Butler County, Alabama. Best known for his hits “Your Cheatin’ Heart,” “Hey, Good Lookin’,” and “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry,” Williams is regarded as one of the most important country music artists of all time. Image: Hank Williams / Wikimedia Commons He was born Hiram Williams in Mount Olive, Alabama to Elonzo Huble Williams and Jessie Lillybelle Skipper. Born with spina… Read the full story

Today we remember Robert Redford, who has passed away at the age of 89. Image: Robert Redford / San Diego Air and Space Museum Archive Redford was born Charles Robert Redford on August 18, 1936 in Santa Monica, California. He was the only child born to Charles Robert Redford, Sr., an accountant, and Martha Hart. After studying at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, Redford began his career on both stage and television. He later… Read the full story

Are you a fan of Agatha Christie’s mystery novels? On this day in 1890, the best-selling author was born in Torquay, England. Image: Agatha Christie / Nationaal Archief, CC0 Christie was born on September 15, 1890 to a wealthy upper middle-class family. Educated in her home by her mother, Christie was encouraged to write from a very young age. During World War I, Christie served in a hospital as a nurse while her husband served as a… Read the full story

On this day in 1913, Olympic champion Jesse Owens was born in Oakville, Alabama. Image: Jesse Owens / Library of Congress The youngest of ten children, James Cleveland Owens was known as J.C. until the age of nine when his family moved to Cleveland, Ohio in search for better work opportunities. When his new teacher asked for his name, he said “J.C.” in a heavy southern accent. The teacher misheard and thought he said “Jesse.” The name… Read the full story

On this day in 1862, short story author William Sydney Porter, better known by his pen name O. Henry, was born. A prolific writer, Porter’s clever wordplay and twist endings made him one of the most popular American short story writers of his time. Image: O. Henry / Wikimedia Commons Porter was born on September 11, 1862 in Greensboro, North Carolina. As a child, he enjoyed reading  everything from the classics to dime novels. Porter worked at his uncle’s… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Colin Firth! Today the actor turns 65. Image: Colin Firth / Gage Skidmore, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0) Firth was born on September 10, 1960 in Grayshott, Hampshire, England to Shirley Jean Rolles and David Norman Lewis Firth. Both of his parents were academics and teachers and as a child, he frequently traveled to Nigeria for his parents’ work. Firth himself was not academically inclined and decided to study theater at Drama… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Hugh Grant! Today the British actor turns 65. Image: Hugh Grant / Tine Hemeryck, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0) Grant was born Hugh John Mungo Grant on September 9, 1960 in London, England. Before pursuing a career in theater, Grant studied English literature at Oxford. He achieved international success after staring in the 1994 hit comedy Four Weddings and a Funeral. Since then, he’s gone on to star in several hit films, including… Read the full story

Remember watching Peter Sellers as the bumbling Inspector Jacques Clouseau? On this day in 1925, the iconic comedian was born in Portsmouth, England. Image: Peter Sellers / Wikimedia Commons He was born Richard Henry Sellers, but his parents called him “Peter” after his elder stillborn brother. Both of his parents were vaudeville entertainers and Sellers often accompanied his parents on the variety show circuit. In 1943, he joined the Royal Air Force and traveled with the entertainment… Read the full story

On this day in 1847, American outlaw Jesse James was born. The leader of the infamous James-Younger Gang, James is remembered to day as one of the most iconic figures of the American Old West. Image: Jesse James / Library of Congress James was born on September 5, 1847 in Clay County, Missouri to Robert James, a Baptist minister, and Zerelda Elizabeth Cole. When he was young, his father left the family to journey west to preach… Read the full story

Image: George Eastman / Library of Congress On September 4, 1888, George Eastman received a patent for his roll-film camera and registered his trademark, Kodak. Eastman’s invention revolutionized the industry and helped make photography available to the general public. In 1892, he established the Eastman Kodak Company in Rochester, New York. The company was one of the first firms to mass-produce standardized photography equipment. Considered one of the most outstanding philanthropists of his time, Eastman donated… Read the full story

“It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.” – e e cummings Today we remember poet E.E. Cummings, who died on September 3, 1962 at the age of 67. Image: E.E. Cummings / Library of Congress Cummings was born Edward Estlin Cummings in Cambridge, Massachusetts to Unitarian parents. He went to Harvard University, where his father taught, before leaving to serve overseas in World War I as a volunteer for the… Read the full story

On this day in 1948, high school teacher Christa McAuliffe was born in Boston, Massachusetts. McAuliffe made history when she became the first American civilian to be selected to go into space. Sadly, she died in the explosion of the space shuttle Challenger in 1986. Image: Christa McAuliffe / NASA In 1985, McAuliffe was selected to participate in the NASA Teacher in Space Project and become the first teacher to go to space. The purpose of the program was… Read the full story

Labor Day is a time to celebrate the contributions of workers throughout history. It’s also the perfect opportunity to reflect on the hardworking ancestors in our own families. Have you ever wondered what kind of work your great-grandparents did to support their families? Or how their occupations shaped the paths of future generations? The Importance of Occupations in Family History When researching your family tree, names and dates are just the beginning. Discovering what your… Read the full story

Happy birthday to actress and comedy legend Lily Tomlin! Today the star turns 86. Image: Lily Tomlin / U.S. Department of State Tomlin was born Mary Jean Tomlin on September 1, 1939 in Detroit, Michigan to Guy Tomlin and Lillie Mae Ford. After high school, Tomlin enrolled at Wayne State University to study medicine. During her time in school, she began taking theater art classes and before long, she was performing stand-up comedy at local… Read the full story

