Thuringia (Thüringen) Directories

Fremdenbuch
In Handbook for Travellers on the Continent John Murray describes in 1845 onpage 196 that "all innkeepers are complelled to submit to the inspection of the police the daily arrivals and departures of their guests; and not merely the name, surname, and country, but frequently the age, conditions, whether married or single, profession, religion, motives for travelling and other particulars, are required. A book (called das Fremdenbuch = stranger's book) ruled into columns and methodically classed, is presented to the traveller for him to fill out". Questions asked are: date of arrival, name of foreigner, residence in town, occulation, Identification (pass port etc.), when issued, origin of foreigner, destination, day of departure.

There are some Fremdenbuch available for Sachsen-Weimar-Eisenach at www.familysearch.org, catalog, keyword search: Fremden, Fremden-Buch. Films can be ordered through the Family History Center network.