2026

On this day in 1918, former First Lady and activist Betty Ford was born. Image: Betty Ford / Library of Congress She was born Elizabeth Anne Bloomer on April 8, 1918 in Chicago Illinois to Hortense Neahr and William Stephenson Bloomer, a traveling salesman. As a young girl, she studied dance and worked as a model at a department store to help pay for her lessons. In 1948, she married Gerald Ford, who at the… Read the full story

Do you enjoy a bowl of corn flakes for breakfast? On this day in 1860, Will Keith Kellogg, breakfast cereal inventor and founder of the Kellogg Company, was born in Battle Creek, Michigan. Image: Kellogg’s corn flakes / State Library and Archives of Florida, Flickr Kellogg began his career selling brooms before joining his older brother, John Harvey Kellogg, to help run the Battle Creek Sanitarium. His brother was a doctor and together, the brothers worked… Read the full story

On this day in 1909, American explorer Robert E. Peary and his assistant, Matthew A. Henson, purportedly became the first men to reach the North Pole. Image: U.S. National Archives and Records Administration Born in Cresson, Pennsylvania, Peary joined the United States Navy in 1881 as a civil engineer. It was during his time in the Navy that he resolved to be the first man to reach the North Pole. Peary studied the survival techniques of the… Read the full story

Today we remember actress Doris Day on what would have been her 104th 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

What’s your favorite fairy tale? On this day in 1805, Danish author Hans Christian Andersen was born. Image: Hans Christian Andersen / National Library of Norway, Flickr Andersen was born on April 2, 1805 in Odense, Denmark to Hans Andersen, Sr. and Anne Marie Andersdatter. He first developed an interest in literature from his father, who would entertain him with stories from the Arabian Nights. At the age of 14, Andersen left school to pursue a career as an actor… Read the full story

Today we remember actress Debbie Reynolds on what would have been her 94th birthday. Image: Debbie Reynolds / Allan Warren, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0) Reynolds was born on April 1, 1932 in El Paso, Texas to Maxine “Minnie” Harman and Raymond Francis Reynolds. Her father was a carpenter and worked for the Southern Pacific Railroad. In 1939, her family moved to Burbank, California and at the age of 16, she won the Miss Burbank beauty… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Christopher Walken! Today the actor celebrates his 83rd 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

Happy birthday to Céline Dion! Today the French-Canadian singer turns 58. Image: Celine Dion / Georges Biard, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0) She was born on March 30, 1968 in Charlemagne, Quebec, Canada to a large family. The youngest of 14 children, Dion’s upbringing was always filled with music. She made her first public performance at the age of 5, performing with her siblings in her parents’ small piano bar. With dreams to become a singer, Dion… Read the full story

Today we remember Estonian poet Marie Under, who was born on this day in 1883. Considered one of Estonia’s great poets of the 20th century, Under was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature multiple times, but never won. Image: Marie Under / Wikimedia Commons Born in what is today Tallinn, Estonia, Under learned to read at the age of 4 and began writing her own poetry by the age of 14. She first wrote her… Read the full story

On this day in 1874, poet Robert Frost was born. One of the most celebrated poets in American history, Frost remains the only poet to receive four Pulitzer Prizes for Poetry. Image: Robert Frost / Library of Congress Frost was born on March 26, 1874 in San Francisco, California to William Prescott Frost, Jr., a journalist, and Isabelle Moodie. After his father’s death in 1885, the family moved to Lawrence, Massachusetts. A gifted student, Frost… Read the full story

Image: Elton John / Nationaal Archief, CC0 Happy birthday to Elton John! Today the singer turns 79. John was born Reginald Kenneth Dwight in Pinner, England on March 25, 1947. He began playing the piano at the age of 3, and by the age of 11, he had earned a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music. Today John is one of the best-selling artists in the world with over 300 million records sold worldwide…. 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

Today we remember actress Joan Crawford, who was born on March 23. The exact year of her birth is unknown, with various sources claiming she was born 1904-1908. Crawford herself claimed she was born in 1908. Image: Joan Crawford / Wikimedia Commons Crawford was born Lucille Fay LeSueur in San Antonio, Texas to Thomas E. Le Sueur and Anna Bell Johnson. From a young age, Crawford loved to dance and had ambitions to become a dancer…. Read the full story

On this day in 1828, Norwegian playwright and poet Henrik Ibsen was born. Image: Henrik Ibsen / National Library of Norway, Flickr Ibsen was the oldest of five children born to Knud Ibsen and Marichen Altenburg in the small costal town of Skien in Telemark County, Norway. His maternal grandfather, Johan Andreas Altenburg was a wealthy merchant and shipowner in Skien. Although they were once a wealthy merchant family, by the time Ibsen was 8, they had… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Glenn Close! Today the star turns 79. Image: Glenn Close / Gage Skidmore, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0) The versatile actress was born on March 19, 1947 in Greenwich, Connecticut. Her father was a prominent doctor and opened a clinic in the Belgian Congo. He also served as the personal physician of Mobutu Sese Seko, the President of Zaire. After graduating with a degree in drama from the College of William and Mary, Close made her Broadway… Read the full story

Are you related to a U.S. President? On March 18, 1837, Grover Cleveland was born in Caldwell, New Jersey. Image: Grover Cleveland / National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution CC0 Stephen Grover Cleveland was the fifth of nine children born to Ann Neal and Richard Falley Cleveland, a pastor. Known as “Big Steve” by friends because of his size, Cleveland dropped his first name and became known as Grover as an adult. His great grandfather, Richard Falley,… 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

