Speaker: Claire Gebben

Areas of focus or expertise:

  • German migration patterns
  • 19th-century German-American history
  • history of the Rhineland-Palatinate
  • 19th-century heritage of German immigrants to the U.S.
  • German Christmas traditions
  • German Christmas stories
  • Swiss German migrants to Pennsylvania
  • writing family history
  • German genealogy tips and tricks

Email contact: clairegebben@gmail.com

Web/social media: https://clairegebben.com/

Home: USA, Washington, Mercer Island

Native language: English

Presentation language(s): English

Preferred presentation type: virtual and in-person

Travel preferences: I have no travel restrictions

Biography

Claire Gebben is a public speaker and teacher on writing family history, German genealogy and migration patterns, and 19th-century history. She is the author of The Last of the Blacksmiths, a novel based on the true story of her great-great grandfather, a 19th-century German immigrant blacksmith to Cleveland, Ohio. The book was named a Notable Book by Cleveland State University’s Michael Schwartz Library and Book of the Month (April, 2015) with the German American Heritage Foundation.

Her memoir How We Survive Here: Families Across Time recounts the discovery of 19th-century letters in an attic in Germany written by her ancestors, which propels her on a transatlantic quest to trace and write about their lives. The memoir was honored as a Finalist in the 2019 Indie Next Generation Book Awards. The book includes English translations of three dozen rare letters written by German immigrant blacksmiths and wagon-makers to Cleveland, Ohio.

Gebben’s articles have appeared in German Life magazine, Your Genealogy Today, Seattle Genealogical Society Newsletter, and numerous other publications. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing from the Northwest Institute of Literary Arts.

In which societies are you a member? Seattle Genealogical Society, Eastside Genealogical Society, Palatines to America Ohio and Pennsylvania Chapters

Speaking experience/references

Since 2014, I’ve spoken for genealogy groups, libraries, universities, history clubs, churches, retirement communities, writing and genealogy conferences (including IGGP), and high school classes. A list of previous appearances can be found here: https://clairegebben.com/events-2/previous-appearances/

Recording of previous presentation OR an IGGP partner you have presented for: German Genealogy Group, Mary Ann Koferl, 1 Oakland Ave., Deer Park, NY 11729, 631-254-5275 (land line)

I’ve also spoken for IGGP partners Rogue Valley Genealogical Society and Eastside Genealogical Society’s German Interest Group

Payment/expense arrangements

How do you approach payment for making a presentation? I am willing to negotiate a speaking fee with clients

Other expenses you would like to have reimbursed if you travel? Negotiable, depending on distance and timeframe

Recordings/additional materials

Are you willing to prepare a handout? yes

Would you be willing to develop a presentation on another topic? yes

Do you have any restrictions on recording, re-use of recordings, handouts, etc? Recordings and handouts for members only. Duration of availability 3 months.

Are you willing to have the presentation translated or translate it yourself? yes

Presentation topics

All talks in English, with easy to follow Powerpoint accompaniment and supplemental handouts for further information.

  • German Migration Patterns (history, genealogy, religion)
  • A Hidden Heritage: 19th-Century German Immigrants to the U.S. (history, influence of German culture and ideals in the U.S.)
  • From Pikeman to Pennsylvanian: Swiss Ancestral Origins (history, genealogy, religion)
  • Explore the Rhineland-Palatinate (history, genealogy, sights today)
  • Reading German Handwriting (deciphering German genealogy records)
  • Beyond the Nutcracker: German Christmas Traditions (history in Germany, German Americans, origins of American Christmas celebrations)
  • Christmas Markets of Germany
  • German Christmas Stories (stories, German poetry, German authors, history)
  • For the Record: Memoir, Oral History & Family Life Stories (formats for writing up family histories)
  • Creating a Legacy from Family Papers and Genealogy (writing, recording, organizing family history for those who follow)
  • The Big Picture: Writing history into family narratives (Methods for accessing history in time period of ancestors, and ways to weave history into genealogy narrative)