Our German genealogy symposia are designed to give you insights into the life experience of your ancestors in their time through the study of resources. We will show you what records to look for, where to find them, and how to evaluate them in their historical context.
Our virtual seminars run Saturdays from 10:00 am to 5:15 pm (Eastern Time) and include four presentations. We believe in the value of sharing ideas and experiences and provide ample time for discussion and exchange.
Registered participants will receive a link to a recording the day after the live seminar. This recording will be available for twelve months.
Our 2025 seminars with four presentations are offered at only $125. Our Summer specials with only two presentations are available for only $60.
2025
This seminar explores the unique challenges of DNA research in Germany and surrounding regions. It begins with an overview of the historical, cultural, and legal complexities involved in researching unknown parentage, followed by a case study from post-war Vienna that highlights the use of DNA in uncovering Jewish family history during and after the Nazi era.
Researching unknown parentage in Germany and surrounding regions requires more than genetic expertise. It demands an understanding of complex historical contexts, regional naming conventions, migration patterns, and the navigation of strict privacy laws. Together, these factors create a uniquely challenging environment for genealogical investigation.
Michael N. was born in Vienna in 1949. The search for his unknown father unfolds against the turbulent backdrop of Nazi-occupied Austria. This case study illustrates how DNA analysis, combined with traditional genealogical research, can uncover hidden family stories spanning continents. Specific challenges of DNA work in Jewish communities will be addressed.
Presentation A
Unique Challenges of DNA Research in Germanic Europe
Break
11:30 am
Presentation B
Escape and Return in Jewish Vienna: A DNA Case Study
Questions/Discussion
This series of seminars focuses on the history and practical use of civil registration records in German territories, starting with their introduction in French-occupied regions in 1793 and leading up to the standardized systems adopted in 1874/1876. The discussions will cover comparisons between civil and church records, insights on interpreting standardized and marginal notes, and tips on using these records for genealogical and historical research.
Napoleon’s rule over Western Europe brought sweeping changes to the legal systems of France and its occupied territories. The Napoleonic Code removed church authority from civil law, introducing standardized vital records that applied universally, regardless of religion. These Zivilstand records became the model for civil registration across many Western European countries. Even after Napoleon’s defeat in 1815, parts of Germany continued to use Zivilstandsregister. Eventually, the remaining German states adopted a similar standardized system in 1874/1876 with the introduction of Personenstandsregister.
This lecture will explore the civil registration records introduced in French-occupied German territories starting in 1793. We will examine their standardized content, their significance for research, and the challenges they present. Additionally, we will discuss how civil registration records and church records can complement one another in genealogical and historical research.
In this presentation, we will analyze civil registration records introduced in Prussia on October 1, 1874, and non-Prussian states of the German empire on January 1, 1876. We will explore the typical content of these records, also when compared to church records, and discuss how to effectively use them in genealogical research.
Personenstand records often feature handwritten or stamped notes in the margins, typically added at a later date. While these marginal notes are easily overlooked, they can contain information pivotal to your family’s story. Join us to learn how to effectively work with these marginal notes and use them to overcome obstacles in your genealogical research!
This event builds on the material presented at our September 6 symposium. We’ll guide you through the process of finding civil registration records from various regions of Germany and the former German Empire—and show you how to request them from the appropriate offices and archives. Then we’ll apply these strategies to real-life research problems submitted by participants.
We’ll leave no stone unturned as we explore which archives and government offices—at the local, regional, and federal levels—hold civil registration records today, and how to request copies from them.
Major German cities like Berlin, Hamburg, or Köln maintain online indexes to 20th-century civil registration records that have not yet been digitized. Because each city had multiple civil registration offices (Standesämter), identifying the correct office and locating the corresponding record number in the index is an essential first step. You will learn about resources helping you pinpoint the right location. This session will walk you through the process step by step—so you can confidently locate and order the records you need.
In this interactive session, we’ll apply the strategies from earlier in the day to real research cases submitted by participants. We’ll walk through how to identify the correct civil registration office, locate the right record, and determine how and where to submit a request. These practical examples will help you reinforce what you’ve learned and gain the confidence to move forward with your own genealogical questions.
The 19th century was a time of extraordinary transformation. Rapid political, social, and technological change reshaped the German landscape and altered everyday life. Every ordinary German experienced the impact of these revolutions in some way. In this presentation, we will explore the major historical developments of this fascinating era and examine how they affected the lives of our ancestors.
Between 1820 and 1920, approximately six million Germans left their homeland, with the majority heading to the United States. Let’s examine the reasons behind this unprecedented wave of emigration. What motivated ordinary people to leave their homes for an uncertain future? What were they hoping to find at their destinations? Additionally, how did these factors evolve throughout the century?
