Check out our new website, Hekman Library Online

Today's Hours

Hekman Library 8am – 10pm
Heritage Hall 9am – 4:30pm
Meeter Center 8am – 5pm
Research Assistance 10am – 4pm
6pm – 10pm

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. Inlcuded are letters, travel accounts, and memoirs,

All names reflect the original spellings, so try variants 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.

PDF Scans

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

PDF Scans

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.

PDF Scans

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.

PDF Scans

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.

PDF Scans

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.

PDF scans

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

PDF scans

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

PDF scans

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.