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Archiver > APG > 2007-09 > 1190245843


From: "Sharon Gayle" <>
Subject: Re: [APG] E: Origin of Practice of Keeping Family Records in Bibles
Date: Wed, 19 Sep 2007 18:50:43 -0500
References: <!~!AAAAAPVJg++TgcZHiMuUUbhpA2nk0ToA@HeritageBooks.com><008e01c7fa23$45658930$2101a8c0@CEB>
In-Reply-To: <008e01c7fa23$45658930$2101a8c0@CEB>


I agree with Carolyn. I love the concept, too. I'd be a charter subscriber
to that periodical.

However, I would not recommend excluding articles that report research based
upon qualitative methods. It has been nearly 10 years since I've taught
research methodology, but I'll try to make my argument brief.

Based upon the comments I've read thus far, there seems to be a perception
that most genealogical research is atheoretical in its underpinnings. Both
qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection and analysis have
complementary strengths and weaknesses. In short, there is no perfect,
comprehensive method that currently exists for research of the kind we are
discussing. Qualitative methods are actually better for *creating* theory
where none existed; quantitative is stronger at generalizing an existing
theory.

So if we want our discipline to move from being atheoretical to a discipline
that is based upon sound theory, we need to allow for qualitative and
quantitative methods and, as someone else has already stated, establish
training. However, I don't think that we need to re-invent the wheel here.
Colleges abound with courses in both types of research design and methods.
And (I predict) taking a course in research design might benefit the
genealogist by strengthening critical analysis skills (something else I've
seen discussed on this forum).


Regards,
Sharon
TeachMeGenealogy.com
Blog: Family History Research: Methods and Writing in Genealogy





-----Original Message-----
From: [mailto:] On Behalf
Of
Sent: Tuesday, September 18, 2007 1:40 PM
To: Craig Scott;
Subject: Re: [APG] E: Origin of Practice of Keeping Family Records in Bibles

Craig:

If you only knew how much I love this idea . . .

If it were up to me, I'd call it the _Journal of Theoretical Genealogy_ or
simply _The Journal of Genealogy_ or something similar. The mission
statement would be to elicit the underlying data beneath genealogy as a
whole, whether quantitative or qualitative. To me, this is more in keeping
with the overall themes I hear being proposed; that is, not necessarily
quantitative, but rather, investigating the overall theory behind some of
the tools, records, and thought processes we as genealogists use.

I can foresee articles about when the keeping of family data in Bibles began

(and the differences between Catholic and Protestant, for example),
including the research and reasoning behind it. Several people have written
about their experiences with family genealogies in Bibles dating back into
the 1700s and asking when Bible publishers began including these pages.
Throw in some of the anecdotal evidence (like grandfather said putting it in

the Bible was like swearing to its truthfulness). And voila . . . we have a
theory that all genealogists can refer to in their everyday work.

For example, recently I started a lecture by showing the local audience a
rock. Yes, a rock . . . the common milky white quartz on which this whole
area is built and with which it is permeated. Then I asked the question, Why

would your ancestors bypass the lovely, fertile soils of the Delta or of the

Arkansas River Valley or the nice loamy Gulf Coastal Plain, to come settle
in Saline County, which is a part of the foothills of the Ouachita Mountains

in central Arkansas, and, for the most part, is rock and shale, rather than
good soil? Especially since these people were farmers? Logically, one would
think, farmers would seek out the best soil possible.

The rest of the lecture pertains to the various theories about why this is
so, e.g., that people tended to migrate to the types of geography they were
used to and the types of farm land they already knew how to farm from their
previous place of residence. After all, people learned the ways of farming
or planting from their fathers, largely passed down from father to son, and
they knew how to grow corn in the valleys between hills and ridges, or they
knew how to plant cotton in river valleys, or whatever.

This type of issue is more conceptual, more theoretical, than the average
lecture about a particular family or group of families. It informs the work
of the vast majority of genealogists, who can then relate this type of
knowledge to _every_ family they research, rather than just a particular
family living in Saline County, Arkansas.

My book, _Communities of Kinship_, was also developed to inject some
theoretical basis into what genealogists do, as well as the concepts
underlying their work. Understanding how kinship and kinship groups function

and operate would seem to me to be basic to what we do. Again, it is not
only to be applied to one family in one location, but provides the
theoretical underpinnings for all we do.

I also like your idea of studying the creation of records and the evolution
of record keeping, and all the other things you listed. Another thing that
comes to mind is the many people who ask questions about insane asylums or
poor houses. Surely our discipline needs background material on these topics

. . . material that all of us can call on and will inform our specific
projects.

If we as a community started a journal that would help elicit this type of
research, it would be helpful to all. When doing your own research or client

research or developing a lecture, one could cite to the theories behind some

of their conclusions and assumptions, rather than relying on anecdotal
evidence or merely citing to your own experience.

So count me in. How can I help?

