Sacramento German Genealogy Society (SGGS)

04/10/2026

This map shows the most common self-reported ethnicities of white Americans in the 2020 U.S. census by county. German ethnicity is represented by blue. Did your German ancestors settle in a “blue” region?

Learn more about this map at https://brilliantmaps.com/white-ethnicity-usa/.

04/02/2026

03/27/2026

Earlier this month the new edition of Der Blumenbaum, the members-only journal of the Sacramento German Genealogy Society (SGGS), reached inboxes around the globe! Want in? Check us out and join at https://sggs.us!

03/24/2026

❗️❗️❗️TODAY ❗️❗️❗️

Join SGGS today, Tuesday, March 24, 2026, at 10 a.m.(PT) / 1 p.m.(ET), for our free live webinar with popular German genealogy speaker Andrea Bentschneider. Bentschneider will present “Life on a Mecklenburg Manor Estate.”

This presentation provides an in-depth look at everyday life on a Mecklenburg manor estate in the late 19th century, focusing on day laborers, farm workers, and estate servants. Using the Daschow manor as a case study, it examines the rigid social hierarchy of the estate, the roles of owners, inspectors, and workers, and the realities of rural life shaped by contracts, discipline, and dependency.

The session follows workers through the agricultural year, exploring seasonal labor, daily routines, housing conditions, food, clothing, wages, and customs, as well as education and religious life. By placing ancestors within the economic and social framework of the manor system, this presentation helps genealogists better understand the lives, hardships, and limited choices faced by Mecklenburg’s rural population.

Andrea Bentschneider, a highly regarded genealogist based in Hamburg, Germany, is a leading expert in the field. Since founding "Beyond History" in 2004, she has become one of Germany's foremost genealogy specialists. Andrea maintains an active presence on national and international television, including appearances on and contributions to programs such as "Who Do You Think You Are?" and "Finding Your Roots." She also contributes regularly to German radio and television.

Register for this unique webinar opportunity on the Sacramento German Genealogy Society (SGGS) website at https://sggs.us. We look forward to connecting with you!

03/19/2026

Join SGGS next week Tuesday, March 24, 2026, at 10 a.m.(PT) / 1 p.m.(ET), for our free live webinar with popular German genealogy speaker Andrea Bentschneider. Bentschneider will present “Life on a Mecklenburg Manor Estate.”

This presentation provides an in-depth look at everyday life on a Mecklenburg manor estate in the late 19th century, focusing on day laborers, farm workers, and estate servants. Using the Daschow manor as a case study, it examines the rigid social hierarchy of the estate, the roles of owners, inspectors, and workers, and the realities of rural life shaped by contracts, discipline, and dependency.

The session follows workers through the agricultural year, exploring seasonal labor, daily routines, housing conditions, food, clothing, wages, and customs, as well as education and religious life. By placing ancestors within the economic and social framework of the manor system, this presentation helps genealogists better understand the lives, hardships, and limited choices faced by Mecklenburg’s rural population.

Andrea Bentschneider, a highly regarded genealogist based in Hamburg, Germany, is a leading expert in the field. Since founding "Beyond History" in 2004, she has become one of Germany's foremost genealogy specialists. Andrea maintains an active presence on national and international television, including appearances on and contributions to programs such as "Who Do You Think You Are?" and "Finding Your Roots." She also contributes regularly to German radio and television.

Register for this unique webinar opportunity on the Sacramento German Genealogy Society (SGGS) website at https://sggs.us. We look forward to connecting with you!

03/11/2026

The March 2026 edition of Der Bote/The Messenger, the free monthly newsletter of SGGS, is now available! Just the first page is posted here; download the full issue on our website at https://sggs.us/mo_newsletter.php. Der Bote contains society news and updates, as well as genealogical musings from editor C.F. Häuβler.

03/09/2026

Do you have a Fraktur in your family history collection? Check out the beautiful examples of this unique folk art included in this article from The Public Domain Review.

This form of folk art from 17th- and 18th-century Pennsylvania was designed for private, domestic pleasures.

03/05/2026

RootsTech, the world’s largest genealogy conference, begins today and runs through March 7. Registration for the virtual conference is free! This year there is a new slate of online German genealogy related classes including:

* Digging Up Your German Roots: Finding Ancestors from German-Speaking Regions presented by Sarah Busse Spencer;

* New to German Genealogy? Start Here! presented by Katherine Schober;

* German Surnames Unlocked: Meaning, Origin, Clues presented by Andrea Bentschneider;

* The German Records You May Be Missing presented by Katherine Schober;

* Neighbors & Networks: Using Witnesses in German Records presented by Andrea Bentschneider;

* Beyond the Basics: Secrets in German Church & Vital Records presented by Andrea Bentschneider;

* Live Q&A Session with Andrea Bentschneider about German Research;

* Navigating Archion: How to Use the German Church Record Website presented by Katherine Schober; and

* Finding the Village: Identifying German Places of Origin for U.S. Midwest Settlers presented by Susan Skilton.