Many steps took place between the decision to emigrate and the arrival at a destination. How did families choose where to go? What legal requirements had to be met before departure? How did people travel to the port? What was the experience of traveling by ship like during different periods of the 19th century? This presentation will take you through the journey of your ancestors, detailing each step of their voyage.
What documents were required for travelers to leave their home and travel abroad? In this presentation, we will explore the surprising range of emigration papers from Germany and where to locate them. We will then examine passenger records, which vary significantly in content from the early days of emigration to the 20th century, look for hidden clues in arrival records, and discuss the availability of records for ports of departure.
The invention of the steam engine revolutionized industry and transportation across Western Europe. This presentation will examine the course of industrialization in German states during the 19th century, focusing on the expansion of railways, innovations in textile and steel industries, and the rise of urban industrial centers.
Germany’s transition from an agrarian society to an industrial powerhouse gave rise to a substantial wage-earning labor class, driving profound social and political changes that shaped the nation by the dawn of the 20th century.
During the late 19th century, a growing number of people migrated across Europe in search of work opportunities. This movement was driven by various push and pull factors, including the rising demand for factory workers in urban centers and the declining need for rural labor due to agricultural mechanization. Many migrants also originated from economically underdeveloped regions in Eastern Europe, seeking better prospects in the wealthier industrialized areas of the West.
This presentation will discuss the typical experiences of migrants as they settled into large urban areas, exploring the challenges they faced and the opportunities they pursued.
In this presentation, we will explore a variety of record sources that allow us to trace migrants on their journeys across regions, learn details about their lives in their chosen communities, and better understand the challenges and opportunities they encountered.
Let’s look at real-life experiences of individuals who made the difficult decision to leave their native villages in search of economic opportunities far from home. What experiences awaited them at their new place? What historical records tell us how their unique stories unfolded?
Stuck on families with impermanent jobs? Let me help you find your way! Researching families who didn’t have steady jobs can be tricky, but it’s not impossible! In this webinar, I’ll take you through the fascinating story of the Stange family across two generations. You’ll discover practical tips, strategies, and a few of my own tricks to make your research more successful. If you’ve ever hit a brick wall, this session is for you. Get ready to turn challenges into breakthroughs and uncover stories you didn’t think were possible!
Join me as I trace the life of Friedrich Stange, a German Holländer from Brandenburg who emigrated to America in 1855. Using his story, I’ll show how a wide range of records — from church books and estate files to school records and even real estate websites — helped me piece together his journey. This presentation is all about the records you can use to break through brick walls in rural German research.
Meet Johann Friedrich Stange (1764–1845), born in Mecklenburg and later settled in Brandenburg. His story is full of twists — and brick walls. In this session, I’ll walk you through the techniques I used to uncover his past, from analysing church records and historical maps to using regional context and socio-historical clues. This presentation focuses on how to think like a researcher when the paper trail runs cold — and how the right strategies can lead to real breakthroughs.
2024
The local church book is an invaluable resource for discovering more about your ancestors’ lives. Join us as we reveal the wealth of information it contains!
Researching church records is essential for genealogical research. But how do you find them? In this presentation, we will explore the structure of the modern Protestant and Catholic churches, which is necessary to locate the correct church archive. We will then look at the leading resources for online research in these church records.
In this presentation, we’ll explore how to effectively combine FamilySearch, Ancestry, Archion, and Matricula to maximize your research success. You’ll learn strategies for integrating these diverse databases, leveraging their unique strengths to uncover a more comprehensive and detailed family history. By the end, you’ll be equipped with the skills to seamlessly navigate and utilize these resources for the best possible genealogical outcomes.
In this session, we’ll delve into 19th-century Lutheran church records, providing a practical guide to accessing and interpreting these key genealogical resources from various regions. You’ll learn how to work with diverse record types, including baptism, marriage, and burial registers, to trace your ancestors across different localities.
Please note: This symposium is tailored specifically for researchers based in the United States. A separate version of this event, adapted for Australian researchers, will be offered in August 2026—date to be announced.
Our immigrant ancestors brought with them plenty of clues that can lead us back to their home communities in Europe. In this session, we’ll show how names can reveal a specific German heritage, then explore how to mine American records for details like religion, family members, and chain migration connections—all of which can point us in the right direction before we take the leap across the Atlantic.
Once you’ve gathered clues in the U.S., you’re ready to identify an ancestor’s exact place of origin. This critical task can feel daunting to beginners, but we’ll show you how to tackle it with confidence. You’ll learn proven strategies and explore how maps, gazetteers, and historical context—such as 19th-century emigration patterns and shifting German borders —can help you zero in on the right town.
In this practical session, we’ll show you some of the most important resources for finding German records. You’ll be introduced to tools that make reading old German handwriting and unfamiliar record formats more manageable—even for beginners. With guidance, you’ll learn how to spot key information like names, dates, and relationships, even in unfamiliar script.
2026
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