American Historical Society of Germans from Russia

06/12/2026

The Moses of the Mennonites: Carl Bernhard Schmidt and German Mennonite Immigration to Kansas in the 1870s

“The 1870s were a very turbulent time for our German ancestors living in the Russian Empire. Czar Alexander II introduced many reforms, including the abolition of serfdom. However, he also ended the Codex of the Colonists, abolishing privileges & rights promised a century earlier to German immigrants. At the same time in the New World, countries were anxious to attract immigrants to develop their vast plains into farmlands. In the US, there was rivalry among states over immigration, such as between Kansas and Nebraska, as well as the Dakota Territory. Railroad agents played a major role. The railroads had been granted land by the government as payment for constructing new rail lines. They were anxious to sell this land to immigrants. This presentation will center on the role of one of the railway immigration agents, Carl Bernhard Schmidt. Working for the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe railroad, Schmidt was instrumental in the immigration of an estimated 5,000 German Mennonites from Russia to Kansas during the 1870s. His efforts earned him the nickname of the “Moses of Mennonites”.”

Wayne Garman is a descendant of Germans from Russia. His paternal ancestors came from the Black Sea Kutschurgan region, from the villages of Elsass & Strassburg. His maternal ancestors were Mennonite and immigrated from the Chortitza colony in central Ukraine.

Wayne grew up on a farm near the town of Allan, Saskatchewan, Canada, a predominantly Germans from Russia community. He has lived and worked in the US for over 30 years. Upon semi-retirement, Wayne completed a Master’s degree in History from Texas State University. Historical research and writing now make up his retirement career. He has presented at a number of Germans from Russia conventions, as well as written articles for Germans from Russia journals. He is currently president of the Arizona Sun Chapter of Germans from Russia in Phoenix, AZ, and a board member of AHSGR.

https://ahsgr.org/convention-2026/

06/11/2026

This month, the genealogy club will talk about what to do if you are stuck on a name!

If you are stuck on a name and need some tips, or if you want to share your tips, we hope you can join us!

This virtual community brings together German Russian genealogists of all experience levels to share discoveries, solve research puzzles, and support one another along the way. Whether you’re celebrating a new breakthrough or struggling with a “brick wall,” you’ll find encouragement, advice, and camaraderie in this friendly, informal setting. Join us and be part of a group that understands the joy—and challenge—of uncovering your heritage.

Learn more Here https://ahsgr.org/event/genealogy-club-3/

06/10/2026

Did you enjoy our North Bottoms tour? Don't forget to take the South Bottoms tour!

https://ahsgr.org/virtual_tours/

06/08/2026

Do you have a special item, memorable experience, or valuable service that others would be excited to bid on? We’re seeking high-quality, desirable donations such as Gift baskets, artwork, local outings, gift cards, and other standout items

Every contribution will help support our operating fund and make a real difference in our fundraising efforts.

If you have a submission, please reach out to Emily at [email protected] or bring them with you.

https://ahsgr.org/convention-2026/

06/05/2026

Germans from Russia: Food and Culinary Traditions

From apples to wheat, this presentation will explore German-Russian food traditions, production methods and explain how food was tied to their culture. Find out how Germans from Russia were instrumental in bringing food crops to the United States and how this shaped our modern-day agriculture. Learn about recipes that have been passed down through generations and see how dishes varied by region, religion and
family tradition.

Kim Phillips is a writer and history buff who grew up in western Kansas, aware of her German-Russian heritage. She learned to cook Volga German dishes from her grandmother and great grandmother. Kim and her husband Mark ran a country bed and breakfast in central Missouri where they offered farm-to-table dishes sourcing the majority of food from local farms. She now lives in Leawood, Kansas where she researches and practices traditional recipes.

Register today: https://ahsgr.org/convention-2026/

06/04/2026

The Calgary Chapter library will be open Tuesday, June 9, 2026 summer hours from 2:00 p.m. to only 6:00 p.m. to allow the librarian to attend another meeting that evening. Please make an appointment for other times, see our website for contact info for Mabel Kiessling.
There will be no DVD shown at the library for June, July and August.
Ascension Lutheran Church
1432 - 19 St NE,
Calgary, AB
T2E 4Y2
Library is located on the main level. Please use the front door on 19th street.
There will be a "Calgary Chapter Library" sign on the door and a doorbell.

06/04/2026

06/04/2026

The digital Summer Journal and Newsletter are now available to members! Those who receive print publications can expect delivery within the next few weeks.

To read the newsletter, visit: https://ahsgr.org/publications/newsletters/
To read the Journal, visit: https://ahsgr.org/publications/journals/

06/03/2026

Get your raffle tickets here!

https://ahsgr.org/event/ahsgr-56th-annual-convention/

06/02/2026

This presentation highlights the main features of Braucherei, or the folk traditions of “faith healing,” among many German from Russia Catholics and Protestants. This form of folk culture played an integral role in people’s daily and spiritual lives well into the twentieth century.

Braucherei beliefs and rituals functioned as a quiet but powerful form of Christian folk medicine across Central Europe, the Russian Empire, and beyond to the Americas. Rooted in Scripture, prayer, breath, gesture, and herbal knowledge, these longstanding practices were neither fully sanctioned nor entirely suppressed by official church authorities. Instead, Braucherei occupied a liminal space, remaining primarily domestic rather than institutional, and more often practiced by women. Female Brauche “faith healers” also typically passed down such practices through their female bloodlines.

https://ahsgr.org/event/treffen-tuesday-13-18-7/