July 2012

Jordana Brewster is a Brazilian-American actress. She began her acting career in 1995 with a one-episode role in the soap opera All My Children. She then appeared in As the World Turns in the recurring role as Nikki Munson for which she was nominated for Outstanding Teen Performer at the 1997 Soap Opera Digest Award. Brewster’s first feature film was in Robert Rodriguez’s 1998 The Faculty playing the role of Delilah Profitt, one of the… Read the full story

Today we highlight Italian fencer Edoardo Mangiarotti, the most decorated fencer in the history of the sport. Mangiarotti made his first Olympic appearance at the age of 17 during the 1936 games in Berlin. Over a span of 24 years, Mangiarottie won a record of 13 Olympic medals (six gold, five silver, two bronze). Did you know fencing is one of the original sports of the modern Olympic games? Edoardo Mangiarotti is not yet connected… Read the full story

Take a break from the Olympics with some great genealogy articles from the past week! The Genealogy Sphere Three Tips for Genealogy Road Trips! (Past-Present-Future blog) – Smadar Belkind Gerson listed some great tips about genealogical travels! Fifty-Five Years Later, a Rising Senio’s Vacation Souvenirs Tell a Terrific Story about New York and the Value of Scrapbook Ephemera (Bees First Appearance blog) – A great look at the historic value of keeping scrapbooks How did… Read the full story

This weekend, Zara Phillips, granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth II, made her Olympic equestrian debut. With several members of the royal family in attendance to cheer her on, she is now one of the favorites for a medal. Did you know that both of her parents were also Olympic athletes? Her father, Captain Mark Phillips won Olympic gold in 1972 and silver in 1988. Her mother, Princess Anne, competed in the 1976 Olympics in Montreal and serves… Read the full story

Are you excited for the start of the 2012 London Olympics? If you’re looking to merge your love of international athletic competition with your love of genealogy, you’ll definitely want to check out the London 2012 Summer Olympics project. A dedicated group of users are working diligently to build and connect the family trees of past and present Olympians. Join this international effort to help connect these athletes to more than 60 million people in Geni’s World… Read the full story

Today is the 2012 London Olympics opening ceremony! Are you excited to watch the celebration? In honor of the official opening of the Games, we’re highlighting Pierre de Coubertin, the father of the modern-day Olympics. In 1894, Coubertin created the International Olympic Committee, which has since become the governing body of the Olympic Movement. During the late 19th century, Coubertin’s advocacy for the Games centered on a number of ideals about sport. Coubertin saw value in encouraging competition among… Read the full story

Happy Birthday, Sandra Bullock! Today, the lovable star turns 48. In 2009, Bullock won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in the film, The Blind Side. Did you know she is the only actor to have been named both “Best” and “Worst” performer for the same year? She also took home 2009’s “Worst Actress of the Year” Razzie award for her performance in All About Steve just a day before winning her… Read the full story

We’re excited to bring to you part 2 of  YourGeneticGenealogist.com blogger CeCe Moore’s DNA Testing for Genealogy series. For the next few weeks, she’ll be providing a great overview about DNA testing for genealogy. Enjoy! Last week we discussed the Y-DNA test that only traces your direct paternal line back in time, but there’s good news for you women who felt left out. Did you know that there is also a DNA test that traces your direct… Read the full story

Today we remember Sally Ride, who passed away earlier this week from pancreatic cancer. In 1983, Ride became the first American woman in space when she flew into orbit aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger. Not only will she be remembered as a pioneering astronaut and a passionate advocate of female advancement in the sciences, but as an inspiration for women for generations to come. Sally Ride is connected to over 60 million profiles in Geni’s… Read the full story

Alexandra “Ali” Wentworth is an American comedienne, actress, and author who starred in the comedy Head Case on the Starz TV network. She has made many appearances on television, including being a cast member on In Living Color and appearances on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. In 1995, she was in the famous “Soup Nazi” episode of Seinfield playing Jerry’s girlfriend Sheila (“Schmoopie”). In 1997, Wentworth appeared as the love interest in the television film… Read the full story

On July 24, 1783, Venezuelan military and political leader Simón Bolívar was born. Together with José de San Martín, Bolivar played an instrumental role in the South American fight for independence from the Spanish empire. In 1825, the Republic of Bolivia was created and named after the inspirational leader, hailed by many as El Liberator (The Liberator). Simón Bolívar is connected to over 60 million profiles in Geni’s World Family Tree. How are you related?   View Simón Bolívar’s Geni… Read the full story

Check out some interesting articles from the world of genealogy below! The Genealogy Sphere Last Revolutionary War Widow Receives Final Pension – in 1906 (GenealogyBank) – Mary Harrell-Sesniak finds the obituary of the last widow of the Revolutionary War Britain’s first black community in Elizabethan London (BBC News) – The beginnings of Britain’s first black community Coping with Conflicting Census Data (Sifting Through the Past blog) – What to do when you find errors in the census… Read the full story

