Beginning German Research: Difference between revisions

US obituaries:<br>[https://familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/United_States_Obituaries United States Obituaries]<br>US newspapers:<br>[https://familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/United_States_Newspapers United States Newspapers]<br>US death records:<br>[https://familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/How_to_Find_United_States_Death_Records How to Find United States Death Records]<br>US church records:<br>[https://familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/United_States_Church_Records United States Church Records]<br>US county histories:<br>[https://familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/United_States,_Histories_of_Towns,_Counties,_and_States United States, Histories of Towns, Counties, and States]<br>'''Naturalization records:'''<br>[[United States Naturalization and Citizenship]]<br>[https://familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/Tracing_Immigrant_Origins Tracing Immigrant Origins]<br>[https://familysearch.org/learningcenter/lesson/coming-to-america-finding-your-immigrant-ancestors/74 Coming to America: Finding Your Immigrant Ancestors]

'''US Immigration websites:'''<br>Ellis Island: (51 million immigrants from 1892 to 1954)<br>[http://www.libertyellisfoundation.org/passenger Passenger Search]<br>Castle Garden (11 million immigrants from 1820 through 1892)<br>[http://www.castlegarden.org/ Castle Garden Immigration Center]<br>  

<br>'''Online German church records:'''<br>This is a new source in the development stage. Not all German archives are participating, not all records have been digitalized, and it has protestant church records only. There is a cost associated with accessing records through this site. You can browse the record titles free of charge and be aware that only the records on a green background have been digitalized. Most of the records on the archion site are the same records available through your local Family History Center. It is just easier and more convenient to access these records at home if possible.<br>https://www.archion.de/<br> <br> '''Ancestry.com '''<br>  

There is a collection of online German church records. These are the same microfilmed records that can be ordered from your local Family History Center::<br>Württemberg, Germany, Lutheran Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, 1550-1985<br>[http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=61023&amp;path= Ancestry.com]<br><br> '''Family History Library Catalog:'''<br>The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has microfilmed many church records. To see which towns have been microfilmed, you can use their catalog:<br>[http://www.familysearch.org/eng/Library/FHLC/frameset_fhlc.asp FamilySearch Catalog]<br>A “place” search will bring up the microfilmed records for a town.<br>Be aware that many small town records were kept in nearby larger towns. These towns cannot be searched in the catalog; the names only appear in the notes section of the larger town. For example, you will see below the notes for the town Hohenstaufen. One of the towns mention in the notes is Breitfelderhof. If you try to do a “place” search for Breitfelderhof, it will return “no matching places”. However, as you can see, there are records for Breitfelderhof, they are included in the Hohenstaufen records.<br>If the “place” search is not successful, you can use an online map to help find the records. Locate your town on the online map and then try inputting the names of nearby towns into the catalog until you bring up the correct town and associated records.<br> [http://maps.google.com/ Google Map]<br>[http://www.mapquest.com Map Quest]<br>The catalog will give the microfilm number and exactly what records are included on that particular microfilm:<br>The microfilms are ordered and viewed at your nearest Family History Center. If you’ve never visited one, you can locate the nearest one at:<br>[https://www.familysearch.org/ Family Search]locations  

[https://familysearch.org/learningcenter/lesson/reading-german-handwritten-records-lesson-1-kurrent-letters/69 Reading German Handwritten Records Lesson 1: Kurrent Letters]

<br>'''Helpful books''' (available on amazon):<br>German-English Genealogical Dictionary by Ernest Thode<br>If I Can, You Can Decipher Germanic Records by Edna Bentz<br>Deciphering Handwriting in German Documents by Roger P. Minert<br>  

<br>'''History:'''<br>If you’re interested in the historical background and everyday life of your ancestors in Germany, you must read a book by Teva Scheer called “Our Daily Bread: German Village Life, 1500-1850” It can be purchased on amazon.com.<br>  

<br>'''Funeral Practices:'''<br>Generally speaking, one does not find old graves in Germany. Plots were leased for a number of years (10-25), after which the body is exhumed and the grave reused.<br>[https://familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/Germany_Funerary_Customs_and_Practices Germany Funerary Customs and Practices]<br>