On this day in 1751, James Madison, the fourth President of the United States, was born at Belle Grove Plantation near Port Conway, Virginia. Image: James Madison / Wikimedia Commons Madison was the oldest of twelve children born to James Madison, Sr. and Eleanor “Nelly” Conway. His father served as a colonel in the militia during the American Revolutionary War. After reaching adulthood, Madison inherited Mount Pleasant, the largest tobacco plantation in the area. As… Read the full story

We’re back from Salt Lake City, Utah, where we had an incredible time at RootsTech 2026. As the world’s largest genealogy conference, RootsTech always has a unique electricity in the air, and this year was no exception. The 2026 conference theme, “Together,” felt especially poignant. It perfectly mirrors Geni’s mission to connect everyone to a shared family tree of the world, fueled by a truly collaborative, global community of researchers. The highlight of our week… Read the full story

On this day in 1781, astronomer William Herschel discovered the planet Uranus, the seventh planet from the sun. Image: William Herschel / Wikimedia Commons Born on November 15, 1738 in the Electorate of Hanover in Germany, then a part of the Holy Roman Empire, Herschel moved to Great Britain at the age of 19. He worked as a musician and composer before discovering an interest in astronomy. As his interests grew stronger, Herschel began building… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Liza Minnelli! Today she turns 80 years old. Image: Liza Minnelli / Wikimedia Commons On March 12, 1946, Liza Minnelli was born in Hollywood, California to Hollywood power couple Vincent Minnelli and Judy Garland. Primed for stardom at birth, Minnelli was able to step out of her mother’s shadow and enjoy a highly successful career in entertainment. She’s one of the rare few to have earned the coveted EGOT, an award in… Read the full story

Image: Frederick IX of Denmark / Wikimedia Commons On March 11, 1899, Frederick IX of Denmark was born. A highly popular monarch, Frederick IX reigned as the King of Denmark from 1947 until his death in 1972. Frederick IX and his wife Ingrid had three daughters and no sons. In 1953, the Act of Succession was passed, which allowed a female to inherit the throne if there were no male heirs. Upon his death, Frederick… Read the full story

Today we remember Harriet Tubman, who died on this day in 1913. After escaping from slavery herself, Tubman helped lead hundreds of others to freedom along the Underground Railroad. Image: Harriet Tubman / Library of Congress Tubman was born into slavery around 1822 and was one of nine children born to Harriet Green and Ben Ross. Her parents named her Araminta and gave her the nickname “Minty.” She later changed her name to Harriet in… Read the full story

On this day in 1934, Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin was born in the village of Klushino in Smolensk, Russia. Gagarin made history in 1961 when he became the first human to travel into outer space. Image: Yuri Gagarin / NASA Gagarin was the third of four children born to Alexey Ivanovich Gagarin, a carpenter and bricklayer, and Anna Timofeyevna Gagarina, a milkmaid. He made his first flight after joining a local flying club. He trained as… Read the full story

On this day in 1806, English poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning was born. During her lifetime, Browning was considered to be one of the most popular Victorian poets of the era. Image: Elizabeth Barrett Browning / Library of Congress Browning was the eldest of twelve children born to Edward Barrett Moulton-Barrett and Mary Graham Clark. The family had acquired their wealth as sugar plantation owners in Jamaica, but her father chose to raise his family in England. Educated… Read the full story

On this day in 1873, Norwegian ski campion and polar explorer Olav Bjaaland was born. Image: Olav Bjaaland / Wikimedia Commons Bjaaland was born on March 5, 1873 on the Søndre Bjaaland farm at Morgedal in Telemark, Norway. The small village of Morgedal is known as the cradle of skiing. One of its most famous residents was Sondre Norheim, who is known as the father of modern skiing. Known at the time as one of… Read the full story

We are thrilled to unveil an exclusive new feature for our Geni Pro subscribers, the Geni Pro Workspace. The Geni Pro Workspace is a private, dedicated area to organize your family history research exactly how you want it. Whether you are deep in a research rabbit hole or just getting started on a new branch, the Geni Pro Workspace lets you capture notes, set to-dos, and manage your private projects without ever leaving Geni. Have… Read the full story

On this day in 1781, Jewish American educator and philanthropist Rebecca Gratz was born. Image: Rebecca Gratz / Princeton University Art Museum, Wikimedia Commons Gratz was born on March 4, 1781 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and was the seventh of twelve children born to Michael Gratz and Miriam Simon. Her father immigrated to America in 1752 from Germany and was descended from a long line of respected rabbis. Her maternal grandfather was Joseph Simon, a merchant… Read the full story

Do you have inventors in your family tree? On this day in 1847, inventor and engineer Alexander Graham Bell was born in Edinburgh, Scotland. Image: Alexander Graham Bell / Library of Congress As the inventor of the first practical telephone, Bell’s work was heavily influenced by his life at home. Both his mother and his wife were deaf, while his father, grandfather and brother concentrated their work on elocution and speech. In 1876, Bell received… Read the full story

Happy birthday, Dr. Seuss! Today in 1904, beloved children’s book author Theodor Seuss Geisel was born. Image: Theodor Seuss Geisel / Library of Congress Geisel was boron on March 2, 1904 in Springfield, Massachusetts to Theodor Robert Geisel, a brewmaster, and Henrietta Seuss. After the family brewery closed because of Prohibition, Geisel’s father was appointed as superintendent of the Springfield public park system. Much of Geisel’s writing was inspired by his life growing up in Springfield. When… Read the full story

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