Today we remember singer Amy Winehouse, who died on July 23, 2011 at the age of 27. She was known for her powerful vocals and her eclectic mix of musical genres including R&B, soul and jazz. In 2006, Winehouse became the first female British artist to win five Grammys. Sadly, her talents were often overshadowed by her battle with drugs and alcohol. Amy Winehouse is not yet connected to the World Family Tree. Perhaps you… Read the full story

On July 20, 1969, astronaut Neil Armstrong became the first person to walk on the moon. Millions around the world were glued to their television sets as Armstrong took his first steps on the lunar surface and spoke his famous words, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” Neil Armstrong is connected to over 60 million profiles in Geni’s World Family Tree. How are you related?   View Neil Armstrong’s Geni… Read the full story

Early this morning, the nominees for the 64th Primetime Emmys were announced. Were you surprised by any of the nods? While taking a look at this year’s nominees in comedy, we noticed that many of them had family trees connected to Geni’s World Family Tree. If you’re connected to the world family tree, you may very well find your relationship path to some of this year’s Emmy hopefuls! Here’s a look at how some of… Read the full story

We’re excited to bring to you a special guest blog post by genetic genealogist CeCe Moore. Some of you may recognize her from her blog YourGeneticGenealogist.com. For the next few weeks, she’ll be providing a great overview about DNA testing for genealogy. So without further ado, here’s part 1! Enjoy! Interest in DNA testing for genealogy has reached an all-time high thanks to its increasing sophistication and the resulting visibility in the media. We hear about… Read the full story

On July 18, 1867, first class Titanic passenger and philanthropist Margaret “Molly” Brown was born in Hannibal, Missouri. Dubbed “The Unsinkable Molly Brown” by historians, Brown became famous for surviving the Titanic disaster. Her acts of heroism made her the subject of many Titanic legends. She famously took on an oar herself in her lifeboat and protested for the crew of Lifeboat No. 6 to return to look for survivors. Later in life, she used… Read the full story

Uma Thurman is an American actress and model. She has been nominated for an Academy Award and has won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a TV Mini-series in Hysterical Blindness, a series for which she also served as executive producer. Her most notable roles include Mia Wallace in Pulp Fiction (1994), Debby Miller in Hysterical Blindness (2002), and Beatrix Kiddo in the Kill Bill films (2003/2004). Cosmetics company Lancôme selected her as their spokeswoman,… Read the full story

On July 17, 1947, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall was born in London. Her relationship with Prince Charles was highly controversial not only becase of their affair while he was married to Princess Diana, but also due to her status as a divorcee. However, with the consent of Queen Elizabeth II, Parlaiment and the Church of England, the couple were able to wed in 2005. Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall is connected to over 60 million profiles in… Read the full story

Here’s our recap of genealogy articles from this past week! The Genealogy Sphere Lesson Learned: Be Careful Making Assumptions (Roots and Rambles) – Great advice to avoid making assumptions Carroll’s Yesteryears: Photography collection is a local gem (Carroll County Times) – A local museum holds a treasure trove of photographs of local relatives from 1900-1920s How do I document my immigrant ancestor? (Examiner.com) – Robin Foster offers tips on how to document your immigrant ancestors… Read the full story

On July 16, 1872, Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen was born. In 1911, Amundsen led the Antarctic expedition to discover the South Pole, beating his British rival Robert Falcon Scott. He was also the first explorer to reach both the North and South Poles and the first person to traverse the Northwest Passage. Amundsen disappeared in 1928 while taking part in a rescue mission. Along with fellow explorers Scott and Ernest Shackleton, Amundsen is remembered as… Read the full story

Between 1861 – 2006, Western Union delivered telegrams all over the U.S. They reached their peak in popularity during the 1920s and 1930s, when sending a telegram was cheaper than placing a long distance call. Telegrams in genealogy are great because it gives you a glimpse into the lives of your ancestors, albeit in very short statements. Despite their length, many carried some valuable genealogical information. Often, relatives used them to alert family members of a death… Read the full story

Happy Birthday, Harrison Ford! Today, the movie star turns 70! His career has spanned decades and includes some of the most iconic roles in film history, from Star War‘s Han Solo to Indiana Jones. His other memorable films include Blade Runner, Air Force One and The Fugitive. Five of his films have been inducted into the National Film Registry. Did you know Ford is also a licensed pilot? What’s your favorite Harrison Ford film? Harrison Ford’s family tree is… Read the full story

Today the world famous Comic-Con International kicked off its first day in San Diego, California. Every year thousands of fans from around the world make their way to San Diego to experience the latest in the world of comics, science fiction and fantasy. One of the largest conventions of its type in the world, this year’s Comic-Con is predicted to be the biggest yet. Now you might be asking, what does this have to do… Read the full story

On July 11, 1989, legendary actor Laurence Olivier died in Steyning, West Sussex, England. Hailed as one of the greatest actors in history, Olivier played a wide variety of roles on the stage and screen. He received 12 Academy Award nominations throughout his career. Did you know Olivier is one of only a few actors to be interred in Poets’ Corner in Westminster Abbey? Laurence Olivier is not yet connected to the World Family Tree…. Read the full story

