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Low German, High German, Upper German- what is all that?
Are German dialects really more extreme than American dialects?
Are they ever! The Old World dialects in general are far, far more extreme t
Stefan Israel
Oct 16, 20193 min read
9,343 views


We're from Germany but Where?
When you’re tracing an ancestor to Central Europe from a century or more ago, you need to find out which state they were from. Here are some
Stefan Israel
Mar 14, 20194 min read
754 views


From Genf to Geneva and other Translations
When learning about ancestors who immigrated to the US decades or centuries ago, you get a double challenge. Not only is there the translati
Pamela Israel
Feb 11, 20192 min read
801 views


Joyous German Visit Home: 1925
Eliese Trede, my mother's grandmother, immigrated in 1908, leaving her loving parents on a journey across the Atlantic. This is her 1925
Pamela Israel
Jan 22, 20191 min read
41 views


Beloved Son, Hurry! 1843 Letter
1843 letter in old German handwriting from my 3x great grandfather, to his son telling him to hurry from the army before his mother dies.
Pamela Israel
Jan 21, 20192 min read
85 views


Why burg, why berg?
Berg vs. BurgÂ
These two words show up abundantly in family and place names across the Germanic languages (German, Swedish, Dutch, Englis
Stefan Israel
Nov 12, 20184 min read
22,001 views


Clues Hidden in "von" and "van"?
People's surnames often provide clues into their way back family history. Learn what Von and Van mean for the Dutch and Germans.
Stefan Israel
Sep 21, 20184 min read
23,268 views


When is October in September?
Beer lovers and German fans can likely answer this riddle in a second. We are talking about Oktoberfest! September brings a nip in the...
Pamela Israel
Sep 10, 20181 min read
65 views


Servant Class: Independent Woman
Voyage to America: Servant Class - Independent Woman
Pamela Israel
Mar 8, 20182 min read
80 views


St. Nicholas - Bringer of Gifts
Martin Luther, who grew up with the tradition of gifts on Nikolaustag, shifted gift-giving to Christmas, since saints were no longer a focus
Stefan Israel
Dec 5, 20172 min read
521 views


From Chicago to Germany with Love
A family postcard goes from gibberish to treasure with translation - the magic of family genealogical translation!
Pamela Israel
Aug 27, 20171 min read
128 views










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