Dr. Juergen Groeschl, archivist of the Francke Foundations in Halle, Germany, will pay his first visit to Effingham County next week.

The Francke Foundations archives maintain a Georgia file of over 1,000 documents, mostly original letters from or to colonial Ebenezer. Dr. Groeschl collaborated with Dr. Russell Kleckley in producing the book of letters of Pastor Johann Martin Boltzius that was published in 2009. He also played a leading role in producing a 1999 book cataloguing and summarizing letters and other documents in the Francke Foundations’ Georgia file.

Dr. Groeschl is a leading authority on the Georgia Salzburgers. A long standing friend of the Georgia Salzburger Society, he has greeted and/or crafted exhibits of Georgia materials for several Georgia travel groups that visited the Foundations in Halle.

There will be a luncheon and reception for Dr. Groeschl at the New Ebenezer Retreat Center on Feb. 28 at 12:30 p.m. The cost per person is $8.25 (tax included).

To make reservations for the luncheon, please contact Vince Exley, (770) 926-3334 or oxcart1212@aol.com; or the GSS office, 754-7001 or gaslzbrgr@aol.com; or with Martha Zeigler, GSS Museum curator, 826-5629.