Volga German Sesquicentennial Action Committee
The Volga German Sesquicentennial Action Committee is calling on the community to help preserve Ellis County’s rich Volga German heritage by submitting historical photographs, documents and personal stories for a forthcoming 2026 commemorative publication.
The committee is gathering high-quality images and narratives that showcase all aspects of Volga German immigrant life, from the settlers’ arrival in the 1870s to the present day.
Organizers say contributions will celebrate 150 years of Volga German influence in the region, marking the official sesquicentennial of their arrival in western Kansas in 1876.
The public submissions can cover a broad range of subjects: people and family life, historic buildings and churches, cultural traditions, the German dialect spoken by descendants, recipes and foods, or any other facet of Volga German life.
Personal stories and recollections are welcome in either first-person accounts or third-person narratives.
“We want to ensure this anniversary is celebrated not just with dates and facts, but with the voices and images of the families who built our communities,” said Amanda Rupp, executive director of the Ellis County Historical Society. “Preserving these family photos and stories is vital to understanding who we are as a community. It’s about capturing the everyday lives and traditions of the Volga German families that made this area their home.”
Submissions are being accepted through the project website, OurPeopleOurHome.org which was created to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Volga Germans arrival in Ellis County.
The site’s Submission Center allows users to upload images, videos or written stories, and contributors are asked to include captions or descriptions for any photographs.
Submissions will be considered for use online, on social media, and in the upcoming published book.
James Bell, publications chair for the Sesquicentennial Action Committee, said that materials from beyond Ellis County are welcome as well.
“We know the region’s Volga German story extends beyond Ellis County’s borders,” Bell said. “If families in surrounding counties have a shared heritage, we encourage them to contribute their stories and photos too. The more perspectives we include, the richer this collection will be.”
For those who have old prints, slides or artifacts that aren’t yet digitized, the committee is offering scanning assistance.
Individuals with physical photographs, letters or other documents can contact organizers via the website to arrange use of scanning equipment or other help in converting items to a digital format.
“If you have a box of old photographs or letters in the attic, we want to help you share those,” Bell said. “We have resources to safely scan and digitize these treasures so they can be part of this preservation effort. Every family keepsake has the potential to tell a story.”
Organizers emphasized that all submitted materials should be original (or submitted with permission of the owner) so that the content can be published without legal issues.
Contributors will retain ownership of their originals; the committee requests only the right to include the material in the sesquicentennial project.
The 150th anniversary celebrations are expected to span throughout 2026, honoring the legacy of the Volga German settlers who first arrived in Ellis County in 1876.
Ellis County became a hub for these immigrants in the late 1870s, when German families who had previously settled in Russia’s Volga River region came to the United States seeking new opportunities.
They established a number of local villages, such as Liebenthal, Catherine, Herzog (now Victoria) and others, that still cherish their Volga German roots.
The upcoming sesquicentennial festivities will highlight this heritage through exhibits, cultural demonstrations, and gatherings of descendants.
A calendar of events for 2026 is being developed and will be published on OurPeopleOurHome.org website as plans are finalized.
The American Historical Society of Germans from Russia has again chosen Hays to host its national conference in 2026, reflecting the area’s importance as a center of Volga German history.
The publication and events are an initiative of the Sesquicentennial Action Committee to engage the public in celebrating 150 years of Volga German contributions to the area.
Rupp said the success of the project depends on broad community participation.
“This project is truly about community collaboration,” she said. “Every photo album or family tale that gets shared brings us one step closer to preserving our history for the next generation.”
How to Submit
Community members can upload their materials via the Submit Materials page at OurPeopleOurHome.org.
Those needing assistance or more information may reach out through the site’s Contact Us form or call the Ellis County Historical Society.
The committee encourages early submissions as the commemorative publication will be compiled over the coming months in preparation for the 2026 festivities.
By contributing to OurPeopleOurHome.org local families can help paint a vibrant picture of Volga German life in Ellis County and ensure that our home and our people are remembered for generations to come.
For questions or more information email [email protected].