The Process of Becoming a Certified Genealogist
05/13/2006 Meeting Recap
Heather McLeland-Wieser
Manager
Art Recreation & Literature
History Travel & Maps
Seattle Public Library
Central Library
1000 Fourth Ave.
Seattle, WA 98104
206-386-4092
Heather has completed the process with the BCGS to become a certified genealogist and is awaiting word from the organization as to whether she is among the 48% of successful applicants. Heather has spent over 3 years completing the application and required documentation, the time broken with family commitments, etc. She has tendered her application, not for professional purposes, but for the personal goal of measuring herself against the highest standards in the field.
The successful candidate must have a deep knowledge of repositories in their specific area, use unique and unusual documents from a wide variety of sources and have a good mentor. The certification is valid for 5 years, at which time it must be renewed, demonstrating continued progress within the field.
Heather brought examples of the portfolio she produced for the certification process. It was obvious how much time and effort Heather put into this polished and professional portfolio.
Her recommended reading list for successful research and documentation contains the following:
BCG Genealogical Standards Manual
by The Board for Certification Of Genealogists
Professional Genealogy: A Manual for Researchers, Writers, Editors, Lecturers, and Librarians
by Elizabeth Shown Mills (Editor)
Evidence! Citation & Analysis for the Family Historian
by Elizabeth Shown Mills
Various peer-reviewed journals from the National Genealogical Society, NEGHS, TAG and New York Genealogical Society. When reading these articles, Heather recommended that we read it 4 times – once for flow, once to tear apart the logic, once reading just the footnotes, and finally to synthesize all the above.
Upcoming events at SPL:
Speaking Locally
June 24, 4-5 pm
Central Library
Nikolai's Fortune by Solveig Torvik
Complex Evidence – The class will be held from 6-7:30 pm in the Level 9 conference room of the Central Library, on four Thursdays - September 14th, 28th, October 12th & 26th. The class has been filled.
Heather also mentioned several books of fiction involving family history:
Isle of Canes
by Elizabeth Shown Mills
Only a Few Bones: A True Account of the Rolling Fork Tragedy & Its Aftermath
by John Philip Collett
Luci Baker (ljbaker2@earthlink.net) is looking for someone who would be interested in acting as a liaison with the university to work on an advanced class in genealogy and family history.
As an alternative it was brought up that some thought might be given to
working directly with Sarah and Lorraine to contract for such a class
independent of the university.
Heather McLeland-Wieser
Manager
Art Recreation & Literature
History Travel & Maps
Seattle Public Library
Central Library
1000 Fourth Ave.
Seattle, WA 98104
206-386-4092
Heather has completed the process with the BCGS to become a certified genealogist and is awaiting word from the organization as to whether she is among the 48% of successful applicants. Heather has spent over 3 years completing the application and required documentation, the time broken with family commitments, etc. She has tendered her application, not for professional purposes, but for the personal goal of measuring herself against the highest standards in the field.
The successful candidate must have a deep knowledge of repositories in their specific area, use unique and unusual documents from a wide variety of sources and have a good mentor. The certification is valid for 5 years, at which time it must be renewed, demonstrating continued progress within the field.
Heather brought examples of the portfolio she produced for the certification process. It was obvious how much time and effort Heather put into this polished and professional portfolio.
Her recommended reading list for successful research and documentation contains the following:
BCG Genealogical Standards Manual
by The Board for Certification Of Genealogists
Professional Genealogy: A Manual for Researchers, Writers, Editors, Lecturers, and Librarians
by Elizabeth Shown Mills (Editor)
Evidence! Citation & Analysis for the Family Historian
by Elizabeth Shown Mills
Various peer-reviewed journals from the National Genealogical Society, NEGHS, TAG and New York Genealogical Society. When reading these articles, Heather recommended that we read it 4 times – once for flow, once to tear apart the logic, once reading just the footnotes, and finally to synthesize all the above.
Upcoming events at SPL:
Speaking Locally
June 24, 4-5 pm
Central Library
Nikolai's Fortune by Solveig Torvik
Complex Evidence – The class will be held from 6-7:30 pm in the Level 9 conference room of the Central Library, on four Thursdays - September 14th, 28th, October 12th & 26th. The class has been filled.
Heather also mentioned several books of fiction involving family history:
Isle of Canes
by Elizabeth Shown Mills
Only a Few Bones: A True Account of the Rolling Fork Tragedy & Its Aftermath
by John Philip Collett
Luci Baker (ljbaker2@earthlink.net) is looking for someone who would be interested in acting as a liaison with the university to work on an advanced class in genealogy and family history.
As an alternative it was brought up that some thought might be given to
working directly with Sarah and Lorraine to contract for such a class
independent of the university.
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