Education
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.
Take advantage of our introductory special! Our 2024 seminars are offered at only $95.
2024
2024 Introductory Sessions
OUR ANCESTORS’ WORLD – German History and the Role of the Church in Everyday Life
A - Introduction to Historical Germany - From the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation to the German Reich
B - Church History – Why You Need to Remember What Happened in 1555
C - The Church Book – the Best Source for Local History
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!
D - The Status Designation in Church Records: A Mirror of Local Society
Full schedule (EDT):
Presentation A
Introduction to Historical Germany
Break
11:30 am
Presentation B
Church History
01:00 pm
Break
02:00 pm
Presentation C
The Church Book as a Local History Book
03:00 pm
Break
03:15 pm
Presentation D
The Status Designation in Church Records
04:15 pm
Break
04:30 pm
Discussion
05:15 pm
Conclusion
CHURCH RECORDS – A Deep Dive into the Core Resource for German Genealogy
A - Combining FamilySearch, Ancestry, Archion and Matricula – Make the Best of All the Databases!
B - Introduction to Church Records for Genealogical Research
In this presentation, we’ll explore how church records serve as a cornerstone for genealogical research by providing the facts on births, marriages, and deaths that form the core of your family research. You’ll learn how to interpret these historical documents to trace your ancestry and build comprehensive family trees.
C - Researching in 19th Century Lutheran Church Records
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.
D - Researching in 19th Century Catholic Church Records
Full schedule (EDT):
Presentation A
Combining FamilySearch, Ancestry, Archion and Matricula – Make the Best of All the Databases!
Break
11:30 am
Presentation B
Introduction to Church Records for Genealogical Research
01:00 pm
Break
02:00 pm
Presentation C
Researching in 19th Century Lutheran Church Records
03:00 pm
Break
03:15 pm
Presentation D
Researching in 19th Century Catholic Church Records
04:15 pm
Break
04:30 pm
Discussion
05:15 pm
Conclusion
2025 Courses
2025
THE WINDS OF CHANGE
19th Century German History and Culture – Part 1
- 19th Century German History for Genealogists
- The Push and Pull of Emigration
- Understanding the Emigration Experience
- Records Documenting Emigration
THE WINDS OF CHANGE
19th Century German History and Culture – Part 2
- History of Industrialization
- Labor-Related Migration within Europe
- Sources for Tracking Migrants
- Case Studies
CIVIL RECORDS
History of Civil Registration and Analysis of Records
- Introduction to Civil Registration Records
- Zivilstand Records Introduced during the Napoleonic Era
- Personenstand Records Introduced in 1874
- Working with Marginal Notes
COLONIZATION
Movements of Germanic Settlers throughout Europe
- Ostsiedlung – Early Germanization of the East
- Impacts of the Thirty-Year War
- Religious Refugees and their Traces into the 19th Century
- Sources and Examples
THE EXPANSION OF PRUSSIA
How a Small Principality Became a Superpower
- Eastern Crusades and the Teutonic State
- Frederic the Great, 18th Century Expansion into Poland, and its Implications for Genealogical Research
- 19th Century Prussia and the Founding of the German Reich
- The Secret Archive: Berlin’s Geheimes Staatsarchiv Preussischer Kulturbesitz
Planned Content for 2026 and Beyond
Dates to be announced:
- German History and Culture in the 20th Century
- Residency Records and Directories
- Locating and Working with Online Resources
- Researching Persecuted Persons in the Third Reich
- Using German Archives
- Working with Historical Maps
- Military History and Records
- Jewish Research
Research in the Former Prussian States of Poland - Using DNA in German Research
2026
