“Roll Out the [Records]!”

Have you ever wondered why Oktoberfest is celebrated in September? The actual history may surprise you! Yesterday, the annual festival began in Munich. This historic folk festival has deep cultural roots that continue to reverberate throughout the world, and Chicagoland is no exception. The multitude of smaller Oktoberfest celebrations held around our area are proof of this. It is no wonder, given the larger population of German immigrants who came to the region, particularly Chicago and Milwaukee! September is the perfect time to celebrate German heritage.

As genealogists know, learning more about history can be helpful for learning more about our ancestors’ experiences and values and potentially breaking through brick walls to discover new information about them. Perhaps your ancestor celebrated at an Oktoberfest in the past. Maybe they were even from Munich and/or Bavaria (where the inspiration for today’s Oktoberfest celebrations began)! If so, that may hold a clue worthy of exploration.

Prepare for the beginning of German American Heritage Month this October by identifying a few resources that may help you learn more about your German ancestors and heritage. Of course, the library has quite a few print and online resources that you may find helpful. These range from general introductions to in-depth explorations of particular regions and peoples. In addition, the FamilySearch Research Wiki has a great page on German Genealogy that links to many other pages and online resources. For additional websites, check out James Beidler’s article, “The 12 Best German Genealogy Websites.” These resources will hopefully give you a good start in finding your ancestors in Deutschland.

After you find your ancestral town(s) of origin, maybe you will want to visit Germany and the region/town where your ancestor(s) lived? If so, check out Visiting Your Ancestral Town by Carolyn Schott. While not Germany-specific, the book contains a lot of helpful information about navigating records, preparing for your trip, and making the most out of your time there. Sometimes, you have to go directly to the source to find specific records, and while you are there, you get the opportunity to walk where your ancestors walked and experience the culture and landscape.

However you choose to celebrate, may your festivities be meaningful! Prost!