Join us for a hands-on tour of the records of German Society’s “Agentur” which dispensed aid to thousands of immigrants for over a century.

Thursday, October 12, 6:00 pm-7:30 pm
The German Society of Pennsylvania
611 Spring Garden St, Philadelphia, PA 19123
$15-$20
In-person
RSVP info: https://www.germansociety.org/classes/library-treasure-tour-a-century-of-immigrant-aid-the-german-societys-agentur-ledgers-1847-1947/

The German Society of Pennsylvania was founded in 1764 to aid newly arrived German immigrants in Philadelphia. For over two centuries, the Society offered financial and legal assistance to needy Germans. By the middle of the 19th century it had become apparent that it was no longer sufficient to handle the relief aspect of the Society’s work on an informal, volunteer basis, so it established the “Agentur,” an agency devoted to coordinating its welfare efforts. What remains are 72 bound ledgers full of hand-written entries documenting the plight of thousands of people who came to the German Society for help over 100 years. This tour will offer an up-close look into this fascinating aspect of Philadelphia’s immigration history.