AHSGR's 55th Annual International Convention
2025-07-30 - 2025-08-01 | Embassy Suites, 1040 P St, L, Lincoln, NE, NE, 68508, United States
Reminder members need to login to their account to receive the member rate. If not logged in the the non-member rate will be applied by default.

Research Saturdays
2025-08-02 09:00 - 16:00, 2025-09-06 09:00 - 16:00, 2025-10-04 09:00 - 16:00, 2025-11-01 09:00 - 16:00, 2025-12-06 09:00 - 16:00, 2026-01-03 09:00 - 16:00, 2026-02-07 09:00 - 16:00, 2026-03-07 09:00 - 16:00 (America/Chicago) and 2 more dates | AHSGR Headquarters, 631 D St., Lincoln, NE, 68502, United States
AHSGR will be open 9am to 4pm on the first Saturday of each month to allow people to conduct research outside of normal museum hours. Appointments are not required but are encouraged, and you can schedule one here!

Fall Periodical Material Deadline
2025-08-11
Please send potential Journal articles to our journal editor at journaleditor@ahsgr.org
Potential content for the Newsletter can be sent to lhorken@ahsgr.org

Writer's Group
2025-08-21 08:00 - 2025-08-31 17:00
Writers and aspiring writers are invited to share their work to receive constructive feedback in a positive, supportive environment. We will start with a writing warm up and then share ideas and writing projects with one another. From time to time, guest writers will lead the group.

Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/I1aUKpHaTUCXdXuJWxPfTg

Treffen Tuesday, August 26th
2025-08-26 17:30 - 18:30
The War in Crimea, 1854-1855

Presented by Merv Weiss

The War in Crimea in 1854-1855 changed Russia; it changed Europe; and those changes would eventually affect the Germans in Russia very directly. The main thrust of this presentation is to link the aftermath of the War in Crimea to the reforms in Russia during the 1860s and 1870s, which gradually removed the special favored colonist status of the German farmers and tradesmen of South Russia.

About the speaker

Mervin Weiss was born, grew up, and has lived all his life on the Canadian Prairies. He is 100 percent ethnic German. His four grandparents were Germans who were born in the old Russian Empire, but came to Canada during the Homestead era on the Canadian Prairies. Even though almost everyone around him was German during his youth, Merv gradually lost his “German-ness”. Twenty-five years ago he became interested in his personal genealogy, which rekindled the realization that he is 100 percent ethnic German. Genealogy has spawned his deep interest in the story of the Germans from Russia, and has led to numerous trips to Ukraine and to Germany. Merv has written several published articles and given many public presentations.

Register Here

After registering, you should get a confirmation email from Zoom. Please contact us for assistance if you do not receive an email.

Treffen Tuesday
2025-08-26 17:30 - 19:00, 2026-01-27 17:30 - 19:00, 2026-02-24 17:30 - 19:00, 2026-03-31 17:30 - 19:00, 2026-04-28 17:30 - 19:00, 2026-05-26 17:30 - 19:00

Book Club
2025-09-08 14:00 - 15:00 | Zoom
Hattie Plum Williams’ doctorate dissertation, A Study of the German Russian, was first published in 1916. Modern readers will find it a fascinating and helpful book to understanding our German from Russia ancestors as they settled into American life, especially in the Lincoln, Nebraska neighborhoods of the North and South Bottoms. Sheri Rohn Ertl will provide additional history and the stories behind the story contained in the book.
Register Here

Treffen Tuesday
2025-09-30 17:30 - 19:00
DNA: The Family Tree Inside Us – An Introduction to Genetic Genealogy
Presented by Diane Bates

DNA holds a personal “family tree” within us, carrying the genetic blueprint passed down through generations. By studying our DNA, we can uncover ancestral connections, identify distant relatives, and gain insights into our ethnic heritage. This beginner-friendly presentation introduces the basics of using DNA for genealogy, showing how genetic testing can enhance and expand traditional family history research. Participants will learn about the different types of DNA tests, the meaning of centimorgans, and how DNA results can strengthen and enrich family history research. The presentation will also touch on the most popular online testing services available today. The session offers clear, accessible guidance to help anyone take the first steps in using DNA to enrich their own genealogical journey.

About the Speaker

Diane Bates is a founding member of Waypoint Investigative Genetic Genealogy, an organization that provides research services ranging from traditional family tree building to investigative support for law enforcement cases. She holds an M.A. in School Psychology and a Ph.D. in Applied Developmental Psychology. Her career has spanned diverse fields, including outcomes consulting, institutional research, program evaluation, e-commerce entrepreneurship, and costuming. Diane also serves on the Board of Directors for the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia.

