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A session in the Pennsylvania Chapter Third Tuesday Zoom programs Tuesday July 16, 2024 at 7:00 PM EDT Free and open to all PalAm members.
The Schwenkfelders are a small German Protestant denomination who settled in southeastern Pennsylvania in the 18th century. The Schwenkfelder Library and Heritage Center maintains internationally recognized collections and research facilities. They engage visitors in exploration of the themes of religious freedom, tolerance, migration, and heritage through stories of the Schwenkfelders and the Pennsylvania Germans of the Perkiomen region. The library has approximately 30,000 volumes of books, and thousands of manuscripts, both bound and loose. The collection dates from the late 15th Century, including two incunables.
Archivist Hunt Schenkel will give a presentation on the Library’s collection, which focuses on Schwenkfelder history as well as Pennsylvania German history in general. Download the flyer for details on registration. If you have a question that you want to ask, feel free to email it to us in advance at info@pennpalam.org or pennsylvaniapalatines@gmail.com.
Indiana Chapter Collaborative Learning SessionSaturday, July 20, 2024 ― 2:00 PM – 4:30 PMIrvington Branch Library5625 E. Washington Street, Indianapolis
Free of charge―in person open to the public; open virtually only to PalAm members
This will be a follow-up to our winter CLS and will deal with providing Tips for Researching in Germa-ny. The program will start with a presentation covering a variety of topics including the purpose of your trip, accommodations, communication, monetary transactions, scheduling, transportation, archives, and others. Following this we will ask those who have been to Germany to provide additional input for tips based on their own experience. Obviously, there will also be opportunities for attendees to pose questions about issues of personal concern.
Download flyer for more details.
The New York Chapter will hold its annual membership meeting on Zoom. We will hold elections for the open officer positions, present the Treasurer's report, and review goals for the year ahead. All members are welcome and encouraged to attend.
Come join us on the 2024 PalAm FamilySearch Library research trip!
Limited availability -- please contact nekero@aol.com for details before registering
Hotel accommodations at the Salt Lake Plaza Hotel—a 2-minute walk to the Library
Download the flyer for more information and registration form.
Questions? Contact Kent Robinson, group leader, at nekero@aol.com
Program: 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM
"German Research Strategies"Featured Speaker: Ursula Krause from Germany
Ursula will give two presentations with a theme of “German Research Strategies”:
With her combined legal and genealogical expertise, she skillfully navigates through complicated terrain to bring crucial information to light. With her solid legal background and ex-tensive experience in genealogical research, Ursula has dedicated her life to uncovering the relationships that bind us together. Ursula began her professional genealogy journey in 2009 when she founded Rootseekers - Genealogical Research and More. During her many years as a senior genealogist with AncestryProGenealogists, she further deepened her expertise while making significant contributions to the team.
Presenters will discuss records available at archives; resources available on-line; accessing copies of records via mail; early records available in Germany via email; copy service; translation service and more. Types of records include church records of births, baptisms, marriages, deaths, funerals, confirmations and communions, as well as diaries of ministers and missionaries, biographical memoirs, obituaries and other items. The speakers have taken a course in reading German script.
MEAGHAN O’RIORDAN became Director of the Southern Province Archive in August, 2022. She formerly worked as Accessing Archivist at Emory University’s Rose Manuscript, Archive and Rare Book Library. She simultaneously earned two Bachelor’s Degrees from NC State in English and Religious Studies. She holds a Master’s Degrees in Library Science and Theological Studies. Meagan has given presentations and authored and co-authored professional publications.
SABRINA GARITY joined the staff as Assistant Archivist in May, 2023. She holds a Master’s Degree in Library Science and Master of Arts in History with a focus on post-war Germany. She also has a Master of Fine Arts from the New School in New York and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from UNC-Wilmington.
