November 2012

To cap off Curator Appreciation Month, we invited all of the local Curators out to lunch with the Geni team. It was great to finally meet face-to-face! Thank you to Randy Schoenberg, Richard Wilson, Eldon Clark, and Kwame Welsh for taking the time to stop by and have lunch with us! It was a blast! We also want to thank all the Curators for your hard work, dedication and commitment toward building the World Family… Read the full story

We’re happy to announce our fourth Curator Appreciation Month Winner! Congratulations John Hersey! We hope you enjoy your free 6-month subscription of Geni Pro! Thank you for sharing your great experience with Curator Lea Herbst! Check out his story below: I found an incorrect link in my mothers genealogy that was prepared for her in 1976 by a researcher. Other genealogy sites and programs offered some clues, but not sufficient information to make a reliable… Read the full story

On November 30, 1667, Irish author and satirist Jonathan Swift was born. Best remembered for writing Gulliver’s Travels, Swift was considered the foremost prose satirist of the English language. First published in 1726, Gulliver’s Travels became popular as soon as it was published. Since then, it has never been out of print. Jonathan Swift is connected to over 65 million people in Geni’s World Family Tree. How are you related?     View Jonathan Swift’s Geni… Read the full story

This morning around 7 am PST Geni experienced a site outage. After yesterday’s exciting announcement, we experienced a great increase in traffic from people eager to check out our latest enhancements. Unfortunately, this led to an issue which took longer than expected to address. Rest assured, we’ve fixed the problem and as of 10:40 am we’re back up and running. We want to emphasize that no data was lost during this interruption in service. We apologize for… Read the full story

We’re happy to announce some exciting news for our community: Geni is joining the MyHeritage family! Geni will continue as a separate product, focused on collaborative genealogy, but with some great new resources and features we’ll be rolling out to users in the coming months. Geni launched in 2007 with a big idea: working together with other people is a better way to discover your family history. Over the last five years our amazing community… Read the full story

On November 28, 1520, Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan set sail through a strait at the southern end of South America to reach the Pacific Ocean. With three ships under his command, Magellan and his crew became the first Europeans to sail from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. Ferdinand Magellan is connected to over 65 million profiles connected to the World Family Tree. How are you related?     View Ferdinand Magellan’s Geni Profile  

Robert R. Liviingston IV was an American lawyer, politician, diplomat from New York, and a Founding Father of the United States. He was a member of the Committee of Five that drafted the Declaration of Independence, although he was recalled by his state before he could sign the final version of the document. Livingston was the first Chancellor of New York from 1777 to 1801 which at the time was the highest judicial officer in… Read the full story

On November 27, 1940, actor and martial arts legend Bruce Lee was born in San Francisco, California. Raised in Hong Kong, Lee was first introduced to the film industry by his father and appeared in several films as a child actor. Lee’s later film productions elevated the traditional Hong Kong martial arts film to a new level of popularity and acclaim. Considered to be one of the most influential martial artists of all time and… Read the full story

We’re happy to announce last week’s Curator Appreciation Month winner, Kathleen Marie Puckett (Rose)! Kathleen just won a free 6-month subscription to Geni Pro! Thanks for sharing your amazing experiences with German Curator Tobias Rachor. Read her story below: Tobias Rachor (Deutscher Kurator) is always willing to help. I do not read or speak German. Tobias has cited many, many facts from Norbert Schmitt (Pfarrer in Neunkirchen), Neunkirchener Familienbuch 1685 – 1910. German facts that… Read the full story

We hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! Check out some interesting articles from the past week! The Genealogy Sphere What’s In A Name? (“He Woke Me Up This Morning” blog) – Bernice Bennett shares her story of how a simple conversation with her mother led to a wealth of genealogical info The Ethics of DNA Testing (The Legal Genealogist) – The Legal Genealogist Judy Russell discusses the ethics of DNA testing How to Use Evernote… Read the full story

Today we remember television icon Larry Hagman, who passed away on November 23 at the age of 81. Best known for portraying ruthless oil baron J.R. Ewing on the popular soap Dallas, Hagman recently returned to the small screen in the new version of Dallas, introducing his iconic character to a new generation of television viewers. Larry Hagman is not yet connected to the world family tree. Perhaps you can help connect him to over 65… Read the full story

Today we highlight Mayflower passenger William Brewster. When the colonists landed at Plymouth Colony, Brewster became the senior elder of the colony, serving as its religious leader and as an adviser to Governor William Bradford. Did you know he was the oldest Mayflower passenger to participate in the First Thanksgiving? William Brewster is connected to over 65 million people in Geni’s World Family Tree. How are you related?     View William Brewster’s Geni Profile  

The Curators are an integral part of the Geni community. They are essentially the architects of our most prized asset, the World Family Tree. Celebrating them this month gives me an opportunity to tell the story of how the curators enhanced a special event for my family. We recently had a wedding in my family, which to any genealogy fan is already incredibly exciting. This one was even more so for me, as my sister,… Read the full story

