Von: carlah@earthlink.net (Carla)
  Datum: 11.12.98, 13:15:52
Betreff: Seeking/Ordering LDS Microfilms

Mary Eggleston wrote:

> ---SNIP---Most people advised me to go to the LDS Family History Center.
> ---SNIP---I'm not sure if I just look at indexes once there and order from
> Salt Lake or if microfilm is available at each center.  But I will be able to
> get information or help there. ---SNIP---Mary Eggleston

Dear Mary and Baden-Wuerttemberg List Friends,

For those who are unfamiliar with the procedure for ordering microfilms through
the LDS Family History Center branches near you, visit the library branch in
person.  View their card catalog, which is on the computer system at each
branch, to look up the specific locations you are seeking in Germany to
determine whether LDS microfilms of those church or civil records have been
made.

Most local LDS FHC's will either be closed or have very limited hours of
operation from the middle of December until approximately January 5, due to
holiday observances.  Phone your individual FHC for their schedules, as it may
be necessary to postpone your visit temporarily until after the holidays.  To
find your local branch, consult the white pages under "Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-Day Saints," and select an LDS church which shows it has a "Family
History Center."

Before you seek microfilms of German church or civil records from the LDS
library, you need the *exact name of the locality* in question (the
village/town, and knowledge of its regional entity, such as Baden or
Wuerttemberg).  You will also need to know (or take a guess at) the church
denomination (usually Catholic or Lutheran) to which your ancestors belonged in
Germany.  Church records are normally found under the name of the PARISHES which
served a particular community or group of communities, NOT necessarily under the
name of your ancestor's town of origin or residence.  Be aware that some people
lived in one town and worshipped in another, as not every town had its own
church(es).  If you find no LDS film available under the name of your ancestral
town, research a regional German GAZETTEER (geographical index/dictionary) at
the LDS FHC to determine if the parish was located elsewhere, and then seek
films under that locality's name instead.

If your family research has not yet determined the *exact name* of your
ancestral village or town in Germany, you are not yet prepared to seek
microfilms of German church or civil records from the LDS, because these films
are filed according to *specific* locality names.  See the following Web site
for helpful suggestions on finding this critical information:

http://w3g.med.uni-giessen.de/gene/faqs/sgg.html#origin

To assist you in determining exact locality names, use current and historical
maps of the area (available in public or university libraries), the modern
German locality pinpointer at geo@genealogy.net (very simple to use), or online
maps at Microsoft Expedia or MapQuest.  See the following Web site for more
details and links to these:

http://w3g.med.uni-giessen.de/gene/faqs/sgg.html#town

If all else fails, visit your LDS FHC for detailed maps of the area *in the time
period when your ancestors lived* there.  These are usually always available at
the FHC branches on microfilm and/or book form.

The majority of LDS microfilms are physically archived at the main LDS library
in Salt Lake City, Utah, and are individually copied and sent to local branches
worldwide upon order and fee payment.  The processing time for an order within
the U.S. usually averages about 3-4 weeks, though this and the loan fee vary
from one FHC to another---currently, in my own local branch, it is $3.50 per
roll ordered, plus $0.15 per roll for postage for an initial loan period of 8
weeks.  Renewals are available.

*Some* microfilms in which you have interest may already be on loan to your
particular FHC.  To avoid duplicating an order for films which are already
there, check with a staff member before placing your own.  Films already on loan
at an FHC branch may be viewed by all library patrons.  All microfilm viewing is
done on the premises of your FHC, using their microfilm reading equipment, and
the films remain stored at your FHC branch until the loan period expires.

Research books and guides of interest to German family seekers (including the
Wuerttemberg Emigration Index, Edna Bentz' handwriting/language guide ""If I Can
You Can: Decipher German Records," and Ernest Thode's "German-English
Genealogical Dictionary," which Mary mentioned) are also often available for
reference even at the smaller FHC's, like mine.  If not, these are easy to
purchase online from genealogical publishers (most in the $20-$25 range), and
some may be available in the reference section of your public library.  The LDS
FHC also has many printed research guides specific to Germany available, which
range in price from about 50 cents to $3.00 or so.  Ask at your local LDS
library branch.

Hope this information is of some help to you!

Warmest wishes,
Carla HELLER
Los Angeles