2026

Image: Emma Lazarus / Library of Congress “Give me your tired, your poor,Your huddled Masses yearning to breathe free” – Emma Lazarus, “The New Colossus” These are the iconic lines inscribed on a bronze plaque at the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty. The words were written by American poet Emma Lazarus in 1883 in her sonnet “The New Colossus.” The poem was originally written to help raise funds for the construction of the statue’s pedestal, but… Read the full story

Today we remember actor Robin Williams on what would have been his 75th birthday. Image: Robin Williams / Eva Rinaldi, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0) Williams was born on July 21, 1951 in Chicago, Illinois to Robert Fitzgerald Williams and Laurie McLaurin. His second great grandfather, Anselm J. McLaurin, served as a senator for Mississippi and later, the state’s 34th governor. Williams described himself as a shy child and didn’t break out of his shell… 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: Guglielmo Marconi / Smithsonian Institution, Flickr 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… Read the full story

Today we remember actor Donald Sutherland on what would have been his 91st birthday. Image: Donald Sutherland / Frantogian, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0) Sutherland was born on July 17, 1935 in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada to Dorothy Isobel McNichol and Frederick McLea Sutherland. As a young teen, Sutherland worked as a news correspondent for a local radio station. He studied engineering and drama at Victoria University before leaving for England to study drama… Read the full story

Today we celebrate Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen on what would have been his 154th birthday. Image: Roald Amundsen / National Library of Norway, Flickr He was born on July 16, 1872 in Borge, Norway to Jens Amundsen, a successful sea captain, and Hanna Sahlquist. Although he came from a family of ship builders and captains, his mother hoped he would pursue a career in medicine instead. However, after her death in 1893, Amundsen chose to quit school… Read the full story

While your family tree is perfect for illustrating relationships across generations, it isn’t always easy to visualize the geographical journeys behind those lives. Today, we are thrilled to introduce the birth location view, a new enhancement to the family tree fan chart that adds a splash of color to your family history. With this new feature, you can instantly see where your ancestors were born, mapping out your family’s global migration and heritage at a… Read the full story

Today marks the 420th anniversary of the birth of Dutch painter Rembrandt van Rijn. Image: Rembrandt van Rijn / Wikimedia Commons The 17th century painter was born on July 15, 1606 in what is today the Netherlands. The ninth child born to Harmen Gerritszoon van Rijn and Neeltgen Willemsdochter van Zuijtbrouck, Rembrandt showed an early talent for the arts. He trained as an artist under two masters before beginning to practice as a professional portrait… Read the full story

Today we remember folk singer Woody Guthrie, who was born 114 years ago today. Image: Woody Guthrie / Library of Congress He was born Woodrow Wilson Guthrie on July 14, 1912 in Okemah, Oklahoma. His parents named him after Woodrow Wilson, who had become the Democratic candidate for president just weeks before his birth.  The Great Depression hit his family hard. In 1935, he join the thousands of “Okies” migrating West in search for work…. Read the full story

Happy 84th 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 we celebrate the 170th birthday of inventor Nikola Tesla! Tesla is remembered for his groundbreaking discoveries in the production, transmission, and application of electric power. Image: Nikola Tesla / Library of Congress Tesla was born in what is now Smiljan, Croatia on July 10, 1856. He was one of five children born to Milutin Tesla, an Eastern Orthodox priest, and Đuka Mandić.  In 1884, Tesla came to the United States and began working for Thomas Edison. However, a… Read the full story

Do you have a favorite Tom Hanks movie? Today the beloved actor turns 70! Image: Tom Hanks / Wikimedia Commons Hanks was born Thomas Jeffrey Hanks on July 9, 1956 in Concord, California to Janet Frager, a hospital worker, and Amos Mefford, a cook. In 1979, he moved to New York City to pursue an acting career. After appearing in low-budget movies and bit parts on television, Hanks landed the lead role in the television comedy Bosom… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Kevin Bacon! Today the actor turns 68. 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 86th 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

