Skip to Main Content
Calvin

Hekman Library LogoHekman Library

Genealogy at Heritage Hall


German Immigrant Letters

The scope of the German Immigrant Letter Collection is similar to our much larger Dutch Immigrant Letter Collection which detail the immigrant experience-Protestant, Catholic, and secular. Included are letters, travel accounts, and memoirs,

 

Search Instructions 

To perform a keyword search of this index, use the "Find" function of your browser.

On Windows: CTRL + F

On Mac: + F

All names reflect the original spellings, so try variant spellings.

 

Arends, Geert. Memoirs and letters, 1881-1892. 11 p., photocopy, translation only. Uelsen, Germany – Graafschap, Michigan; G. Arends to children.

Augenstein, Matthew. Letter, 1880. 1 item, photocopy, translation only. Lowell, Ohio – Germany; M. Augenstein to W. Bischoff.

Baker, Sue. Letter, 1978. 1 item, photocopy, with translation. Osterwald, Germany - Holland, Michigan; Grete to Sue Baker.

Baumann, O. J. Letters, 1947-1948. 4 items, photocopy, with translations. Bunde, Germany – Holland, Michigan; O.J. Baumann to Sue Bakker.

Beckmann, Harmina. Letters, 1902-1949. 9 items, photocopy with translations. Itterbeek, Germany – Graafschap, Michigan; H. Beckmann to B. Hindrick.

Beckmann, Zwenne. Letters, 1901-1918. 6 items, photocopy, with transcription and translation. Itterbeek, Germany – Saugatuck, Michigan; Z. Beckman to her son, Jan.

Beckman, S. Letters, 1947-1948. 5 items, photocopy, with translations. Itterbeek, Germany – Saugatuck, Michigan; S. Beckman to relatives.

Bielefield Family. Letters, 1887-1954. 43 items, photocopy, with translations. Grafschaft, Bentheim - Holland, Michigan. Bielefield family to relatives. 1

Boerrichter, Johanna. Letter fragment, undated. 1 item, photocopy, with translation. Osterwold, Germany – Graafschap, Michigan; J. Boerrichter to relatives.

Borst, Trudy. Letters, [1940s]. Clara City, Minnesota – unknown.

Bouws, Gerrit. Letter, 1847. 1 item, photocopy, with transcription and translation. Holland, Michigan – Emmelenkamp, Germany; G. Bouws to Harm Bouws.

Bouws, Rieks. Recollections, 1881. Translation only. Grafschaft Benthiem, Germany – Graafschap, Michigan.

Brandorf. Letters, 1843-1990. 33 items.

De Frel, Rieka Ensing. Letters, 1886-1902. 13 items, transcription with translation. Graafschap, Michigan – Kleinringe, Germany.

Elbert, Fritz. Letter, 1948. 1 item, photocopy, with translation. Osterwald, Germany – U.S.A.; F. Elbert to relatives.

Elbert, U.V.G. Letters, 1904-1912. 11 items, photocopy. Itterbeek, Germany – U.S.A.; U.V.G. Elbert to friends.

Ensing, Harm. Letter, 1891. 1 item, transcription with translation. Fremont, Michigan – Laar, Germany.

Ensing, Hillegien Arens. Letter, 1920s. 1 item, transcription with translation. Graafschap, Michigan – Nelsen, Germany.

Ensing, Lucas. Letter, 1899. 1 item, transcription with translation. Graafschap , Michigan – Kleinringe, Germany; L. Ensing to brother and sister.

Ensink, J.H. Letter, 1977. 1 item, photocopy, with translation. Haar, Germany – Holland, Michigan; J.H. Ensink to Sue Baker.

Geerdes, H.H. and R. Autobiographies, 1863-1955. 1 booklet, 35 pages, illustrated, transcription in English. Weenermore, Germany – Freeport, Illinois and Kit Carson, Colorado.

Gemmen, Gerhard. Letter, 1882. 1 item. photocopy, with partial translation. Germany – Holland, Michigan; G. Gemmen to brother.

Gemmen, J.A. Letter, 1884, and army discharge attestation,1877. 2 items, photocopy, with partial translations. East Saugatuck, Michigan – Germany; J.A. Gemmen to Gerhard Gemmen.

Genzink, Albert. Letter, 1874. 1 item, transcription with translation. Graafschap , Michigan – Achterhorn, Germany ; A. Genzink to a friend.

Ghurt, J. Letter, 1947. 1 item, photocopy, with translation. Jhrove, Germany – U.S.A. ; J. Ghurt to unknown.

Grüppen, Hermannus H. Letters, 1898-1934. 16 items, photocopy, with partial translations. Graafschap , Michigan – Emlichheim, Germany ; H.H. Gruppen to family.

Halger, John. Letters, 1901-1920. 86 items, photocopy. Germany – Holland , Michigan ; Family and friends to J. Halger.

Heetderks, Bernhard. Letters, 1948-1950. 6 items, photocopy, with translations. Campen, Germany – Holland, Michigan; B. Heetderks to Baker family.