Explore RootsTech, the world’s largest family history conference. Join inspiring live events and access on-demand genealogy classes anytime, anywhere.

03/02/2026

MEMBERS: SGGS needs YOU!

A big challenge for every all-volunteer society is to find sufficient new volunteers to replace those who depart. New volunteers are also vital for bringing to the organization new ideas and new enthusiasm. Sacramento German Genealogy Society (SGGS) is limited only by what its volunteers are willing and able to do.

We have a critical and urgent need for a Programs Chairperson and a less urgent need for a Publicity Chairperson. Being in the Sacramento area is not necessary. All business is conducted using Zoom and email. Both are positions on the board of directors and attending monthly board meetings using Zoom is required. SGGS maintains two liability insurance policies to protect the organization and its volunteers.

You will find that SGGS operates as a team. We jointly support each other – assistance, training and problem solving.

✴️Programs Chairperson:
*Identify, contact and book speakers to present lectures at SGGS meetings. *Maintain an event schedule.
*Serve as liaison to the speaker.
*Coordinate the efforts of others who contribute by finding and evaluating speakers.
*Provide information to the publicity person.

✴️Publicity Chairperson:
*Maintain the website’s events calendar and the list of news items on its home page.
*Issue emailed event announcements to members.
*Post announcements on ConferenceKeeper for some events.

Interested? Questions? Contact us at sggs[at]sggs.us!

You can also learn more by checking out the Volunteer Opportunities section of the SGGS website at https://sggs.us/cpage.php?pt=26.

02/25/2026

Many thanks to Andrea Bentschneider for presenting an excellent series on German Emigration in the 19th Century! Also, thank YOU to the many who attended!

Did you miss one or both parts? Or, would you like to rewatch them? Both webinars, as well as the handouts, are available to SGGS Members in our on-demand video library! (Part 1: The Emigrant Experience is available now; Part 2: Beyond Passenger Lists – Overlooked Emigrant & Ship Records will be posted very soon.) Not yet a member? Consider joining us! Membership is a great value, and access to webinar recordings and handouts are just one of the member benefits. Your support allows us to continue to share high-quality webinars focusing on German genealogy, including niche topics not found elsewhere! Learn more and join SGGS at https://sggs.us/cpage.php?pt=8.

02/23/2026

Tomorrow is *the* day!

You’re cordially invited to join SGGS on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, at 10 a.m (PT) / 1 p.m. (ET), for the next installment of our popular live webinar series featuring German genealogist Andrea Bentshneider! Bentschneider will present “German Emigration in the 19th Century, Part 2: Beyond Passenger Lists—Overlooked Emigrant and Ship Records.

Passenger lists often tell only part of the story - and sometimes none at all. This presentation explores alternative record groups that document German emigration when manifests are missing, incomplete, or misleading. It introduces passenger-adjacent sources, vital events recorded at sea, and maritime records such as seamen’s books, crew lists, and deserter files. The session also touches on return migration and common stowaway myths, showing where the paper trail continues and how emigrant journeys can be reconstructed beyond the passenger lists.

Andrea Bentschneider, a highly regarded genealogist based in Hamburg, Germany, is a leading expert in the field. Since founding "Beyond History" in 2004, she has become one of Germany's foremost genealogy specialists. Andrea maintains an active presence on national and international television, including appearances on and contributions to programs such as "Who Do You Think You Are?" and "Finding Your Roots." She also contributes regularly to German radio and television.

Please register in advance at https://sggs.us. The live Zoom webinar is *free* and open to all. SGGS members also receive access to the recording and handouts!

02/19/2026

You’re invited to join SGGS on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, at 10 a.m (PT) / 1 p.m. (ET), for the next installment of our popular live webinar series featuring German genealogist Andrea Bentshneider! Bentschneider will present “German Emigration in the 19th Century, Part 2: Beyond Passenger Lists—Overlooked Emigrant and Ship Records.

Passenger lists often tell only part of the story - and sometimes none at all. This presentation explores alternative record groups that document German emigration when manifests are missing, incomplete, or misleading. It introduces passenger-adjacent sources, vital events recorded at sea, and maritime records such as seamen’s books, crew lists, and deserter files. The session also touches on return migration and common stowaway myths, showing where the paper trail continues and how emigrant journeys can be reconstructed beyond the passenger lists.

Andrea Bentschneider, a highly regarded genealogist based in Hamburg, Germany, is a leading expert in the field. Since founding "Beyond History" in 2004, she has become one of Germany's foremost genealogy specialists. Andrea maintains an active presence on national and international television, including appearances on and contributions to programs such as "Who Do You Think You Are?" and "Finding Your Roots." She also contributes regularly to German radio and television.

Please register in advance at https://sggs.us. The live Zoom webinar is *free* and open to all. SGGS members also receive access to the recording and handouts!