The ultimate goal of students in taking German genealogical courses, is presumably, to be able to search German records for their ancestry and other relatives. Therefore, one important aspect of these courses is to describe the nature of the repositories where the needed records reside. In German areas, as well as elsewhere around the world, there are a variety of both libraries and archives (hence, the usage of the term repositories) one may have to access in order to obtain the needed records.
To be effective in using a variety of German repositories, it is important to learn about them, including their differences, and how to access them. Due to the sheer number of archives, libraries, societies and other repositories, it is not practical, or useful, to try and identify all of them, or even most of them. Each researcher may need a different set of repositories to succeed in research. Therefore, the approach of this course will be to introduce the major kinds of repositories, and how they operate, in a general sense.
Perhaps the most useful aspect of this particular course are the assignments that accompany each module. They require specific actions by the student to learn about the holdings and rules of libraries or archives of interest. Diligent fulfillment of the assignments is the best way to learn the most in the current course. Course Content
Module 1
Understanding FamilySearch Collections
The Family History Library
Microform Collections
Books
Electronic Media
Space Limitations
Library Services
Preparing to Visit the Library
Library Rules
Finding More Information
FamilySearchs German Collection
Church Records
German Religious Records Collections at FamilySearch
Civil Registration
Emigration Records
Other Original Records
Books and Periodicals
Family History Centers
Granite Mountain Records Vault Module 2
Using The FamilySearch Catalog
FamilySearch Catalog Basics
Place
Surname
Keyword
Film or fiche number
Author
Subject
Book call number
German Localities in the Library Catalog
The German Empire
German Locality Subject Headings (Record Types)
Other Records
Form Subdivisions Module 3
German Archives
The Record Creator as an Archive
State and City Archives
Church Archives
Internet Access
Inventories and Guides
Research and Reference Tools
Additional Reading
Module 4
Church Record Inventories
Older Inventories
Current Inventories
Internet Sources
Module 5
Genealogical Societies
Module 6
Correspondence To Germany
Correspondence as a Means of Accessing Records
Composing Your Message
Additional Considerations
Email Access
Sending Money
Letter-Writing Guide
Additional Reading
|