Prof. Treadway will take you on six short geographical and historical “road trips” relating to German settlements in various part of the Old Dominion over the course of more than centuries, beginning with the arrival of the first “Dutchmen” at Jamestown in 1608 and ending with decline of a distinct German community in Virginia after World War I.  Emphasizing Palatine settlement in Virginia in the early years, Prof. Treadway will begin by touching on the first direct migration from German lands to north-central Virginia in the early 18^th century (the Germanna Colonies), which was soon followed by the first real “wave” of German migration into the Shenandoah Valley in western Virginia. 

 The focus of his discussion of 19^th century German settlement will be the role played by German Virginians in Richmond before, during, and after the American Civil War. Last but not least, Professor Treadway will point out some of the leading repositories for researching the history of Virginia Germans in the Richmond area!

Palatines to America German Genealogy Society has members who are researching their German-speaking ancestors from many different countries and regions. During the colonial period, so many German immigrants came from the Palatinate (Pfalz) region that the English-speaking colonists called everyone who spoke German a “Palatine.” Our society is interested in all German-speaking ancestors, not just those from the Palatinate region of Germany.