The Fraktur and Gothic Alphabets

Greetings, once again, friends and scholars.  To re-cap, last time we discussed the use of both government and religious records.  This week, we’ll be discussing the Fraktur and Gothic Alphabets.  Having a grasp of both formats of writing is essential to understanding German Documents.  For many readers, these terms are unfamiliar.  I’ll be sure to explain them here.

Throughout history, people have used different names for the same thing.  Romans called the region to their north “Germania,” which is where English derives the term “Germany.”  In contrast, Germans today call their native land “Deutschland,” which derives from an older term, ‘diutisc’—meaning of the people.  Other languages use a term derived from the ancient tribe or confederation, called the Alemanni.

In that same vein, different groups have employed unique names for a various alphabets and writing styles.  For Italians, the term "Gothic" would be akin to us calling a culture or society uncultured.  The terms Gothic and Fraktur do not have a “universal” definition.  This post makes no effort to promote a “correct definition” on the matter.  For our purposes here, I will use these definitions: (1) Gothic is a cursive, hand-writing style.  (2) Fraktur is a printed font; the term actually refers to “breaks” found in the letters.  The sidebar image illustrates how letters would look in either font.

Background of “Fraktur” and “Gothic”

As explained in the first post, Germany was not unified until the end of the 19^th century.  After the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire, other kingdoms and nations had their own cycles of unification and division.  The lack of political consolidation meant that there was no standard language until after 1900.  This meant that various alphabets were employed by scribes, priests, and government officials.

Before the year 1440, records were typically written either in Gothic or Latin characters.  The printing press of Johannes Gutenberg revolutionized the world by using block-type.  By the 1500s, Fraktur—heavily influenced by Gothic—evolved into its own style.  With time, the unique Fraktur and Gothic alphabets enjoyed prestige in both spiritual and secular realms throughout Central Europe.

In the early 20^th century, the regions of Germany became unified under the Nazi banner.  One lesser-known fact about this group is its impact on language itself.  Chancellor Hitler mandated that the Latin alphabet—those familiar to English and Spanish speakers—be taught in all schools.  The Allied Forces who defeated Germany reinforced this by cracking down on the use of Fraktur. 

Today, the Latin alphabet is the only alphabet in use among German-speaking places.  German uses special characters, including ligatures.  One such example is the Eszett (ß)—or “sharp s”—which originally signified a combination of s and z.  Unfortunately, we don’t have time to go over all of the characters.  Here, we will discuss upper-case letters that are commonly confused.

Fraktur

The letter A looks like a U.  As stated before, Fraktur commonly uses “breaks”—as can be seen in the tops of both.  The distinguishing feature is found in the left stem.  If it curves inward, then it is A.  If it is straight, then it is U.  For similar reasons, the B, P, and V look like the same character.  However, note how the bowls (the “curves,” if you will) and stems interact.  B is unique in that both bowls kiss the stem at the middle.  The letter V does not make the connection. The letter P is further differentiated by its descending stem—just like our letter P.

Likewise, the letters E, G, and S are very similar.  However, a vertical stroke in the middle distinguishes E and G from S.  Also, notice the wide curve on the bottom of the letter S.  The opening (or “fracture”) at the top helps us see that E is different from G.  The characters I and J—in form—are practically the same.  In a later post, I’ll actually discuss this in greater depth.  For now, it suffices to say that they’re actually related characters.  The letter T may cause some confusion, as it bears a resemblance to both.  However, note the wide serif (the “bottom stroke”) at the bottom.  Another trio to look out for is the letters K, N, and R.  The swash (the curve in the upper left corner) and the bowls will give away their differences.

Gothic

In some ways, Gothic can actually be trickier than Fraktur.  Since the letters are written—rather than printed or traced—they vary in form.  Sometimes, the same author will use different styles for the same letter.  Much like English cursive, Gothic handwriting tends to connect letters.  Occasionally, one will see extra curls or even strokes on letters—simply for show.

The letters A, G, and Q—the latter being rare in German—must be distinguished by their use of a descender (the part of a letter that goes “below” the others).  Note that the letter A uses a curved stem, with no descender.  G uses a looped descender and Q uses one that goes straight down.

B, C, and L are distinguished by the arm (the “top stroke” of a letter) and the bottom right corner.  B uses somewhat of a “curved bowl,” where L simply continues onto the next character in a curved line.  C uses an arm with a simple curl, whereas L uses a looping curve on top with no arm.  Like their Fraktur counterparts, I and J cause confusion.  The key difference here is that the descender on J typically curves into the stem.

While looking at K, we may be tempted to confuse it for R.  However, each letter uses a different structure.  The “looped-stem”—if we may so call it—on R curves in from the left direction, while K employs a swash (remember, that's what we call the curve in the upper corner) that comes from the top right.

