Research Guide to German Genealogical Resources at the Connecticut State Library

The following sources may be helpful in planning search strategies. Due to time constraints, the library staff cannot search these materials on behalf of patrons. They may be utilized at the Connecticut State Library but may not be borrowed or sent on interlibrary loan.

Published Resources

General
Baxter, Angus. In Search of Your German Roots. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1987 [CSL call number CS 614 .B39 1987].

Bittinger, Lucy Forneuy. The Germans in Colonial Times. Russell & Russell [1968 reprint] [CSL call number E 184 .G3 B4 1968].

Brandt, Edward R. et. al. Germanic Genealogy: A Guide to Worldwide Sources and Migration Patterns. Second Edition. St. Paul: Germanic Genealogy Society, 1997 [CSL call number HistRef CS 614 .G47 1997].

Faust, Albert Bernhardt. The German Element in the United States. Houghton Mifflin Co., 1909 [CSL call number E 184 .G3 F3].

Furer, Howard B. The Germans in America, 1607-1970: a Chronology and Fact Book. Oceana Publications, 1973 [CSL call number E 184 .G3 F88].

Glazier, Ira A. and P. William Filby. Germans to America: Lists of Passengers Arriving at U.S. Ports, 1850- . Wilmington, Delaware: Scholarly Resources, 1988- [CSL call number E 184 .G3 G38 1988].

Jensen, Larry O. A Genealogical Handbook of German Research. Pleasant Grove, Utah: The author, c. 1978 [CSL call number CS 614 .J46 1978].

Palen, Margaret Krug. Genealogical Guide to Tracing Ancestors in Germany [CSL call number HistRef CS 613 .P35 1995].

Riemer, Shirely J. The German Research Companion. Sacramento California: Lorelei Press, 1997 [CSL call number HistRef CS 613 .R56 1977].

Schlegel, Carl Wilhelm. Schlegel's German-American Families in the United States: Genealogical and Biographical, Illustrated. New York: American Historical Society, 1916- [CSL call number E 184 .G3 S29].

Smith, Clifford Neal. American Genealogical Resources in German Archives (AGRIGA): a Handbook. Verlag Dokumentation, 1977 [CSL call number E 184 .G3 S659].

Smith, Clifford Neal and Anna P. Smith. Encyclopedia of German-American Research. 2 vols. New York: R. R. Bowker, 1976 [CSL call number E 184 .G3 S66].

Thode, Ernest. Address Book for German Genealogy. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1977- [CSL call number CS 611 .A33].

Ward, Robert E. "German and German-American Genealogical Guides and Sources Since 1850." Genealogical Journal 6 (March 1977): 3-14 [CSL call number CS 1 .G382].

Wellauer, Maralyn A. Tracing Your German Roots. Milwaukee: the author, c. 1978 [CSL call number CS 49 .W43].

Zimmerman, Gary J. and Marion Wolfert. German Immigrants: Lists of Passengers Bound from Bremen to New York, 1847- . 3 vols. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1988- [CSL call number E 184 .G3 Z56 1988].

East Germany
Sala, Karl. "East Germany: Field Research." APG Newsletter 5 (May 1983): 5-6 [CSL call number CS 1 .A88].

Hesse
Arndt, Karl J. R. "How to Find Your Hessian Ancestor." Genealogical Journal 6 (March 1977): 15-18 [CSL call number CS 1 .G382].

Moravia
Nelson, Vernon H. "Moravian Genealogical Research." Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine 29 (1975): 41-50 [CSL call number F 146 .G32].

Palatines
Jones, Henry Z., Jr. "Finding the Ancestral Home of a Palentine Forefather: the Case of Martin Zerbe." Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine 29 (1975): 129-132 [CSL call number F 146 .G32].

_______________. "The Palantine Families of New York: a Comprehensive Study." Genealogical Journal 5 (1976): 126-28 [CSL call number CS 1 .G382].

Wuerttenberg
Schenk, Trudy. The Wuerttemberg Emigration Index. Salt Lake City: Ancestry, Inc., 1986- [CSL call number CS 627 .W86].

Genealogical Resources
The History and Genealogy Unit of the Connecticut State Library holds a number of genealogical indexes to births, marriages, deaths, and burials; microfilmed federal census records for Connecticut; and microfilmed early land records for all of Connecticut's 169 towns.

The town or county of birth is usually not included in census and naturalization records; in most cases the entry will simply read "Germany". Research guides to naturalization records, census records, and ships' passenger lists are also available.

Archival Resources
The items listed below are subject to the Rules and Procedures for Researchers Using Archival Records and Secured Collections Materials. See in particular the following Record Groups:

RG 10, Records of the Education Department. Includes some attendance reports and some passports and birth certificates of work permit applicants, 1870-1930.

RG 33:8, Ethnic Groups Survey.

• RG 33:8:25 includes edited copies of papers on ethnic groups, 1936-38.
• RG 33:8:29 includes edited copies of papers on ethnic organizations, together with lists, working papers, and related materials.
• RG 33:8:37, Bridgeport Office File, 1936-40, includes reports of interviews with members of ethnic groups.
• RG 33:8:38, Hartford Office File, 1936-40, includes newspaper clippings concerning Hartford ethnic groups, mounted in scrapbooks.
• RG 33:8:39, New Britain Office File, 1936-40 includes edited copy, drafts, interview reports and working papers arranged by ethnic group.

Computer Resources
The beginning genealogist may save some time in finding records by consulting the Ancestral File and the International Genealogical Index (IGI). These CD-ROM products include information on individuals from throughout the world.

The Ancestral File is a collection of names and pedigrees submitted to the Family History Library in Salt Lake City.

The International Genealogical Index is an index of thousands of names extracted from church and civil records. It includes over 200 million names from records around the world, with concentrations in North America, Mexico, Great Britain, and Europe. Names are placed in the IGI by researchers or through name extraction programs. If your ancestor is in the IGI, you may be able to find the date and place of his or her birth, marriage, and/or death.

Ancestral File and the IGI are also available at LDS Family History Centers other large genealogical libraries, and through the Family Search website.

Other Institutions with Relevant Collections
Balch Institute for Ethnic Studies Library
18 S. Seventh St.
Philadelphia, PA 19106-2314
(215) 925-8090
Fax: (215) 925-8195

German Genealogical Society of America
2125 Wright Ave., Suite C-9
LaVerne, CA 91750-5418
(909) 593-0509

German Society of Pennsylvania
Joseph Horner Memorial Library
611 Spring Garden St.
Philadelphia, PA 199123
(215) 627-2332

Palentines to America
PO Box 101
Columbus, OH 43209-2394
(614) 236-8281

Prepared by the History and Genealogy Unit, Connecticut State Library, 11-96.