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From: Sharon Sergeant <>
Subject: [APG] "licensed genealogist"
Date: Sun, 6 Apr 2003 08:17:20 -0700 (PDT)
In-Reply-To: <5.1.1.6.2.20030403140534.03248490@mail.oz.net>


Hello,
During the April 3 Massachusetts legislature hearings concerning proposed changes to vital records
access, a committee chairman asked if any states licensed genealogists.

The context was the discussion of legitimate versus illegitimate uses of vital records
information. In Massachusetts in particular, the issues break down into 4 major categories -

Records index access - the path to the record
Records viewing access - the full contents of the record
Records copies - certified for legal purposes (school entrance, driver's license, Social Security
etc) as opposed to other purposes, such as genealogical research
Records linking by social security number versus BMD linking

The Massachusetts Secretary of State is back to defending the Open Records laws (dating to the
early 1600s) as the umbrella that Vital Records should remain under (with particular restrictions
for still births, out of wedlock births and adoptions - although all of these issues currently
have proposed changes, eg to ameliorate issues related to statewide out of wedlock births
currently averaging 20 per cent). [note: I would not be surprised if the Secretary of State's
office was motivated to return to this stance as a result of the Massachusetts Genealogical
Council (MGC) publication of 1600s information - nicely researched by APGer and MGC board member
Mary Ellen Grogan, so I would encourage folks who run into issues in their states to do what you
do best - dig through the records for precedents and proof of intent :)]

I suspect that the Open Records statutes inclusion of Vital Records will hold up for viewing
access, but that an automated and centralized records system may require access through some form
of ID verification and also restrict certified copies on security paper - which I don't think is
unreasonable. I think the removal of Social Security numbers may be a moot point [just because the
information has been used in so many places for so long] but is the subject of many legislative
actions nationwide. The goal of tieing birth, marriage and death records is a very ambitious goal
- unless they start employing genealogists :)

Fortunately, the Massachusetts House committee chairman has done research on his own family and I
happened to have done some research for the family of the woman who runs the office of the
Massachusetts Senate chairman, so they are not unfamiliar with family history research. However,
it is clear that they do not understand the rigorous nature of the formal methodologies nor do
they know how to think about the research process in terms of records custodian procedures to
differentiate issues of access and records procurement.

They did get a very detailed testimony from a professional who described heir searches, title
clarifications and other commercial transactions using genealogical methods, as well as his
military security experience and concerns about the legislature's need to investigate practical
security measures.

I sent followup information to the committee after the hearing for the GENTECH genealogical data
model process steps diagram
(http://gentech.org/ngsgentech/projects/Gdm/Process_GENTECH_Data_Model_1.0.pdf) and the APG
website information (to illustrate both the breadth of the professions involved in genealogy and
information on the various certification bodies).

The idea of licensing of genealogists may be their way of ameliorating ID Theft concerns or simply
generating revenue.

I also sent them examples of what kind of information is now widely available (using the committee
chairmen names and addresses in the exercise) through http://anybirthday.com. I suggested that
they could confirm that the info available there is the result of the sale of identifying data by
the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (and other state agencies) such that contemporary
birth date data and family composition can be created fairly readily with the 5-10 year old info -
hopefully clarifying that closing records for 50-100 years is an exercise. It is easier and
cheaper to get enough information for fraud from sources other than vital records searches.

I also pointed to studies that show that ID Theft victims are largely the result of credit card
fraud through means other than vital records, and that the credit company lobby to keep credit
loose, simultaneously adds salt to the wound of those who are victimized by making it a horrible
exercise to prove their innocence, proving the negative.

However, the issue of vital records certificates as proof of the data accessed may fall into an
arena of regulation and licensing - even with the records open for viewing, so the question in my
mind is if there is any benefit to the licensing of genealogists for such purposes.

New York issues certificates for genealogy that are not acceptable for legal purposes. Connecticut
requires records researchers to be members of a Connecticut genealogical association.

Are there other states that provide such differentiations?

If a state, such as Massachusetts were to license genealogists, how would professional
genealogists want that type of regulation to be structured?

Is there any parallel that might be drawn from you folks who are attorneys, private investigators
or bonded for any other purpose?

Cyndi's inquiry may just be a "head's up" on "licensed genealogist" trends.

Thanks for your thoughts on these issues,
Sharon Sergeant

--- Cyndi Howells <> wrote:
> Hi all -
>
> I received a question from a lady today who wants to become a "licensed
> genealogist." The type of questions she asked, along with others I have
> received recently, led me to reevaluate the way that one of my categories
> is structured:
> Professional Researchers, Volunteers & Other Research Services
> http://www.CyndisList.com/profess.htm
>
> After fiddling with it this morning, updating links and adding new links,
> the sub-categories on that page are now as follows:
> General Resources
> Becoming a Professional
> Certification & Credentials
> Hiring a Professional
> Societies & Groups
> Speakers & Authors
> Alphabetical Index of Professional and Volunteer Research Services
>
> Please take a look at the new format when you have time and feel free to
> send me suggestions and updates. New links can be submitted here:
> http://www.CyndisList.com/newlink.htm
>
> Thanks,
> Cyndi
>
>
> ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
> Cyndi Howells
> Edgewood, Washington
>
>
> Cyndi's List of Genealogy Sites on the Internet
> http://www.CyndisList.com
>
>

=====
Sharon Sergeant
Ancestors and Ephemera
http://GenealogyFair.com
Bring Your Ancestors Home!

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