Outside the U.S. and Interested in purchasing one or both of our books? If you are interested in purchasing but reside outside of the United States, please email us at admin@germanologyunlocked.com and we will direct you to an alternative purchasing option that suits your location.
The Magic of German Church Records: Finding the Key to Your Ancestor’s Past by Katherine Schober ($42.99)
Learn how to extract your ancestor’s information from German church records – without needing to speak German!
If you are researching your German ancestors, it is more likely than not that you will run into church records at some point in your research. For years, it was the German churches – not civil authorities – who meticulously kept track of their members’ births, baptisms, marriages, and deaths. Filled with information such as your ancestor’s name, parents’ names, occupations, dates, relationships, and more, these records are an amazing find for any German genealogist. But there is just one problem – they’re not in English.
In this how-to guide, learn how you can extract the information you need from German church records – without having to decipher every word on the page.
Complete with sample birth, marriage, and death records, as well as family registers, this book is the exact help you need to work with German church records.
Complete with handpicked examples from real German church records, this book teaches you to:
➔ Locate those valuable church records for your German ancestor
➔ Take yourself step-by-step through baptismal records, marriage records, and death records – in both column and paragraph format – to pick out the details of your ancestor’s life
➔ Recognize the different spelling variations of your ancestor’s name and hometown
➔ Understand what church record phrases, symbols, and abbreviations mean and how these can help your genealogy research
➔ Convert names of commonly-seen feast dates into actual dates of birth, marriage, and death for your ancestor
➔ Work with the best technological tools and resources to make your genealogy journey easier – and more fun!
Best yet, this book includes the German transcriptions and English translations of sample records, as well as comprehensive German vocabulary lists with handwritten examples of these important genealogy words.
Whether you are just starting out in the field or have worked with church records for years, this book will teach you the must-know methods to unlock the mysteries of your ancestor’s past. Are you ready to get started?
Tips and Tricks of Deciphering German Handwriting by Katherine Schober ($19.99)
Learn everything I wish I had known when learning the old German handwriting – all gathered for you in one easy-to-use book.
You'll learn:
➔ The telltale signs of certain handwritten letters
➔ The “look-alike letters” in German handwriting and how to work with them
➔ Common ancestral occupations for both men and women in German genealogy
➔ Abbreviations and milestone words found in German documents
➔ Outdated German words no longer in dictionaries and their meanings today
➔ The typical spelling mistakes in German records and how to identify them
➔ How to read the standard German marriage certificate format
➔ The best online resources for transcribing the old German handwriting, and more!
In this book, you'll discover how to easily recognize a number of letters in the old German handwriting, become familiar with the abbreviations, occupations and outdated words that pepper German documents, and learn how to use the very same resources as a professional genealogy translator when deciphering letters, diaries, church records, certificates and more. Complete with "real-life" handwriting samples, German glossaries, and additional lists of genealogy tools, this guide is a must-have for anyone working with the old German script.
Katherine Schober, founder of Germanology Unlocked, is a German-English genealogy translator, author, and educator. With over a decade of professional experience, she is dedicated to helping others uncover their German ancestry and preserve their family stories for future generations.
Katherine offers a multitude of services focused on deciphering the old German handwriting, including online courses, webinars, and workshops . She is the author of "The Magic of German Church Records" and "Tips and Tricks of Deciphering German Handwriting," and has also developed popular online courses such as "Reading the Old German Handwriting" and "German for Genealogists."
Katherine has been a featured speaker at major genealogy conferences, such as RootsTech, NGS, IGGP, and more, sharing her expertise on German records and handwriting. Her work has also been highlighted on the History Channel and on PBS' "Finding Your Roots" for multiple actors, politicians, comedians, singers, and others.
Combining her deep knowledge of the German language with a passion for genealogy, Katherine's offerings make the journey of uncovering family histories accessible, engaging, and enriching. Join her on your genealogy journey today!
Expect your book(s) to arrive within 7-14 days of purchase. We ensure prompt and secure shipping to get these books into your hands as quickly as possible.
Please keep in mind that shipping times may vary based on your location, but we are committed to delivering your order promptly.
If you would like Katherine to sign your book, please e-mail us at admin@germanologyunlocked.com with the message you would like inscribed.
Outside the U.S. and Interested in purchasing a book? If you are interested in purchasing but reside outside of the United States, please email us at admin@germanologyunlocked.com and we will direct you to an alternative purchasing option that suits your location.