Review: The Family Tree German Genealogy Guide: How to Trace Your Germanic Ancestry in Europe by James M. Beidler

The Family Tree German Genealogy Guide:  How to Trace Your Germanic Ancestry in Europe by James M. Beidler, Family Tree Books, 2014, 239 p. 

            Tracing Germanic roots can be tricky. An abundance of surname variations, a foreign language, an unfamiliar cursive script, and frequently changing boundaries within Germany are just a few of the difficulties associated with researching in this area. For the non-German-speaking genealogist, gleaning information from German parish records and documents might seem like a daunting, if not impossible task. For anyone just beginning to research their German ancestors, a good reference book that addresses the unique challenges specific to Germanic research is essential.

            James Beidler has divided his book into three parts. The first part, “Linking Your Family Tree to German-Speaking Nations” looks at German immigrants to North America and how to determine their place of origin using records found in the new country.   Beidler’s focus is on German-American immigrants and, unfortunately, not much is said about those who came to Canada.  Part two, “Getting to Know the Old Country,” provides necessary information about Germany’s geography and the German language, including surnames and their variations, along with given-naming patterns. Part three, “Tracing Your Family in German-Speaking Nations” systematically details civil registration, parish records, census and court records, military documents and other printed records that are available to the researcher. The author also includes research information for Austria and Switzerland, as well as for the German-speaking micro-states of Luxembourg and Liechtenstein. The final section, “Advanced Sources and Strategies,” contains case studies for various types of research problems as well as methodologies for breaking through genealogical brick walls.

            Beidler has provided several useful appendices including a German alphabet chart covering modern script, fraktur, sütterlin, kurrent, and old handwriting styles. He also includes a list of commonly found genealogical terms, numbers, and months spelled out in each of these handwriting styles. Also included are sample letters in German to request civil and parish records, a comprehensive bibliography for further reading, and contact information for the various archives, libraries and societies relating to Germanic research.

            Researching ancestors in German-speaking countries does present unique challenges for the English-speaking genealogist.  The Family Tree German Genealogy Guide should enable those new to German research to overcome these challenges.