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From: "Terri Sprague" <>
Subject: Re: [TGF] Mary Petty -a transitional-genealogist'sviewpointonProfessional Genealogy
Date: Sat, 9 Feb 2008 23:13:19 -0800
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In-Reply-To: <000a01c86baf$418d3080$6801a8c0@MAMA>


Mary,

I have a question and an observation.

In what way are you a transitional genealogist?

IMO, while genealogy may not be in line with history (although I believe it is), it is not like medicine in any way whatsoever.

Terri
Http://www.tlsprague.com
Shawn's Mom
1980-2006
Http://northwest-wanderer.spaces.live.com

-----Original Message-----
From: [mailto:] On Behalf Of Mary E. Petty - Heirlines, Inc
Sent: Saturday, February 09, 2008 10:36 PM
To:
Subject: Re: [TGF] Mary Petty - a transitional-genealogist'sviewpointonProfessional Genealogy

Dear Jack,

Thank you for sharing your views and life's experiences.

I got my degree in history and my certificate to teach school was based on that degree and internship. I could not be a professional teacher without them. That is what I mean by professional designation. But that was professional designation as a professional educator, not as a professional genealogist.

Interestingly, right now there is self designation going on in the medical field where practitioners who are calling themselves specialists in areas where they do not have the credential. I personally know an MD who couldn't find a job in his chosen specialty (15 years experience) because that specialty now required a fellowship/credential; and when he graduated, this fellowship had not even been invented. You want to talk about someone who was pretty frustrated over the limiting factor of the professional designated route. He had missed the boat; he had all the experience; he couldn’t get a job for nearly two years.

I am married to Jim Petty who has made professional genealogy his full-time career. He jumped through all the hoops (school, credentials, training, experience, membership, business license) that were available nearly 40 years ago. Professional Genealogy is our bread and butter and retirement and everything. We did not diversify and have never had a second job in anything else. My life's experiences in business are only in professional genealogy research services. That is where my knowledge and understanding about the practice of professional genealogy comes from. With thousands of paying clients, I know what I am talking about.

I am sincerely interested in professional genealogy and its growth and development. I do not believe it is like history at all. They are two distinct academic fields and I have been intimately exposed and involved with both. I am a transitional-genealogist and I choose professional genealogy - it has been a whale of a ride for us. That is why I am following the route to professional designation and I encourage others to do likewise. Till government comes knocking, we all have our agency to act any way we want. But I am preparing for that day because we do professional genealogy for a living.


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