In a message dated 99-08-23 18:56:19 EDT, you write: << Surely you can find some books or encyclopedias at your local public library which refer to these topics. >> Juergen & our other friends in Germany, I wish it was true that our libraries (or even our book stores) had something that would be helpful with our attempts at learning something of our ancestor's homeland. Unfortunately there's very little in the way of that here in the States. I've checked at Barnes & Noble, plus other "chain bookstores", & it's very disappointing to see what's available. As for local libraries, ours has exactly one book that has any info on the German area for the time frame that most of us are intersted in. The book is well over 400 pages, & only the first 188 pages are devoted to the time before 1900. And only 118 pages cover the entire time from Julius Ceasar to Bismarck!! As you can probably figure out from that, there's not a lot of detail about the history! It's mainly a list of who was Emperor, who was Pope, & if they did or didn't get along! There are 2 maps that show some of the towns, & have the kingdoms or duchies marked with only broad curves of letters - no boundaries or anything to go on. It would be absolutely wonderful if there were books of German local history that would be translated into English so we could learn the things we want to know. Over here there are piles of books about the histories of all 50 of our states. I'm sure things like that exist in Germany too, but we "Ammies" have no access to them, & most of us couldn't read them in their original language anyway. There may be books available somewhere, but our local library system (which covers a large area) doesn't have any, & to order a book "out of system" you have to know the title. And there's no way to learn that at all unless someone tells you about a specific book. (Even then, it may be a book hundreds of miles away that's "reference only" & can't be loaned out.) I do have 2 books about my ancestors' home town of Schale, Westfalen. They're in German, which I don't read, but I bought them anyway & am trying to puzzle out what they say. I found these books completely by accident. I doubt many people are as lucky. And how many towns in Germany have published books about their own history? As for the book stores, even a subject search is usually no help. Looking up "Germany" will turn up books like the one I mentioned our library has, plus a few other books that cover "general German history" - which are the same. I've looked at some of these, & they are sorely lacking in anything helpful. The vast majority of books about Germany that can be found in America are (and I really hate to even say this) concerned only with WW2 & Hitler! So, until some enterprising folks decide to gather up real German history books & translate them into English, I'm afraid we're pretty much in the dark over here! It's very sad & extremely frustrating. And that means folks will keep asking what I know seem like "silly questions" over & over. I wish it were otherwise. Definitely! Gloria (Landwer) Scott