The focus of this group is migrants who immigrated from German-speaking areas of Europe to various parts of the US from the 1700s to the 1900s. Knowledge of the German language is not required: Our goal is to help guide your research in locating records and provide resources for translating the records. The group is a special interest group of the Dallas Genealogical Society and is freely open to all.
Leaders: Ann Broihier & Bernard Meisner
Contact: ggg@dallasgenealogy.org
Schedule: 2nd Saturday in January, March, May, September & November
Join the discussion on our Facebook Group!
Speaker: Richard Gruetzner from the German-Texas Heritage Society
Topic: The German Free School and the German-Texan Heritage Society (GTHS) 1858 - 2025
The presentation will discuss the historical German Free School located in Austin and how the modern operations of the GTHS reflect the cultural heritage that created it.
Meeting:
Presentation:
Speaker: Ann Broihier
Topic: Researching Baden-Württemberg Ancestors
We will look at resources for information about our Baden-Württemberg ancestors. The discussion will include various types of records and how to access them. The presentation will mention applicable books, free websites, pay websites, and other helpful resources.
Meeting: YouTube (5:42)
Presentation: YouTube (37:19)
Speaker: Günter Ofner – President of Familia Austria
Topic: The History of the Habsburg Empire
Many German emigrants came from the Habsburg, rather than the German Empire and its precursor states. Since the Habsburg Empire had political, administrative, linguistic, and religious structures that differed greatly from those in the German Empire, researching the former Habsburg Empire is very different.
Map of the historical territories of the Habsburgian Empire.
Meeting: YouTube (7:05)
Presentation: YouTube (1:26:15)
Speaker: Bernard N. Meisner
Topic: Understanding and Converting Calendar Dates In Genealogical Records
Which calendar(s) did your ancestors use? You may be familiar with the Julian and Gregorian calendars, with their Old Style and New Style dates, but do you know when your ancestors’ country moved from one to the other? Have you found records for your ancestors that include dates from the Catholic or Lutheran Liturgical Calendars or the French Republican Calendar? Learn about these calendars and how to convert dates from one to another.
Meeting: YouTube (13:11)
Presentation: YouTube (49:57)
Handout: Understanding and Converting Calendar Dates In Genealogical Records
Topic: Resources for Finding Your German Roots At the Dallas Public Library
Genealogy & History Manager Stephanie Bennett and German Genealogy Specialist Ed Boehringer will present on how to find your German heritage at the Dallas Public Library. Learn how to maximize your research time using one of the largest genealogy collections in the United States.
Meeting Recording: YouTube (5:02)
Presentation Recording: YouTube (49:43)
Handout: German Research By Location
Speaker: Kent Cutkomp, Germanic Genealogy Society in Minnesota
Topic: German Pronunciation for Genealogists
Note: Kent will be presenting remotely.
The goal is to teach you to improve your pronunciation by comparing German sounds to English sounds. This will be standard German pronunciation unless otherwise mentioned. Different regions will pronounce words slightly differently.
Recordings
- Meeting - YouTube (5:37)
- Presentation
- Note: This recording was deleted on 13 March 2024.
Speaker: Bernard N. Meisner
Topic: Using Hansen’s Map Guides To Locate Your Ancestor’s Parish Records
Hansen’s Map Guides to Parish Registers simplify the process of locating the parish registers containing the records of your ancestors. The Guides contain detailed information about Catholic and Lutheran jurisdictions for locations within the former German Empire (including areas now in Poland, Lithuania, Russia, Denmark, and France), Switzerland and Luxembourg, and also some information about Jewish congregations in those areas. Given your ancestor’s hometown, learn how to identify the most likely parish(es) with the records, then check the online availability of the registers on FamilySearch, Archion and/or Matricula.
Recordings
- Meeting
- Presentation: Hansen’s Map Guides to Parish Registers
Handouts
Speaker: Ann Broihier
Topic: Using German genealogy societies/special interest groups to break your brick wall
Are you encountering difficulties with your German research? Have you considered reaching out to a local genealogy society for assistance? Let's explore some prominent German genealogy societies and special interest groups (s) in the US. Additionally, we will delve into the genealogy groups in Germany providing insights on how to locate and connect with them effectively.
Recording (YouTube - 50:23)
Speaker: Brenda Watlington
Title: German and Eastern European Research on FamilySearch
Summary: How to find your ancestor’s records in the war-torn countries of Germany and Eastern Europe. Tips for locating their place of birth and finding their immigration, church, and civil records on FamilySearch.
Meeting: (YouTube - 1:23:28)
Location: 6th floor Classroom D
Speaker: Ann Broihier & Bernard N. Meisner
Topic: Compgen.de
An introduction to Compgen.de, Germany's Genealogy free mega website, managed by the Association for Computer Genealogy. Although the primary language of the site is German, much of its content is also available in English and the translation tools available in your Web browser and online can help with the rest. The site includes links to millions of names in public family trees, a village gazetteer of most of central Europe that includes the political entities to which your ancestors’ home villages belonged, thousands of city directories and searchable village genealogies, and much more. Bernard and Ann will review the various features of the site and demonstrate how it can help you with your research.
