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.
Risser and Other Immigrants from Friedelsheim, Germany - Emigration across the centuries
Bob Greiner
In this article, Bob Greiner explores several discoveries he made about the Mennonite Risser family who originated in Switzerland, relocated to Friedelsheim in the Bavarian Pfalz region of Germany, and over several centuries emigrated to the United States. It highlights several immigrant families who left Friedelsheim for America across two centuries and shows how discoveries in various sources can expose new avenues of research for a particular family.
Finding Your Family in State Department Correspondence With the Foreign Legations in the United States, 1853 – 1906
Ken Heger
Documents that the Department of State sent to foreign legations in the U.S. contain a vast amount of invaluable data for family historians. Just as the United States established legations overseas, foreign nations did the same in the United States. The correspondence between the American Department of State and those legations holds exciting information just waiting for family historians to use. This article discusses those records (available on the National Archives and Records Administration’s website) and alerts readers to a new name-searchable database available on MAGS’ website (www.magsgen.com).
German Language and Culture: German Trade Cards
Dan Soller
Dan Soller shares the second in a six-card series depicting the life and works of Amadeus Mozart. These trade cards are a rich and fascinating part of advertising and print history. Produced by the Liebig's Extract of Meat Company, these collectible cards were issued from the late 19th century into the early 20th century, primarily across Europe. The cards included in this issue depict scenes from Mozart’s life and translations are included for readers to enjoy.
Know Your German States: Baden-Württemberg
Dan Soller
This series helps Der Kurier readers understand the history and genealogical resources available to them for each of the modern German states and external German territories. This issue includes information and resources on Baden-Württemberg, the only Federal State created as the result of a referendum.
