Document #1 – Alois Betz’s wanderbuch, ca. 1846

Whoever took the time to organize these documents many years ago decided to label the wanderbuch as document #1. I’ll certainly agree that it is number one in several aspects: it’s the most fascinating of the documents, offers the most potential insight into Alois’ pre-emigration years, is easily the most fragile, and required the greatest number of 1200 DPI scans (29) and image processing steps (200+).

Even though we have been able to translate only a very little of the text in this book, it nonetheless tells us quite a bit about Alois. A wanderbuch was a document issued to an apprentice tradesman on the completion of his term with his first master. The apprentice was expected to hit the road with his tools and his few belongings and provide his services to different masters in different towns, i.e. to become literally a journeyman. As work was completed in each place an entry was made in the book by the master for whom the job was done, and invariably the entry was stamped by a local official. Here is an excellent example of another wanderbuch belonging to a man strikingly like Alois.

We know therefore that Alois was a skilled tradesman. The 1860 federal census lists his occupation as cabinet maker, and the word “Schreiner” used to describe his trade here and in other German documents is consistent with that. We know that he received the book in 1846 from his master, and that it was stamped by the landsgericht in Kipfenberg, costing him 3 kreutzer. We know that he then traveled to a large number of places to work, as will be seen by the entries in the book. If we can manage to translate any of them we may learn a great deal more, but this will be a difficult chore.


Wanderbuch - front cover

Wanderbuch – front cover

Wanderbuch front cover. Unmarked. Label added at a later date.


Wanderbuch - inside front cover

Wanderbuch – inside front cover

Wanderbuch inside front cover. Liner was at one point written on but has been removed.


Wanderbuch - page 1

Wanderbuch – page 1

Wanderbuch, page 1.


Wanderbuch - pages 2 and 3

Wanderbuch – pages 2 and 3

Page 2 contains a stern warning against forging entries, signed by Alois to show that he understood the penalties. Page 3 contains Alois’ personal information as well as the name of his trade.


Wanderbuch - pages 4 and 5

Wanderbuch – pages 4 and 5

Wanderbuch, pages 4 and 5.


Wanderbuch - pages 6 and 7

Wanderbuch – pages 6 and 7

Wanderbuch, pages 6 and 7.


Wanderbuch - pages 8 and 9

Wanderbuch – pages 8 and 9

Wanderbuch, pages 8 and 9.


Wanderbuch - pages 10 and 11

Wanderbuch – pages 10 and 11

Wanderbuch, pages 10 and 11.


Wanderbuch - pages 12 and 13

Wanderbuch – pages 12 and 13

Wanderbuch, pages 12 and 13.


Wanderbuch - pages 14 and 15

Wanderbuch – pages 14 and 15

Wanderbuch, pages 14 and 15.


Wanderbuch - pages 16 and 17

Wanderbuch – pages 16 and 17

Wanderbuch, pages 16 and 17.


Wanderbuch - pages 18 and 19

Wanderbuch – pages 18 and 19

Wanderbuch, pages 18 and 19.


Wanderbuch - pages 20 and 21

Wanderbuch – pages 20 and 21

Wanderbuch, pages 20 and 21.


Wanderbuch - pages 22 and 23

Wanderbuch – pages 22 and 23

Wanderbuch, pages 22 and 23.


Wanderbuch - pages 24 and 25

Wanderbuch – pages 24 and 25

Wanderbuch, pages 24 and 25.


Wanderbuch - pages 26 and 27

Wanderbuch – pages 26 and 27

Wanderbuch, pages 26 and 27.


Wanderbuch - pages 28 and 29

Wanderbuch – pages 28 and 29

Wanderbuch, pages 28 and 29.


Wanderbuch - pages 30 and 31

Wanderbuch – pages 30 and 31

Wanderbuch, pages 30 and 31.


Wanderbuch - pages 32 and 33

Wanderbuch – pages 32 and 33

Wanderbuch, pages 32 and 33.


Wanderbuch - pages 34 and 35

Wanderbuch – pages 34 and 35

Wanderbuch, pages 34 and 35.


Wanderbuch - pages 36 and 37

Wanderbuch – pages 36 and 37

Wanderbuch, pages 36 and 37.


Wanderbuch - pages 38 and 39

Wanderbuch – pages 38 and 39

Wanderbuch, pages 38 and 39.


Wanderbuch - pages 40 and 41

Wanderbuch – pages 40 and 41

Wanderbuch, pages 40 and 41.


Wanderbuch - pages 42 and 43

Wanderbuch – pages 42 and 43

Wanderbuch, pages 42 and 43.


Wanderbuch - pages 44 and 45

Wanderbuch – pages 44 and 45

Wanderbuch, pages 44 and 45.


Wanderbuch - pages 46 and 47

Wanderbuch – pages 46 and 47

Wanderbuch, pages 46 and 47.


Wanderbuch - pages 48 and 49

Wanderbuch – pages 48 and 49

Wanderbuch, pages 48 and 49.


Wanderbuch - inside back cover

Wanderbuch – inside back cover

Wanderbuch, inside back cover.


Wanderbuch - back cover

Wanderbuch – back cover

Wanderbuch, back cover.


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