Profile of the Day

Remember reading A Farewell to Arms? On this day in 1899, author Ernest Hemingway was born in Oak Park, Illinois. Image: Ernest Hemingway / U.S. National Archives and Records Administration During World War I, Hemingway enlisted with the Red Cross to become an ambulance driver in Italy. On July 8, 1918, he was seriously wounded by mortar fire and despite his injuries, Hemingway assisted Italian soldiers to safety. He would receive the Italian Silver Medal of Bravery… 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: Smithsonian Institution 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 Jameson, was the granddaughter… Read the full story

On July 19, 1834, painter and sculptor Edgar Degas was born in Paris, France. Image: Edgar Degas / Wikimedia Commons At the beginning of his career, Degas aspired to become a history painter, which required rigorous academic training. However, he later changed course and turned to capturing moments of modern life. Although he is regarded as one of the founders of Impressionism, Degas rejected the term and preferred to be called a realist. His highly… Read the full story

Today we remember legendary astronaut John Glenn on what would have been his 101st birthday. Image: John Glenn / NASA John Herschel Glenn, Jr. was born on July 18, 1921 to John Herschel Glenn, Sr. and Clara Sproat in Cambridge, Ohio. In 1943, Glenn married his high school sweetheart, Anna Castor. The couple had met when they were just toddlers and remained married for 73 years until his death. An original member of the Mercury… Read the full story

Do you have Dutch ancestry? Dutch artist Rembrandt van Rijn was born on this day in 1606 in Leiden in the Dutch Republic, now known as the Netherlands. Image: Rembrandt van Rijn / Wikimedia Commons The ninth child born to Harmen Gerritszoon van Rijn and Neeltgen Willemsdochter van Zuytbrouck, Rembrandt was put through school in preparation for a career in the government or ministry. However, by the age of 15, he abandoned his studies to pursue… Read the full story

On this day in 1912, American folk singer and songwriter Woody Guthrie was born in Okemah, Oklahoma. Image: Woody Guthrie / Library of Congress Guthrie was named after Woodrow Wilson, who was then the Democratic candidate for President. He faced family tragedies early in his life, including the death of his sister in a fire. His mother, suffering from Huntington’s disease, was also later institutionalized. By the age of 14, Guthrie was left to fend for… Read the full story

Happy 80th 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 marks writer Henry David Thoreau’s 205th birthday! Image: Henry David Thoreau / Wikimedia Commons He was born David Henry Thoreau on July 12, 1817 in Concord, Massachusetts to John Thoreau, a pencil maker, and Cynthia Dunbar. His maternal grandfather, Asa Dunbar, had led Harvard’s 1766 “Butter Rebellion,” the first recorded student protest in the colonies. Thoreau was a leading transcendentalist and naturalist and often wrote about nature and the environment. He is best remembered for… Read the full story

Today marks the 255th birthday of John Quincy Adams, the sixth President of the United States. Image: John Quincy Adams / Wikimedia Commons Adams was born on July 11, 1767 in Braintree, Massachusetts to John and Abigail Adams. He was named after his mother’s maternal grandfather, Colonel John Quincy. The city of Quincy, Massachusetts was named after the Colonel. As a young boy, Adams witnessed the Battle of Bunker Hill from the top of Penn’s Hill above… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Kevin Bacon! Today the actor turns 64. 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 82nd 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

Today we remember artist Frida Kahlo, who was born on this day 115 years ago. Magdalena Carmen Frida Kahlo y Calderón was born on July 6, 1907 in Coyoacán, a village outside of Mexico City, Mexico. Her father, Guillermo Kahlo, was a photographer born in Germany and immigrated to Mexico in 1891. At the age of 6, Kahlo contracted polio, which left her right leg shorter than her left. Kahlo first began painting after she was… Read the full story

Do you enjoy the circus? On this day in 1810, showman P.T. Barnum was born in Bethel, Connecticut. Image: P.T. Barnum / Library of Congress A successful promoter, Barnum made a name for himself promoting weird and odd curiosities. He founded the famous “Barnum & Bailey Circus” and toured the country with his band of performers. He was one of the first to move his circus by train. Named the “Greatest Show on Earth,” the Barnum &… Read the full story

Today we remember Diana, Princess of Wales, on what would have been her 61st birthday. Image: Diana, Princess of Wales / Wikimedia Commons She was born Diana Frances Spencer on July 1, 1961 in Park House, Sandringham, Norfolk. She was the fourth of five children born to Edward John Spencer, and his first wife, Frances Ruth Roche. Her parents divorced when she was a child and her father received custody of the children. After her father… Read the full story

