Ohio Chapter of Palatines to America

 

Membership Benefit

Ohio Chapter MEMBERS ONLY

A NEW membership benefit is available only to members who join or renew their membership in the Ohio Chapter of Palatines to America for 2025-2026. Send a digital summary of your German Genealogy research to ckfsmail@gmail.com. A review of your research will be conducted, and you will receive a complimentary listing of areas where you may have overlooked opportunities to find additional information on your family in Germany and North America. We are not offering to do your research, but we will provide you with hints on where you might find new information yourself. If you have just renewed or are a new member, please send proof of membership. I do not receive new members and renewals in real time.

 

Ohio PALAM Board

with Kathyrn Schober 

German Community Forum Series (Free on ZOOM)

Saturday, November 8, 2025 AI and Genealogy

Presented by Carol Swinehart

Topics to be discussed include, but are not limited to: 1. New features in RootsMagic 11 that enable the generation of an AI biography for your selected ancestor; 2. AI transcription of German handwritten, fraktur, or old newspaper records using Handwriting OCR, ChatGPT, and Transcribus; 3. Which AI programs are best without cost or low cost, with examples of genealogical results from some AI programs (those deemed best by the speaker).

Registration:
To join this event on Zoom, please email ckfsmail@gmail.com with “GFS” in the subject line. We receive a high volume of emails, so we might miss yours if it doesn’t include “GFS” in the subject line.

 

 

 

The Ohio River is shown in the header of this website. Early settlers used it to populate the Northwest Territory. The river served as a means to transport their families, possessions, and crops. Settlements along the banks included Marietta, Steubenville, and Cincinnati.

 

 

 

 

       

Ohio PalAm German Fall Seminar-

ZOOM ONLY

 

Oct 25, 2025, 9:15 am to 4:30 pm Eastern

German Farm Families and Histories, and Bavarian History and Resources

 

 

Gail Shaffer Blankenau – Our morning speaker

 Gail Shaffer Blankenau is a professional genealogist, historian, speaker, and author. She holds a MA degree in history from the University of Nebraska–Kearney, and in 2023 she received the James L. Sellers prize for her article about the Grayson sisters in a volume of Nebraska History magazine.

German Farm Histories and Family Histories

For many with Germanic heritage, the history of the farm is the history of the family. Learn about farm histories, what they are, and what might be in them.

Synopsis of Finding Your Roots in German Farm Histories

Until the early 1900s, most of the population in the Germanic states was engaged in agriculture. Thus, many of us with Germanic heritage will have some ancestors engaged in farming. German farm customs were different from those in America, and Germans were tied to the land in ways that American farmers were not. Particularly in the earlier years, the history of your family’s farm was integral to your family history.

 

We will explore what farm histories are, how to use them, and what kinds of records are used to construct them. We will also discuss the importance of the farm in German rural and village life, as well as how farming differed from what we know here in the United States. In the Germanic states, farms and farmers were part of a hierarchical social structure, and understanding how our ancestors fit into these structures can help us to flesh out important details in our genealogy. We will also discuss resources, websites, and keywords to help in locating farm histories. Two case studies will show how research progressed from American research records “back to the farm” in Germany.

 

Power Combination: Using German Farm Histories with German Church Records

German church books have been called the gold standard of German genealogy, and rightly so.

Every genealogist exploring Germanic roots will utilize them. But when you add in the kind of

information found in German farm histories, you will have a powerful combination of

information and context that will help you better to understand your German heritage.

 

Maximilian Riedel – Our afternoon speaker

Since 2007, he has had a passion for genealogy and has been helping clients from all over Europe, North America, and Australia. His own roots are located in Bavaria, Bohemia, Silesia, and Greater Poland (Prussia). He speaks and can translate German, English, Latin, Polish, and old German script.  Occasionally, he does research for PBS “Finding Your Roots”.

 

  The History of Bavaria.  

We are pleased to invite you to a fascinating lecture on the History of Bavaria, the homeland of many of your ancestors. This event offers a unique opportunity to explore the rich history of this iconic region and uncover the events and influences that shaped the lives of those who once called it home.

During the lecture, you will:

• Learn about the changing borders of Bavaria throughout history and which areas were part of it at different times.
• Discover significant historical events that led to waves of emigration, affecting families and communities in Bavaria.
• Gain a deeper understanding of how the political, social, and cultural landscape of Bavaria influenced the lives of your ancestors and their decisions to seek new horizons.

Whether your roots are deeply intertwined with Bavaria or you’re simply curious about the historical context behind your family’s migration, this lecture promises to offer valuable insights and connections to your genealogical research.

 

Online available resources as well as research strategies for finding ancestors in Bavaria.       

 

This lecture will guide you through the genealogical treasures available in Bavarian archives. We will explore which types of records can be found in the region’s archives, including vital records, church registers, land records, and more. Learn about the key institutions preserving these historical documents and how you can access them online.

Key topics include:

• Overview of Bavarian genealogical records and their historical significance
• A detailed look at archives in Bavaria and what types of records they hold (e.g., civil registration, parish registers, military records, etc.)
• A guide to online portals and databases that provide digital access to Bavarian genealogical documents
• Practical research strategies and tips for finding your Bavarian ancestors, including how to efficiently search online resources, overcome common challenges, and navigate regional variations in records
• Expert advice on how to verify findings and cross-reference sources to build an accurate family history

Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced researcher, this session will provide valuable tools and insights to further your genealogical journey into Bavaria’s rich history.

Seminar Information

This seminar will be offered via Zoom only. All registered participants will also have access to the recordings for 30 days after the event.

Registration & Payment:
Use the button below to access our Square payment page, where you may pay securely by credit card.

• Fee: $50 per registrant

• Preferred registration deadline: October 24, 2025

 

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About Oh Palam

The Palatines To America German Genealogical Society was founded in 1975 with headquarters in Columbus, Ohio. The PALAM National Library Collection is now housed in the Columbus Metropolitan Library on 96 S Grant Ave. in Columbus, Ohio 43215. To contact the Ohio Chapter, click the link here to our contact form (preferred method) or write to PO Box 302, Worthington, OH 43085.

Ohio Chapter Officers & Committee Members CLICK HERE.

Read the history of the Ohio Chapter PalAm  CLICK HERE

Check out our National Organization CLICK HERE

Join Palatines to America Ohio Chapter

• Learn from experienced researchers at our free workshops.

  

• Participate in the German Community Forum Series (Free)
• Attend German research seminars in the Spring and Fall (Special Rates for all PALAM members)
• 2023-2025 Review of Digital Summary of your German Research (Free for all Ohio members only) 
• Read our quarterly newsletter – Palatine Heritage
• Buy Ohio Chapter German genealogy publications and merchandise.
• Access our Members Only Section