February 2026

On February 27, 1807, American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was born in Portland, Maine to Stephen Longfellow and Zilpha Wadsworth. His maternal grandfather was Peleg Wadsworth, a general in the American Revolutionary War and a member of Congress. Image: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow / Library of Congress Considered one of the most celebrated American poets of the 19th century, Longfellow’s works were immensely popular and beloved both domestically and abroad. Most famously, his poem “Paul Revere’s… Read the full story

It’s that time of year again! The Geni Team will be in Salt Lake City, Utah from March 5-7 for RootsTech 2026. Whether you are joining us in person at the Salt Palace Convention Center or tuning in virtually from home, we’re excited to connect with the genealogy community. Between hundreds of genealogy classes and the electric energy of the exhibit hall, we can’t wait to attend this one-of-a-kind conference. Visit the Geni Booth (#1101)… Read the full story

Today we remember music legend Johnny Cash, who was born on this day in 1932. One of the best-selling music artists of all time, Cash’s music transcended multiple genres, affording him the rare honor of multiple inductions in the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and the Gospel Music Hall of Fame. Image: Johnny Cash / Library of Congress Cash was born J.R. Cash on February 26, 1932 in… Read the full story

On this day in 1943, musician George Harrison was born. Known as “the quiet Beatle,” Harrison became internationally famous as the lead guitarist of the Beatles. Image: George Harrison / Gerald R. Ford Library and Museum, Wikimedia Commons Harrison was born on February 25, 1943 in Liverpool, England to Harold Harrison and Louise French. The youngest of four children, Harrison grew up with a strong love for music. He first met Paul McCartney while riding the bus… Read the full story

On this day in 1836, American landscape painter Winslow Homer was born in Boston, Massachusetts. Image: Winslow Homer / Wikimedia Commons Homer was the second of three sons born to Charles Savage Homer and Henrietta Maria Benson. He came from a long line of New England families from both of his parents. As a child, he was encourage by his mother to pursue his interests in painting. Early in his career, Homer worked as a lithographer and… Read the full story

On this day in 1868, civil rights activist W.E.B. Du Bois was born in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. Du Bois is often considered one of the most influential proponents of civil rights during the first half of the 20th century. Image: W.E.B. Du Bois / Library of Congress William Edward Burghardt Du Bois was born on February 23, 1868 to Alfred Du Bois and Mary Silvina Burghardt. His mother’s family was a part of a small,… Read the full story

On this day in 1902, photographer and environmentalist Ansel Adams was born in San Francisco, California. He is best remembered for his iconic black and white photos of the American wilderness, especially those of Yosemite National Park. Image: Ansel Adams / U.S. National Archives and Records Administration Adams was the only child born to Charles Hitchcock Adams and Olive Bray. His grandfather founded a prosperous lumber business, which his father eventually inherited. Adams would later come… Read the full story

Do you have any astronomers in your family tree? On February 19, 1473, Renaissance mathematician and astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus was born in Torun, Poland. Image: Nicolaus Copernicus / New York Public Library In one of the most significant astronomical breakthroughs in history, Copernicus formulated a heliocentric model of the universe, which placed the Sun, rather than the Earth, at the center. Just before his death, he published his findings in De revolutionbus orbium coelestium (On the… Read the full story

On this day in 1931, author Toni Morrison was born. Known for her rich story telling of the Black experience in America, Morrison was the first African American woman to be awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature. Image: Toni Morrison / Library of Congress Morrison was born Chloe Ardelia Wofford on February 18, 1931 in Lorain, Ohio. She was the second of four children born to George Wofford and Ella Ramah Willis. At the age… Read the full story

On this day in 1781, French physician René Laennec, inventor of the stethoscope, was born in Quimper, France. Image: René Laennec / Wikimedia Commons Considered one of the greatest physicians in history, Laennec made many significant contributions to the world of medicine. In 1816, he invented the stethoscope and pioneered its use in diagnosing various chest conditions. The inspiration for the groundbreaking device came from Laennec’s observation of school children who played with long hallow sticks to amplify… Read the full story

On this day in 1923, pilot Chuck Yeager was born. Yeager is remembered for being the first pilot to travel faster than the speed of sound in 1947. Image: Chuck Yeager / U.S. National Archives and Records Administration Yeager was born Charles Elwood Yeager on February 13, 1923 in Myra, West Virginia to farming parents Albert Hall Yeager and Susie Mae Sizemore. After graduating high school, just a few months before the U.S. entered World… Read the full story

