Recherche dans la collection - Bochum collection of emigrant letters [textual record] Bochumer Auswanderer-Brief Sammlung

The fonds was received from Professor Wolfgang Helbich of Ruhr-Universitaet, Bochum, Germany, in 1988.

The project to collect the letters of German emigrants to North America was begun in 1982 on the initiative of Professor Wolfgang Helbich of Bochum University, Germany. Since then, some 5,000 letters were collected, dating from the 1820s to the 1920s. Once collected, the letters were transcribed so as to be readily readable for readers of 20th century German. At the same time, information was collected on writers of the letters and their families. Although most of the letters were written by people who settled in the United States, which received the bulk of German emigrants, some of the letters were written by emigrants who settled in Canada or passed through Canada on their way to the United States.

The letters were copied from originals held by Ruhr-Universitaet Bochum, Bochum, Germany, Postfach 102148.

Textual records are in the German language.