Regards, Carolyn
Carolyn Earle Billingsley, Ph.D.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Craig Scott" <>
To: "'Elizabeth Shown Mills'" <>; <>
Sent: Tuesday, September 18, 2007 12:43 PM
Subject: [APG] E: Origin of Practice of Keeping Family Records in Bibles


> Proposal
>
> That a quarterly electronic periodical, entitled _Quantitative Genealogy_
> be
> established.
>
> Purpose:
>
> That the purpose of this periodical will be to:
>
> Study the behavior that goes into the creation of records;
>
> Study the patterns of record creation;
>
> Study the evolution of record collection;
>
> Examine the underlying causes for creation of specific records;
>
> Create a quantitative understanding of records, records series, and record
> families;
>
> Convert "anecdotal evidence" into quantitative evidence; and
>
> Provide the place where genealogy-driven interpretative studies can be
> published.
>
> Format:
>
> That initially the periodical will be available electronically in two
> formats:
>
> 1) ad based, free subscription
>
> 2) non-ad based, for fee subscription
>
> 3) annually available on CD for a fee, but requires fee subscription
>
> Funding:
>
> Infrastructure costs to be borne initially by Heritage Books, Inc. for a
> period of three years with the idea that after three years the project
> will
> be self supporting.
>
> That an editorial board of nine members will be established to accomplish
> article acceptance, peer review, and the other sundry tasks associated
> with
> maintaining the high standards necessary for a scholarly publication.
> Persons interested in belonging to this board should submit vitae to:
>
> Quantitative Genealogy
> 65 East Main Street
> Westminster, MD 21157
>
> Target of January 2009 for first issue.
>
>
> The hitch:
>
> I want to be on the editorial board for the three years that Heritage
> Books
> provides funding. If anyone doubts I am qualified for this position, talk
> to
> Elizabeth. <G>
>
> Thanks, I have always wanted to get this done, but didn't think anyone but
> about three or four of us cared. Seems like the right time and the tools
> are
> in place for everything but the content. <G>
>
> Please pass this on to all that you think might be interested.
>
>
>
> C.
>
> Craig R. Scott, CG
>
>
> Midnight Madness is September 28, 2007 in case you were wondering.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Craig R. Scott, CG
> President and CEO
> Heritage Books, Inc.
> 65 East Main Street
> Westminster, MD 21157
> 800 876-6103
>
>
> 2266 books in print and growing. Visit www.HeritageBooks.com
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [mailto:] On Behalf
> Of Elizabeth Shown Mills
> Sent: Tuesday, September 18, 2007 12:14 PM
> To:
> Subject: Re: [APG] Origin of Practice of Keeping Family Records in Bibles
>
> I wrote:
>>This query points up one of the major deficiencies of our field--and one
>>of
> the reasons why other learned fields do not see our field as an equal in
> scholarship. Genealogical literature focuses primarily three things: (1)
> what records exist; (2) how to use those records; and (3) completed family
> units or solved problems based on those records.
>>Our literature is sorely deficient on the type of studies this historian
> seeks: (a) studies of the behavior that goes into the creation of those
> records; and (b) studies that delineate patterns within those records. In
> other words, we are not producing *interpretative* studies based on
> examining large numbers of a certain type of record to define its
> patterns.
> We can offer "anecdotal evidence," as Dave has just done, but we have not
> produced the kind of quantitative evidence that's needed to determine
> whether the anecdotes are the rule or the exception.
>>So, why does this deficiency exist? One basic reason: *We* aren't
> producing it.
>
>
> The thoughtful responses from Dave, Kathleen L. and M., Richard,
> Christine,
> Sharon, and Barbara are exactly what I had hoped the question would
> generate.
>
> Incentive or motivation is a major issue. Those of us who take clients
> derive no income from research projects of this type. Those of us who are
> academics are in departments other than "genealogy," and the
> research-and-writing we are expected to do is therefore in another field.
> Because we have so very few academic programs in genealogy, there is a
> dearth of students doing seminar papers, master's theses, and doctoral
> dissertations to help build this kind of literature base.
>
> Too, as Kathleen L points out, it *is* a matter of how we have been
> trained
> to think:
>>"Training isn't just a matter of skill development, but also of the way
>>one
> views/thinks about one's work, evidence, and the world in general. If one
> expects genealogists to take on something beyond what they're currently
> doing, then there needs to be appropriate training aimed at those new
> endeavors.
>
> But, as Kathleen goes on to say:
>>I conduct mini-studies like this all the time, but I was trained to do
> quantitative research; most genealogists are trained to do case studies.
>
> Our field does now have a significant number of Kathleens and Christines
> and
> Karens and Carolyns and Daves (and Elizabeths--at least two of us :) who
> *have* been trained to do quantitative research. But, as Kathleen says,
> our
> teachings focus primarily on case studies. Some of us have published
> genealogy-driven quantitative studies in journals and academic presses
> within other fields, but few of our genealogical colleagues are aware of
> them.
>
> In our literature (and, often, our literature searches), there is still an
> arbitrary divide between what is considered appropriate under the banner
> of
> genealogy and what is considered "outside the field." Does it have to be
> that way?
>
> A significant number of us on this list *do* write for journals--and
> underwrite research projects for those essays--knowing full well there
> will
> be no monetary compensation. Perhaps we should be asking another set of
> questions:
>
> - If we produce the kind of studies that create a foundation for genealogy
> as a discipline, where might we publish those studies?
> - Are our journals ready or able to move beyond "compiled genealogies" and
> "case studies" to publish--at least occasionally--quantitative or
> empirical
> studies that provide genealogists with something more than "technical"
> education?
> - Or, would the sponsors of those journals fear a loss of
> subscriptions/memberships unless everything in every issue is "hardcore
> genealogy."
> - If so, would our major societies consider publishing such studies as
> online offerings, separate and apart from their journals?
>
> I suspect we have a goodly number on this list, like Christine, who are
> intellectually challenged by the kind of projects that would provide
> theoretical and interpretive foundations for our field--if there were a
> venue in which their work could be published.
>
> Elizabeth
>
> -----------------------------------------------------
> Elizabeth Shown Mills, CG, CGL, FASG
> Advanced Research Methodology & Evidence Analysis
> Samford University Institute of Genealogy & Historical Research
>
>
>
>
>
>
> .
>
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