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Welcome to the new edition of the German Genealogy Quarterly eNewsletter — the German Schrift! This newsletter will highlight the German Research Discussion Group, featured German resources, research tips, and interesting places to visit. 
 
Midwest Genealogy Center: December German SCHRIFT
German Research Discussion Group

Review of the October 2019 Meeting:
The session started with an introduction of first-time attendants and announcements of upcoming events and various happenings.
 
If you could not attend the October meeting or even if you attended it, but want to hear some parts of it again, visit the MGC Facebook page. Click the "Videos" link on the left. You do not need to have a Facebook account to view these videos.
 
In September 2019, the 71st German Genealogy Day (71. Deutscher Genealogentag) took place in Gotha, Thuringia, Germany. It is the largest yearly meeting of genealogists who have a common interest in Germanic genealogy. It is organized by the umbrella organization of genealogical and heraldic societies in Germany, the DAGV. We will talk more about this organization at a future session.
 
October 6 was National German-American Day.
 
Do you know which German city is the Sister City of Kansas City?
 
The second hour of the October meeting was dedicated to our speakers, Scott and Deanna. They both shared their research discoveries, family photos, and gave notable presentations. Thank you for your time and input, Deanna and Scott, and for enlightening us the second hour! Go to the MGC Facebook page to watch their presentations. 
 
The next meeting will be on January 18, 2020 at 2:00 p.m.
In addition to our normal content, we will hear a presentation from Paul about the story of his family research.
If time allows, we will review the previously published online German Schrifts, MGC's German eNewsletters (this one is number 4), to point out interesting information you might have missed. In addition, a difference between two large German websites with German church records will be introduced.
 
Don’t forget to register for the next German Research Discussion Group. You can also register for the class Researching Your German Ancestors scheduled for Wednesday, January 29, 2020, at 2:00 p.m.
 
And now something special — If you want to get into the holiday spirit and atmosphere of German Christmastime, join us for the Holiday Edition of the German Genealogy Discussion Group, December 5, 2019, from 2:00 p.m. — 3:00 p.m.
 
In addition to talk of German traditions, and keeping German traditions alive at your own homes, enjoy a presentation from Stacey, MCPL's Smithville Branch Manager. She will display her Glühwein mug collection from various German cities she visited! Come and listen to her reminisce about holiday time spent in Germany. Will she dress up in her dirndl? Or wil some of you? Let’s be surprised! For this new event register here. 
 
Featured Periodical
The Palatine Immigrant, Vol XLIV No. 4, September 2019

This issue is packed with interesting articles. Roger P. Minert, Ph.D., A.G., Prof.em., describes the road leading to the creation of the book series German Immigrants in American Church Records. He opens up about his experience and gives tips for German researchers. All his published book series are part of the MGC collection. Also, see the research tip below.
Book Recommendations
In Search of Your German Roots: A Complete Guide to Tracing Your Ancestors in the Germanic Areas of Europe
by Angus Baxter

This book is small but very good in content. It is updated and available for checkout. So, check it out! It is designed so that you seldom have to leave your own home. It shows you how to conduct your research by correspondence and how to work in your own home, at your own pace, using the resources of libraries and archives or the records of church and state.
Kirchenbuch, 1550-1900 — Microform
by The Genealogical Society of Utah

Don’t forget to check the MCPL vatalog periodically. MGC recently cataloged many new microfilms, including church books from various German villages starting in the 1500s! One example: Kirchenbuch, 1550-1900, Microform – 1969, FHL 0593936, Call No. 943.37. Parish register of baptisms, marriages, deaths, confirmation of Unterliezheim, Diemantstein, Ebenried, and Gundelsdorf, Bayern, Germany. Also includes family books for Ebenried and Gundelsdorf.  
Research Tips
Online Resource Tip:
Learn how to recognize German letters, and practice the old handwriting style.
If you missed the German online courses in October 2019 through the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah (FHL), you can watch courses anytime later. All past classes are on FamilySearch.org, under Help, Learning Center, Lessons, and typing the word "German." For example, you can scroll down and click on the Old German Script lesson by Dr. Fritz Juengling.
 
Guidance with Your Genealogy Needs:
This time, a tip for finding the place of origin — Check American church records! Don’t forget to also check the series German Immigrants in American Church Records by Roger P. Minert (Call No. 929.373 G317, Vol.1-27; Index books to Vol.1-14 under 929.373 G317).
 
Places to Visit
The holidays are coming, and for German genealogy enthusiasts in the U.S., what better place to visit than the German Christkindlmarket.
 
The Daley Plaza in Chicago already opened the annual Chicago Christkindlmarket. The event is done in cooperation with German American Events, LLC, a subsidiary of the German American Chamber of Commerce of the Midwest.
 
If this is too close to home, or if you aren't in the holiday mood, admire a manuscript collection dating back to the 9th century at the Wachau Valley in Austria and its glorious Melk Benedictine Abbey, featured in the Oct/Nov 2019 issue of German Life Periodical:
 
Here's how German Life describes it: "The Melk Abbey overlooking the Danube River Valley, is one of Europe's greatest historic art sights. Established as a Benedictine Abbey in the 11th century, it was destroyed by fire, but the monks were able to save most of the medieval manuscript... The current building is the 18th-century building, which is considered a masterpiece of the Baroque style. The restoration project — partially financed by sale of the abbey's Gutenberg Bible to Harvard (which was later donated to Yale University) — was completed by 1996 to celebrate the 1,000th anniversary of the first reference to a country named Österreich (Austria)."
Fun and Learn
 
What is this German word? Dust off that German dictionary from your shelf.
  1. F _ _ u                          (Wife, woman)
  2. E _ e f _ _  u                 (Wife)
  3. G _ t _ _  n                    (Wife)
  4. G _ t _ e                        (Husband) 
  5. G _ _ ch _ _ ch t           (Sex, gender, clan)
  6. J _  _ g g _ s _ _ l  e      (Bachelor)
 
Christl’s Proverb:
“Wo ein Wille ist, da ist auch ein Weg.”  
which means “Where there is a will; there is a way.”
Thank you. Danke schön.
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