RootsWeb: TRANSITIONAL-GENEALOGISTS-FORUM-L Re: [TGF] Mary Petty - a transitional-genealogist's viewpoint onProfessional Genealogy

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From: "Mary E. Petty - Heirlines, Inc" <>
Subject: Re: [TGF] Mary Petty - a transitional-genealogist's viewpoint onProfessional Genealogy
Date: Sat, 9 Feb 2008 22:50:43 -0700
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Dee Dee, we have been looking at this issue for a very long time and have done surveying as well. Because of this I am committed to the patterns of success that I have seen other professions take to standardize and formalize and qualify their "industry". It took medicine over 50 years following the Civil War to do it here in America and we have been working on it since the mid 1960's certification and accreditation programs were developed. I think the elephant is getting eaten and you are one bright example of this move toward professional designation. The very best to you in you new adventure of getting a college degree in genealogy. Sincerely yours, Mary E. Petty, B.A. ============================================================== Ancestors are the People of History. Do you know who yours are?<br><br>Let the Professionals at HEIRLINES Family History & Genealogy find your ancestry! 1-800-570-4049 ▪ www.heirlines.com ▪ PO Box 893 ▪ Salt Lake City, UT 84110 -----Original Message----- From: [mailto:] On Behalf Of Dee Dee King Sent: Saturday, February 09, 2008 1:54 PM To: Subject: Re: [TGF] Mary Petty - a transitional-genealogist's viewpoint on Professional Genealogy Hey, Mary. Yes, you discuss a big picture very well. Problem is, the big elephant has to be eaten in little bites. Somewhere along the line we need to start quantifying so that we have _real_ info to look at, think about. One tiny bite of the elephant could be a voluntary survey of those transitioning (emerging) into the field _now_. What is really happening. Maybe that will help us in some small way to work on the bigger picture. Best regards, Dee ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mary E. Petty - Heirlines, Inc" <> To: Sent: Saturday, February 9, 2008 1:25:32 PM (GMT-0600) America/Chicago Subject: [TGF] Mary Petty - a transitional-genealogist's viewpoint on Professional Genealogy Dear Dee Dee and Carolyn, As practitioners in the industry of Professional Genealogy move towards professional designation and leave self-appointment behind as unprofessional, I am glad to hear that APG is interested in the views of a transitional-genealogist. Here are some of my thoughts and solutions for APG, today's practitioners, the Industry and the future of Professional Genealogy. I am a transitional-genealogist. I am very interested in this discussion on Professional Genealogy Research Services having worked with a professionally designated genealogist, James W. Petty, AG, CG, B.A. (History) B.S. (Genealogy) for nearly 40 years. Dee Dee King quoted me: "Since becoming a member of APG, there are frequent discussions, as Mary Petty mentioned: ... the professional route to designation as a professional genealogist/practitioner, the standards and the best practices (etc) of the professional genealogy research services industry. In our evolving industry, a discussion on these elements and a key player - the transitional-genealogist - is essential. .... And so we can not escape from a discussion about these elements because they will shape the practice and behavior of professional genealogy research services." As there are frequent discussions about defining the various specialties and even the term professional genealogist. Carolyn was somewhat goaded into taking on that little project. :-)" --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Every profession has the challenge and the responsibility to identify its practioners and standardize the route to professionalism in their field. To provide a sound and viable marketplace, each industry must educate the public as to who is qualified and a valid and recognized practitioner in the industry. Because professions desire to have a hand in their own destiny outside of governmental control, because future qualified practitioners are desired to continue the industry, because professional designation is in the best interests of and does serve the good will of the industry, the practitioner, the general public, the consumer, the hobbyist, future practitioners, and governments - the professional credentialing process has been developed and instituted as the route to professional designation as an industry-specific practioner. The hallmarks of this process are Qualifier, Credibility, and Accountability. Let's look at 4 professions- Professional Genealogy is the industry name - the highest level of practitioner is professionally designated a Professional Genealogist. Entry level practitioner may be earned or self- designated and is unlicensed - except for business license, and is non-industry regulated. Professional Education is the industry name - the highest level of practitioner is professionally designated a Ph.D. or Ed.D. Entry level practitioner is earned and licensed and industry regulated. Medicine is the industry name - the highest level of Practitioner is professionally designated a M.D. Entry level practitioner is earned and licensed and industry regulated. Accounting is the industry name - the highest level of practitioner is professionally designated a CPA. Entry level practitioner is earned and licensed and industry regulated. Each one of these industries of professional education, medicine, accounting and professional genealogy has an industry-specific route for entry where professional status is earned and provides levels for growth and development. Industry-specific means earning the practitioner professional title, protected status, and