Sacramento German Genealogy Society (SGGS)

11/17/2025

‘Cause genealogy lovers ❤️ are history lovers ❤️. This is your friendly reminder the Ken Burns’ film begins tonight!

11/14/2025

The latest issue of the International German Genealogy Partnership Partner Zeitung is now available. Download the complete abbreviated edition at https://bit.ly/IGGP-PZ-v08_5. Please consider taking the conference survey that is linked within the newsletter. SGGS is an active member of IGGP.

11/11/2025

St. Martin’s Day *and* the start of Carnival fall on November 11th!

It's not a complete coincidence that two typically German celebrations, St. Martin's Day and the start of carnival season, are both on the same day. Their origins are centuries old.

11/11/2025

Happy Veterans/Armistice Day!

Honor the day by thanking a veteran for their service!

One genealogically-minded way to remember the day is to consider making a donation to the Veteran Bounty Land Records Project: A Preserve the Pensions Project, an initiative of the National Genealogical Society in partnership with the US National Archives. Learn more about the project at https://www.ngsgenealogy.org/veteran-bounty-land-records-project/.

11/07/2025

A 1735 map of Muehringen, Germany. A 1728 synagogue was erected and can be seen on this map (w), listed in the legend after the church (u). The synagogue was situated across from the Catholic church at the curve in the road leading to the castle. This map is one of the earliest depictions of a rural synagogue in Germany. More significantly, the synagogue is listed as one of the important buildings in the village.

Map: Copper engraving by Gabriel Bodenehr, Augsburg. Private Collection, Emily C. Rose.

11/05/2025

Time-sensitive notification❗️

The 35th ICARUS - International Centre for Archival Research Convention is offering some sessions online — free of charge! Many of the sessions are of interest to genealogists, as well as archivists. The catch — register ASAP, as November 5th is the last day for online registration!

11/03/2025

PBS KVIE, the Sacramento PBS affiliate, will be hosting an in-person event, “Unearthing the Past — An Evening with Nick Sheedy,” on January 21, 2026. Sheedy is the former lead genealogist on the popular television series Finding Your Roots! Follow the link to learn how you can obtain tickets.

Who wants to find their own roots?🌳✨ Join PBS KVIE on 1/21 for an evening of conversation with Nick Sheedy, former lead genealogist of Finding Your Roots! Sheedy will share behind-the-scenes stories from the beloved series and offer his best tips and tricks for unearthing your family history.

🎟️ Get your tickets today at kvie.org/events!

10/31/2025

The largely Protestant federal states in the north and east of Germany observe Reformation Day on October 31st as a public holiday. The predominately Catholic states in the south and west of the country observe All Saints’ Day as a public holiday on November 1st.

Reformation Day commemorates the beginning of the Protestant Reformation when Martin Luther is said to have nailed his Ninety-Five Theses to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg on October 31, 1517.

All Saints’ Day (Allerheiligen) has even earlier origins. Though observed since the 7th century, it was declared a Catholic holiday in 835 by Pope Gregory IV. In addition to commemorating the church’s saints, many also remember their departed on this day.

Many Germans also recognize All Souls’ Day (Allerseelen) on November 2nd. This day is specifically devoted to praying for and remembering loved ones who have passed.

Map created by The World in Maps.

10/29/2025

Map of historical German linguistical areas, c. 1910, although the borders reflect a later date. Additional information on the map can be found at https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Historical_German_linguistical_area.PNG.

10/27/2025

Celebrate 🇩🇪German-American🇺🇸 Heritage Month with SGGS! Join us tomorrow, Tuesday, October 28, 2025, at 10 a.m. (PT) / 1 p.m. (ET), when Dr. Fritz Juengling will present “German Influences on American Culture”. The program is FREE and open to all. Register at https://sggs.us.

10/22/2025

The International German Genealogy Partnership (IGGP) Partner Zeitung features both organizational updates and news from the global Germanic genealogy community. Just the first page of the current issue is posted here; the full edition can be downloaded free at https://bit.ly/IGGP-202509.

SGGS is a member of IGGP.

10/17/2025

October is German-American Heritage Month! In recognition of such, SGGS has brainstormed ideas for genealogists seeking to celebrate their German heritage. Please tell us in the comments what you are doing this month to celebrate or honor your Germanic heritage!

10 Ways for Genealogists to Celebrate 🇩🇪German-American🇺🇸 Heritage Month!

1) Block off time on your calendar to research a German ancestor.
2) Visit the gravesite of an ancestor or relative. Take photographs of the marker.
3) Brush up on your German language skills. Consider using a program like Mango (available free through many public libraries) or a free app such as Duolingo.
4) Collect passed-down family recipes. Be sure to photograph or scan any written in your relatives’ handwriting. Compile them in a binder or by using an online photo book service. Print multiple copies to present as holiday gifts to family members.
5) Make plans to tour a church or house of worship your ancestors attended. Arrange in advance to view their ecclesiastical records.
6) Write a short biography of a German ancestor or relative. Share it with your relations.
7) Visit a local history museum in a location where your ancestors settled. If it is too far away to visit this month, research the location online.
8) Review old photographs of your Germanic ancestors. Label them appropriately. Enlist relatives to identify unknown individuals and events.
9) Host a Bavarian pretzel-baking party for your Germanic relatives. Display old photographs of your ancestors, and be prepared to share a couple of light-hearted anecdotes about them.
10) Photograph and document your family heirlooms. Share the information with relatives, especially those to whom you would like to someday pass on the objects.