I just heard on the news today, that the Swiss government, together with the Swiss Embassy in the US and commercial partners, started an interesting website which aims to bring together Swiss emigrants in the USA and Swiss people.

Here is the raw content of the guestbook, ranging from April 1997 to November 2005. Consider this as an archive, many links and e-mail addresses are outdated. There won't be any other guestbook on this website because since it started, it has evolved a lot. Consider this:

• Then, a lot of people didn't have a personal e-mail address yet in order to contact us but now, it is easy to get a free web-based e-mail address should one not have one yet.
• Some just wanted to say hello, say that they are part of the family, now they can register with the web site and actively take part in the shaping of its content.
• Some wanted to know whether we have more details about this or that person, now they can log into the family tree and see everything we know.
• And finally, some posted an extensive report about their family which they still can do now, by submitting news.

Part one covers the years 1998-1997.

Par two covers the years 2000-1999.

Part three covers the years 2005-2001

While working on the family tree, I came across an individual not linked to anyone else, neither as child, neither as husband.

Have you been confused when editing the family tree? Have you been wondering how to add children to a person or similar?

So, you are coming to Switzerland and try to fill some gaps in your family tree? If you are serious about your research, you will have a lot to prepare before crossing the pond.

All evidence indicates that the Iseli Family originated as Swiss peasants, many of whom were farmers. The various Iseli Shields are not related the Coat-of-Arms of any noble family. They are, for the most part, a product of a "shield fad" that took place during the 1700's. The Shields were simply the invention of specific individuals. Their descendants could use the same shield, or modified it to represent their own generation, or invent one of their own. Therefore it is important not to consider the shields as being "family shields" but rather shields of individuals.

Do you know about a historically notable Iseli? Or just an Iseli who deserved to appear in a dictionary? Add a comment to this article. Or if you have more material, submit us a news post!

This interesting branch of the Family was started by Johannes Iseli, a Swiss mercenary working for the Dutch in colonial Indonesia. After WWII, most of his descendants left Indonesia during the difficult early day of independence. Most of family resettled in Holland, but a few immigrated to America in the 1950's.