Weser River Project
Kenneth W. Heger, Ph.D. & Debra A. Hoffman, PLCGS
MAGS President Ken Heger and MAGS Secretary Debra A. Hoffman bring us the next installment of items from the first volume of U. S. Consular Records from Bremen-Miscellaneous Records as extracted by Debra A. Hoffman. The volume begins in 1797. Included are significant genealogical items from that volume and additional items will be published in each issue of Der Kurier until we have reviewed the entire volume.
Finding Your Ancestor’s Home on Historic German Maps
Bob Greiner
Bob Greiner details his research into the ancestral family of a MAGS member, including their journey to New Orleans and the homes they once lived in in Bamberg, Bavaria. Using digital maps found in the Bavarian State Archives and Google Maps, Greiner was not only able to find historic maps of their houses, but also see what they look like today using Google’s street view. This detailed research narrative shares interesting research strategies and new perspectives on learning more about our ancestors.
The Mid-Atlantic Germanic Society (MAGS) Reaches the Baltic Sea: Selected American Resources for Family Historians
Ken Heger
Prior to World War I, Germany had a long coastline on the Baltic Sea, stretching from Schleswig-Holstein in the west to Memel in the east. While the overwhelming part of the area was inside the Kingdom of Prussia, the Free City of Lübeck and the Grand Duchies of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and Mecklenburg-Strelitz abutted the sea as well. There were several important cities located on the Baltic Sea; centers of thriving holiday, commercial and industrial enterprises. This area was also home to thousands of American immigrants. Fortunately, there are records researchers can use to find information on their ancestors who came from, traveled through, studied in, or returned to live there after having resided in the United States. This article provides you with several sources of information, suggests data you might find in the records, tells you about resources MAGS offers to help you with your research, and offers tips on how to access records.
German Trade Cards
Dan Soller
Dan Soller shares the second set in a six-card series depicting rulers of the Electorate of Saxony. These beautifully illustrated cards and accompanying translations are provided to help readers learn more about German history and culture. The Stollwerck chocolate company designated this series Gruppe 163 and published the collector’s album No. 4 for it in 1900. These cards are from the personal collection of Kenneth W. Heger. They depict König Friedrich August II, König Johann, and König Albert.
Using Old German Newspapers in the Bavarian State Library for Your Family Research
Gunter Schanzenbacher
In the March 2024 issue of Der Kurier, MAGS’ First Vice President, Gunter Schanzenbacher, wrote an article about the availability of old newspapers in several German archives and libraries that are ideal for researching your family history. In this article, he has focused on one of those libraries with a more in-depth look of what is truly available, the Bayerischen Staatsbibliothek.
What do the letters “C+M+B” chalked over the doors of German houses mean?
Dan Soller
If you have traveled to Germany, have you ever wondered what those mysterious chalk marking over the exterior doors of German homes mean? They invariably look something like this: “20 + C + M + B + 24.” They are commonly seen in towns and villages, but can be found in cities, too. The tradition of chalking the door is most often found in Germany and in other countries of central Europe. Dan Soller introduces readers to this German Christmas tradition explaining what it means and why it has been done for centuries.