Trailblazing performer and civil rights activist Lena Horne was born on this day in 1917. 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 of the 1934 show Dance With Your… Read the full story

Today we remember legendary actress Katharine Hepburn, who passed away on this day in 2003. Remembered as one of Hollywood’s most celebrated actresses in film history, Hepburn earned a record 4 Academy Awards for Best Actress, more than any other performer and still holds the record to this day. Image: Katharine Hepburn / Wikimedia Commons Hepburn was born on May 12, 1907 to a very progressive family. Her father, Thomas Norval Hepburn, was a urologist who helped establish… Read the full story

On June 28, 1491, Henry VIII was born at Greenwich. The second son of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York, Henry was not expected to become king. However, the sudden death of his brother, Arthur, in 1502 made Henry the heir-apparent. Image: Henry VIII of England / Paul Hermans, Wikimedia Commons Still intent on securing an alliance between England and Spain, Henry VII offered Henry in marriage to Arthur’s widow, Catherine of Aragon, the youngest surviving child of… Read the full story

“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched – they must be felt with the heart.” – Helen Keller Image: Helen Keller / Library of Congress On this day in 1880, inspirational author and activist Helen Keller was born in Tuscumbia, Alabama. Her father, Arthur Keller, was a captain for the Confederate Army and a second cousin to General Robert E. Lee. She was not blind and deaf at birth. At 19… Read the full story

On this day in 1895, boxing legend Jack Dempsey was born. Nicknamed “The Manassa Mauler,” Dempsey’s  powerful punch made him one of the most popular boxers in history. Image: Jack Dempsey / Library of Congress He was born William Harrison Dempsey in Manassa, Colorado to Mary Celia Smoot and Hiram Dempsey. Dempsey grew up in a poor family. By the age of 8, he had landed his first job as a crop picker. After working a… Read the full story

On this day in 1929, country singer June Carter Cash was born. Image: Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash / Wikimedia Commons She was born Valerie June Carter on June 23, 1929 in Maces Spring, Virginia and grew up in a famous musical family. Her mother, Maybelle Addington, was a part of the original Carter Family singing group, which was also one of the first commercial rural country music groups. Her father, Ezra Carter, managed the… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Meryl Streep! Today the star turns 73. Image: Meryl Streep / Wikimedia Commons Mary Louise Streep was born on June 22, 1949 in Summit, New Jersey to Mary Wilkinson Streep, a commercial artist and art editor, and Harry William Streep, a pharmaceutical executive. A graduate of Yale Drama School, Streep began her career on the stage. Before long, she lit up the big screen opposite Robert De Niro in The Deer Hunter and earned… Read the full story

Today Prince William celebrates his 40th birthday! Born June 21, 1982, the Duke of Cambridge was the first child of Prince Charles and Princess Diana and the second in the line of succession to the British throne. Image: Prince William, Duke of Cambridge / USAID/Vietnam He was born at St. Mary’s Hospital in London, making him the first direct heir of the British throne to be born in a hospital. Since then, all three of… Read the full story

On this day in 1925, World War II hero Audie Murphy was born in Kingston, Texas. One of the most decorated American combat soldiers of World War II, Murphy received every military combat award for valor available from the U.S. Army. After the war, he enjoyed a successful acting career and became one of Hollywood’s most popular stars. Image: Audie Murphy / Wikimedia Commons Murphy was the seventh of twelve children born to Emmett Berry… Read the full story

On this day in 1882, Russian composer Igor Stravinsky was born. Today Stravinsky is remembered as one of the most important and influential composers of the 20th century. Image: Igor Stravinsky / Library of Congress Stravinsky was born on June 17, 1882 in Oranienbaum, St. Petersburg, Russia. He was the son of Fyodor Ignatievich Stravinsky, a notable bass singer, and Anna Kholodovskaa, an accomplished pianist. From a young age, Stravinsky studied the piano and music theory, however,… Read the full story

Happy Bloomsday! The day celebrates the work of Irish writer James Joyce, whose most famous novel, Ulysses, takes place entirely on June 16, 1904. Image: James Joyce / Wikimedia Commons Bloomsday is observed annually on June 16 in Dublin, Ireland and other places throughout the world. The day is celebrated with a variety of events from public readings of Ulysses to pub crawls. Avid readers will often dress in Edwardian costumes and retrace Ulysses protagonist Leopold Bloom’s route around Dublin. The… 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

Image: Harriet Beecher Stowe / U.S. National Archives and Records Administration “So you are the little woman who wrote the book that started this great war.” According to legend, these are the words President Abraham Lincoln said upon meeting Harriet Beecher Stowe, author of the popular anti-slavery novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin, shortly after the start of the American Civil War. The novel’s vivid depiction of the realities of slavery is often credited with helping to change the public’s… Read the full story

