I recently completed a client project in which the objective was to locate original church records for some German ancestors. I will be continuing the project next month, with a few additional tasks included in the objective, so I am taking some time to learn more about researching ancestors in Germany and add to my Germany Locality Guide.
Do you have German ancestors? If so, here are a few great resources that will help you learn more about German research:
I always start with the FamilySearch Research Wiki when trying to learn more about researching a new area. The German Genealogy page is full of wonderful information, including history, maps that illustrate boundary and jurisdiction changes, and links to online records. It also has a Getting Started With Germany Research box that provides links to articles and classes about researching your German ancestors. The Family History Guide also has some great resources for learning about how to do German research.
One thing that can be really tricky about German research is deciphering the handwriting on those original records! During my last project, I relied heavily on the following resources:
- The Germany Handwriting page at FamilySearch. It provides handwriting examples and handouts that can be used as reference guides for letters, numbers, days and months, and common symbols. There are also handouts for birth, marriage, and death records.
- Because I knew exactly what names I was looking for on the records in my last project, this list of given names with examples from records was an exceptional tool.
- This script generator tool was also a valuable resource. To use it, simply type a name or other word into the font generator tool, then click on the 8 different fonts to see what the word might look like in the records.
- At RootsTech 2020, I attended a session titled Old German Handwriting: Not as Awful as You Think by Karynne Moses. She said that the biggest key to being able to read German Handwriting is to practice writing it yourself with a pen and paper. Her class was so valuable! If you’re interested, you can access the syllabus on her website.
There are also a couple of very helpful videos in the RootsTech Free Video Archive on German research:
- German Research for the Everyday American by Karynne Moses
- Finally! German Church Records and How to Use Them on FamilySearch by Trish Melander
I’m also excited that the RootsTech 2020 Virtual Pass Videos are now available. I strategically planned my RootsTech schedule around what I would be able to watch later, and I’ve been waiting for these videos so I can watch German Vital Records: Finding the Clues You Need by Katherine Schober. As a side note, if you are interested in a virtual pass, you can purchase one now through September 1, 2020. You will receive access to over 30 sessions – that’s more sessions than you are able to attend when you go to RootsTech in person!
I hope that you will find these resources helpful as you are researching your German ancestors. If you know of other great resources, please share in the comments below!