Noah Webster, Jr. was a lexicographer, English spelling reformer, political writer and has been called the “Father of American Scholarship and Education.” His name became synonymous with “dictionary,” especially the modern Merriam-Webster dictionary that was first published in 1828 as An American Dictionary of the English Language. He was born on October 16, 1758 in West Hartford, Connecticut to Noah Webster, Sr. and Mercy Steele. His mother spent long hours teaching Noah and his siblings… Read the full story

Today, Brazil celebrates Dia da Consciência Negra. On this day, the Brazilian people reflect upon the injustices of slavery and celebrate the contributions Brazilians of African descent have made to society. The day is marked by the anniversary of the death of Zumbi dos Palmares, the last leader of the Quilombo dos Palmares, a settlement of black slaves who had escaped from farms, prisons and Brazilian slave quarters. Considered a national hero of Brazil, Zumbio refused to… Read the full story

I hope everyone had a great weekend! Are you excited for Thanksgiving? Here’s this week’s genealogy links! The Genealogy Sphere What Race Is Bruno Mars? (The Huffington Post) – Genealogist extraordinaire Megan Smolenyak looks into artist Bruno Mars’ family heritage In the Archives diplomatiques – The Overseas Census (The French Genealogy Blog) – Tips on using census data from overseas to find your French ancestors Top 12 Tips for Using Pinterest for Family History (Family Cherished blog)… Read the full story

On November 19, 1962, actress Jodie Foster was born in Los Angeles, California. Foster began acting in commercials at the age of 3. Since then, she’s become one of the most critically acclaimed actresses of her generation. Her first Academy Award nomination came at the age of 13 for her role as preteen prostitute Iris in Taxi Driver. Did you know she’s also incredibly smart? In 1985, Foster graduated from Yale University with a degree… Read the full story

We’re excited to announce our second Curator Appreciation Month winner, Laura Harmon! We hope you enjoy your complimentary 6-month subscription to Geni Pro! Laura shared her experience with Curator Erica Howton. Check out her story below: I was looking up something and I ended up finding her and I found out that I was connected to her, so I asked how. She told me how we were connected and I didn’t realize one of the… Read the full story

Today, Estonia celebrates Day of Declaration of Sovereignty. On November 16, 1988, the Supreme Soviet of the Estonian SSR adopted a declaration of national sovereignty under which Estonian laws would have the precedence over those of the Soviet Union. Former Estonian president Arnold Rüütel played an important role in the composition and adoption of the Estonian declaration of sovereignty. He would later serve as the third President of Estonia between 2001-2006. Arnold Rüütel is connected to over… Read the full story

This year marked the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation in the U.S. Coinciding with this monumental anniversary is the release of Steven Spielberg‘s new film Lincoln, which chronicles President Abraham Lincoln‘s struggles in the days leading up to the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment. Considered one of the most important documents in American history, the Emancipation Proclamation proclaimed all slaves in the Confederate states to be forever free. The proclamation made abolition a central goal of… Read the full story

On November 15, 1630, German mathematician and astronomer Johannes Kepler died at the age of 58. A key figure of the Scientific Revolution, Kepler’s laws of planetary motion provided the foundation of future astronomic discoveries. Did you know Kepler also made significant observations in the field of optics? He is widely regarded as the first to recognize that images are projected inverted and reversed by the eye’s lens onto the retina. Johannes Kepler is connected to over 65 million… Read the full story

91 years ago today, Isabel, Princess Imperial of Brazil, died while living in exile in France. During her father’s absences abroad, Isabel acted as regent in his place. It was during her final regency that she signed into law the Golden Law, which emancipated all slaves in Brazil and earned her the nickname, “the Redemptress.” Although the act was immensely popular with the people, it was met with strong opposition from powerful plantation owners. In… Read the full story

William Henry Moore was an attorney and financier. He and his brother James Hobart Moore controlled several makers of primary or finished steel products such as National Steel, American Tin Plate Company, American Steel Hoop Company and American Sheet Steel Metal. These four corporations were among the ten that were merged to form United States Steel. William Moore was born in 1848 to Nathaniel Ford Moore, a prominent banker and merchant in Utica, New York… Read the full story

On November 13, 1850, Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson was born in Edinburgh, Scotland. Stevenson is perhaps best known for his novels Treasure Island and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. A literary celebrity during his lifetime, he now ranks as one of the most translated authors in the world. What’s your favorite Robert Louis Stevenson story? Robert Louis Stevenson is connected to over 65 million people in Geni’s World Family Tree. How are you related?    … Read the full story

Check out some interesting genealogy articles from the past week! The Genealogy Sphere Genealogy serach uncovers relatives, family history for reporter (FoxCarolina.com) – A local reporter discovers his family history How a 16-year-old Jewish girl escaped death after being sheltered by the sister of Belgium’s most notorious Nazi (Daily Mail) – The story of how a 16 year old Holocaust survivor and her family escaped death Who Do You Think You Are? (Babyzoomers.com) – Baby… Read the full story

On November 12, 1929, actress Grace Kelly was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. After gaining fame as one of Hollywood’s favorite leading ladies, Kelly met and married Rainier III, Prince of Monaco and retired from acting at the age of 26. Before retiring, Kelly starred in a string of Alfred Hitchcock films including Dial M for Murder, Rear Window and To Catch a Thief. What’s your favorite Grace Kelly film? Grace Kelly is connected to over 65 million people… Read the full story

