Sacramento German Genealogy Society (SGGS)

08/25/2026

DYK? In addition to English and Welsh ancestry, Dolly Parton also had German ancestry through her 5th great-grandparents, Johann Philipp Emmert and Maria Catherina Kamm. They were born in Baden during the early 1700s. (Source: https://www.whodoyouthinkyouaremagazine.com/news/dolly-parton-ancestry.)

Ruhe in Frieden, Dolly.

08/19/2026

🌍 In the footsteps of Bavarian explorers!

In the 19th century, curious female researchers from Bavaria traveled to the most remote regions of the world – from the Himalayas to the Brazilian rainforest.

Their maps, manuscripts, and collecting activities continue to shape our knowledge and our ethnographic and natural science collections to this day. 📚 📝

Especially impressive: Princess Therese of Bavaria 👑🔬

📱Discover the virtual exhibition "Pioneer for Women in Science – Princess Therese of Bavaria (1850–1925)" now at bavarikon:
bavarikon.de/prinzessin-therese-von-bayern

08/12/2026

Are you looking for an in-depth educational opportunity on researching your German hometowns? Take a look at this institute course offered by the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy!

Church and civil records are the primary resources used to trace one’s ancestry. Many of these records are available online. This course teaches how to find available church/civil records for their German hometown and use them to their fullest. If the records are not available online, students wil...

08/03/2026

Who doesn’t love an old German map 🗺️?!

Post translation:

Map of the Fulda from Hersfeld to Kassel from 1597 rolled up on a sheet of paper due to its length

HStAM, maps, R III 7

07/27/2026

The summer holidays are wonderful, but unfortunately also finally over. A look at our stock shows that the students of the Johanneum already knew what it meant almost 200 years ago.
The archive contains a schedule for 1835/36 with the complete curriculum for the seven upper secondary and two lower secondary classes. Start of classes? Usually at 7 am. End of classes? At the latest at 4 pm. The high school students even sang until 5 pm. The lower secondary students were allowed to sleep in for at least an hour longer. And yes: classes were also held on Saturdays.
After all, the summer holidays seem doubly precious.

Image 1: Schedule for the Johanneum Lüneburg for the school year 1835/36.

Image 2: Classes at the beginning of the week: Hebrew was the first foreign language in the morning.

07/07/2026

Just as many are celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States, Andrea Bentschneider of German Genealogy Collective reminds genealogists 2026 is also the 150th anniversary of nationwide civil registration in Germany! Huzzah and Hurra!

Quick but important fact for German research:

Germany did not have a nationwide civil registration system until January 1, 1876.
So if your ancestor was born before 1876, you are most likely searching church books. After 1876, you move into civil registers. Knowing which system applies to your ancestor can save you hours of looking in the wrong place.

Where does your earliest German ancestor fall, before or after 1876? 👇

07/01/2026

Calling SGGS Members with ties to the Sacramento Kirschner family! Maybe you can help the Center for Sacramento History learn more about this 😎 artifact?!

06/23/2026

TODAY (Monday, June 23, 2026) is the day for this fascinating presentation! Registration is *free*! Sign up on the SGGS website at https://sggs.us.

06/17/2026

The June issue of Der Bote is here! Der Bote is the free monthly newsletter of SGGS. Please note we will be holding the elections for the SGGS Board of Directors at June’s online meeting. Thank you, candidates, for offering to serve!

06/06/2026

YOU are invited to join us for this month’s German genealogy webinar, “Musicians and Cricus Artists from Kusel and Enkenbach: Working Over the Pond,” presented by Angelika Schmalbach. SGGS is excited to present this unique and fascinating learning opportunity!

Over several centuries many Rhineland Palatine people migrated to the U.S. for varied reasons. At the end of 19th century in the big poverty in rural areas, there developed a quite interesting way of life – especially in Kusel and the Enkenbach-Alsenborn area. People were founding music bands and circusses. Together they traveled to the United States to perform for a broad audience. In fall they went home to winter with their families while preparing new performances for the following year.

The presentation focuses on:
• Political and economical situation of the people
(Kuseler Land and Alsenborn)
• Musicians and circus artists – their lives and professions
• Planning how to get to the United States
• Circumstances of traveling and working
• Names of known Musikanten and Zirkus families

This *free* Zoom webinar takes place Tuesday, June 23, 2026, at 10 a.m.(PT) / 1 p.m.(ET). Register at https://sggs.us.

Prior to the presentation, there will be a short annual meeting to approve the Board of Directors candidates and next year’s proposed budget.