Do you have ancestors who were on the Titanic? On this day in 1863, famous Titanic passenger Lady Lucy Duff-Gordon was born in London, England. Image: Lady Lucy Duff-Gordon / Library of Congress She was born Lucy Christiana Sutherland to Douglas Sutherland, a civil engineer, and Elinor Saunders. Lady Duff-Gordon was known one of England’s leading fashion designers and an innovator in couture styles. She originated the “mannequin parade,” which was the precursor to the modern fashion… Read the full story

Do you remember watching The Wizard of Oz? Today we remember legendary actress Judy Garland, who was born on June 10, 1922 in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. Image: Judy Garland / Wikimedia Commons Garland was born Frances Ethel Gumm to Ethel Marion and Francis Avent Gumm, both vaudeville performers. She began her career at an early age, and by 16, she landed the most iconic role of her career, Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz. The classic… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Michael J. Fox! Today the actor and advocate turns 61. Image: Michael J. Fox / Photo by Alan Light, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0) Fox was born on June 9, 1961 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada to Willam Fox and Phylis Piper. Although his middle name is “Andrew,” Fox adopted the middle initial “J” as an homage to the actor Michael J. Pollard. At the age of 15, Fox landed a starring role… Read the full story

155 years ago today, iconic 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 Cary Wright, a minister and occasional lawyer, and Anna Lloyd Jones, a country school teacher. During her pregnancy, Wright’s mother had proclaimed that her child would come to build beautiful buildings and thus, decorated Wright’s nursery with engravings of English cathedrals to encourage… Read the full story

Do you have a favorite Prince song? On this day in 1958, the iconic musician was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Image: Scott Penner, Flickr (CC BY-SA 3.0) He was born Prince Rogers Nelson to John Lewis Nelson, a jazz musician, and Mattie Della Shaw. He was named after his father, who used the stage name Prince Rogers when performing. Throughout his life, Prince’s father was a significant influence on his music. He wrote his first song… Read the full story

Do you have American Revolutionary War ancestors? On this day in 1756, artist John Trumbull was born. Trumbull is often referred to as “The Painter of the Revolution” for his iconic historical paintings and portraits. Image: John Trumbull / Yale University Art Gallery, Wikimedia Commons Trumbull was born in Lebanon in colonial Connecticut on June 6, 1756 to Jonathan Trumbull and Faith Robinson. His father served as the Governor of Connecticut Colony, and then after the American… Read the full story

On this day in 1865, George V was born. He reigned as the King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 1910 until his death in 1936. Image: George V / Library of Congress George was born on June 3, 1865 in Marlborough House, London, England. He was the second son of Albert Edward, Prince of Wales, and Alexandra, Princess of Wales. His father was the eldest son of… 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

Happy birthday to Marilyn Monroe! Today we remember the legendary film icon on what would have been her 96th birthday. Image: Marilyn Monroe / Wikimedia Commons Marilyn Monroe was born Norma Jean Mortenson on June 1, 1926 in Los Angeles California to Gladys Pearl Baker. Soon after her birth, Marilyn’s surname was changed to Baker. With her mother unable to care for her, Marilyn spent much of her childhood in foster homes. At 16, she married her… Read the full story

On May 31, 1819, Walt Whitman, one of America’s most influential poets, was born in West Hills, New York. Image: Walt Whitman / Library of Congress The second of nine children, Whitman was nicknamed “Walt” to distinguish him from his father, Walter Whitman, Sr. His parents held great admiration for their country, even naming three of Whitman’s brothers after American leaders: Andrew Jackson, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. Whitman stopped his formal schooling at the age… Read the full story

On this day in 1907, American marine biologist and conservationist Rachel Carson was born. Carson’s groundbreaking work is often credited with advancing the global environmental movement. Image: Rachel Carson / Smithsonian Institution Carson was born on May 17, 1907 on a family farm near Springdale, Pennsylvania to Robert Warden Carson, an insurance salesman, and Maria Frazier McLean. Growing up, she developed a deep love of nature and enjoyed writing stories, publishing her first story at… Read the full story

Today we remember astronaut Sally Ride, who was born on this day in 1951. In 1983, Ride became the first American woman in space when she flew into orbit aboard the space shuttle Challenger. Image: Sally Ride / NASA Born in Los Angeles, California, Ride held a keen interest in science from a young age. As she was finishing her Ph.D. in physics at Stanford University, Ride saw an article in the school’s newspaper advertising that NASA… Read the full story