Every family tree holds a few surprises, but some stories are so unexpected that they feel stranger than fiction. From long-lost relatives to unbelievable twists uncovered through research, family history has a way of revealing the extraordinary hidden within the ordinary. We asked the Geni community to share their wildest and most surprising family stories, and the responses reminded us why genealogy is never just about names and dates. It’s about moments, mysteries, and discoveries… Read the full story

Today marks the 217th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin. Celebrated as Darwin Day throughout the world, the day commemorates Darwin’s enormous contribution to science. Image: Charles Darwin / Library of Congress Charles Robert Darwin was born on February 12, 1809 at his family’s home in Shrewsbury, England. His family was wealthy and well known in English society. His paternal grandfather, Erasmus Darwin, was an abolitionist and a key thinker of the Enlightenment movement. While… Read the full story

Today we remember inventor Thomas Edison, who was born on this day in 1847. Image: Thomas Edison / Library of Congress Edison was born on February 11, 1847 in Milan, Ohio and was the youngest of seven children born to Samuel Ogden Edison, Jr. and Nancy Matthews Elliot. His father was an exiled political activist from Canada who had participated in the Mackenzie Rebellion of 1837. Edison received little formal education growing up, but spent… Read the full story

Do you love watching old Shirley Temple movies? Today we remember the beloved child actor, who passed away on this day in 2014 at the age of 85. Image: Shirley Temple / National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution, CC0 Temple was born on April 23, 1928 in Santa Monica, California. She was first discovered in a dancing class at the age of 3 and was cast in Baby Burlesks, a series of short films that satirized recent film… Read the full story

On this day in 1773, William Henry Harrison, the 9th President of the United States, was born at Berkeley plantation in Virginia. Image: William Henry Harrison / New York Public Library Born on February 9, 1773, Harrison was the last U.S. president to be born as a British subject before American Independence. He was the youngest son of Benjamin Harrison V and Elizabeth Bassett and his family were prominent political figures. His father was a… Read the full story

On this day in 1911, Ronald Reagan, the 40th President of the United States, was born. Image: Ronald Reagan / U.S. National Archives and Records Administration Reagan was raised in a small town in Illinois. His father nicknamed him “Dutch” as a small boy because he thought his son resembled a “fat little Dutchman.” Before entering politics, Reagan was a successful actor. He began his entertainment career in radio before transitioning to film. During World War II, Regan served in… Read the full story

On this day in 1810, Norwegian violinist Ole Bull was born. Known as one of Norway’s most notable and gifted violinists, Bull is also remembered for his efforts to start a new Norwegian colony he called New Norway in Pennsylvania. Image: Ole Bull / Bergen Public Library Norway, Flickr Bull was born on February 5, 1810 in Bergen, Norway to Johan Storm Bull and Anna Dorotea Borse Geelmuyden. The eldest of ten children, Bull’s father… Read the full story

On this day in 1913, civil rights icon Rosa Parks was born. Image: Rosa Parks / Library of Congress Parks was born Rosa Louise McCauley on February 4, 1913 in Tuskegee, Alabama to James McCauley, a carpenter, and Leona Edwards, a teacher. In 1932, she married Raymond Parks, a barber and active member of the NAACP. Parks would join the Montgomery chapter of the NAACP in 1943 and serve as the chapter secretary. On December… Read the full story

On this day in 1821, Elizabeth Blackwell, the first female doctor in the United States, was born in Bristol, England. Image: Elizabeth Blackwell / National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution CC0 Blackwell was raised in a liberal household with a strong emphasis on education. In 1832, her father, Samuel Blackwell, moved the family to United States. When he died in 1838, he left the family in great debt. To help make ends meet, Blackwell, her older sisters, and her… Read the full story

Remember watching Charlie’s Angels? On this day in 1947, star Farrah Fawcett was born in Corpus Christi, Texas. Image: Farrah Fawcett / Wikimedia Commons Ferrah Leni Fawcett was the youngest of two daughters born to Pauline Alice Evans, a homemaker, and James William Fawcett, an oil field contractor. After generating interest from various agencies, Fawcett dropped out of the University of Texas to try her luck in Hollywood. Fawcett quickly booked several commercials and television guest spots. Her big… Read the full story