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(b) The assumption that all immigrants with the same family namecame from the same
place.
(c) Over-credulity in family details passed down by word-of-mouth; for example
- the emigrant was a nobleman who dropped his title on crossing to America or
elsewhere.
- the emigrant was the illegitimate offspring of a nobleman. i
- the emigrant was a democrat who had to flee aner 1848.
- the emigrant formerly sewed in the bodyguard of the ruler.
- the emigrant's father was a mayor, professor, etc. 4
- the emigrant was driven out for religious reasons (esp. in the Alsace).
4. Be polite!
(a) Pay your bills! Pay your bills! Pay your bills!
j
Normally you pay for the research, not necessarily for the successful finding of your
ancestors. (See also 2(h) above.)
@)You have a better chance ofgetting an answer ifyour lener is legible and businesslike.
(c) Long, rambling letters are less likely tobe answered than ones that express the problem
in a few words.
(d) Take the trouble to write individual letters of inquiry: a duplicate ~nquirydoes not inspire
the recipient to take much trouble over a reply.
(e) Many of the German form-lelters provided by American genealogical publications
are written in very poor German. A personal letter in good English makes a much better
impression.
(f) You can increase your ehances of getting a detailed, early reply m your inquiry (or
a reply at all!) by saying in your letter that the answer can be in German (you can get it
translated quite easily). Many Gems can read English but notcompose a detailed reply
in it.
(g) Avoid asking primitivequesuons (e.g., "Tell mesomething about the history of this
region"). Thcre is certainly a bwk (Encyclopaedia Britannica?) or an expen in your
country whocansupply this sort of information moreeasily (and cheaply!). Be aware of
the geography of the region you think your ancestor came from.
(h) Don't be informal: say "Dear Sir" rather than "Dear folk" or "To whom it may
wncern". And supply a Mr., Mrs. or Ms. before your name so that a German person
who doesn'tknow what gender ofperson "lean" is, for example, can address you without
embarrassment.
(i) Say thank you! Acknowledge the work a German genealogist has done for you, even
when ithasprovedunsuccessful. This willenwurage him todo work for youoroverseas
inquirers.
(j) Don't be impatient! You may not believe it, but (as I said at the beginning) your letter
is just one of tens of thousands of inquiries arriving at German genealogical addresses
every year.
Worldrde Copyright 1983 Fnrdnch R. Wollmershsvasr (suVlor) and Shcllqh C. Ogilrls (tramlalor)

(Comment vous renseigner sur la ginialogie allemande)
(Wie sind Auskuenfte aus Deutschland einzuholen)

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