Who do we think we are? A journey of ancestral discovery with author Claire Gebben

Like generations before her, author Claire Gebben kept in contact with the German side of her family via letter writing. A few years ago, she received a fantastic surprise when her relatives in Germany discovered old letters in their attic written by Claire’s ancestors, German immigrants to Cleveland, Ohio. The discovery led to the historical novel The Last of the Blacksmiths (Coffeetown Press, 2014), based on the true story of MICHAEL HARM, a 19th century blacksmith from the Bavarian Rhinelands who travels to America to follow his dreams of freedom and prosperity. To research the novel, the author embarked on a journey that included four days of intensive blacksmithing and a month-long stay in the German Rhinelands. In her powerpoint presentation she’ll share discoveries, adventures, and genealogy tips learned while writing the book.