What is a Palatine?
So many German-speaking immigrants were from the Palatinate (Pfalz) region during the 1600-1700’s that English-speaking people soon called anyone who spoke German a "Palatine."
The name of our Society refers to ALL German-speaking immigrants to America, including people from Germany, Austria, Alsace, Belgium, Brazil, Italy (South Tyrol), Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, Poland, Russia, Switzerland, Denmark, Netherlands, Slovakia, Kazakhstan, Namibia, Romania and Ukraine.
The Indiana Chapter
The Indiana Chapter was the second state chapter of Palatines to America to be formed. The first organizational meeting was held at a private home in 1976. The first formal meeting of the chapter was held April 16, 1977.
Through our regular spring and fall conferences, our collaborative learning series and our quarterly newsletters, we provide the opportunity to enhance the value of membership in the national Palatines to America Germany Genealogy Society. We have members who live in Indiana and the surrounding states, and also members from far and wide who are interested in Germanic genealogy generally and/or in the Midwest region. We are dedicated to helping research and document our Indiana German ancestors.
