i found some links. maybe you've already looked at these sites?
http://germanoriginality.com/heritag...logy_links.php
http://www.samsawadee.com/sams-place/immigrant.html
http://www.dpcamps.org/books.html
http://www.allgenerations.org/search...thruoct08.html
http://members.iinet.net.au/~gduncan/more_facts.html
[this one may be hard to read][/QUOTE]
Thank you

-- and yes, I am familiar with some of them. The German-origin ones, not so much, as I know my parents were both born and lived in Poland before they were forced out of their homes and sent to Germany. Although--they may come in handy when I officially start the ancestry trace.
Infinitefemme - I found a local LDS church (with library access). When I decide to start researching past my grandparents, I'll utilize their services. Thanks again for the info. It doesn't hurt to give it a try and maybe I'll be surprised.