Dear Robert Rothenbuhler I'd like to add my 2 cents to everything that has been said about pre 1550 Swiss research. What has been said is very good info for your follow up. What I would like to add is that if you do not have a copy of "Handy Guide to Swiss Genealogical Records" by Jared H. Suess get it now. It is excellent and can be ordered from The Everton Publishers, Inc. P.O. Box 368 Logan, Utah 84321. It will cost you about $7.00. As an example of what you are looking for there are 2 tables: Table A shows at a glance the record sources available for a research problem in a particular century. Covers from 11th to 20th century. Table B provides more detailed information about the major records available. It will tell you the type of record, period covered, type of information given, and the availability of that record. Paul