Mastering German Church Records: Research Strategies for Protestant and Catholic Ancestors
Church records are the foundation of genealogical research in German-speaking Europe—but finding and using them effectively requires more than just knowing where to look. This four-part seminar series gives you the tools to do just that.
You’ll start by learning how to locate the right church archive by understanding the structure of the modern Protestant and Catholic churches. Then, discover how to make the most of today’s top research platforms—FamilySearch, Ancestry, Archion, and Matricula—by combining their strengths to get better results.
The final two sessions dive into the details of 19th-century Lutheran and Catholic records. Learn how to read and interpret key entries, understand the theological and regional differences that shaped the records, and use this knowledge to uncover accurate, meaningful information about your ancestors.
Whether you’re researching in Bavaria or Brandenburg, Pomerania or the Palatinate, this series will help you confidently navigate and work with German church records like a pro.
You will receive access to the recording of four expert presentations and a handout to each presentation.
Price:
$95.00
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.
Catholic church records differ significantly in scope and substance from Lutheran records. This presentation will discuss the typical content of Catholic baptism, burial, and death records. We will compare Lutheran and Catholic church records and examine how record content was shaped by diverging theological perspectives. In addition, we will look at differences in recording practices between historical regions.
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