American family sets World record with five generations born on September 14

An American family set a Guinness World Records title after five consecutive generations were born on September 14.

The record began with Wilber Harlow, who was born in 1907 in Brooks, Iowa. His daughter, Addie Harlow, was born on the same day in 1949. Addie's son, Donald Harlow, followed the pattern with a birth on September 14 in 1972. Donald's daughter, Emma Bell, was born on the same date in 1997.

The lineage reached five generations with the birth of Emma's son, Arthur Bell, on September 14 in 2025. The family waited to apply for official recognition because they wanted to reach five generations first. Emma Bell stated that the family knew they held a four-generation record but delayed the application to see if a fifth child would extend the streak. The birth of Arthur Bell confirmed the tradition and allowed the family to become the sole record holders.

The family also observed an alternating male-female pattern across the five generations. Members of the family traditionally celebrate their shared birthdays with cakes and meals at restaurants. Additionally, the family noted that Wilber Harlow and his wife married in Maryville, Missouri, which is the same location where Emma Bell and her husband, Wyatt, met.