Church records are a unique and potentially valuable resource for family historians. This workshop will introduce you to the kinds of records churches may have kept and give you tips on how to navigate the records. Instructor Bob Greiner will look at records of baptisms, marriages, and deaths. He will instruct you on the types of information these records are likely to contain and how to find the information among the documents. He will explain different record formats, providing tips on how to locate key information even if you cannot read or translate the entire entry. He will suggest strategies to tackle documents written in German Gothic script and Fraktur printed font. Bob will provide samples of a variety of records to discuss, which the participants can use in the hands-on portion of the workshop. Attendees will receive a set of standard word lists and other resources that will assist in translating the German terms that may appear in the records.
Bob Greiner has been researching German church records since 1988. He transcribed, translated, and published the church books of the village of Herschberg for the years 1755-1872. He transcribed and indexed over 50 years of records from St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in New York City. Mr. Greiner has a Master’s Degree in Computer Science and is a MAGS Executive Board member.
