Getting Started in German Genealogy Class
This One-Hour Lecture Includes:
Where to look for records in the USA, including resources for:
- Vital Records
- Church Records
- Newspapers
- Passenger Lists
- And more!
Tips for crossing the pond and finding the above records in Europe
Resources for locating your ancestor’s hometown
German and Austrian church record sites
Tips on first names and last names
Tips on reading the old German handwriting (recognizing certain letters, differentiating between similar letters, common spelling mistakes, genealogy abbreviations, occupation tips, etc.)
Handouts complete with numerous website and book resources
- German handwriting key
- Short excerpt of German handwriting practice
Reviews of Journey into German Genealogy Lecture
“With a lack of robust German census records available to most researchers, it’s nice to take a look at alternative records. Genealogy researcher and translator Katherine Schober has uploaded a fantastic video appropriate for beginning and intermediate genealogists online for free. She’s a great presenter, and I hope she updates her YouTube page with more videos in the future!”
– Fountaindale Public LIbrary, on video upload of “Journey into German Genealogy” Presentation
“Katherine presented an engaging program about researching German ancestry at the public library in Andover, MA. She drew a large crowd and held their attention with her deep knowledge of German history and culture. Her genuine enthusiasm for researching German ancestry and deciphering old handwritten German documents is what made her presentation so enjoyable. I’ve had several patrons request that I invite her back.”
— Stephanie Aude, Genealogy and Local History Librarian, Memorial Hall Library, Andover, Massachusetts
“Katherine’s advice on websites and other resources for getting started in German genealogy was straightforward and very helpful in targeting the most useful places to begin your search. Likewise, she provided numerous tips, tricks and shortcuts for deciphering that difficult German handwriting with lots of instructive class exercises.”
— Gina, Colorado Palatines to America, Denver, Colorado