Do you have Mexican ancestry? On this day in 1907, Mexican painter Frida Kahlo was born. Image: Frida Kahlo / Library of Congress She was born Magdalena Carmen Frieda Kahlo y Calderón in her parents’ house, known as La Casa Azul, in Coyocoán, a town on the outskirts of Mexico City. Her father, Guillermo Kahlo, was born Carl Wilhelm Kahlo in Pforzheim, Germany. A photographer, Frida’s father traveled to Mexico at the age of 19 and changed his… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Tom Cruise! Today the actor turns 64. Image: Tom Cruise / Gage Skidmore, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0) Tom Cruise was born Thomas Cruise Mapother IV on July 3, 1962 in Syracuse, New York. When he was young, Cruise had considered becoming a priest, however, he left after a year in seminary school. He was encouraged to join the drama department in high school and caught the bug for acting. After making… Read the full story

Every genealogist knows the unique thrill of uncovering an ancestor who played a role in shaping history. This week, that connection feels more profound than ever. On July 4th, the United States will celebrate a monumental historic milestone, the Semiquincentennial, marking 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Thanks to Geni’s World Family Tree, millions of our users are already deeply interconnected with the very fabric of America’s founding story. To celebrate… Read the full story

On this day in 1903, Olav V of Norway was born. Nicknamed “the People’s King,” Olav was immensely popular during his reign for his down-to-earth style. Image: Olav V of Norway / National Library of Norway The Norwegian monarch was born with the name Alexander Edward Christian Frederik on July 2, 1903 at Appleton House at the royal Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, England. He was the only child of Prince Carl of Denmark and Princess Maud, the… Read the full story

“Carry out a random act of kindness, with no expectation of reward, safe in the knowledge that one day someone might do the same for you.” Today we remember Diana, Princess of Wales on what would have been her 65th birthday. Fondly known as the People’s Princess, Diana was one of the most adored members of the British royal family.  Image: Princess Diana, Wikimedia Commons Diana Frances Spencer was born into an aristocratic English family on… Read the full story

Trailblazing performer and civil rights activist Lena Horne was born on this day in 1917. Image: Lena Horne / Library of Congress 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… Read the full story

Today we remember actress Katharine Hepburn, who passed away on this day in 2003 at the age of 96. Image: Katharine Hepburn / Wikimedia Commons Katharine Houghton Hepburn was born on May 12, 1907 in Hartford, Connecticut. The second of six children, Hepburn grew up in a very progressive household. Her father, Thomas Norval Hepburn, was a successful urologist who sought to educate the public about venereal diseases. Her mother, Katharine Martha Houghton, was the head… Read the full story

On this day in 1892, author Pearl S. Buck was born. In 1938, Buck became the first American woman to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature. Image: Pearl Buck / Library of Congress Buck was born Pearl Sydenstricker in Hillsboro, West Virginia on June 26, 1892 to Southern Presbyterian missionaries, Absalom and Caroline Sydenstricker. When Buck was 5 months old, the family moved to China, where she would live for much of her life. In 1931, Buck… Read the full story

Remember reading Nineteen Eighty-Four? On this day in 123 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

Happy birthday to Lionel Messi! Today the soccer star turns 39. Image: Lionel Messi / Official White House Photo by Daniel Torok, Wikimedia Commons, public domain Messi was born on June 24, 1987 in Rosario, Santa Fe Province, Argentina to Jorge Messi and Celia Cuccittini. The third of four children, Messi began playing soccer at an early age. He joined the local soccer club at the age of 4, where he was coached by his… Read the full story

Today we remember British mathematician Alan Turing, who was born on this day in 1912. Considered the father of computer science and artificial intelligence, Turing is remembered as one of the most influential minds of the 20th century. Image: Alan Turing / Wikimedia Commons Turing was born on June 23, 1912 in London, England to Julius Mathison Turing, and Ethel Sara Stoney. From a young age, Turing was a natural at mathematics. During World War… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Meryl Streep! Today the star turns 77. With a record of 21 Academy Award nominations, Steep is often considered to be one of the greatest actresses in history. Image: Meryl Streep / Wikimedia Commons She was born Mary Louise Streep on June 22, 1949 in Summit, New Jersey to Harry William Streep, Jr., a pharmaceutical executive, and Mary Wolf Wilkinson, an artist. Streep’s father was of German and Swiss ancestry. Her second… Read the full story

