American Historical Society of Germans from Russia

Research Saturdays
2026-06-06 09:00 - 16:00, 2026-05-02 09:00 - 16:00, 2026-04-04 09:00 - 16:00, 2026-03-07 09:00 - 16:00, 2026-02-07 09:00 - 16:00, 2026-01-03 09:00 - 16:00, 2025-12-06 09:00 - 16:00, 2025-11-01 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!

Treffen Tuesday
2026-05-26 17:30 - 18:30 | KS

Summer Newsletter Submission Deadline
2026-05-11 08:00 - 17:00 | KS
Submissions can be sent to our Publications Coordinator at lhorken@ahsgr.org. Check our Newsletter submission requirements for further information.

Summer Journal Submission Deadline
2026-05-04 08:00 - 17:00 | KS
Submissions can be sent to our Journal Editor at journaleditor@ahsgr.org. Check our Journal submission requirements for further information.

Treffen Tuesday
2026-04-28 17:30 - 18:30 | KS
The Cleansing and Destruction of the Prosperous Farmers of Neudorf (now Moldova)
Presented by Ron Vossler
Anyone with ancestral roots in Ukraine, and especially those with connections to the 200 German-speaking colonies between the Bug and Dniester rivers, will have an interest in this presentation and the events which took place in Neudorf in 1932, under the Soviet regime, during collectivization. (Including surprising connections to McIntosh County, North Dakota, and the Wishek-Ashley area.)
About the speaker
Ron Vossler is a Fulbright scholar and award-winning writer whose work has been quoted by scholars and authors such as Anne Appelbaum, as well as in “The New York Times” and other publications. His most recent series of books include “Children of the Blade”; “My Lost Tribe”; “Hitler’s Other Girlfriend”; and a collection of three stories about Ukraine: “The Ukraine Earth, She Loves Blood.”
Register here
After registering, you should get a confirmation email from Zoom. Please contact us for assistance if you do not receive an email.

Genealogy Club
2026-04-15 18:00 | KS
This month, the genealogy club will talk about surname charts. We’ll cover what they are and how to use them. If you’re curious or want a refresher, we hope you can join us!

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. Each meeting will have a general theme and an MC to facilitate the discussion.

To join click here.

Treffen Tuesday
2026-03-31 17:30 - 18:30 | KS
Ahnentafel Chart – A different pedigree approach
Presented by Scott Ludwig
An ahnentafel chart is the German version of a pedigree chart. It is a different approach than what we are used to. The Ahnentafel Chart focuses on one individual and their direct ancestors.
This presentation will cover how the process works and how I came to use it for my research. I will discuss the pros and cons of the ahnentafel chart and pedigree collapse.
About the Speaker
Scott Ludwig grew up in Rugby, North Dakota. Rugby is the county seat of Pierce County in north-central North Dakota and was settled by Germans from Russia. His father’s family came from the Kutschurgan colonies of Mannheim, Selz, Strassburg, and Volhynia. His mother’s family came from the Kutschurgan colonies of Mannheim, Selz, Strassburg, and Galicia. Scott started his ancestral research in the summer of 2017 after encouragement from his dad and aunt. His research became more full-time upon retirement.

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
2026-02-24 17:30 - 18:30 | KS
They Returned to the Homeland: Finding Germans from Russia in the U.S. Passport Application Files
Presented by Allyn Brosz
For Germans from the Russian Empire, the transatlantic journey was not always a one-way trip. Some immigrants to the U.S. returned to their ancestral villages as naturalized American citizens, crossing the Atlantic more than once. Their stories are found in the United States passport application files. This presentation examines the application files, discussing their availability and offering search techniques. Some of those who traveled and their stories will be highlighted. The odyssey of a Volga German family spanning more than two decades is a case study.
Allyn’s Bio
Allyn Brosz is a South Dakota native with German-Russian ancestry in Bessarabia and the Black Sea Lutheran Glueckstal District colonies of the Tsarist Empire. Allyn holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees and studied in Germany on a Fulbright grant. He retired from a civilian position at the U.S. Department of Defense in 2021. Allyn is a life member of the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia (AHSGR), the Germans from Russia Heritage Society (GRHS), and the Palatines to America Society, and serves on the steering committee of the Glueckstal Colonies Research. He served on the AHSGR Board of Directors in the 1990s.
Register here
After registering, you should get a confirmation email from Zoom. Please contact us for assistance if you do not receive an email.

Genealogy Club
2026-02-18 18:00 - 19:00 | 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.

Spring Newsletter Submission Deadline
2026-02-16 08:00 - 17:00 | KS

Spring Journal Submission Deadline
2026-02-09 08:00 - 17:00 | KS

Treffen Tuesday
2026-01-27 17:30 - 18:30 | KS
“The Gates of Europe – The History of Ukraine from a Germans from Russia Perspective”
Presented by Wayne Garman
Ukraine is rich in natural resources, especially for agriculture. Over the centuries, these resources, along with Ukraine’s location, have made it an invasion target of neighboring empires. Ukraine’s history is one of much tragedy, sorrow and hardships. Our German ancestors who lived there were significantly affected by Ukrainian history.
This presentation will cover the time period from the late 1700s expansion of the Russian Empire into the Ukraine Steppe, and how invitations to farmers to settle this newly conquered area brought our ancestors to Ukraine from Germany. I will discuss the development of the German colonies in Ukraine and how changes in Russian policies motivated immigration to the New World. I will also show how changes brought about by World War I upended the lives of Germans in Ukraine, resulting in 30 years of horrors and the eventual elimination of the German presence in Ukraine.

About the Speaker
Wayne Garman grew up on a mixed farm southeast of the town of Allan, Saskatchewan, Canada, a predominantly Germans from Russia town near Saskatoon in central Saskatchewan. His father’s family came from the Kutschurgan colonies of Elsass and Strassburg. His mother’s family is Mennonite and came from the Chortitza region, northeast of the Black Sea, from the village of Neu Chortitza in the Baratov Colony. History has always been an interest, and upon semi-retirement, he completed a Master’s of History degree from Texas State University. Historical research and writing are his retirement career. Wayne has presented at a number of AHSGR & GRHS conventions in the past few years and has written articles for the AHSGR Journal.
Register here
After registering, you should get a confirmation email from Zoom. Please contact us for assistance if you do not receive an email.

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.

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.

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

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

Winter Periodical Material Deadline
2025-11-10 | KS
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

Treffen Tuesday
2025-10-28 17:30 - 19:00 | KS
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.

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
2025-09-30 17:30 - 19:00 | KS
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

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
