Portrait of Thomas J. Hoffman and his wife Lenni Hoffman.

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Researchers interested in viewing the Thomas J. Hoffman Collection should contact acacia.stuckle@ndsu.edu for details.

-NDSU Libraries Announces the Thomas J. Hoffman Collection available with Index Search

How acquired: The Germans from Russia Heritage Collection (GRHC) became beneficiary of this historically significant donation upon the request of Thomas Joseph Hoffman, a native of Mandan, Morton County, North Dakota.   Significance: Mr. Hoffman’s thirty-five year passion for German-Russian genealogies of Catholic families (which peaked in the years 2000-2002), focused on the Morton County locales of Solen and St. Anthony, including the prominent Leingang families of Mandan, the county seat. His exhaustive historical records from Germany, Eastern Europe, and North American archives also reveal little-known secondary migration patterns in Kamenka (Volga) to Beresan District; Siberia (Tashkent) and South America. Saskatchewan and Alberta migrations are strongly documented, as well as the Central and Northern Plains of the United States and Western Canada.   Summary of Contents: The Thomas J. Hoffman Collection emphasizes the marriages, births, and deaths in the genealogies and related heritage of Catholic German families, who have origins in Alsace, Rhineland-Pfalz, Baden, Franconia, and Wuerttemburg regions, who have immigrated to Black Sea colonies in the Russian Empire [Beresan, Kutschurgan, Liebental, Bessarabia, some Crimea, Prishib-Molotschna, some Mariupol, and some Trans-Caucasus]. Also included are some (Balzer/ Kamenka) of Volga, Dobrudscha (Romania), Bukovina (Hungary), Banat (Hungary), Silesia (north of Lemberg), Galacia, who have “diasporas” worldwide, with emphasis to Saskatchewan, Western Canada, and the United States.
	Wedding portrait of Adam P. Leingang and Frances Tecla Bender, circa 1900. Photographer is Butler Studio, Bismarck, North Dakota.
	Double marriage: wedding portrait of Ralph Schaffner and Dorothy Werlinger at St. Anthony, Morton County, North Dakota, 14 September 1914.
	Double marriage: wedding portrait of John Schaffner and Katherina Werlinger at St. Anthony, Morton County, North Dakota, 14 September 1914.

Disclaimer:

The following information has been entered verbatim, as received, from material of the Thomas J. Hoffman family. Given the discrepancies that can contribute to error in interpreting genealogical records and other, no one can guarantee their complete accuracy. The Thomas J. Hoffman Collection is offered as a source for those seeking genealogical and family research information. Researchers must use judgment and do their own verification.

1. Access is limited only to Germans from Russia Heritage Collection staff members.

2. Collection is housed in a controlled and restricted area.

3. Browsing or researching of original collection at the NDSU Libraries is not permitted unless arranged with the GRHC staff.

4. Requests for information are available as entire files only, as shown in The Thomas J. Hoffman Collection search engine or printed complete file listing.

5. Copies of any materials from the collection, must be requested with letter only including pre-payment.

Mailing Address:
Germans from Russia Heritage Collection
Thomas J. Hoffman Collection
The Libraries
North Dakota State University
P.O. Box 5599
Fargo, ND 58105-5599 USA

Captions for Website Photographs:

All photos are courtesy of the Thomas J. Hoffman Collection

Photograph captions were prepared by Germans from Russia Heritage Collection staff. If you have additional information or corrections, please contact:

Michael M. Miller, Director and Bibliographer
Germans from Russia Heritage Collection
NDSU Libraries
PO Box 5599
Fargo ND 58105-5599 USA
Michael.Miller@ndsu.edu

Thomas J. Hoffman Photographs:

Identified Photographs
Unidentified Photographs

Please contact the GRHC if you are interested in purchasing photographs from the Thomas J. Hoffman Collection.