Do you remember watching The Three Stooges? On this day in 1897, Moe Howard was born in Brooklyn, New York. Image: The Three Stooges He was born Moses Harry Horwitz to Solomon Horwitz and Jennie Gorovitz and was of Lithuanian Jewish ancestry. The fourth of five brothers, Moe developed an interest in performing early in his life. He got his start as part of the vaudeville act with Ted Healy and His Stooges. Eventually, Moe, along with… Read the full story

On this day in 1983, astronaut Sally Ride became the first American woman in space aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger for NASA’s 7th space shuttle mission. Image: Sally Ride / U.S. National Archives and Records Administration Ride was born on May 26, 1951 to Dale Burdell Ride and Carol Joyce Anderson in Encino, California. Her path to NASA began when she responded to an advertisement in the Stanford student newspaper for NASA’s Astronaut Group 8. It would be the first… Read the full story

Every genealogist knows the thrill of the hunt, but for Julia Miakota, family history became an unexpected lifeline and a global adventure. Originally from the city of Krasnoyarsk in Siberia, Julia and her husband traveled to the Philippines in 2020 to escape the freezing winter for what was supposed to be a brief 3-5 month stay. However, when pandemic border closures went into effect that March, their short tropical getaway turned into a permanent residency… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Barry Manilow! Today the singer-songwriter turns 83. 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 June 16, 1829, legendary Apache leader Geronimo was born in the upper Gila River country in what is today New Mexico. Image: Geronimo / Library of Congress He was born to the Bedonkohe band of the Apache and named Goyathlay, meaning “One Who Yawns.” In 1851, a band of Mexican soldiers attacked his camp, killing his mother, his wife, and three small children. From then on, he harbored a deep hatred for Mexican soldiers. During the Apache… 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

“Where there’s hope, there’s life. It fills us with fresh courage and makes us strong again.” – Anne Frank Ninety-seven years ago today, Anne Frank was born in Frankfurt, Germany to Edith Holländer Frank and Otto Frank, a businessman. By 1934, the family had moved to Amsterdam after the Nazi party came to power in Germany. Image: Anne Frank / Wikimedia Commons For her 13th birthday, Anne was given a diary and immediately began writing in it. Shortly… Read the full story

Today we remember actor Gene Wilder, who was born on this day in 1933. Image: Gene Wilder / Library of Congress Wilder was born Jerome Silberman on June 11, 1933 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He was the son of William J. Silberman, a Russian Jewish immigrant and a salesman, and Jeanne Baer. When his mother was diagnosed with rheumatic fever, an 8-year-old Wilder was told by her doctor to try to make her laugh. This point… Read the full story

Today we remember Judy Garland on what would have been her 104th 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 Victorian writer Charles Dickens, who died on this day in 1870 at the age of 58. Image: Charles Dickens / Library of Congress Charles John Huffam Dickens was born on February 7, 1812 in Portsmouth, England. He was the second child of John Dickens, a clerk in the Navy Pay Office, and Elizabeth Dickens. When his father was imprisoned for debt, a twelve-year-old Dickens was forced to leave school and work in a… Read the full story

On this day in 1867, American 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 Carey Wright, an orator, music teacher, and minister, and Anna Lloyd Jones. His mother was a member of a large, prosperous, and well-known Unitarian family that emigrated from Wales to Spring Green, Wisconsin. Considered one of the greatest architects of all time, Wright… Read the full story

Today we remember Robert F. Kennedy, who was shot after giving a speech at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, California on June 5, 1968. He would succumb to his wounds the next day. Image: Robert F. Kennedy / LBJ Library Robert Francis Kennedy was born on November 20, 1925 in Brookline, Massachusetts. He was the seventh child born to Joseph Kennedy, Sr. and Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy. After successfully managing his brother’s presidential campaign, Kennedy was… 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

We’re back from Fort Wayne, Indiana, where the energy for family history was truly infectious! From May 27-30, genealogists, historians, and family history enthusiasts from around the country gathered at the Grand Wayne Convention Center for the National Genealogical Society 2026 Family History Conference. With this year’s theme, America at 250, the sessions brought a focus to the diverse stories and communities that have shaped the nation over the last two and a half centuries…. 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

