If you're not related to one of the surnames at this site, stick around anyway. There's plenty to enjoy, and we explain what right here on this page.If you have found your way here because you're related to one of our surnames, then ''Hello cuz!'' We have been researching these families for three decades now, and have traced some of them back to the 1600s. Slowly we're putting our databases online, but with some 2,500 names, it will take a while to get everything up and running.
Meanwhile, we are just as interested with who is alive today as we are with those who passed before us. That's why the purpose of this web site is twofold: to keep up with family events - who's getting married, having babies, graduating from school - as well as preserve our rich history.
The pages on this site are updated quite frequently. Keep an eye on our banner for what's new. (If you're browser can't read the banner, visit the What's Happening site for updates.)
Now, what's to see and do here.
Well, that's about it. Have a good time and drop us a line if you have a mind to.
- FAMILY TREE PAGES: We've started putting our family trees online, starting with our oldest ancestors. The SEARCH SURNAMES button on the home page provides a quick summary of the surnames and cities found at each site. The Willig, Seigfried, and Schleis pages are interactive sites, where you can click on icons for additional graphics, pictures or fun information. The Schnitzler site is not yet updated in this way, but basic information is still there.
- WHAT'S HAPPENING:For family members, this is a fun way to keep track of who's celebrating birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, new births, etc. A link to our photo scrapbook can be found here, as well as updates of what's new on the pages.
- ART, LINKS & LETTERS:The name says it all. We've got art, like photos of the actual ocean liners our ancestors brought to this country. We've got links, like those that take you to the Donauschwaben history page that reveals what our ancestors were up to 200 years ago. And we've got letters - actually, we've got the email addresses for family members. The letters are up to you!
- CLASSIC RECIPES:Here's where you can find recipes that have won our annual reunion Cook-Off and Bake-Off competitions, as well as traditional favorites found on the dinner tables of Schleis, Seigfried, Schnitzler and Willig families everywhere!
- THE CULTURE CORNER:Our talented and humorous family members strut their stuff here. We've got poems, short stories, jokes, games and artwork. Stop by and browse. We're a small library - but growing.
By the way, these pages were designed to be viewed with Netscape 3.0 in mind, so we hope it looks as pretty to you as it does to us!