qualified stature in the field of medicine, professional education, accounting and professional genealogy. As an emerging profession, only Professional Genealogy allows earned professional designation and self appointment to practice professional genealogy research services ; and as of yet, is the only profession here listed as having no industry-specific self-regulation or governmental licensure. The route to professional designation is earned and industry-specific. It is the same for all four listed professions - ( ee description below - all except #7) First- formal career college academic education/degree; Second - formal career training/internship; Third - formal career membership (either governmental regulated and recognized like Medicine or industry regulated and recognized like astronomy) where the career practitioner joins a qualified members-only body that can honor, censure and/or boot him out depending upon his performance as a practitioner. The practitioner takes an oath to live by industry methodology and standards of production, ethics and business requirements including continuing education; Fourth - formal career experience/on the job experience following education and training; Fifth - formal career credentials and certifications; Sixth - business license Seventh - Government Licensure - an additional level of Governmental regulation and licensure for Medicine, Accounting, and Professional Education - it has not happened to Professional Genealogy yet. Each of the above mentioned industries started at something less than what we in professional genealogy recognize today as professionally designated and professional. Grandfathering in qualified practitioners was paramount to starting off with a clean slate and a clear vision for the future. I see this happening here in Professional Genealogy as it has occurred in the past for Professional Education, Medicine and Accounting. I hope as you gather information from this transitional-genealogist forum and the APG-L, you will also be contacting the professionally designated practitioners who adhere to the highest standards of professionalism in the Professional Genealogy Industry. Otherwise, it will be the tail wagging the dog. And in the end when government comes a calling, the professional designated alone will have the evidence and the proof for their professional status and ya'll might not like how Government does the grandfathering. One interesting side note - two of America's most prominent professionally designated genealogists (both have industry-specific degrees, credentials, membership and so on) do not qualify to professionally teach genealogy at an accredited university because they only have a bachelor's degree in the field - all that was available when they began their careers in the 1960's. That is a Professional Education qualifying rule. So who will professionally teach the next generation - not today's professionally designated genealogist! Just something to think about. Sincerely yours, Mary E. Petty, B.A. ============================================================== Ancestors are the People of History. Do you know who yours are?<br><br>Let the Professionals at HEIRLINES Family History & Genealogy find your ancestry! 1-800-570-4049 ▪ www.heirlines.com ▪ PO Box 893 ▪ Salt Lake City, UT 84110 -----Original Message----- From: [mailto:] On Behalf Of Dee Dee King Sent: Saturday, February 09, 2008 8:40 AM To: Subject: Re: [TGF] transitional genealogists Thanks to all the folks who responded positively, espcially all the private email! Since becoming a member of APG, there are frequent discussions, as Mary mentioned: ... the professional route to designation as a professional genealogist/practitioner, the standards and the best practices (etc) of the professional genealogy research services industry. In our evolving industry, a discussion on these elements and a key player - the transitional-genealogist - is essential. .... And so we can not escape from a discussion about these elements because they will shape the practice and behavior of professional genealogy research services. As there are frequent discussions about defining the various specialties and even the term professional genealogist. Carolyn was somewhat goaded into taking on that little project. :-) I'll create a little questionnaire, totally anonymous and private for those who volunteer to be guinea pigs. Let's answer some of the questions that come up in these discussions and quantify the responses to replace our usual empirical responses. Much of the discussion about "professionalizing the profession" centers on you guys and "future professionals". So ya'll are the perfect guinea pigs for a questionnaire about how folks are coming to this profession now. What ya'll need and expect. Give me a bit of time to get this all worked out. I'd like to write up the results to submit an article, perhaps for the APGQ. Thanks, Ya'll! Dee -- Dee Dee King, Certified Genealogist www.ForensicGenealogyServices.com 133 N Friendswood Dr Suite 325 Friendswood TX 77546 telephone/fax 281-431-3525 Member Association of Professional Genealogists, Event Coordinator of the Lone Star Chapter. CG and Certified Genealogist are Service Marks of the Board for Certification of Genealogists used under license after periodic evaluations by the Board. ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message -- Dee Dee King, Certified Genealogist www.ForensicGenealogyServices.com 133 N Friendswood Dr Suite 325 Friendswood TX 77546 telephone/fax 281-431-3525 Member Association of Professional Genealogists, Event Coordinator of the Lone Star Chapter. CG and Certified Genealogist are Service Marks of the Board for Certification of Genealogists used under license after periodic evaluations by the Board. ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message