Welcome to the website of the
Pommerscher Verein Freistadt!
We are glad you came to visit.
Please stay awhile.
Be sure to explore the links in
the red bar on the left.
If you are a member, be sure to log in
before exploring the website.
There are features that only appear to members. Log-in by clicking "Member Log-in" found in red bar on the left. If you are renewing your membership or joining online, that is also found there.
Select the link "Intro to Pommern Research" in the red bar at the left to
see many, many pages on this site concerning Pomeranian research.
Pomeranian Heritage Tour 2024 Update
The thirty-three travelers have returned from their mavelous 12 day adventure in the "homeland". If you wish to get a glimpe of what the group enjoyed, check out our Facebook page: "Pommerntag".
Deciphering Old German Script
Many members were able to enjoy Sarah Litzer's excellent presentation about Old German Script on March 9. Although it was not recorded, she did provide links and a bibliography.
BEST BEGINNER BOOK:
E. Bentz, Edna M.
If I Can You Can Decipher Germanic Records. ©1982 (any
edition!): Edna M. Bentz, 13139 Old West Ave., San Diego, CA 92129
Heisey, John. German for Genealogy. Indianapolis, Indiana, 1985.
Mashey, Anne B. A Guide to Olde German Handwriting of the Mid-1800s. (No other information available)
EXPERT’S “BIBLE":
Deciphering Handwriting in German Documents. Roger P. Minert. 2001. 182 pages.
USEFUL LINKS:
A great little website for practicing reading the old script is found here:
There is also a link from the above page to the following page:
where you will find a similar “tutorial” in the Fraktur or Gothic typeface.
ONLINE DICTIONARY:
dict.leo.org -- but remember that this will only give you modern translations, for the most part.
Did you ever wonder why this group is called the "Pommerscher Verein Freistadt"? Our backstory appeared in an article on the Wisconsin Public Radio website recently, in a feature "Home Away from the Homeland: Why So Many German Immigrants Chose Wisconsin". People ask questions about the state that made them curious, and their questions are answered in a segment called "Whyconsin". The feature was read on the air. You can read the feature here. https://www.wpr.org/why-so-many-german-immigrants-chose-wisconsin-ancestry
The membership year for the PVF is January 1 - December 31.
If you are NOT a member, but wish to join in order to access "hidden" parts of this website, including the online database of 186,000 names, please click on "Join" button to the left.
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Because of increased printing and mailing costs, PVF voted to charge an additional $8.00 for each member who requests to receive the newsletter through the U.S. mail. When you choose to renew online with PayPal and credit card, if you simply click the "Renew" button, you will only be set up to get the newsletter via e-mail. If you wish to receive the paper copy by U.S. mail, please also add $8.00 under "Optional donation" on that same page. (Naturally, other donations are gratefully accepted as well!). Thank you!
Receive the Rundschreiben (newsletter) by e-mail only:
Individual $20.00/year
Family $25.00/year
Receive the Rundschreiben (newsletter) by USPS mail AND e-mail:
Individual $28.00/year
Family $33.00/year
Organization or Library $20.00/year
Do you want to learn more about Pomerania?
Find the village where Great-grandma lived?
Share your Pomeranian heritage with the world?
You can do all of these by visiting our online store
to find books, maps, clothing, and more!
Just click on "Store" in the red bar at the left to go shopping.
Tour of Pomerania
The Pomeranian Heritage Tour Group gathered on the last night of the tour in Berlin. A tour of northern Germany and Poland, in what was once Pomerania, was conducted in May-early June 2022.
Enjoy some photos of this and former trips below.
