Family research at the Landeskirchliches Archiv


1. What do we have?
We own microfilms of the church registers (Kirchenbücher) of all parsonages of the Protestant Church of the State of Württemberg (Evangelische Landeskirche in Württemberg). Since 1952 the State of Württemberg (up to 1918 Kingdom of Württemberg) has been part of the present?day State of Baden?Württemberg (see map). There are more than 1200 protestant congregations in Württemberg whose registers we have microfilmed.
These microfilms include all old registers (baptisms, marriages, deaths) in some cases beginning in the late 1500s up to the year 1875. From 1876 to the present day births, marriages and deaths are recorded at the local Offices of Vital Statistics (Standesamt).
Our microfilms also include the family registers (Familienregister) that were begun in 1808. One entry in the family register gives the name of the father (Hausvater) and the mother (Hausmutter) with the dates of their births, marriage and deaths. There are also mentioned the names of the parents of this couple as well as their children. Thus there are three generations on one sheet.
These microfilms can be viewed at our archives. In this case an appointment has to be made by phone beforehand (0711/2149-373). The microfilms will be loaned by written request in Germany and Europe to people willing to refund the postage.
Copies of all our microfilms are also in the possession of the Genealogical Society of Utah. For information ask: Genealogical Society, Center Library, 50 East North Temple, Salt Lake City, Utah 84150, USA.
 
2. What can we do for you?
Our general intention is to help people to do their research by themselves. Our staff is not big enough to do research, all we can do is to give you a start.
In most cases those, who are researching today are looking for people who emigrated in the 1800s. This is the time of the family registers (see above). We are willing to look up this family and to make a copy of the entry for this specific family for you.
We are able to give you only a copy and not a translation of the entry for the specific family. If you want more information, for example about former generations you will have to do the research by yourself or hire a professional genealogist. We are able to give you an address.
Our church registers are not the only source for research. There are emigration records in the state archives that can be searched also. If your ancestor came from Württemberg and if you know his place of origin you may write to: Hauptstaatsarchiv Stuttgart, Konrad-Adenauer-Str. 4, D-70113 Stuttgart.

3. What do we need from you?
It is essential that you give us the name of the place where your ancestor came from. There is no general index for the family names of the 1200 communities mentioned above. So look for documents preferably official ones like birth certificates (Geburtsurkunde), renunciation of citizenship (Bürgerrechtsverzichtsurkunde) and the like. There might also be an old family Bible or even letters from the old country. As the old German script is not easy to read for people who are not used to it please just make a copy of your document and send it to us. We'll find out what it says.It is useless to state that somebody came from a village "near" ? for example ? Stuttgart. In a densely populated country like ours there are dozens of villages near a bigger city and nobody will be able to search dozens of registers in hopes of finding a needle in a haystack.You do not have to write us in German. Almost everybody here is able to read English. It is fine if you have some command of German because you will need it to read our letter when we write you back. You do not need to send a self?addressed stamped envelope. International reply coupons (Internationale Antwortscheine) sold at your post?office are much easier to handle.The fee for our services is Euro 8,- per 15 minutes if one of our staff has to work on your questions. There are other fees for the usage of our reader-printers and for mailing microfilms. If sending a check please remember that those for smaller amounts are mostly eaten up by the fees the banks charge. It is easier and generally safe to send cash in an envelope.
 
4. Further information
For further information consult Hinweise und Adressen für Familienforschung