About the German Research Association (GRA)
The German Research Association, a non-profit charitable corporation, was founded in 1977 to educate members to help themselves and
others with foreign research, to share Germanic information with members and the general public, to aquire and provide a repository for Germanic
reference materials and to support Germanic-related activities in the genealogical community.
The GRA holds four meetings and one seminar on first Saturdays of the month, except holiday weekends. Seminar presentations are made by
members and outside speakers. Visitors are welcome. Members have five workshops on other first Saturdays at the San Diego Family History
Center, receive reduced rates for seminars, free queries, and an eight-page pamphlet to help them get started
in Germanic genealogical research.
Our research interests center on family history research of immigrants to America with German
surnames or who spoke German, including:
- Colonial Germanic immigrants starting in 1683
- 18th century Palatines and Pennsylvania Dutch
- Immigrants from the area of present-day Germany and former German Empires
- Families migrating to Russia and other east European areas before coming to America
- Ethnic Germans originating in the former Austro-Hungarian Empire and Switzerland
All members receive The German Connection, GRA's research publication mailed quarterly, containing:
- Tips to help you with Germanic research overseas and in the United States
- Records extractions
- Members' own experiences as models for your research
- Queries (free to members, U.S. $3.00 for others)
- Lists of newly-acquired books you can use in your research
- English language extracts from selected German and English language periodicals
- Germanic Lineage Registry, your ancestors' dates, places, and spouses
- GRA news, special offers, and news of other societies
- List of programs for the year
Other benefits for all members
- Regular programs and workshops open to all members; a reduced fee for any seminars
with an admission charge
- Workshops at the Family History Center, hands-on instruction in Germanic research
- When a speaker permits handouts are provided, as announced in GRA mailings or publications
- Free queries and listings in the Germanic Lineage Registry
- Reduced prices on four or more back issues of The German Connection and any other items sold by GRA
- A forum for member research, The German Connection welcomes ideas and contributions
- Posting of the Germanic Lineage Register on GRA's Internet Homepage.
New-member packet to help you get started in your Germanic research contains:
- List of basic personal and library references for Germanic research
- Footprints in the New World," an outline guide to records created when the immigrant first came to America
- Entry form for GRA's unique Germanic Lineage Registry
- Back issue list for The German Connection
- Issues of The German Connection published to date this year
- List of programs for the year
Your dues and donations will help promote Germanic family history research
- A portion of every member's dues goes to purchase books for donation to the San Diego Multi-Stake Family History Center for
members and the public to use
- GRA is a non-profit charitable California corporation: any donation of money, books, or other property is tax-deductible to
the extent provided by law
- GRA's periodical, The German Connection, is indexed in the PERiodical Source Index (PERSI) published by the Allen
County Public Library, Ft. Wayne, Indiana
- GRA is a member of the California State Genealogical Alliance (CSGA), the Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS), and the
Federation of East European Family History Societies (FEEFHS).
Correspondence to the German Research Association may be mailed to: P. O. Box 711600,
San Diego, California, USA 92171-1600
|