Download the flyer for registration information. Registration Deadline: September 14, 2024
Saturday September 28, 2024ZOOM only
The Pennsylvania Chapter’s Fall Webinar and Annual Membership Meeting is happening on Saturday, September 28, 2024, beginning at 1:00 pm EDT. Join us via Zoom for two interesting presentations, then stay connected for our Annual Membership Meeting:
The Henry Janssen Library at the Berks County History Center: Much More than a Genealogical Resource and Wonderful Nice: The Curious Legacy of the Pennsylvania Dutch
The Historical Society of Berks County, known today as the Berks History Center, has been collecting, preserving, and researching the county’s history since the 1800s. In the first presentation, Bradley Smith will highlight the history of the Henry Janssen Library and the resources that the library makes available for both in-person and remote patrons. After a short break, he will offer an entertaining discussion exploring the origins of the Pennsylvania Dutch, who have made a tremendous impact on our nation’s development, and the importance of their legacy.
Our Annual Membership Meeting will convene at approximately 3:15pm, following a brief break at the conclusion of the presentations. Download the flyer for registration details. If you have questions about the presentations or the annual meeting, please email us at info@pennpalam.org.
The New York Chapter will hold its Fall Seminar at the Germantown Library. Access to the Hank Jones Collection and a walking tour of historic sites. Speakers and other details TBD. Any lectures will be available via Zoom as well as in person. Germantown, NY, will also be celebrating its annual Oktoberfest that day.
A session in the Pennsylvania Chapter Third Tuesday Zoom programs Tuesday October 15, 2024 at 7:00 PM EDT Free and open to all PalAm members.
Join us on a tour de force of the rich genealogical research holdings at the Heinz History Center’s Detre Library & Archives. As one of the largest collections of historic materials related to Western Pennsylvania, the History Center contains a multitude of publications and original records that can be used to enhance genealogical research. Particular attention will be paid to sources unique to the History Center that can be used to trace German-speaking ancestors in Western Pennsylvania. The Senator John Heinz History Center is Pennsylvania’s largest history museum and a proud affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution. The family of museums also includes the Western Pennsylvania Sport Museum, Fort Pitt Museum, and Meadowcroft Rock Shelter and Historic Village.
A native of Adamsville, Pennsylvania, Sierra Green has her master’s degree in Library and Information Science with a specialization in Archives, Preservation, and Records Management from the University of Pittsburgh. As an archivist at the History Center’s Detre Library & Archives, Sierra is engaged in archival processing and reference services in addition to her work in public and educational programming. Through her professional work thus far, Sierra has fostered a deep passion for and interest in archival outreach, engagement, and public awareness. She takes great pleasure in discussing research opportunities with genealogists and family historians. Sierra has spoken to numerous local genealogical societies. Download the flyer for details on registration. If you have a question that you want to ask, feel free to email it to us in advance at info@pennpalam.org or pennsylvaniapalatines@gmail.com.
A session in the Pennsylvania Chapter Third Tuesday Zoom programs Tuesday November 19, 2024 at 7:00 PM EDT Free and open to all PalAm members.
Pennsylvania Chapter members are invited to submit their research problems for discussion. Perhaps you are seeking the maiden name of your 4th great grandfather’s mother. Or maybe family legend has Great Uncle Mathias emigrating from Hamburg in 1843 but he can’t be found in the Passenger lists! Or Cousin David’s family tree lists Herman Zeise’s village of origin as Schlesien but you can’t find any documentation on that. WHAT DO YOU DO NEXT? Submit an overview of your research problem, and we will talk about it! We can’t solve your problem or do the research, but maybe the other attendees can offer ideas and suggestions for your next steps. Your overview should include all of the following elements:
We invite PA Chapter members to submit their research problems by Monday, November 11, 2024, to pennsylvaniapalatines@gmail.com to have them included in this discussion. Download the flyer for details on registration. If you have a question that you want to ask, feel free to email it to us in advance at info@pennpalam.org or pennsylvaniapalatines@gmail.com.
The 2025 IGGP Conference will be held in Columbus, Ohio, from June 12-15. The Conference coincides with IGGP’s 10th Anniversary and PalAm’s 50th Anniversary. The Conference theme will be Celebrate Your German-Speaking Ancestors. PalAm will be hosting the conference at the beautiful Nationwide Hotel and Conference Center in north Columbus.For more details, see https://iggp.org/2024/01/iggp-conference-2025-columbus-ohio/
Palatines to America is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. PO Box 141260, Columbus OH 43214 © 2023
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