NGS’ 2014 Family History Conference in Richmond, Virginia

If you are a German researcher, there is a great educational opportunity coming up in May 2014. The National Genealogical Society (NGS) is hosting its annual Family History Conference, entitled “Virginia: The First Frontier,” in Richmond, Virginia. The conference runs from Wednesday, May 7^th through Saturday, May 10^th. For detail information about the conference visit http://conference.ngsgenealogy.org/ and click on the “Attend” tab.

The conference offers an abundance of lectures that will hone your genealogical skills. For the German researcher; however, there is a dedicated track offering lectures by well-known genealogists that specialize in German research. The German track is offered on Thursday and Friday with the specific lectures listed below:

Thursday, May 8th

T208 – “Searching for a Pennsylvania German Ancestor,” James M. Beidler

T218 – “300 Years in Virginia: The Germanna Colonies and Their Legacy,” Katherine Lowe Brown, PhD

T228 – “Researching a Hessian Soldier in the American Revolution,” Craig Roberts Scott, CG

T248 – “How to Overcome Brick Wall Problems in Pennsylvania German Research,” Michael D. Lacopo, DVM

T258 – “Contrasting German Migrations: 18^th-Century vs. 19^th-Century Waves,” James M. Beidler

Friday, May 9th

F304 – “How German History Makes a Difference in Your Family History Research,” F. Warren Bittner, CG

F314 – “German Gazetteers and Levels of Jurisdiction,” F. Warren Bittner, CG

F324 – “Using Historic German Newspapers Online,” Ernest Thode

F344 – “German Village Not Yet Found?,” Carolyn Louise Whitton, CG

F354 – “German 301: Going Beyond German Church Records,” James Marion Baker, PhD, CG

If you have German ancestors, don’t miss out on the opportunity to obtain detailed research information from knowledgeable genealogists. Besides the lectures, you can meet other genealogists researching the same areas or perhaps the same family! It is a great way to make new friends! Don’t delay as Early-Bird registration ends on March 24, 2014!

My favorite part of a national conference? It is spending 24/7 for several days on nothing but genealogy! How great is that?

Debra A. Hoffman, "NGS' 2014 Family History Conference in Richmond, Virginia," Ancestral Leaves, posted 25 February 2014 (http://ancestralleaves.blogspot.com : viewed [date]). [Please feel free to link to the specific post if you prefer.]

Bavaria Emigration Database on the German Genealogy Group Website

There is a new resource on the German Genealogy Group's (GGG) website. If you think you have ancestors from Bavaria, you should check out this database. It can be accessed from here http://www.germangenealogygroup.com/records-search/bavarian_emigrants.php.

The database was compiled from emigration notices printed in Bavarian newspapers. There notices were required to legally emigrate.The publication requirement was for the purpose of collecting debts from the emigrant prior to their departure from the Kingdom of Bavaria. This project was headed by Tom Risinger.

There are a few records as early as 1823, but the majority date from 1832 to 1873. If you find your ancestor in the database, GGG offers the option to obtain a translated copy of the entire newspaper article for a fee. If you request a copy, an estimate will be sent to you for payment prior to receiving the translation.

When entering surnames in the database, you need to be flexible in the spelling and ensure you search multiple ways.When results are found, you can print them out. The results include the family name, given name, town, area, date, note and pdf page.The notes may include information such as the occupation, birth date, marital status, relationships, etc. Some of the notes are very detailed and provide a wealth of information.

I searched for my Krug and Bayer surnames. I found 22 results when I searched for Krug exactly. For the surname Bayer, I found 66 results. However in my research, I have found many spelling variations for Bayer, so I used the "sounds like" search and then found 465 results.

If your ancestor hails from the Kingdom of Bavaria, this database can provide you with a wealth of information.If you find your ancestor, let GGG know of your success by sending them an email.

Check it out!

Debra A. Hoffman, "Bavaria Emigration Database on the German Genealogy Group Website," Ancestral Leaves, posted 20 February 2014 (http://ancestralleaves.blogspot.com : viewed [date]). [Please feel free to link to the specific post if you prefer.]