Embarking on your genealogical journey with Ortsfamilienbücher (OFBs) can be both rewarding and insightful. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you get started:
- Identify Your Ancestor’s Hometown:
- Pinpoint the specific town or village in Germany where your ancestors resided. This information is crucial, as OFBs are organized by locality.
- Locate Relevant OFBs:
- Online Databases: Platforms like CompGen’s Online OFB offer a vast collection of digitized OFBs. You can search by town name or browse through an interactive map to find available books.
- Libraries and Archives: Institutions such as the St. Louis County Library house physical copies of OFBs. Check with local or national genealogical societies and libraries for their holdings.
- Understand the Structure of OFBs:
- OFBs typically list families alphabetically by surname, detailing vital events like births, marriages, and deaths. Individuals are often assigned numbers for cross-referencing within the book, facilitating the tracing of familial connections.
- Analyze and Cross-Reference Information:
- While OFBs provide compiled data, it’s advisable to cross-reference the information with original church records or civil documents when possible. This ensures accuracy and may offer additional insights into your family’s history.
- Engage with the Genealogical Community:
- Joining forums and societies dedicated to German genealogy can be invaluable. Engaging with others can provide new perspectives and aid in overcoming research challenges.
Sources: Salt Lake City Public Library[^1], FamilySearch[^2]. Reddit [^3]
OFB index 
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