Help us Choose our Next T-shirt Design
Help us choose our next T-shirt design! Take the poll and vote for your pick. The winner will be available for sale at convention and then available online.
Vote for your favorite here
Recent News & Updates
German-Russian Graphic Novel Available to Purchase
Exciting news! AHSGR is the first seller in North America to sell Lena Wolf’s memoir “May The Universe Be Your Home: Growing up German in Kazakhstan”
About the Book
Lena Wolf grew up as …
Read More »RootsTech 2025 Success
AHSGR’s booth at RootsTech 2025 was a huge success! Archivist Karen Keehr and Board of Directors Member Diane Bates traveled to Salt Lake City to attend the nation’s largest genealogy conference. An estimated 15,000 people …
Read More »New Exhibits at the Heritage Center
We have several new exhibits up at the Heritage Center in Lincoln, NE. These exhibits about Catherine the Great, German-Russian Toys, and German-Russians in South America will be up until late November!
Catherine the Great in …
Read More »2025 Call for Presentations
The American Historical Society of Germans from Russia announces a request for presentations for our 55th Annual Convention: Preserving our History, an in person gathering from July 30 – August 1, 2025 in Lincoln, Nebraska. …
Read More »Holiday Open House & Harp Concert is this Saturday!
AHSGR is hosting a harp concert in the chapel by the Great Plains Harp Chapter. Learn more about German Russian holiday traditions, and enjoy holiday music, cookies, and light refreshments!
Read More »Discover The Legacy of the Volga Germans in South America
Carlos Alberto Schwab’s Historical Summary and Genealogy of the Volga Germans 1877-1997
We have a new free resource available on our website for researchers! This book contains genealogical data from the Volga Germans who went to …
Read More »AHSGR Heritage Center Closed for Board Meeting
The AHSGR Heritage Center will be closed for the fall board meeting on November 7-9th.
We will also be closed for maintenance November 11-12th
We apologize for the inconvenience.
Winter Coat Exhibit at AHSGR Heritage Center
To stay warm during the winter, the German-Russians relied on many layers. Men would wear a caftan (a kind of frock coat) and a sheepskin coat and hat. On long trips, a larger and wider …
Read More »Organizing Your Personal Archives Workshop Rescheduled
Due to scheduling, the Archive Workshop—Organizing Your Personal Archives will be moved to the next day, Thursday, October 24th, at 4:00 PM. If you can’t make it, the workshop will be recorded and put on …
Read More »Storytelling Contest Ceremony Today
THE Storytelling contest ceremony is today!
Join the Storytelling Contest broadcast on Zoom tonight from 7-8 pm CT to hear the stories and poems of the finalists!
Short Stories:
1st Place- Maria Wohn …
Storytelling Contest Winners Announced
We are excited to announce the winners of the 2024 Storytelling Contest! This year we had a short story and a poetry category.
Short Stories:
1st Place- Maria Wohn Appelhans
2nd Place- …
Digital Imaging Lab Expanding
AHSGR is excited to share our newest addition to our Digital Imaging Lab. Thanks to a generous grant from the Peck Stacpoole Foundation, we recently purchased a Nikon D850 DSLR Camera, a copy stand with …
Read More »New Acquisition in AHSGR’s Collection
The American Historical Society of Germans from Russia has received a new artifact for our collection. DeEtta (Huck) Merritt Vrana donated a crocheted bedspread made by her aunt Katie Marquardt in 1941 as a wedding …
Read More »New Exhibit at the AHSGR Heritage Center
Underwear Blanket: German-Russian Resourcefulness
In 1944, the Short Manufacturing Co. opened in the Haymarket District. This men’s underwear factory employed several German-Russians in Lincoln, NE.
Marie Rudolph Hegel and her niece Susan Rudolph Stoehr worked at this …
Read More »New Recipe from AHSGR
This month’s recipe is one with a long history and tradition. It comes to us by way of Sam Brungardt of Minnesota.
Throughout the Russian Empire, people have been cooking with watermelon syrup or watermelon honey …
Read More »Interlibrary Loans Through AHSGR
Did you know you can access books from our library, regardless of location? Visit your local public library and request an interlibrary loan. As long as we have two copies, you can borrow the book. …
Read More »AHSGR remembers Dr. Jerome B. Siebert
Jerry was a first-generation German from Russia whose family first settled in “Roosha” Town in Fresno, California. Jerry was born there on December 12, 1938, to Gottfried “Fred” Siebert and Amelia “Millie” nee Stiers. Fred …
Read More »New Recipe from AHSGR: Warm German Potato Salad
It has been said that there is a potato dish for every occasion. This updated version of German Potato Salad might just become a family favorite. If you prefer a more traditional version, leave out …
Read More »Matticks, a German Russian Descendant, Joins AHSGR as Executive Director
Bob Ahlbrandt, President of the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia, is pleased to announce that Rebecca (Becky) Matticks, a second-generation descendent of Germans from Russia from Norka, is the new Executive Director of …
Read More »New Acquisitions to AHSGR’s Collection
Wedding Dress
The American Historical Society of Germans from Russia has acquired some new items for our collections. One new acquisition is a wedding dress belonging to Barbara (Becker) Bertz. She married Andrew …
Read More »Farewell to Deb Arenz, Executive Director
AHSGR is sad to announce the departure of our Executive Director Deb Arenz. She has been an incredible addition to the organization and has accomplished so much in her time here. We wish her the …
Read More »Bring Your Group to AHSGR or Let us Come to You!
AHSGR is now offering presentations on various topics. Presentations can be in person on the AHSGR campus; off-site within a 75-mile radius of Lincoln, Nebraska; or via Zoom.
Topics include the history …
Read More »2024 Storytelling Contest
Capture the Germans from Russia experience through storytelling!
Submit your original fiction or nonfiction stories and poetry that explores the history, heritage, folklore, food, and culture of the Germans from Russia. Photos and illustrations to go …
Read More »