Heinz, Deinem (sp.?). Letter, 1948. 1 item, original. [?] – Grand Rapids, Mich. D. Heinz to L. Hengst (sp.?) 3 Rundschrift. Pamphlet, 1902 Beloved family and friends: letters between Grafschaft Bentheim, Germany and America. Volume 1, 1847-1914.Compiled by Swenna Harger and Loren Lemmen, 2007 (with surname index)

Hellendorn, L. Letter, undated. 1 item, photocopy, with translation. Vorwald, Germany – Holland, Michigan; L. Hellendorn to Geesje Reinink.

Hensen, Gerhard. Letter, 1922. 1 item, photocopy, with transcription. Coopersville, Michigan – Emlichheim, Germany; G. Hensen to family.

Hinrichs, Etta. Letter, 1948. 1 item, photocopy, transcription with translation. Grimersum , Germany – Holland, Michigan; E. Hinrichs to Jane Baker.

Knoll, Memo. Letter, 1947. 1 item, photocopy with translation. Vollenerfehn , Germany – Holland, Michigan; M. Knoll to Baker family.

Koning, D. Letters, 1947-1948. 4 letters, photocopy, with translations. Itterbeck, Germay – U.S.A.; D. Koning, to Beckman family.

Koning, H. Letters, 1905 - 1909. 2 items, photocopy, with 1 item translated. Itterbeck, Germany – U.S.A.; H. Koning to relatives.

Krake, Albert. Letter, 1876. 1 item, transcription, with translation. Kalamazoo, Michigan – Bentheim, Germany; A. Krake to sister.

Lambers, Fenna. Letters, 1948. 2 items, photocopy, with translations. Getelomvor, Germany – U.S.A; F. Lambers to relatives.

Lefers, H.J. Letters, 1906 - 1913. 2 items, photocopy, with translations. Picardie, Germay – U.S.A. ; H.J. Lefers to relatives.

Litzman, Lodewijk. Letter, 1824. 1 item, photocopy, with transcription. Litiz, Pennsylvania – Oostburg, Germany.

Masselink, G.H. Letter, 1920. 1 item, photocopy, with transcription. Edgerton, Minnesota – Germany; G.H. Masselink to family.

Meier, H. Letter, 1952. 1 item, photocopy, with translation. Emlichheim, Germany – unknown; H. Meier to relatives.

Meyer, Ida Karsjens. Article, 1888. 1 item, photocopy. “My Life Story”. Hanswehrun, Germay – Iowa.

Minge, Engbert. Letters, 1947-1948. 2 items, photocopy, with translations, Pathuis, Germany – unknown; E. Minge to family.

Nordhof, G. Letter, 1891. 1 item, photocopy. Wilsum, Grafshaft Bentheim – Michigan; G. Nordhoff to relatives.

Overweg, J.H. Letter fragments, 1912. 3 items, photocopy, with transcription. Oak Harbor, Washington - Germany; J.H. Overweg to Hensen family.

Palmbos, A.H. Letter, 1909. 1 item, photocopy, with translation. Gelsenkirchen, Germany – U.S.A.; A.H. Palmbos to sister.

Palmbos, A.W. Letter, 1809. 1 item, photocopy. Gelsenkirchen, Germany – U.S.A.; A.W. Palmbos to brother and sister.

Palmbos, L. and M. Letters, 1906-1908. 2 items, photocopy. Gunnigfel, Germany – U.S.A.; L. and M. Palmbos to brother and sister.

Plesscher, Z.H. Letter, 1914. 1 item, photocopy. Clara City, Minnesota – Germany; Plesscher to relatives.

Plesscher, H.H. Letter, 1882. 1 item, photocopy, with transcription. East Saugatuck, Michigan – Emlichheim, Germany; H.H. Plesscher to J. Hensen.

Ruirink, J.H. Letter, 1947. 1 item, photocopy, with translation. Klein Ringe, Germay – Holland, Michigan; J.H. Ruirink to Susanna Baker.

Scholten, Albert. Letter, 1870. 1 item, translation. Graafschap, Michigan – Bentheim, Germany; A. Scholten to brother.

Schubert, Dirk. Letter excerpts, 1856. Newspaper clippings, photocopy.

Spykman, Albert. Travel account, 1924. 10 pages, photocopy, transcription, and translation. Emlichheim, Germany – Holland, Michigan.

Veldink, Lukas. Letter, 1881. 1 item, photocopy transcription. Zeeland, Michigan – Emlichheim, Germany; L. Veldink to relatives.

Wolters, Joe. Letters, 1947-1948. 12 items, photocopy, with translation. East Friesland, Germany – Holland, Michigan; J. Wolters to relatives.

Zagers, Evert. Articles, 1944, 1987 2 items, photocopy.

Zondag, J.B. Letter, 1847. 1 item, photocopy, transcription, and partially translated. Bentheim – Ostfriesland.

Zwafink, Zwenna. Letter, 1948. 1 item, photocopy, with translation. Bakelde, Germany – U.S.A; Z. Zwafink to Gerd and Berend Hendricks.