Thousands of Germans from Russia immigrated to the United States in the 17th and 18th centuries, many to the Upper Midwest. What did they bring with them? A prayer book. A gold gross. A pair of socks. A sewing basket. A scrap of paper. Sandy Schilling Payne will explore storytelling through the “eyes” of these treasured objects our Germans from Russia ancestors brought with them and left behind for their descendants.

Sandy Schilling Payne will present “What They Carried: Storytelling Through Objects” for the St. Cloud Area Genealogists online on Tuesday, October 21, 2025 at 7 p.m. at Stearns History Museum (235 33rd Ave S., St. Cloud). The presentation will be available remotely and will be recorded for members of SCAG and registered guests.

Sandy Schilling Payne is a descendant of Black Sea Germans on both sides of her family - Lutherans from the Glückstal colonies and Catholics from the Kutschurgan colonies. Her interest in genealogy began in 1994, and she has since researched her German ancestors into the modern-day countries of Germany, France, Switzerland, Poland, Serbia, Ukraine, Moldova, Russia, Canada, and the United States. She is a part of the Black Sea German Research group, the webmaster for the Glückstal Colonies Research Association, and the author of the Germans from Russia Settlement Locations project.

Stearns History Museum (235 33rd Ave. S., St. Cloud) and synchronously online. The event will be recorded to watch for two weeks after event.

Free for members of St. Cloud Area Genealogists, $7 for Guests - register at scagmn.org/store at least 2 days prior to event.