Today we remember legendary film star Ingrid Bergman, who was born on this day in 1915. She passed on her 67th birthday in 1982. Image: Ingrid Bergman / Wikimedia Commons Bergman was born on August 29, 1915 in Stockholm, Sweden. After losing both her parents while she was young, Bergman went to live with her aunt and uncle. At the age of 17, she earned a scholarship to the Royal Dramatic Theatre School, but left after a… Read the full story

On this day in 1749, German writer, poet, and statesman Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was born. Image: Johann Wolfgang von Goethe / New York Public Library He was born in Frankfurt, which was then an Imperial Free City of the Holy Roman Empire. Goethe’s father, Johann Caspar Goethe, was the son of a wealthy tailor and owner of one of the most distinguished guesthouses in Frankfurt. His mother, Katharina Elizabeth Textor, was the daughter of… Read the full story

On this day in 1908, Lyndon B. Johnson, the 36th President of the United States, was born. Image: Lyndon B. Johnson / National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution CC0 Lyndon Baines Johnson was born on August 27, 1908 in a small farmhouse in Stonewall, Texas. He was the oldest of five children born to Samuel Ealy Johnson, Jr. and Rebekah Baines. Perhaps it was inevitable that Johnson would enter the world of politics. His father had… Read the full story

On this day in 1918, NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson was born. A brilliant mind, Johnson’s calculations helped send the first American astronauts into space. Image: Katherine Johnson / NASA Johnson was born on August 26, 1918 in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia to Joylette Roberta Lowe and Joshua McKinley Colman. A gifted student, Johnson graduated high school by the age of 14. She studied at West Virginia State College and graduated summa cum laude with… Read the full story

Today we remember actor Sean Connery on what would have been his 95th birthday. Image: Sean Connery / Nationaal Archief, CC0 Connery was born Thomas Sean Connery on August 25, 1930 in Edinburgh, Scotland. He was named after his paternal grandfather and was called “Tommy” for much of his youth. He grew up in a working class family and at the age of 13, quit school to work full time at a local dairy. Then… Read the full story

French composer Claude Debussy was born on August 22, 1862. Known as the first impressionist composer, Debussy is often regarded as one of the most influential composers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Image: Bergen Public Library Norway, Flickr Debussy was the eldest of five children born to Manuel-Achille Debussy and Victorine Manoury. His father ran a china shop and his mother worked as a seamstress. As a young child, Debussy began taking piano classes and… Read the full story

Have you found your connection to royalty? On this day in 1765, William IV was born. The third son of King George III and Queen Charlotte, William was never expected to be king. However, in 1830, he ascended to the throne after the death of his brother, George IV. William was born on August 21, 1765 at Buckingham Palace. At the age of 13, he began his career with the Royal Navy and served in New York… Read the full story

We’re back from Fort Wayne, Indiana where we attended the 45th IAJGS International Conference on Jewish Genealogy. From August 10-14, Jewish genealogists came together for a week of educational sessions, activities, and fun. It was wonderful to see old friends and reunite with several Geni curators in-person. The Geni booth Geni had a booth in the exhibit hall and many attendees stopped by with questions about their Geni accounts. Last year the Geni Pathfinder was… Read the full story

Are you a horror fan? On this day in 1890, author H.P. Lovecraft was born in Providence, Rhode Island. Image: H.P. Lovecraft / Wikimedia Commons Howard Philips Lovecraft was born on August 20, 1890 in his family home. He was the only child of Winfield Scott Lovecraft, a traveling salesman, and Sarah Susan Phillips. When he was three, his father was placed in the Providence psychiatric institution, Butler Hospital, where he remained until his death. Lovecraft was… Read the full story

On this day in 1871, pioneering aviator Orville Wright was born. In 1903, Orville and his brother Wilbur made history by making the world’s first sustained, man-powered, heavier-than-air flight. Image: Orville Wright / Library of Congress Orville Wright was born on August 19, 1871 in Dayton, Ohio to Milton Wright, a bishop, and Susan Koerner. He was the sixth of seven children. Growing up, Orville and his siblings were encouraged to pursue their intellectual interests… Read the full story

Today we remember actor Patrick Swayze on what would have been his 73rd birthday. Image: Patrick Swayze / Alan Light, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0) Patrick Wayne Swayze was born on August 18, 1952 in Houston, Texas. He was the second child of Patsy Yvonne Helen Karnes, a choreographer and dance instructor, and Jesse Wayne Swayze, an engineering draftsman. Thanks to his mother’s profession, Swayze was first introduced to dance at an early age. He showed… Read the full story

Today we remember French Emperor Napoleon I, who was born on this day in 1769. Commonly called Napoleon Bonaparte, the French military commander and emperor conquered much of Europe during his rule, making France one of the strongest empires in Europe until its collapse in 1815. Image: Napoleon I / Wikimedia Commons Napoleon was born on August 15, 1769 on the island of Corsica to Carlo Maria di Buonaparte and Maria Letizia Ramolino. Although the family were of minor Corsican… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Steve Martin! Today the actor turns 80. Image: Steve Martin / David Shankbone, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0) Born in Waco, Texas on August 14, 1945, Martin grew up in Southern California. He landed his firs job as a teen selling guidebooks at Disneyland and later, worked at the Magic Shop in the park where he frequently performed magic tricks for patrons. Martin’s big break came in 1976 when he hosted his first episode… Read the full story