Customer Reviews

InSearch of Your German Roots. Fourth Edition, Updated

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

If you're researching German ancestors who emigrated to the U.S. or Canada, then this book is a good place to start.
Baxter provides a brief history of Germany and describes German migrations over the centuries to specific areas of central Europe such as Silesia, the Banat, parts of Slovakia, the Ukraine, and southern Russia. Baxter also traces migration patterns into North America where many Germans settled in Pennsylvania, the mid-West, and the Kitchener area of Canada.
He describes the different groups that settled in specific areas, including their place of origin, religious background, and dates of migration.
There is also a lot of useful naming information, which includes the changing of names' spellings, the system of patronymics used in some areas of northern Germany, the use of 'von' or 'Von' in one's surname, and the use of diminutives in first names.

The sub-title of "A complete guide to tracing your ancestors in the Germanic areas of Europe" is rather misleading. It is not "complete" by any stretch of the imagination.

This is a very brief introduction (103 pages of text) to a very large topic. Some aspects of German research are treated in only the most cursory manner - the Lutheran church covered in a chapter of a single page while the Germans in Canada are dealt with in only 3 pages.

The section on German record types leaves the reader wishing for more information. Which is the feeling the entire book gives "I wish there was more here".

While this book has been updated to reflect the reunification of Germany, this is not Angus Baxter's best book. His "In Search of Your British & Irish Roots" and "In Search of Your Canadian Roots" are much more comprehensive in their scope. Because this book compares poorly with his other works, I have given it only two stars.

This is a great place to start for German genealogy. Mr. Baxter gives a brief history of Germany (including the Soviet breakup) and locations of record repositories. As in all of his other book, he tells you how to start your research (talk to Grandma before it's too late!), an overview of the LDS organization and tips and guides to doing research in Germany. He also gives you information on the languages of the area and what types of records you might expect to find. Do not despair of finding people in Germany-Mr. Baxter can help. You'll never regret buying this book.

Now in an updated fourth edition, In Search of Your German Roots is a guide created to help readers track their German ancestry, regardless of their personal familiarity with the craft of genealogy. Chapters walk one through conducting research via correspondence and e-mail; working at home on an ordinary personal computer with internet access; and tapping into the resources of libraries, archives, and church and state records. Filled with useful websites and e-mail addresses as well as the newest facilities and records available, In Search of Your German Roots is a solid, easy-to-use, plain-terms manual, highly recommended especially for anyone just starting a research project.

This little book is packed with knowledge....You can do research from your home and it shows you how to do so through correspondance via libraries, archives or records through the church and your state....
This little book will also tell you how to write to the different German Record Archives with lists of addresses throughout all the Germanic areas of Europe and gives you maps. This is a quick read with alot of information that you will use again and again as a great reference guide...well worth the price.

Terrible waste of money. The first third of the book is a history of Germany, which anyone could find on Wikipedia. Do not buy this book.