Winter Workshop: Intro to German Script

Learn the basics of reading and interpreting German script at Mennonite Life’s Winter Workshop: Intro to German Script on Friday, February 7, 10:00–11:30 a.m. in the Mennonite Life Community Room.

Mennonite Life Archivist & Librarian Julia Wiker will teach participants how to read Kurrentschrift, a distinct styling of the German script alphabet, as well as abbreviations and variations in writing and spelling. The session will also offer practice interpreting 18th- and 19th-century family records from Mennonite Life’s collections.

Learning to interpret Kurrentschrift can be a valuable skill for genealogy research, not just for those with Swiss-Mennonite ancestry, but for anyone with ancestral roots in German-speaking countries. The text is also found in the Pennsylvania German art of fraktur, which combines the elegant script with vibrant, colorful illustrations.

Workshop cost is $45. Register in advance at mennonitelife.org/events. Knowledge of German is not required for this workshop.

In the case of inclement weather on February 7, the workshop will be postponed to Friday, February 14.