June 2015

A few weeks ago, we shared how you can add documents to your Geni profiles. Today, we will go over how you can add a document as a source to support the information on your family’s Geni profiles. Adding documents and tagging profiles are just one part of documenting your genealogy research on Geni. It’s easy to illustrate how the documents you’ve added support, prove or disprove the facts in your family tree. Let’s discover how by following the example… Read the full story

Are you a fan of Gone With the Wind? On this day in 1936, author Margaret Mitchell published the beloved novel for the first time. Mitchell began writing the best-selling novel out of boredom while she was recovering from an injury. Set in Georgia during the American Civil War and Reconstruction era, Gone With the Wind was popular with American readers right from the start. A year later, she received a Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for her work… Read the full story

Did your ancestor die from bad blood? Or a fatty liver? Have you found yourself wondering what jail fever could be? Your ancestors’ cause of death can be found in several different historical records, including death certificates, obituaries and probate records. The names of many diseases vary over time and geographical location, so it’s not at all surprising to come across an unfamiliar cause of death or illness during your research. Image: Miami University Libraries… Read the full story

Do you have any writers in your family tree? On this day in 1892, Nobel Prize winning author Pearl S. Buck was born in Hillsboro, West Virginia. She was born Pearl Comfort Sydenstricker to Caroline Stulting and Absalom Sydenstricker. The daughter of Southern Presbyterian missionaries, Pearl spent much of her childhood and young adult life living in China. The family had moved to the country when she was just five months old. When she was nine, the… Read the full story

Are you related to British royalty? On this day in 1509, Henry VIII was crowned the King of England. As the second son of Henry VII, Henry was not expected to inherit the crown. However, when his older brother, Arthur, died suddenly at the age of 15 only a few weeks after his marriage to Catherine of Aragon, a 10-year-old Henry became the heir-apparent. After the death of his father in 1509, Henry ascended to the throne. Shortly… Read the full story

Do you remember the days of using a typewriter? After the introduction of the first commercially successful typewriter, the mechanical marvel quickly became an indispensable tool, transforming the way the world communicated in both business and the home. 1868 patent drawing for Shole’s typewriter / National Archives (click to view patent) Although various forms of the typewriter had been around for many years, the first practical and commercially successful typewriter was invented by Christopher Latham Sholes, a newspaper publisher… Read the full story

Today Eight is Enough star Dick Van Patten passed away at the age of 86. He was born Richard Vincent Van Patten on December 9, 1928 in New York City and began his career in show business as a child actor on Broadway. In 1977, he landed what would be his most beloved role on the hit television show Eight is Enough. Van Patten played family patriarch Tom Bradford, father to a brood of eight children. The show… Read the full story

This Sunday the U.S. celebrates Father’s Day in honor of all the fathers, grandfathers and other paternal figures in our lives. Celebrations often include family get-togethers and barbecues. Father’s Day had long been celebrated before it became and official holiday in 1972. The founding of Father’s Day is credited to Sonora Louise Smart of Spokane, Washington. Inspired by Mother’s Day, Sonora sought to establish a day to honor her father’s sacrifices and hard work. Her father… Read the full story

Do you have Russian ancestry? On this day in 1901, Anastasia, daughter of the last Russian tsar, Nicholas II, was born in Petrodvorets, Russia. After Anastasia and her family were killed by the Bolshevik secret police in 1918, the location of her body remained unknown. Rumors circulated that Anastasia had escaped. Many woman claimed to be the real Anastasia. The most notorious imposter was Anna Anderson, who surfaced during the 1920s. Though she fought for… Read the full story

As genealogists, we’re always searching for clues about our ancestors. Some of the first documents we search for are census records, birth and death certificates, obituaries and other commonly used sources. However, there are many, many other places you can search to find clues to help you breakthrough your brick walls. Check out some unexpected places to find clues to your family history: Image: pixagraphic, Flickr 1. Fraternal organizations Have you found acronyms or symbols on your… Read the full story

Do you have Native American ancestry? On this day in 1829, legendary Apache leader Geronimo was born in what is today Arizona. Goyathlay was born to the Bedonkohe band of the Apache. His grandfather, Mahko, had been chief of the Bedonkohe Apache. In 1851, a band of Mexican soldiers attacked his camp, killing his wife and three small children. From that day forward, he held a hatred for Mexican soldiers. The origins of the name “Geronimo”… Read the full story

Today marks the 800th anniversary of the signing of the Magna Carta, one of the most important documents in the history of democracy. On June 15, 1215, King John of England placed his seal on the “Great Charter” after consenting to a group of rebel barons who opposed the King’s tyrannical rule and demanded laws to protect their rights and property. The Magna Carta marked the first time in history that significant limits were placed on the power of… Read the full story

Are you planning your next family reunion? Lots of work goes into organizing a large family gathering, from finding a venue, deciding on the food and organizing the entertainment. If you’re having either a large or small family reunion, you’ll want to have activities that will not only bring lots of interaction, but also shed light on your genealogy. Here are ten family reunion activity ideas that will keep your family entertained and, hopefully, teach them a little… Read the full story

It was announced today that actor Christopher Lee passed away on June 7 at the age of 93. A prolific actor, Lee was best known for playing villains in some of cinema’s most iconic franchises, including Count Dracula in a sequence of Hammer Horror films, Saruman in The Lord of the Rings trilogy and Count Dooku in two Star Wars prequels. Lee was born Christopher Frank Carandini Lee on May 27, 1922 in London, England. His father was a… Read the full story

We had a great time at the Global Family Reunion! The event drew thousands to the New York Hall of Science on Saturday, June 6. Hosted by best-selling author A.J. Jacobs, the Global Family Reunion was an epic event bringing together people from all around the world. Although the morning saw a little rain, the Geni and MyHeritage teams were eager to welcome everyone. Visitors could easily find us by the large Geni and MyHeritage balloons we had… Read the full story

Happy birthday, Johnny Depp! The megastar was born John Christopher Depp, II in Owensboro, Kentucky to John and Betty Sue Depp. Growing up in Florida, Depp spent much of his youth playing guitar in various garage bands. In 1987, he got his big break as the star of the television series 21 Jump Street. The series turned Depp into a teen idol. Since being thrust into the spotlight, Depp has carefully shaped his highly successful career with numerous challenging… Read the full story

One of the greatest things about being connected to Geni’s World Family Tree is the ability to see how you are related to other people connected to the tree, including your favorite celebrities and historical figures. It’s always fun to discover that George Clooney is an 8th cousin or that Elvis Presley is your 9th cousin once removed. But what if you wanted to know how George Clooney is related to Elvis Presley? On Geni you can do that easily! Let’s… Read the full story

Happy birthday Angelina Jolie! Today the actress turns 40. Angelina was born in Los Angeles, California to actors Jon Voight and Marcheline Bertrand. The daughter of an Academy Award winning actor, Angelina began acting and modeling at a young age. After her star-making performance in Gia, she went on to tackle the role of a sociopathic mental patient in Girl, Interrupted for which she won her first Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. Since her breakthrough performance, Angelina… Read the full story

Are you having some trouble dating your old family photos? Often genealogists have to look for clues within the photos to try to decipher when a photo was taken. Clothing, decor and hairstyles are just some of the many clues you can pick up while examining an old photograph. Knowing popular fashion trends throughout history will go a long way in helping you date your old photographs. Do the women have a 1920s bob? Or the men a 1950s… Read the full story