On this day in 1731, Martha Washington, America’s first First Lady, was born. Image: Martha Washington / National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution Martha Dandridge was born on her family’s plantation Chestnut Grove in Virginia. She was the first of eight children born to Frances Jones and John Dandridge, a successful planter and immigrant from England. At the age of 18, she married wealthy plantation owner Daniel Parke Custis and together they had four children; only two lived… Read the full story

Today we celebrate what would have been Marilyn Monroe’s 100th birthday. Image: Marilyn Monroe / Wikimedia Commons She was born Norma Jean Mortensen on June 1, 1926 in Los Angeles, California to Gladys Pearl Monroe. Her father’s identity remains unknown, though she used the surnames of her mother’s ex-husbands, Mortensen and Baker, growing up. Her mother struggled with mental illness and was unable to care for her daughter, so Monroe spent most of her childhood in foster homes…. Read the full story

On this day in 1953, New Zealand mountaineer and explorer Edmund Hillary and Nepalese Sherpa Tenzing Norgay became the first climbers known to reach the summit of Mount Everest. Image: The Windsor Daily Star, July 3, 1953 / MyHeritage SuperSearch The duo reached the summit at 11:30am and spent 15 minutes atop the highest point on Earth. Hillary and Tenzing were a part of the ninth British expedition to Everest, led by John Hunt. Upon their… Read the full story

Today we remember athlete Jim Thorpe, who was born on this day in 1888. Considered one of the most versatile athletes of modern sports, Thorpe was not only an Olympic champion, but also played professional football, baseball, and basketball. Image: Jim Thorpe / Library of Congress Thorpe was born in Indian Territory near the town of Prague, Oklahoma to Hiram Thorpe and Charlotte Vieux. Thorpe had a mix of European and Native American ancestry and… Read the full story

Do you have any gun-slingers in your family tree? On this day in 1837, legendary gunfighter Wild Bill Hickok was born in Troy Grove, Illinois. Image: James B. “Wild Bill” Hickok / Gilman Collection, Metropolitan Museum of Art, public domain Born James Butler Hickok, “Wild Bill” was an excellent marksman from a very young age. His adventurous life was ripe for legendary status. During the American Civil War, he served as a civilian scout for the Union Army. Although… Read the full story

Do you have a favorite Western film? On this day in 1907, legendary icon John Wayne was born in Winterset, Iowa. Image: John Wayne / Nationaal Archief, CC0 Although he was born Marion Robert Morrison, he preferred to be called by his nickname, “Duke.” He was a gifted athlete and even landed a football scholarship to the University of Southern California. Wayne got his start in film with small parts in low budget Westerns. His big… Read the full story

Do you have a poet in your family tree? On this day in 1803, American essayist and poet Ralph Waldo Emerson was born in Boston, Massachusetts. Image: Ralph Waldo Emerson / Library of Congress The son of Rev. William Emerson and Ruth Haskins, Emerson was named after his mother’s brother Ralph and his father’s great grandmother, Rebecca Waldo. He is descended from Mayflower passengers John Howland and Elizabeth Tilley. In fact, he carried the mitochondrial DNA… Read the full story

On this day in 1907, legendary actor Laurence Olivier was born. Image: Laurence Olivier / Library of Congress Olivier was born on May 22, 1907 in Dorking, Surry, England to Gerard Kerr Olivier, a reverend, and Agnes Louise Crookenden. Although he came from a family of clergymen, Olivier was encouraged from a young age to pursue a career in acting. A prominent figure on both the stage and screen, Olivier became known for bringing the plays of William… Read the full story

The National Genealogical Society 2026 Family History Conference is just around the corner and Geni is excited to be there. This year the conference is being held in Fort Wayne, Indiana from May 27-30, 2026. Whether you’re a longtime Geni user or just starting your journey on the World Family Tree, this is a great opportunity to connect with the community and sharpen your research skills. This year’s theme, “America at 250,” promises an incredible… Read the full story

On this day in 1927, Charles Lindberg completed the world’s first solo nonstop flight across the Atlantic Ocean. Lindbergh completed the flight in his custom built single-engine monoplane, Spirit of St. Louis, from Roosevelt Field, Long Island, New York to Paris, France in 33 and a half hours. Image: Charles Lindbergh / Library of Congress Lindbergh was born on February 4, 1902 in Detroit, Michigan to Charles August Lindbergh, a former Congressman, and Evangeline Lodge Land…. Read the full story