RootsWeb: APG-L Re: [APG] genealogy definitions

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Archiver > APG > 2008-01 > 1199661537

From: <>
Subject: Re: [APG] genealogy definitions
Date: Sun, 6 Jan 2008 17:18:57 -0600
References: <091101c850b1$b7eac8f0$2101a8c0@CEB>

Changes below are to the terms "genealogist," "forensic genealogist," "genealogical librarian," and "genealogy lineage specialist." Further refinements and discussion invited. Keep those cards and letters coming folks. Carolyn Earle Billingsley ____________________ A genealogist is one who studies the history of individual families and the kinship links among those families. Practitioners of genealogy may focus entirely on their own family, or they may pursue genealogy as either a profession or a scholarly field. A professional genealogist is one who earns part or all of their livelihood from the practice of some aspect of genealogy. A board-certified genealogist is one who has earned the credential Certified Genealogist (CG) from the Board for Certification of Genealogists www.bcgcertification.org through a rigorous examination that includes peer review of his or her written work. The credential designates the holder as one who has achieved above-average proficiency in core knowledge of source materials, record interpretation, research methodology, evidence analysis, and genealogical writing. (see also Certified Genealogist) Certified Genealogist and CG are service marks of the Board for Certification of Genealogists. Board-certified genealogists are those who have been authorized to use these distinctive designations after successfully completed a rigorous examination that includes peer review of their written work. The credential identifies the holder as one who has achieved above-average proficiency in core knowledge of source materials, record interpretation, research methodology, evidence analysis, kinship determination, and genealogical writing. A member of the Association of Professional Genealogists (APG) is one with an interest in genealogy in some area, who has paid their dues to the organization, signed a code of ethics, and is accountable to the association for any questionable behaviors in a dispute with a client. A genealogical lecturer is someone who, either on a volunteer or a paid basis, delivers oral presentations that address genealogical topics--typically but not necessarily, sources, methods, and standards--accompanied by appropriate lecture enhancements of an audio, visual, or written nature. Certified Genealogical Lecturer and CGL are service marks of the Board for Certification of Genealogists. They identify an individual who has earned the Certified Genealogist credential from the Board, and has passed further examinations of skill as a genealogical lecturer. A genealogical instructor is one who teaches a formal course of study or an integrated series of lessons that teach students to conduct their own genealogical studies. That instruction may take place in a local venue such as a college or university setting on in a specialized venue such as a genealogical institute. An instructor is able to plan a comprehensive teaching experience that is internally consistent across the full series, with the appropriate teaching aids. A forensic genealogist researches and identifies individuals of interest to a court of law, most usually in probate or real estate matters. ***{Melinde: I think this is succinct and accurate, but there is no mention in it of anything genealogical. What would you add to this definition to make it clear that, in the course of your duties, you are doing genealogical research or establishing genealogical connections within a legal framework? CEB] [Old definition] A forensic genealogist is one doing research, writing, and compilation for the purpose of establishing facts and/or evidence for a court of law. The practice of forensic genealogy may or may not require a private investigator's license, depending on the jurisdiction of the cases.Forensic research uses many historical genealogical techniques, but it may include additional methods, principles, and skills that differ from those of non-forensic genealogists, such as overseeing the burial of the decedent, the autopsy of the decedent, the extraction and testing of DNA from belongings, searching the decedents personal possessions, swearing in a court of law that the evidence found is accurate, and/or that the forensic genealogist is unrelated and does not have an interest in the outcome of the case in question, locating unclaimed assets, contacting heirs, interviewing and securing the signed depositions of living parties.] A genealogical librarian is library employee who assists persons researching family histories. This assistance can be directly to the library customer while providing reference services, bibliographic instruction, or genealogical programming. Some librarians further the research process behind the scenes by providing interlibrary loan services, cataloging genealogical and local history materials, or creating finding aids. Professional librarians are those who have received advanced educational training in the library field. A post-graduate degree equivalent to a Master of Library Science (M.L.S.) is most often considered the minimum level for most professional library positions. A house historian is a practitioner of genealogy and/or history in which one specializes in researching the history of a building and of the people who were involved with that building. Specialized skills include . . . Genealogy Lineage Specialist is one who engages in the type of research, writing, and documentation in establishing the kinship ties qualifying an individual for membership in a lineage society such as the Daughters of the Republic (DAR) or United Daughters of the Confederacy (UDC). An heir-searcher is A private investigator is A preservationist is An archivist is A genealogical editor is A local historian is A web master is one . . . And, Paula Stuart Warren, what do you call yourself, since you work in a very specialized field? And what about people who specialize in analysis of photographs within the genealogical context?