M, N, V, and W are quite a mess to handle.  N and V each use one loop and a stroke (although the strokes are not the same), differentiating them from M and W.  M uses two separate loops and then a stroke.  On the other hand, W uses a complete loop, somewhat of a stroke, and then another loop,   

Once again, the trick is to see where the opening occurs.  N and M open on the bottom while V opens on top.  W actually opens in both directions, making it unusual in form.  Y and Z are distinguished by the number of strokes.  Y has a middle stroke that shoots up and around.  Whereas, the letter Z resembles a thin number three.

Conclusion

As you can see here, paleography is both an art and science.  Many names and words are incorrectly recorded, simply because of careless mistakes or hurried transcribers.  Styles make letters unique, while there are some ground rules for distinguishing characters.  Having an eye for detail allows researchers to discern a letter’s identity.  One great way to learn Gothic handwriting is to practice writing your name.  This practice increases understanding (and also some patience) when reading another’s work.  We’ve now covered these exceptional typesets.  Next week, we will discuss German names and words.

When Is a Record Useful?

"Pre-printed" Death Record for Bartholomaeus Gigl, listed on the first row.  (Click to enlarge.)

"Written entry" for Sophia Schoenholtz's Death Record, listed as the second person on day 29.  (Click to enlarge.)

Welcome back to my blog.  Once again, my name is Braedon.  Last week, I explained that “Germany” was divided into various nation-states and kingdoms.  After centuries of war and invasion, these regions finally became unified.  Today, I’ll be explaining helpful documentation and its use.  There are a variety of religious and governmental records that assist researchers today.

First off, I should probably clarify something: What makes something “useful”?  To illustrate, I’ll use an example.  Suppose that a son tells her mother that he’s going to study for his American History test.  To her surprise, she finds him reading Shakespeare’s plays.  While this may be excellent literature, it does not contribute to the exam material.

When I say that a record is “useful,” I’m really saying that it’s relevant for our research purposes.  By this I mean that the document gives us important events on someone’s life.  When these details are combined, they allow us to create a timeline.  Furthermore, findings often give the give the researcher a revelation regarding identity or location.

A Few Cautions to Take into Consideration

I have taken a German Paleography course from an excellent instructor, Professor Minert, here at Brigham Young University.  He has shared valuable insights to this topic, so I will be sharing, with his kind permission, a selection of them here.  A few of our readers will consider this advice obvious.  Other readers require gentle reminders or suggestions to guide their efforts.  I would like to express appreciation for the patience of those more experienced.

Like the student reading Shakespeare, many researchers waste their time on documents that have nothing to do with the task at hand.  If a document is presenting information on how roofing is to be done, then it’s probably not helpful.  Some experts will offer to read “every last word in a document.”  Such researchers are wasting their time and the client’s money.  To put it bluntly, customers want information directly pertinent to the ancestor in question—and they should want this type of data.

Despite a professional’s experience and today’s wide variety of resources, there are limitations that should be taken into account.  A researcher should never overstate his or her abilities.  Failure to measure up to such standards will damage the reputation of the expert and possibly someone who made the referral.  My professor explained that if someone promises to find ancestors’ names, he or she “is a fool or a liar.”  This may seem harsh, but no one guarantee absolute success.

Birth and Baptismal Records

Civil officials were primarily concerned about birth information.  Baptismal information usually was omitted, because government and church records were separate.  Sometimes, parents would claim that there son was a daughter—in order to avoid military service.  In various French areas, officials claimed to have “methods” for verifying a child’s gender to crack down on misinformation.

Many religions considered baptism to be more important than birth.  Hence, the “first records” (those in the 16^th and 17^th centuries) often times excluded this information.  Soon after Napoleon’s time (the 1800s), these became more detailed.  One misconception is that illegitimate children were not baptized—at least that was my initial impression.  In reality, most children were regardless of parentage.

Suppose that we’re looking for a man named Wilhelm, whose father’s name was Ignatz.  We then find a church record that tells us that Wilhelm had three brothers and a sister and mentions Ignatz as the father.  Later, we find a birth certificate that reveals that Wilhem’s “father” was a legal guardian.  The inclination for many of us is to say that one source is more valuable than the other.  Often times, secular and religious sources tell the whole story.

Death Records

While both institutions kept death records, government authorities often gave more details than those given by ecclesiastical leaders.  In their documents, one must skip a multitude of names before finding the deceased person(s).  In the religious realm, death records were in existence long before marriage records.  Information was initially simple and became more detailed over time.  A church record may reveal the location of Heinrich’s gravesite, but will likely lack the legal information provided in civil records.

Marriage Records

The various administrations legally recognized marriages.  With the various implications that came with marriage, there were many details to record (such as the change of surname for women).  Marriage records could take up an entire page, sometimes two.  Historically, marriage has been one of the most important events in German history (and it still is today).  In many cases, a wedding day was described in greater detail than the occurrence of death.  In the 1500s and 1600s, records typically mentioned the names of the spouses and the date.  Later on (typically during the 19^th century), parents and witnesses were mentioned.

