This event has been postponed.
The tentative new dates are April 21-22, 2021.
All registrations for 2020 are being refunded.
Volga German Institute
Genealogy Workshop
& Seminar Series
"Volga German Life"
22-23 April 2020
Leavenworth, Washington
As part of its celebration of the 250th Anniversary of the founding of the Volga German colonies in Russia, the Volga German Institute at the University of North Florida is hosting a genealogical workshop as well as a seminar series entitled "Volga German Life" at the Icicle Village Resort in Leavenworth, Washington.
The public is invited to attend.
Registration
Early Registration: $100 per person if you register on or before 1 April 2020.
NOTE: There are a limited number of seats available for this event, and it has sold out quickly in past years - so register early!
Regular Registration: $125 per person for registrations received after 1 April 2020 or at the door (there are a limited number of seats available for this event, so please check with Susie before showing up at the door).
To register & pay by credit/debit card, please follow this link. [Add each person to "the cart" separately, then follow instructions for payment.]
If you prefer to pay by check, print the Registration Form, and mail it along with your check. To qualify for the Early Registration rate, payment must be received by Wednesday, April 1.
If you have special dietary requests or any questions, please call Susie at 904.620.2579.
[Note: There is no discount for partial attendance of this event. Notice of cancellation on or before 1 April 2020 will receive a full refund; after 1 April 2020 will receive no refund.]
Location
This event will be held at the Icicle Village Resort in Leavenworth, Washington.
505 US Highway 2
Leavenworth, WA 98826
509.548.7000
Parking: free on-site parking
Speakers
Dr. Mai serves as the Dean of the Library at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville where he also leads the Volga German Institute. Dr. Mai has spoken world-wide on many topics related to Volga German history and culture. Dr. Mai, whose father's side is Volga German, grew up in Western Kansas, graduated from Bethany College in Lindsborg, and continued graduate studies at George Washington University, the University of Texas at Austin, and Vanderbilt University.
Dr. Richard Scheuerman is an emeritus professor of education of Seattle Pacific University. He is currently serving as the Director of the Franklin County Historical Museum in Pasco, Washington. Dr. Scheuerman is a noted author and speaker on the Volga Germans of the Pacific Northwest. Dr. Scheuerman, whose father's side is Volga German, grew up in the Pallouse Country of Eastern Washington, and holds degrees from Washington State University, Pacific Lutheran University, and Gonzaga University.
Schedule for Wednesday, 22 April 2020
| 8:30 - 9:00 | Registration & Visiting |
| 9:00 - 9:45 | Session 1: The Geography of Volga German Genealogy
They are Germans from Russia? How does that work? But Germany didn't exist until 1871? What happened in Russian cartography in 1851? During this session, we'll unravel the complexities of what geography means to Volga German genealogical research.
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| 10:00 - 11:30 | Session 2: Volga German Research - Part 1
Let's just say that researching the genealogies of the Volga Germans is a labor of love. During this session we'll identify some of the basics that one needs to understand when digging into the ancestries of Volga Germans: calendars, spellings, alphabets, censuses, daughter colonies, etc. What do these things mean, and why are they important?
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| 11:30 - 1:30 | Lunch
Lunch is on your own (not included in the registration fee). There are dozens of wonderful German and other ethnic restaurants off the Central Square in Leavenworth. The Square is about a 15 minute walk from the Icicle Village Resort, and there is plenty of parking on the Square if you want to drive.
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| 1:30 - 2:45 | Session 3: Volga German Research - Part 2
Continuation of Session 2.
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| 2:30 - 3:15 | Session 4: Reading German & Russian
The native tongue of most Volga German descendants around the world is English, but most of our ancestral records are in German and/or Russian. During this session, we'll look into how to best navigate the multi-lingual documents of Volga German research. You won't come out of this session as a native speaker, but perhaps working with Russian and German documents won't be quite so scary!
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| 3:30 - 4:30 | Session 5: American Document Sources
Researching the ancestry of Volga Germans also involves understanding and using American (North & South) resources. During this session, we'll explore some of the more common documents that are available and how to use them. We'll also look into some of the more unique document sets (like the first census of Entre Rios in Argentina) that are very important to some researchers.
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| 6:00 - 9:00 | Welcome Banquet
Following a delicious German feast, Dr. Mai will provide a light-hearted look into the lives of our contemporary Volga Germans around the globe. We certainly have some interesting characters among our people!
The menu will be your choice of (1) Bratwurst & German Sausage or (2) Roasted Pork Loin along with German potato salad, braised sweet & sour red cabbage, house-made sauerkraut, apple slaw, fresh fruit, green salad with dressings, rolls & butter, and apple or cherry strudel for dessert. Drinks included: iced tea & lemonade, Seattle's Best coffee, and a selection of teas. |
Schedule for Thursday, 23 April 2020
| 8:30 - 9:00 | Registration & Visiting |
| 9:00 - 9:45 | Session 1: Introduction to the Volga Germans and their Heritage
Everyone starts on a different page when it comes to their knowledge of who the Volga Germans are and how they came to be in Russia. This session will bring all attendees to the same place in that understanding - and we'll carry on from there.
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| 10:00 - 11:30 | Session 2: A Day-In-The-Life of the Volga Germans
What was daily life like among the Volga Germans? How did they run their households? What did they eat and what did they wear? We'll explore the daily life routines of our ancestors while they were living in Russia.
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| 11:30 - 1:30 | Lunch
Lunch is on your own (not included in the registration fee). There are dozens of wonderful German and other ethnic restaurants off the Central Square in Leavenworth. The Square is about a 15 minute walk from the Icicle Village Resort, and there is plenty of parking on the Square if you want to drive.
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| 1:30 - 2:45 | Session 3: Volga German Architecture
From their homes and farm yards to their churches and other public buildings, Volga Germans have a distinctive architecture that is uniquely Volga German. During this session, we'll look at the construction of buildings in the Volga German communities and trace some of their architectural elements that one can still find today round the world.
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| 2:30 - 3:15 | Session 4: Volga German Industries
From farming of wheat, tobacco, and sugar beets to sarpinka weaving, flour milling, and organ design, we'll delve into the economic backbone of our ancestral Volga German communities.
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| 3:30 - 4:30 | Session 5: Volga German Faith Practices
Through the centuries, faith practices have been an integral part of Volga German life. Approximately 70% of the original immigrants who settled the Volga German colonies were Protestant; the remainder Roman Catholic. During this session, Dr. Mai will lead a discussion into how our Volga German ancestors structured their lives around the faith practices of each colony. The uniqueness of how Adventism developed among the Volga Germans will also be explored.
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| 6:00 - 9:00 | Banquet
Following another German feast, Dr. Richard Scheuerman will speak on the topic of "Benjamin Franklin and Catherine's Germans."
The menu will be your choice of (1) Jaeger Schnitzel with mushroom sauce or (2) Sauerbraten beef tips and German fried potatoes, braised sweet & sour red cabbage, house-made sauerkraut, apple slaw, fresh fruit, green salad with dressings, rolls & butter, and apple or cherry strudel for dessert. Drinks included: iced tea & lemonade, Seattle's Best coffee, and a selection of teas. |
Area Hotels
The Volga German Institute does not endorse any of these locations, but provides information about them because of their proximity to the event site.
Icicle Village Resort
A block of rooms has been reserved, so ask for the Volga German discount!
509.548.7000
Howard Johnson Express Inn
509.548.4326
Der Ritterhof
509.548.5845
Fairbridge Inn & Suites
509.548.7992