Meeting (YouTube - 52:21)
Topic: How to use Archion.de
Topic: 11 Tips to Help You Transcribe German Church Records
Speaker: Theresa Berns of Theresa Berns Translations (https://www.tb-translations.com/)
The webinar provides tips on transcribing German church records and information on helpful resources that facilitate the transcription process.
Meeting (YouTube - 5:12)
The recording of the presentation by Tresa Berns was only available throuugh March 26th 2022.
- Theresa Berns Translations - https://www.tb-translations.com/
Topic: Group Discussion: German Genealogy Books
Group members are invited to discuss the books that have proved most useful in their German research. After the meeting, a list of the books mentioned will be made available to the Group.
Handout: List of German Genealogy Group's Favorite Books
Video: YouTube (51m)
- Speaker: Garry Finkell, Immediate Past President, New York Chapter, Palatines to America
- Topic: From the Rhine Valley to the Hudson Valley
Garry's presentation will cover the departure of the "Palatines" from the various states in the Rhineland, their trip to London, and their arrival in East Camp and West Camp in the Mid-Hudson Valley of New York.
Handouts: Palatines to America, From the Rhine Valley to the Hudson Valley
Video: YouTube (1:10:58)
- Speaker: Bernard Meisner
- Topic: Early German Immigrants to Texas
The Republic’s desire to populate the new country resulted in a concerted effort to bring German settlers to Texas. By 1850 German immigrants were a significant ethnic group, the result of group and chain migration. Many lived in ethnic enclaves, while others were drawn to the towns in a band stretching from the coastal plain to the Hill Country. Records of these Germans can be found in many books and county, state and national Web sites.
Handout: Early German Settlements in Texas
Video: YouTube (1:00:45)
Topic - Open Discussion.
Speaker: Natalie Igunbor ( https://ancestorconnect.net/ )
Topic: “Tracing Surnames and Occupations”
Presentation: YouTube - 49:10
Handout: Resources for German Research
Speaker: Bernard N. Meisner
Topic: Incorporating Surname Maps into Your German Research
Learn how surname maps can enable you to determine where to look for your ancestors - both individuals and couples - suggest alternate spellings of their names, and perhaps identify their religion. Surname maps can also aid in the transcription of records by confirming the names of relatives, friends, associates and neighbors who might be mentioned in the records. Learn what surname maps are available, and how to assess their utility for your research.
Handouts:
- Speaker: Duane Stabler, President, North Texas Chapter of Germans from Russia (https://ntgfr.com)
- Topic: In Search of Freedom: The Germans from Russia Story: This presentation is intended to be an overview of a group of people who immigrated from various parts of modern-day Germany to undeveloped territories in the Volga River valley and South Russia. Years later, with changes that occurred in Russia, many immigrated to the Americas in search of a homeland that would offer them freedom and the ability to establish themselves. Come hear about this story and how this small group of immigrants has impacted their new homeland through the past century.
- Handouts:
- View a recording of the meeting (YouTube) - 1:45:39
Speaker: Kevin Klaus, Information Specialist, Archives and Records, Texas General Land Office
- Topic: German Immigrants to Texas in the General Land Office’s Records: The oldest state agency in Texas, the General Land Office was formed to determine who owned what and where after the Texians and Tejanos won independence. The German Collection of the General Land Office represents not only land records, but gives insight into those settlers willing to leave their homeland, escape hardships and all they knew for a chance at a new start. Kevin will discuss techniques for tracing German ancestors using the General Land Office’s records
- Handouts
- Watch the video of Kevin's Presentation (YouTube, 1:12:07)
Speaker: Fritz Juengling, Ph.D., AG, German, Dutch, and Scandinavian Research Consultant at the FHL
- Topic: "The Genealogical Value of German Guild Records"
- Handout: Guild Records in Germany
This meeting was cancelled due to the outbreak of the Covid-19 virus.
The German Genealogy Group held a meeting on January 18th at 10:30 pm in the Hamon Training Room on the 5th floor of the J. Erik Jonsson Central Library, 1515 Young Street, Dallas TX 75201
View a recording of the meeting (YouTube: 1:21:37)
Handouts for this meeting:
The first meeting of the German Genealogy Group was held on Nov 2nd at 1:30 pm in the Hamon Training Room on the 5th floor of the J. Erik Jonsson Central Library, 1515 Young Street, Dallas TX 75201
The meeting was recorded and can be viewed now (YouTube - 1:32:23)
Handouts for this meeting:
- Identifying Your Immigrant German Ancestor - Bernard Meisner
- Translation Help - Ann Broihier
Upcoming Meetings
