November 2015

Have you read the works of author Mark Twain? Lauded as the “greatest American humorist of his age,” Twain’s works have continued to live on long after his death. His novels, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and its sequel, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, are still considered to be some of the greatest works of American literature. Mark Twain / Library of Congress In honor of Twain’s birthday, here are some interesting facts about the great American author: 1…. Read the full story

Remember reading Anne of Green Gables? Today we celebrate author L.M. Montgomery on the 141st birthday. Lucy Maud Montgomery was born on November 30, 1874 in Clifton, Prince Edward Island, a small province on the east coast of Canada. After her mother died of tuberculosis when Montgomery was just 21 months old, her father sent her to live with her maternal grandparents. A prolific writer, she had over 100 stories published between 1897 to 1907. In… Read the full story

Happy Thanksgiving! Today we highlight the woman who helped establish Thanksgiving as an official holiday in the U.S., Sarah Josepha Hale. She was born Sarah Josepha Buell on October 24, 1788 in Newport, New Hampshire to Captain Gordon Buell and Martha Whittlesay Buell. Homeschooled by her parents, Sarah went on to become a successful writer and poet. Most people are probably best familiar with her most popular work, the classic children’s nursery rhyme, “Mary Had… Read the full story

Today we remember John F. Kennedy, Jr., who was born on this day in 1960. The second child of John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy, John Jr. was born just two weeks after his father was elected the 35th President of the United States, thus becoming the first child ever born to a president-elect. Just days before his third birthday, his father was assassinated while traveling in a motorcade. His funeral was held three days later… Read the full story

Today we remember Grace Darling, the English lighthouse keeper who helped rescue survivors of the Forfarshire shipwreck, on the anniversary of her 200th birthday. Grace Horsley Darling was born on November 24, 1815 in her grandfather’s cottage in Northumberland, England. She was the seventh of nine children born to William and Thomasin Darling. The Darlings lived at the lighthouse on Longstone Island, one of the Farne Islands, where her father operated the lighthouse. In the early hours of September 7,… Read the full story

With the holidays fast approaching, you may want to consider decorating your house with a chart of your family tree. They also make great gifts for your entire family! You can create your own custom, high-quality version of your family tree for downloading or printing. Follow the steps below to create your very own family tree chart at home. 1. While viewing the Flash version of the tree, click on the printer icon at the bottom right… Read the full story

On this day in 1910, author Leo Tolstoy passed away in Astapovo, Russia at the age of 82. Tolstoy was born at his family estate at Yasnaya Poyana, southwest of Tula, Russia. He came from a well-known family of old Russian nobility. His father, Count Nikolai Ilyich Tolstoy, was a veteran of the Patriotic War of 1812. As a child, he experienced much loss. After his mother and father passed away, he and his siblings were sent… Read the full story

Happy birthday, Meg Ryan! Today the actress turns 54. She was born Margaret Mary Emily Anne Hyra on November 19, 1961 in Fairfield, Connecticut. A semester before finishing college, Ryan dropped out to pursue a career as an actress. She chose the stage name “Ryan,” using her maternal grandmother’s maiden name. After landing the lead role in the romantic comedy When Harry Met Sally…, Ryan became an international star. The box office hit would mark the first of… Read the full story

Soccer superstar David Beckham has been named this year’s sexiest man alive by People magazine. At the age of 40, Beckham receives the honor on its 30th anniversary. The title has become a staple of the popular magazine and now, Beckham joins the ranks alongside Brad Pitt, George Clooney, and Johnny Depp. Beckham was born May 2, 1975 in London, England to David Edward Alan “Ted” Beckham and Sandra West. The middle child between two sisters, the… Read the full story

Boy, has fashion changed in the last 100 years! In a video created by Mode.com, you can see 100 years of women’s fashion fly by in just two and a half minutes. Knowing how fashions have change over time is valuable when you are trying to date an old family photograph. From the flapper look of the Roaring Twenties to the grunge style of the 90s, the video demonstrates the typical style of each decade in the last century…. Read the full story

Remember watching Home Alone? Today the modern Christmas classic turns 25! The film starred a young Macaulay Culkin as a young kid who is mistakenly left behind when his family goes on their Christmas vacation. He is then forced to fend off a couple of burglars in clever and amusing ways. The film was first released in theaters on November 16, 1990 and remained the No. 1 film at the box office for 12 straight weeks. It would… Read the full story

Does your family have any superstitions? Did your ancestors? Often times, superstitions are passed down through multiple generations in a family. Today is Friday the 13th, which many believe to be a day of bad luck. The fear of Friday the 13th is called paraskevidekatriaphobia. The superstition that every Friday the 13th is bad luck dates back many years, with some believing it arose during the Middle Ages. Here’s a look at 13 old superstitions on this Friday the 13th: 1…. Read the full story

Happy birthday, Whoopi Goldberg! Today The View co-host turns 60. She was born Caryn Elaine Johnson on November 13, 1955 in Manhattan, New York. Ever the comedian, she chose the stage name Whoopi after a whoopee cushion due to her self-admitted gassiness. The name Goldberg is attributed to her family history. Whoopi got her big break when she was cast in the Steven Spielberg film, The Color Purple. The film was nominated for 11 Academy Awards, including a Best Actress nod… Read the full story

It’s Veterans Day! Today we celebrate the men and women who have served in the armed forces. Do you have military veterans in your family? Check out these famous folks who have served their country: Audie Murphy Image: Wikimedia Commons Audie Murphy was one of the most decorated American soldiers of World War II. He had always wanted to be a solider and tried to enlist shorty after the attack on Pearl Harbor. However, he was denied by the Army,… Read the full story

“Remember, remember, the fifth of November. The Gunpowder, treason and plot.” Today is Guy Fawkes Day in the UK! Many people have heard the classic nursery rhyme of the gunpowder plot, but do you know what it is about? Arrest of Guy Fawkes, cigarette card illustration / New York Public Library Celebrated each year on November 5, Guy Fawkes Day commemorates the failed plot to assassinate King James I. On that day in 1605, Guy Fawkes was discovered in the… Read the full story

Happy birthday, Laura Bush! Today the former First Lady turns 69. She was born Laura Lane Welch on November 4, 1946 in Midland, Texas. The only child of Harold Welch and Jenna Louise Hawkins Welch, Laura developed a love for reading at a young age. She worked as a second grade school teacher before earning her master’s degree in Library Science. In 1977, she met George W. Bush and they were married later that year…. Read the full story

The Great Depression had a devastating effect on the population in the United States. In an effort to document and highlight the impact of the Depression and rally support for President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal policies, the Farm Security Administration (FSA) hired eleven photographers to document the conditions of rural America. The powerful photographs captured the lives of impoverished farmers and families during the era and resulted in some of the most iconic images of the Great Depression. Walker Evans… Read the full story