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The Sacramento German Genealogy Society (SGGS) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation (a public charity) founded in 1983. It promotes the search for family histories of those who have a German heritage, provides educational resources for those seeking to learn how to research their German ancestry, and seeks to increase the public's understanding of the cultural history of life in the German-speaking areas of Europe and United States. While based in Sacramento, SGGS has a membership with more than half of its members living in other areas.

Meetings/Lecture

SGGS holds a monthly meeting at 1pm each fourth Tuesday from January through October. These meetings feature presentations from local and national genealogy experts as well as varied musical and cultural presentations. Over half of the presentations are given by out-of-area professionals. Meetings are held at St. Mark's United Methodist Church, at 2391 St. Mark's Way, Sacramento. In connection with the meetings. members may purchase a variety of German genealogy books and materials, browse member pedigree charts, access the SGGS library, ask genealogy questions of our experts at a Q&A table, and browse the SGGS library collection. After the lecture, the featured speaker is usually available to answer individual questions.

You are welcome to join a two-hour small-group meeting beginning at 9:30 a.m. where you can discuss your research problems with the experts leading the meeting and the other attendees. It also takes place on the fourth Tuesday from January through October.

Annual Seminar

The annual seminar, our largest event, is an all-day Saturday event held in the spring with lectures from one or two nationally-known scholars.

Volunteer Mentors

Every Thursday afternoon, one or more SGGS volunteer experts are present at the Sacramento Multi-Regional Family History Center to provide you with personal assistance in the use of that research facility for German research. Such assistance includes use of the Center's computers and databases, possible assistance in reading German-language records and helping you locate information in the Center.

Special Events

SGGS occasionally hosts special events such as its 25th anniversary, with a local German folk dancers and singers group.

Outreach

SGGS regularly staffs a booth or table at local events (Family History Day at the State Archives, Family History Center seminar, Christkindlmarkt at the Turn Verein). Stop by and talk with us.

Publications

Der Blumenbaum - This is SGGS' 48-page award-winning quarterly publication. This publication contains a wide range of articles about German (and German-American) culture, history, and genealogy. The articles emphasize providing timely information for those doing German genealogy research. It also includes surname queries and a list of recommended German language translators.

Other publications - SGGS volunteers create useful publications that are subsequently sold to meeting attendees. These include a reference catalog to the German resources available at the Sacramento Family History Center, a comprehensive index for all of the Der Blumenbaum journals (since 1984) and a custom-order "German Handshake Packet" to be carried to Germany when requesting genealogical assistance.

Donated books - Over the years, SGGS has donated numerous German genealogical research books to the Sacramento Family History Center where they available to the public on a special set of shelves.

Informational website - This web site includes descriptions of our activities, meetings & events calendar, monthly program descriptions, membership information, publications descriptions, information on the Sacramento Family History Center, links to other resources and how to contact us.

You are invited to join us. Our meetings are open to the public. If you wish to attend regularly, we invite you to join our organization. Membership dues make up most of our budget. With these funds we can continue to offer quality events that assist us in researching our German roots and increasing our knowledge of German culture and history. Joining the organization entitles you to receive the award-winning quarterly journal Der Blumenbaum, annual seminar & special event registration discounts, e-mailed notifications and the right to submit your pedigree charts and surname queries. Since SGGS is a public charity, a portion of your dues is tax-deductible.

It may well be that this is your year! If you have long been considering searching your German roots, here's your chance.

Thank you.