American essayist and poet Ralph Waldo Emerson was born on this day in 1803. Image: Ralph Waldo Emerson / Library of Congress Emerson was born on May 25, 1803 in Boston, Massachusetts to Ruth Haskins and William Emerson, a Unitarian minister. At the age of 8, Emerson’s father died, leaving his mother to care for the young family with the aid of his aunt, Mary Moody Emerson. He formed a close bond with his aunt… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Cher! Today the music legend turns 76. Image: Cher / Nationaal Archief, Wikimedia Commons Cher was born Cherilyn Sarkisian in El Centro, California on May 20, 1946. Her father, John Sarkisian, was truck driver, and her mother, Georgia Holt, was a former model and actress. When she was ten months old, her parents divorced. In the 1960s, Cher rose to stardom as part of a singing act with her husband, Sonny Bono…. Read the full story

On this day in 1536, Anne Boleyn, the second wife of Henry VIII of England, was beheaded for charges of treason and adultery. Image: Anne Boleyn / Wikimedia Commons Her marriage to Henry VIII was scandalous from the start and had plunged the country into political and religious upheaval. Denied an annulment for his first marriage to Catherine of Aragon by the Roman Catholic Church, Henry VIII broke away from the Church to establish the Church… Read the full story

On this day in 1897, director Frank Capra was born. One of the most prominent and influential filmmakers of the 1930s, Capra won three Academy Awards for Best Director. Image: Frank Capra / Library of Congress Capra was born Francesco Rosario Capra in the village of Bisacquino, near Palermo, Sicily, Italy. He was the youngest of seven children born to Salvatore Capra, a fruit grower, and Rosaria Sarah Nicolosi. When he was five, the family… Read the full story

On this day in 1911, actress Maureen O’Sullivan was born in Boyle, County Roscommon, Ireland. Image: Maureen O’Sullivan / Wikimedia Commons She was the daughter of Mary Eva Frazer and Charles Joseph O’Sullivan, an officer in the Connaught Rangers who served in World War I. As a child, O’Sullivan attended a convent school in Dublin where future Academy Award-winning actress Vivien Leigh was a classmate. Discovered by Hollywood filmmaker Frank Borzage at a horse show… Read the full story

Remember watching Henry Fonda on the big screen? On this day in 1905, the Hollywood legend was born in Grand Island, Nebraska. Image: Henry Fonda / Wikimedia Commons Henry Jaynes Fonda was the son of William Brace Fonda and Elma Jaynes. His Fonda ancestors were among the first Dutch people to settle in what is now upstate New York. The small village of Fonda was named after Douw Fonda, a prominent settler who was killed in 1780 during a… Read the full story

Do you remember watching The Golden Girls or Maude? Today, we remember star Bea Arthur on what would have been her 100th birthday. Image: Bea Arthur / Wikimedia Commons She was born Bernice Frankel on May 13, 1922 in Brooklyn, New York. Before beginning her career as an actress, Arthur worked as a truck driver and typist in the United States Marine Corps Women’s Reserve during World War II. After the war, she found success in theater… Read the full story

Have you found your connection to the “Lady with the Lamp”? On this day in 1820, Florence Nightingale was born in Florence, Italy. A nursing pioneer, Nightingale is remembered as the founder of modern nursing. Image: Florence Nightingale / Library of Congress Nightingale was born to an affluent and elite British family. Growing up, she felt uncomfortable among her family’s social circles and preferred to spend her time helping the poor and ill near her family’s… Read the full story

Do you have Spanish ancestry? On this day in 1904, surrealist painter Salvador Dalí was born. Image: Salvador Dalí / Library of Congres He was born Salvador Domingo Felipe Jacinto Dalí y Domènech in Figueres, Spain. Nine months before his birth, his older brother, also named Salvador, died of gastroenteritis. At the age of five, his parents had told him that he was the reincarnation of his brother. A believer in the concept, Dalí incorporated… Read the full story

On this day in 1860, author James Barrie was born in Kirriemuir, Scotland. Today he is best remembered as the creator of Peter Pan. Image: J.M. Barrie / Library of Congress James Matthew Barrie was the ninth of ten children born to David Barrie, a weaver, and Margaret Ogilvy. As a child, Barrie and his mother often entertained each other by telling stories. The character of Peter Pan first appeared in the novel, The Little… Read the full story

Happy birthday to George Clooney! Today the actor turns 61. Image: George Clooney / U.S. National Archives and Records Administration George Timothy Clooney was born in Lexington, Kentucky on May 6, 1961 to Nina Bruce, a city councilwoman, and Nick Clooney, a former anchorman and game show host. His aunt was singer and actress Rosemary Clooney. Clooney first rose to fame on the hit television show ER. His work on the series earned him two… Read the full story