Her path into Investigative Genetic Genealogy began when she successfully used DNA to identify the biological parents of an adopted family member. A graduate of the Ramapo College Investigative Genetic Genealogy program, Diane is passionate about helping individuals use DNA to explore their family history as well as advancing Investigative Genetic Genealogy to support law enforcement in bringing closure and justice to families.
Click here to register

How to Learn Russian Without Trying
2025-10-16 17:30 - 18:30 | Zoom
Join our research coordinator on October 16 at 5:30 pm for a lecture How to Learn Russian Without Really Trying where we discuss the basics of the Russian alphabet and language.

Register Here

Treffen Tuesday
2025-10-28 17:30 - 19:00
German (and French and Danish) Church Records Online
Documenting your ancestors before they immigrated to Russia
You probably know where your ancestors settled in Russia and when they arrived there. What about where they lived before they moved to Russia? Have you wondered how to access records in Europe to research your ancestors? Church parish records are the main source for documentation of the births, marriages, and deaths of our ancestors. Many European archives have digitized their collections and made the images available online. Some of these websites are even free to use. This presentation will cover European websites including Matricula Online, Archion, Rigsarkivet, and French Departmental Archives, and American websites FamilySearch and Ancestry. Topics covered will include how to access and navigate each website and what records you can expect to find.

About the speaker
Maggie Hein is one of the AHSGR Village Coordinators for the village of Frank. Her ongoing research project is to identify the German and French origin locations of settlers in Frank and Kolb, and to publish the origin locations of settlers in other Volga German colonies whenever she happens to find them. When she isn’t doing genealogy research, she is a tax accountant and co-owner of a CPA firm in the Chicago suburbs. Maggie writes a blog about Volga German genealogy, which you can find at https://www.volgagermans.org/blog
Register here
After registering, you should get a confirmation email from Zoom. Please contact us for assistance if you do not receive an email.

Winter Periodical Material Deadline
2025-11-10

Book Club
2025-11-17 14:00 - 15:00 | Zoom
This quarter, our Book Club selection is Border Crossing, A Bridge of Hope by Hilda Mielke. Hilda tells her family’s story of life in Rogowka, Ukraine during the 1930’s, their experiences during the World War II years, and finally their emigration to North America. It’s a short but important memoir that may be similar to your family’s story. As always, Sheri Rohn Ertl will tell the stories behind the story.

Register Here

Storytelling Contest Finalist Presentation
2025-11-25 17:00 - 18:30 | Zoom
Storytelling is an important oral and written tradition that ensures the continuation and enhancement of Germans from Russia history and heritage among future generations.
AHSGR invites members and non-members to participate in the Annual Storytelling Contest to capture the Germans from Russia experience through storytelling. Writers can participate by submitting fiction or nonfiction stories, and poetry that explores the history, heritage, folklore, food, and culture of the Germans from Russia. Winning stories and poems will be presented on November 25, 2025 at the Storytelling Contest Finalists Treffen Tuesday presentation via Zoom. See rules and details below for more information.
Register for the presentation here

Holiday Open House
2025-12-14 13:00 - 15:00 | AHSGR Headquarters, 631 D St., Lincoln, NE, 68502, United States
Our annual holiday open house will be held on Sunday, December 14th, from 1-3 pm. We will have cookies, drinks, and live music from Blue Raven Music Studios! Also Friedens Evangelical Lutheran Church’s annual German Christmas service will be Dec. 14th at 2:00 p.m. (540 D Street). It will also be live streamed on their Facebook page. Refreshments following.

Small Talk
2026-01-14 17:30 - 18:00 | Zoom
Curious about your German Russian roots but not sure where to start?
Join us for Beginner Genealogy Talks—short, 20–30 minute sessions designed to make family history research approachable and fun. Each quarterly talk focuses on beginner-friendly topics, offering practical tips and resources to help you start (or restart!) your journey of discovery.
AHSGR Members attend free
Non-members: $10 per session
These quick, informative sessions are the perfect way to learn something new, connect with others, and grow your skills throughout the year.

Genealogy Club
2026-02-11 18:00 | Zoom
Discover, connect, and grow your family history skills with the Genealogy Club!
This virtual community brings together German Russian genealogists of all experience levels to share discoveries, solve research puzzles, and support one another along the way. Whether you’re celebrating a new breakthrough or struggling with a “brick wall,” you’ll find encouragement, advice, and camaraderie in this friendly, informal setting. Join us and be part of a group that understands the joy—and challenge—of uncovering your heritage.

The first two meetings are open to everyone—come see what it’s all about! During these sessions, you’ll learn how to register for future meetings as an AHSGR Member and continue your journey with this engaging community of fellow researchers.
The Club will meet the second Wednesday of every other month at 6pm Central Time starting in February 2026. Each meeting will have a general theme and an MC to facilitate the discussion.

To join click here.