Two Different Formats: Pre-printed and Written Sources

Another aspect to consider is the formatting of records—whether they were ecclesiastical or governmental.  Pre-printed records have charts with a set criterion.  These are easy to search, but discourage the recording of some items.  For instance, a church record may neglect to mention that the parents are guardians (not biological parents).  Records with written entries require the author to write material without clear guidelines.  This method allows more space for detail but may encourage the recording of “less important” details.

The two death records placed above illustrate some key differences.  In the first, Bartholomäus Gigl’s death record shows us a pre-printed format.  The headings utilize a quick reading.  We see that he is marked as a Catholic Man (Katholish and Mannlich) and died at the age of 78.  However, we don’t get much insight about his marital status here.  Also, when the author gives a description of the person’s state (Stand), we can see that he’s trying to write small—so that he has space to include the details.

In our second example, Sophia Schönholtz’s death record shows written entries that are placed vertically.  The only heading is the month and year (January 1770).  The lady is the second person mentioned on day 29.  The author does tell us a region or city from whence she came, as well as the age at death (45 years).  However, this record does not give us any more details.

Conclusion

Every record relating to events are important because each of them helps us better understand someone’s life.  Don’t waste time on a record if it has no relevance.  Whatever record you work with, remember to pull out key details.  As much as possible, use both ecclesiastical and civil records—as practically all Germans had some religious association.  Thanks for reading this week’s entry.  Next time, I will discuss the Gothic and Fraktur alphabets—both of which are used in old German records.

A Brief Overview of "German" History

Religious association in the German Empire (or German Reich), which was impacted by the Reformation.  The green areas indicate stronger Catholic influence, while the tan areas indicate strong Protestant influence.  Courtesy of Angr on Wikimedia Commons.  (Click to enlarge.)

Welcome to my first German Family History Blog.  In this series, I will be discussing basics of German genealogical research.  In today’s post, I will be giving a brief history of “Germany,” going from 1500 onward.  This summary will help modern researchers better understand central Europe and provide them with a basic foundation.

“Germany” within the Holy Roman Empire:

During the 16^th century, modern-day Germany was part of the Holy Roman Empire.  Rulers of the Holy Roman Empire—and later on, German rulers—were called Kaiser, which was derived from the Latin Caesar.  Most of the subjects were Roman Catholic by tradition.  One monk, Martin Luther who is credited with beginning the Protestant Reformation, voiced opposition to religious teachings and practices.  Hostilities between Catholics and Protestants escalated into wide-spread conflict, called the Thirty Years War (1618-1648).

During 1648, various treaties established the Peace of Westphalia.  At this time, the Holy Roman Empire had roughly 300 territories.  Some of the areas were very small, sometimes just a few square miles.  Napoleon Bonaparte rose to power and began conquering nearby regions and merged them into the French Empire.  In 1806, the Holy Roman Emperor Francis II was forced to resign after losing multiple battles.  Napoleon created a French satellite-state called the Confederation of the Rhine.

Rise of Germany as a Military Power

Seeking their own autonomous leadership, 39 territories replaced the Confederation of the Rhine with the German Confederation in 1815.  About 50 years afterwards, the Kingdom of Prussia rose to prominence and led the creation of the North German Confederation (1866-1871). 

Neighboring Austria had exerted its influence on Hungary and southern-Slavic nations, especially Yugoslavia.  Since the mid-19^th century, tensions had been building up between European powers.  The assassination of Franz Ferdinand, an Austrian prince, brought about the Great War (or World War I).  Despite general enmity towards Austrian leaders (particularly from the British Empire, Russia, and France), the German Kaiser ran to their aid.  Germany and Austria were defeated by the opposing combatants.  The former was required to make war reparations and once again cede territory to neighboring countries (including France).

German Nationalism Emerges Again

Following this defeat, the “German states” formed the Weimar Republic in 1919, named after the new capital.  Many national parties sought to restore the former prestige and glory of the Empire.  One of these groups, known as the Nazis (the National Socialist German Workers' Party) surpassed the others.  On 30 January 1933, their leader Adolf Hitler became Chancellor.  The party promised economic and social reform to the impoverished citizens.

Hitler began wanted to bring together German-speaking areas, including Austria along with parts of the Czech Republic and Poland—the latter through invasion.  These military advances provoked reaction by neighboring countries.  The resulting World War II began in 1939 and claimed millions of lives—both in soldiers and civilians.  After enduring brutal warfare with German forces, soldiers from the newly formed Soviet Union entered Berlin in 1945.  After the surrender of Nazi Germany, the nation was divided between France, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the Soviet Union.  The Soviets also built a wall separating eastern Germany from their western counterpart.  In 1990, the Berlin Wall came down and Germany was re-united once more.

Even through recent times, “Germany” has gone through numerous changes.  For much of its history, the nation we know today was split among various kingdoms, duchies, states, and cities.  It took nearly 150 years for their national ambition to be fully realized.  About 10% of Canadians and almost 20% of Americans claim German descent.  Despite the ethnic diversity of the United States, the most widely claimed ancestry is German.  Thanks for reading this week’s blog!  Next week, I will be discussing documents and their usefulness.