Today we’re happy to announce our first Curator Appreciation Month winner. Congratulations to Pia Hanslep! She’s won a 6-month subscription of Geni Pro! Hanslep shared her story about Estonian Curator Jaak Tulp and his passion for assisting the community. Read her story below: A couple of years ago, when I started using Geni, I was so excited about it that I shared the news with everyone. Most of the people had never even thought further than… Read the full story

Today Steven Spielberg‘s Lincoln opens in limited release. Starring Daniel Day-Lewis as Abraham Lincoln, the film follows Lincoln as he struggles with the country at war and fights with members of his own cabinet for the emancipation of slaves. Will you be watching history unfold on the big screen? Daniel Day-Lewis is connected to 65 million people in Geni’s World Family Tree. How are you related?     View Daniel Day-Lewis’ Geni Profile  

On November 8, 1978, popular painter and illustrator Norman Rockwell died at the age of 84. For over four decades, Rockwell depicted illustrations of everyday life for the covers of The Saturday Evening Post magazine. Although not embraced by critics, his work was beloved by the American public for its simple charm and often humorous portrayal of American life. Norman Rockwell is connected to over 65 million people in Geni’s World Family Tree. How are you related?  … Read the full story

Yesterday, Barack Obama was re-elected as President of the United States. Although the popular vote was neck and neck, Obama pulled forward with key victories in the battleground states and surpassed the 270 electoral votes required to secure the presidency. What are your thoughts on the 2012 U.S. presidential election? Barack Obama is connected to over 65 million people in Geni’s World Family Tree. How are you related?     View President Barack Obama’s Geni… Read the full story

Julia Louis-Dreyfus is an American actress, comedienne and producer. She is well known for her roles in Seinfeld, The New Adventures of Old Christine, and  Veep. In the early 1980’s she was one of the regular cast members of Saturday Night Live. Louis-Dreyfus is one of the most nominated actresses in Emmy Award history with a total of 14 nominations. She has won three Emmy Awards, a Golden Globe Award and five Screen Actors Guild… Read the full story

Today is election day in the United States. Have you been following the debates this election season? Which candidate will you pick, Democratic President Barack Obama or Republican candidate Mitt Romney? Since the beginning of this election season, the 2012 U.S. Federal Election project has kept a close eye on the genealogy of each candidate. Thanks to the project, we can see how this year’s presidential hopefuls are related! With the polls showing both candidates neck… Read the full story

On November 6, 1528, Spanish explorer Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca shipwrecked on an island off the coast of what would become present day Texas. One of only four survivors, Cabeza de Vaca became the first European to set foot on the soil of the future Lone Star state. Over a period of eight years, he traveled across the Southwest and became a slave, a trader and a shaman to various Native American tribes. In 1536, he… Read the full story

Happy Guy Fawkes Day! Let’s take a look at some interesting genealogy articles from the past week! The Genealogy Sphere Give thanks for family stories during holidays (MuskogeePhoenix.com) – Don’t forget to gather family stories during the holidays Youngsters may be interested in ‘cousin’ Justin Bieber (Bangor Daily News) – Fanfare about celebrity connections can help get younger generations excited about genealogy Career Shift: Turn Your Hobby Into a New Job (Forbes) – Great interview… Read the full story

It’s Guy Fawkes Night in the U.K.! On November 5, 1605, Guy Fawkes was thwarted in his attempt to blow up Parliament and assassinate James I of England. The failed Gunpowder Plot is now celebrated each year with large organized events centered around a bonfire, elaborate fireworks displays and the burning of an effigy of Guy Fawkes. Will you be celebrating? Guy Fawkes is connected to over 65 million people in Geni’s World Family Tree. How… Read the full story

On November 2, 1755, Marie-Antoinette, Queen of France, was born in Vienna, Austria. Wife to the infamous King Louis XVI, she is perhaps best remembered for her famous quote addressing the starving French populace, “Let them eat cake.” Marie-Antoinette’s reputation for her frivolous spending and extravagant lifestyle helped provoke the popular unrest that led to the French Revolution and the overthrow of the French monarchy. In 1793, she was executed by guillotine for treason. Marie-Antoinette is… Read the full story

It’s November, which means it’s that time of year when we traditionally take time to acknowledge all the things we are thankful for – family, friends, those we love and cherish. We wanted to take the time to thank and acknowledge all of the amazing Curators and the tremendous work they all do to help the Geni community. We’re calling November “Curator Appreciation Month.” Have you ever asked a Curator for help with your family tree?… Read the full story

On November 1, 1902, Norwegian writer and poet Nordahl Grieg was born in Bergen, Norway. Already popular poet during his lifetime, Grieg became a hero in Norway for his resistance to the Nazi occupation. During World War II, he served Norway’s government-in-exile and participated in making patriotic radio programs in England. On December 2, 1943, Grieg was killed in an Allied bombing raid over Berlin. Nordahl Grieg is connected to over 65 million profiles in… Read the full story