german_roots template confusion, yes I know i've seen it on here, but I'm still confused.

Question

Ok, I have questions about the german_roots project, which I have joined. I'm still confused about where to apply the template. Do I put it on only those profiles that have a birthplace in a location considered to be German at that time? Do I apply it to anyone on my tree who is descended from someone born in a German location, like myself or my sisters? Do I apply it to my Volga Germans or do I have to trace the family lines back through the Volga years to the German location they came from? I'm starting to get frustrated there. I have no idea how to get ahold of the sources I need for anyone in Balzer, Russia unless I can come up with the funds to join my local chapter of the American Historical Society for Germans from Russia and then send more money to get my chart traced there. Ugh. Feels like I have to pay a ransom before the sources, if they still exist, go away. Any advice or help is appreciated.

Comments

Interesting question. At one point, the German Roots project was encouraging (or at least allowing) the use of the German Roots project template for anybody who lived in Germany, emigrated from Germany, or had ancestors in Germany. In my not-so-humble opinion, that is not productive, given the large number and diverse variety of people who could end up labeled with German Roots.

I see that the Volga German project now has its own badge for project members, but it doesn't seem to have a project template of its own. It seems to me that a separate project template for Volga Germans would be a very positive development.

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There is one for the Volga Germans. {{Volga German}} I've put it on my immigrant great-grandparents and their children who travelled with them, but not on the siblings born here in the states even though I know they identified with the culture, because I wasn't sure about that either.

Answer 1

There are other resources for you to use to help trace your Volga German ancestry. You can start with what you do know, such as  the names of your grandparents and great grandparents, and connect to the 1857 census for Balzer. Immigration records often give clues to family names and dates. Once you can connect them to the 1857 census, tracing them back to Germany is much easier. There is also a Balzer Village Coordinator who can help you find information about your ancestors whether or not you are a member. Getting copies of the village census records is easy and invaluable. If you will send me a note directly, I'm happy to help you get started on your search. I'm here on WikiTree at Miller-33353.

Comments

Thank you so much, I will!

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But the question still remains - on which profiles should I add the German Roots template? I am the 5th generation of my family here in America, and through research I've discovered that all the way through my father's generation many families follow some German traditions. I've backtracked and included only the original immigrant, his children, and their children, as those would be the families most closely associated with the German culture, but what really is appropriate use of the project template?

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Just my opinion and therefore I may be wrong. I descend from multiple German lines in three lines and they married mostly Germans. One of my father's lines goes back to the 2nd Germanna Colony in Virginia at what point do I stop showing them as being German. I am a double Snider,they came to SC in the 1740's and for the most part moved across America as a group. If it applies I add an additional template,one of Texas First Family as an example. Alabama First Families, etc. I use templates to show where they have been and who they are. If I should be using them in a different manner please let me know, nicely

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I've struggled myself to determine when it's appropriate to use {{German_Roots}}, or more importantly, when it's not needed. Most of my recent German ancestry is through Volga Germans. I use both [[Categories: Volga German Project]] and {{German_Roots}} for these people. I know the history of my family, but others who may want to add information to my profiles might not be aware of it. For more recent profiles for people with any German heritage, I typically just put a note in their biographies. An exception might be for female descendants with non-German surnames, where it would be helpful to know they have German roots. It may be more important to have them grouped with a more relevant profile group.

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So I looked at some examples of other profiles, because examples seem to be a fast way for me to learn here. I have decided to apply the german roots template to my own profile because it shows up saying that I have German ancestry. I have German ancestry even though I've never set foot in Germany. My first instinct when joining the project was that it was meant to be applied this way, I became confused after reading some of the debate on the forum.

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I did the same for my own profile. My maternal side has all the Volga German and German ancestry, but my dad's side is everywhere except Germany. It seemed the prudent thing to do.