Volga German seminars April 26-28, Leavenworth

Portland, Ore. (17 March 2017) – On the barren Russian Steppe along the Volga River, 106 German colonies were established between 1764 and 1772 in response to the 1763 invitation of Catherine the Great for Western Europeans to move to the Russian Empire. More than 30,000 immigrants (mostly ethnic Germans) did so. To celebrate the 250th anniversary of the establishment of the colonies of Frank, Hussenbach, Kautz, Kolb, Norka, Walter and Yagodnaya Polyana in Russia, the Center for Volga German Studies at Concordia University in Portland is hosting a seminar at The Icicle Village Resort in Leavenworth, Wash. on April 26-28, 2017. Registration is $165 per person and includes all programs and two banquets. The public is invited to attend.

Sessions will focus on the founding of the Volga German colonies, location of the German origins of Volga German ancestors, demonstration of an old Volga German dialect, churches of the villages, rural life of the colonies, the events that led to emigration to North and South America and a session showing what exists of the former colonies today. Featured presenters include Steve Schreiber, director of the Center for Volga German Studies and village coordinator for Norka; Maggie Hein, genealogist and village coordinator for the colonies of Frank and Kolb; Jean Roth, village coordinator for the colony of Walter; Michael Frank, village coordinator for the colony of Kautz; Mike Lust, teacher; Reuben Miller, descendant of the colony of Norka and Dr. Richard Scheuerman of Seattle Pacific University and a descendant of the colony of Yagodnaya Polyana. Seminar sessions begin Wednesday, April 26, at 12:45 p.m. and end Friday, April 28, at 10:30 a.m.

For more information about the event, visit the website at http://cvgs.cu-portland.edu/events/2017Apr26.cfm or contact Valerie at highlife56.vm@gmail.com.

The Center for Volga German Studies was founded at Concordia University in 2004. This Center is the only one of its kind in the world and supports research into and preservation of the heritage, history, traditions and accomplishments of the Volga Germans and their descendants. Its collections include personal papers of numerous researchers along with historical documents, photographs, church records, books, journals and maps. The Center seeks knowledge and understanding of the relevance of Volga Germans yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Visit cvgs.cu-portland.edu.

Concordia University is a private, Lutheran, liberal arts university located in Portland, Ore., with a mission to prepare leaders for the transformation of society. Founded in 1905, Concordia University – Portland serves more than 9,000 students through its College of Education, College of Health & Human Services, College of Theology, Arts, & Sciences, School of Law, and School of Management. Visit http://www.cu-portland.edu.