March 2016

Now that spring is officially here, it’s the perfect time to do a little genealogy spring cleaning. Take a break from your research to reorganize, refresh and get yourself in the best shape before tackling your next genealogy hurdle. Image: Nationaal Archief, Flickr Here are some quick tips to get started on your genealogy spring cleaning: Time to scan old documents and photos! Do you have a pile of old documents and photos that you’ve been meaning to… Read the full story

World War I was an interesting time for women. As millions of men were off fighting in the Great War, women back home entered the work force in droves. It was the first time in American history that many women began to take on the jobs traditionally held by men. Before the U.S. entered the war, women were relegated to the home or to domestic work. In 1914, when World War I broke out in Europe, the traditional… Read the full story

Are you related to the Tudors? On this day in 1603, Queen Elizabeth I died at the age of 69. She was the daughter of King Henry VIII and his second wife, Anne Boleyn and succeeded to the throne after the death of her elder sister Queen Mary I. The last of the Tudor monarchs, Elizabeth I’s reign was known as the Elizabethan Era and is regarded as a golden age of English history. Her reign… Read the full story

“Give me liberty or give me death!” On this day in 1775, Patrick Henry uttered his famous line in a speech made to the Second Virginia Convention. It was Henry’s impassioned words that was said to have convinced the delegates at the convention to pass a resolution that would mobilize arms against encroaching British forces before the start of the American Revolutionary War. Among the delegates in attendance were George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. Considered one of the Founding… Read the full story

Did you know you can customize how names are displayed on Geni? Since Geni’s World Family Tree is shared by everyone, it’s important to provide you with ways you can personalize how names are displayed without infringing on the preferences of others. These name preferences apply to the family tree, lists and the rest of Geni. You can customize your name preferences in your Account Settings. Select Name Preferences to customize how names are displayed on Geni… Read the full story

Happy birthday, Reese Witherspoon! Today the actress turns 40. Born Laura Jeanne Reese Witherspoon, Reese grew up in Tennessee and began her career as a child actor. From early roles in Election and Legally Blonde to her Academy Award winning role as June Carter Cash in Walk the Line, Reese has found much success on film in a variety of roles. Reese recently celebrated her 40th birthday with a star-studded bash, which included a private concert from her cousin Taylor… Read the full story

It’s St. Patrick’s Day! In celebration of the holiday, we take a look at some famous faces in Geni’s World Family Tree with surprising Irish ancestry. Barack and Michelle Obama Image: Peta Souza / White House The Obamas each have surprisingly deep Irish connections. The President’s Irish ancestry can be traced through his maternal lineage. His third great grandfather, Fulmoth Kearney, was born in Offaly, Ireland in 1830. He would later immigrate to the United States along with… Read the full story

Today we remember former First Lady Pat Nixon on what would have been her 104th birthday. Nixon was born Thelma Catherine Ryan on March 16, 1912 in Ely, Nevada. She was given the nickname “Pat” by her father as a reference to her birthdate and Irish ancestry. She later dropped her first name and used “Pat,” and sometimes “Patricia,” though she never legally changed it. She grew up on a small truck farm in California, and by… Read the full story

Are you related to a U.S. President? On this day in 1767, Andrew Jackson was born near the border of North and South Carolina. The 7th President of the United States, Jackson was born near the end of the colonial era. His parents. Andrew and Elizabeth Jackson, had emigrated from Ireland just two years before Jackson was born. His father died three weeks before his birth. Only 13 during the American Revolution, Jackson worked informally as a militia… Read the full story

Are you familiar with the story of Frankenstein? On this day in 1818, author Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley first published her best known Gothic novel Frankenstein: or, The Modern Prometheus. Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin was born in London, England in 1797 to Mary Wollstonecraft, a feminist philosopher and writer, and journalist William Godwin.  In 1814, she met poet Percy Shelley. The couple traveled around Europe for some time and struggled with financial difficulties and the death of their… Read the full story

What’s in a middle name? Not everyone has one and its significance varies between different cultures. If you come across someone with a middle name during your genealogy research, a closer investigation may give you fascinating insights into family traditions, your ancestors or even clues to missing branches. While the concept of a “middle name” has been around since the Middle Ages, it was not until 1835 that the phrase “middle name” first appeared in the Harvard University… Read the full story

Today we celebrate International Women’s Day, which recognizes the past and present achievements of women all around the world. In honor of the the day, here are some of the remarkable women throughout history found in Geni’s World Family Tree: Ada Lovelace (1815-1852) Image: Wikimedia Commons A gifted mathematician, Ada Lovelace wrote the world’s first computer program nearly a century before the first computers were built. Lovelace envisioned a day when a single machine could be programed for… Read the full story

Are you having trouble searching for your female ancestors? Documentation for women is often difficult to come by in the historical record. Often times, name changes and omissions in favor of male relatives make it difficult to track down your female ancestors. Image: Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library Archives The month of March is designated as Women’s History Month. In honor of the month long celebration, here are some ways you can uncover the maiden names of your… Read the full story

Happy birthday, Jon Bon Jovi! Today the rocker turns 54. John Francis Bongiovi, Jr. was born on March 2, 1962 in Perth Amboy, New Jersey. His parents, John Francis Bongiovi, Sr. and Carol Sharkey, met while in the Marines. Interestingly, his mother was also a former model and one of the first Playboy bunnies. Jon’s interest in music began when he was young, and by his early teens, he knew he wanted to be a rock… Read the full story

Happy birthday, Justin Bieber! Today the pop star turns 22. Bieber was born on March 1, 1994 in London, Ontario, Canada. From a young age, Bieber showed a special talent for music. Growing up, he learned to play the piano, drums, guitar, and trumpet. At the age of 12, his mother uploaded a video of Bieber performing at a local singing competition to YouTube so their family and friends to see. As she continued to upload more… Read the full story