tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1527613590529958801.post1847785748204546151..comments2024-03-07T23:20:49.790-07:00Comments on Genealogy's Star: Is there a difference between Genealogy and Family History?James Tannerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02989059644120454647noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1527613590529958801.post-53512769354808845092013-08-10T19:50:41.289-07:002013-08-10T19:50:41.289-07:00While I almost always agree with you, this is one ...While I almost always agree with you, this is one time I can't, sorry. To me Genealogy is the science, it's the who's related to who, where were they, etc, it's the skeleton or the basis that Family History is built on. But, to me Family History takes it a step further, it is putting family in time and place, pictures, stories, and everything else that makes people alive, it goes way beyond relationships. I consider myself a Family Historian, but the basis that Family History is built on is the science of Genealogy.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09138255178301578595noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1527613590529958801.post-58697527102614070472013-08-10T10:37:34.863-07:002013-08-10T10:37:34.863-07:00Great article. I wondered that myself.
Laura Hedg...Great article. I wondered that myself.<br /><br />Laura Hedgecock <br />http://www.TreasureChestofMemories.com<br />http://www.twitter.com/LauraLHedgecockL. Hedgecockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16598322213655779747noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1527613590529958801.post-42110147154086968252013-08-10T09:12:34.684-07:002013-08-10T09:12:34.684-07:00From the UK's side of the Atlantic, yes there ...From the UK's side of the Atlantic, yes there is a difference between "genealogy" and "family history", but in practical terms, they mean much the same thing and no-one worries much about it. But I am seriously not sure what Americans mean by those two terms.<br /><br />In the UK, so far as I know (and this is all unsourced, personal opinion!), genealogy was the original term. Genealogists of the 1800s and earlier virtually all studied titled families or other landed gentry. I remember reading of one noted genealogist who'd recorded gravestones in a churchyard. Such records from that far back would have been gold-dust. Alas, after just half-a-dozen stones had been listed, he finished with the phrase "No other persons of quality were noted." Gee thanks. <br /><br />About the end of the 19th, start of the 20th, a number of UK genealogists felt strongly that the genealogies of ordinary people could be just as interesting. They advocated studying the complete stories of these people - their social situations, work, involvement in military matters. This wider view was called "family history". <br /><br />I guess the genealogies of the Great And Good (and not-so-Good) didn't need to cover their family histories as they were already there in "proper" history books.<br /><br />So, over here, genealogy, as a term and practice, became replaced by family history, so much so that the original meaning of genealogy is generally lost and only occasionally would anyone make a deliberate distinction. As Nathan said, most societies over here are Family History Societies.<br /><br />The switch in emphasis between genealogies of titled and landed families to family histories of ordinary people is exemplified by the library of the Society of Genealogists - a rare use of the G-word. In living memory, volumes like Burke's Peerage held centre stage in the Library. Today, they are so seldom consulted that they are stuffed away in a corner to allow easier access to more popular works.<br /><br />I confess to being quite confused over the USA's use of the two terms. Unlike the general situation in the UK, where no-one seems to worry much about it, the USA does seem to draw a distinction quite often. From where I'm sitting, there seems little difference in what the two groups study - rather, it's how the study is done. Genealogists are the ones with Elizabeth Shown Mills open on their desk. They have qualifications. And yes, I'm sorry, but one or two have looked down on family historians who simply collect names in Ancestry. At least, that's how it looks to me. Sadly, I think there's also a converse that people who regard themselves as family historians.... Well, you said it James, at the top of your post.Adrian Brucenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1527613590529958801.post-29058391088952809632013-08-10T08:55:24.496-07:002013-08-10T08:55:24.496-07:00Certainly in its literal sense, Genealogy is diffe...Certainly in its literal sense, Genealogy is different from Family History James, although "all things genealogical" has become rather a loose concept that encompasses more.<br /><br />You can find a few of my own references and quotes on the subject at: www.parallaxview.co/familyhistorydata/research-notes/musings-standardisation#WhichData.<br /><br />Most of the discussion concerning the merging of the Wikipedia pages for Family History and Genealogy discussion can still be found on the 'Talk' pages for the Genealogy page (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genealogy).Tony Proctorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18330460400737261264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1527613590529958801.post-25732782204125674142013-08-10T05:56:17.521-07:002013-08-10T05:56:17.521-07:00I tend to think of genealogy as names & dates ...I tend to think of genealogy as names & dates and of family history as the story of who they were and how they got where they are. But perhaps genealogy is the larger term and the history as just a part of that.Colleen G. Brown Pasqualehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16402783115333431440noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1527613590529958801.post-71189005120231791242013-08-10T03:06:39.205-07:002013-08-10T03:06:39.205-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Tony Proctorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18330460400737261264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1527613590529958801.post-54718431350894896702013-08-10T03:05:38.144-07:002013-08-10T03:05:38.144-07:00From the Society of Genealogists at http://www.sog...From the Society of Genealogists at http://www.sog.org.uk/learn/education-sub-page-for-testing-navigation/guide-ten/:<br /><br />"Many, including the Society of Genealogists, use the terms genealogy and family history interchangeably. However there are slight difference in definition:-<br /><br />Genealogy:<br /><br /><br />Establishment of a Pedigree by extracting evidence, from valid sources, of how one generation is connected to the next. (In essence, this means the discipline of the construction of a valid family tree)<br /><br />Family History:<br /><br /><br />A biographical study of a genealogically proven family and of the community and country in which they lived. (In essence, this means the writing of a biography of a series of related ancestors of common genealogy. Family History incorporates Genealogy)"ColeValleyGirlhttp://www.genquiry.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1527613590529958801.post-29888970743733882412013-08-09T23:24:39.517-07:002013-08-09T23:24:39.517-07:00Thanks for continuing the conversation James!Thanks for continuing the conversation James!Nathan Murphyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16335989842820672777noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1527613590529958801.post-33917644429473024232013-08-09T19:26:36.083-07:002013-08-09T19:26:36.083-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Nathan Murphyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16335989842820672777noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1527613590529958801.post-19563177931443153772013-08-09T18:25:20.860-07:002013-08-09T18:25:20.860-07:00We should all remember that political correctness ...We should all remember that political correctness is nothing more than censorship. As Rush says, "words mean things".<br /><br />JCJChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16987651845269865678noreply@blogger.com