Woody Guthrie is best known as an American singer-songwriter and folk musician. His musical legacy includes hundreds of political, traditional and children’s songs, ballads and improvised works. His best-known song is “This Land Is Your Land.” Many of his recorded songs are archived in the Library of Congress. He frequently performed with the slogan This Machine Kills Fascists displayed on his guitar. Guthrie has been acknowledged as a major influence for songwriters such as Bob Dylan,… Read the full story

On July 10, 1871, French author Marcel Proust was born in Auteuil, France. Considered one of the greatest writers of the twentieth century, Proust was best known for his monumental work In Search of Lost Time, or Remembrance of Things Past. The seven part novel was published between 1913 and 1927 and today, is recognized as one of the major literary works of French expression. Marcel Proust is connected to over 60 million profiles in Geni’s… Read the full story

Catch up on some genealogy articles from the past week! The Genealogy Sphere A Baby Boy! (Family Stories) – Caroline Pointer talks about receiving the baptism record of her ancestor Some basic principles of genealogy (Genealogy’s Star) – James Tanner goes over some genealogy basics to keep in mind Google Puts Twentieth Century Italian History Online (Eastman’s Online Genealogy Newsletter) – Dick Eastman reports that Google has partnered with the Italian government to post 30,000… Read the full story

On July 9, 1877, the very first Wimbledon lawn tennis tournament began. 25 players competed in the Gentlemen’s Singles tournament, the only event at the games. At the end of the tournament, English cricketer Spencer Gore became the first winner of a Grand Slam title at Wimbledon. Are you a tennis fan? Spencer Gore is connected to over 60 million profiles in Geni’s World Family Tree. How are you related?   View Spencer Gore’s Geni Profile… Read the full story

Earlier this week, we showed  you how Reese Witherspoon was related to one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, John Witherspoon. Now lets take a look at how some other famous faces are related to the people who signed the Declaration on July 4, 1776! Matt Damon grew up in Cambridge, Massachusetts and attended Harvard University. Did you know he is related to fellow Massachusetts resident John Adams? He is Matt Damon’s fourth cousin… Read the full story

On July 6, 1946, George W. Bush was born in New Haven, Connecticut. The eldest son of Barbra Bush and George H.W. Bush, Bush followed in his father’s footsteps and became the 43rd President of the United States in 2001. Did you know he is the second president to have been the son of a former president? The first father-son presidential pair was John Adams and his son, John Quincy Adams. George W. Bush is… Read the full story

On July 5, 1865, British Methodist preacher William Booth founded The Salvation Army. Originally established as the Christian Mission, Booth and his wife Catherine were determined to fight poverty and religious indifference with military efficiency. They modeled the organization after the British Army. Soon they were providing food to some of London’s most impoverished areas. The Salvation Army made its first appearance in the U.S. during the Great Depression and provided food and shelter for… Read the full story

Happy Independence Day, everyone! Today the U.S. celebrates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. Drafted by Thomas Jefferson, the document declared the 13 American colonies’s freedom and independence from the British Empire. Did you know that the original July 4 United States Declaration of Independence manuscript was lost? Most people will have today off to celebrate with family, barbeque, and watch fireworks. Will you get together with your family this holiday? Be sure to take… Read the full story

Reese Witherspoon is an American actress, film producer, and television producer. Her first feature role as the female lead was in 1991 in the film The Man in the Moon. Witherspoon’s career turning point was her role as Elle Woods in the box office hit Legally Blonde in 2001. She then starred in Sweet Home Alabama in 2002 and returned as lead actress and executive producer of Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde in… Read the full story

Today we remember Andy Griffith, who died this morning at the age of 86 at his home in Roanoke Island, North Carolina. The beloved actor found instant success starring as the small-town sheriff in The Andy Griffith Show. In his early years, Griffith aspired to become an opera singer before turning his attention to acting after college. Although he enjoyed a long and diverse career years after The Andy Griffith Show, including a 9-year stint on… Read the full story

This July 4th, the U.S. will celebrate its 236th Independence Day! On July 2, 1776, the Continental Congress voted in favor of independence. Two days later on July 4, its delegates adopted the Declaration of Independence, drafted by Thomas Jefferson, and declared the 13 American colonies independent states and no longer a part of the British Empire. Check out our infographic for some fun facts to help mark the holiday! How will you be celebrating this Fourth of July?

Here are some interesting genealogy articles from the past week! Enjoy! The Genealogy Sphere Honesty & The Ethics of Genealogy (Geder Genealogy) – Blogger George Geder discusses the importance of honesty in genealogy. Genealogy Research Just Got a Whole Lot Easier — and Closer (SF Weekly) – The Alien Files (A-Files) are now available in California’s Bay Area Old African American Cemetery to be Restored (wctv.com) – The Munree Cemetery, the burial place for African… Read the full story

Seventy-five years ago on July 2, 1937, aviator Amelia Earhart and navigator Frederick Noonan disappeared over the Pacific Ocean during an attempt to circumnavigate the globe.