Speaker: Timo Kracke

Areas of focus or expertise:

  • German genealogical societies
  • Online databases
  • Kids’ genealogy

Email contact: timo@kracke.org

Web/social media: http://www.derGenealoge.de

Home: Ganderkesee, Niedersachsen, Germany

Native language: German

Presentation language(s): English

Preferred presentation type: virtual and in-person

Travel preferences: Depends on the circumstances – in general there is no limitation

Biography

http://v2.dergenealoge.de/die-stimme/

Timo is a speaker, author, podcaster, blogger and a bit of a family research nut. He has been researching his children’s families for more than 25 years in northern and southern Germany, the Netherlands, Poland and the Czech Republic.

He has been active in various genealogical societies in Germany for many years and was a board member of CompGen for 5 years. He is currently vice president of the Oldenburgische Gesellschaft für Familienkunde e.V. and director at-large technology for the International German Genealogy Partnership.

In addition to his private research, he is the voice of the podcast der Genealoge – Familienforschung für die Ohren and one of the idea generators for the Kids Genealogy Project die Familienforscher.

As a tech geek, Timo is active on various social networks where he enjoys sharing his knowledge with the community.

In which societies are you a member? Oldenburgische Gesellschaft für Familienkunde e.V., Verein für Computergenealogie e.V., AGoFF e.V., Die Maus Bremen, e.V., Verein für Familienkunde in Baden-Württemberg e.V.

Speaking experience/references

Several IGGP conferences, RootsTech in Person SLC and virtual, German Genealogentag, WhoDoYouThinkYouAre UK, Gaenovium Netherlands and a couple virtual only presentations like SLIG 2023

Recording of previous presentation OR an IGGP partner you have presented for: Ingeborg Carpenter, Kent Cutkomp at the IGGP

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? Travel cost needs to be compensated, or at least took over partial

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? No

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

Presentation topics

Click title to expand.

genealogy.net - The place to start your research in Germany

With genealogy.net, the Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (CompGen) offers the largest collection of freely accessible databases of genealogical societes in Germany. Get to know all the databases and possibilities in one go. The short description says it all. The presentation is a complete overview of what CompGen offers with its free databases. For each database there is information on what it contains and a brief description of how to use it. There is also information on CompGen as a whole, cooperation opportunities and how the participatory projects (crowdsourcing) work. (SLIG January 2023, German Genealogy)

Beyond genealogy.net - Discover the Online Records of German Genealogy Societies

In addition to the large genealogy.net databases, a large number of genealogical societies offer individual databases specifically related to their field of research. Discover what is available specifically in your research region.  The lecture gives an overview of the genealogical societies in Germany, grouped according to North, East, South, West and Germany as a whole. In addition to a large number of genealogical societies, their online services, which can be used free of charge by anyone, will be presented. For all databases there is a profile with detailed information and how to research them. (SLIG January 2023, German Genealogy)

Ortsfamilienbücher, User Family Trees and Meta search of genealogy.net

Learn how to make the most effective use of CompGen/genealogy.net’s Ortsfamilienbücher, User Family Trees and Meta-Search databases. A detailed look at the databases and lots of tips on how best to use them. CompGen has a very large selection of databases. In a presentation on all databases, no details on usage can be given.
In this presentation I will go into detail about the three major databases:

  • Ortsfamilienbücher
  • GEDBAS – User Family Trees
  • Meta Search

and present the databases in detail, give tips and tricks on how to search efficiently and what to look out for. (GGS 2018, now an updated version)

Historical geo information system GOV and Historical City Directories of genealogy.net

Learn how to make the most effective use of CompGen/genealogy.net’s Historical geo information system (GOV) and Historical City Directories databases. A detailed look at the databases and lots of tips on how to make the best use of them. CompGen has a very large selection of databases. In a presentation on all databases, no details on usage can be given. In this presentation I will go into detail about major databases:

  • GOV = Geschichtliches Ortsverzeichns (Historical geo information system)
  • Adressbücher (Historical City Directories)

and present the databases in detail, give tips and tricks on how to search efficiently and what to look out for. (GGS 2018, now an updated version)

Hidden gems about your families in German archives

Archives in Germany offer much more than civil registers, church records and census lists. Learn more about what you can find out about medical history, criminal cases, houses and properties or general local history. The lecture will show a variety of sources that go beyond the usual sources such as civil registers, church registers and census lists. In cooperation with the Niedersächsisches Landersarchiv, Oldenburg site, some sources will be presented which can be a great enrichment for family history.
There are sources on criminal cases, documentation on paternity, medical records, house histories and much more to discover. The lecture is intended to encourage people not to underestimate a visit to the archive alongside the many online sources.

Grand Duchy of Oldenburg - History, Migration und Research

Discover the Grand Duchy of Oldenburg. Learn something about the historical development of the area, in which archives family researchers can research and which genealogical societies are active in the area and neighboring regions. The lecture deals with the area of the former Grand Duchy of Oldenburg and gives an outline of the history of the area. Furthermore, the migratory movements of people in and out of this area will be highlighted. The website Auswanderer-Oldenburg.de is a database for this. He also gives an introduction to the research possibilities offered by the Oldenburgische Gesellschaft für Familienkunde e.V., the family history working group in the Heimatbund Oldenburger Münsterland and neighboring associations. Research at the Lower Saxony State Archives in Oldenburg will also be considered. (SGGS  September 2024)