Membership Information
The German-Texan Heritage Society is a statewide non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and promoting the German cultural heritage of Texas. Founded in 1978, the Society has a long-standing record of community enrichment, achieved through:
Cultural events – Maifest, Oktoberfest, the Christmas Market, and an Annual Meeting
Educational resources – statewide German language program, monthly speaker series, genealogy services, research library
Publishing – German-Texan history and genealogy books, quarterly Journal, bi-monthly Schulhaus Reporter, monthly E-Kurier
Social gatherings – weekly Stammtisch (German-speaking lunch), German film night, and pot-luck dinners
We welcome everyone with an interest in German culture, German language, and/or the history and heritage of German immigrants in Texas. Among our members you will find descendants of German-speaking people, researchers, genealogists, preservationists, historians, librarians, teachers, and students.
In addition to joining GTHS, you can also expand your membership to include the German Free School Guild. The German Free School was built in 1857 by German immigrants who came to Austin and discovered there was no public school system. The building was donated to the German-Texan Heritage Society in 1991 by artist Kelly Stevens, and the German Free School Guild was established to care for this historic treasure. The building serves as the society’s headquarters, and the Guild raises funds for GTHS through classes and cultural events held at the German Free School in Austin. Joining the Guild helps support the care of this facility and the programs held here.
