Since Craig has already joined the battle, let me ride his coat- tales. Perhaps some on the list do make a distinction between professional genealogists and "hobby"" genealogists. Perhaps some should. If your only knowledge of the genealogical world leads you to characterize it as just a current popular "fad," then your knowledge is sorely lacking. There is an entire corps of accredited/certified, professional genealogists out there advancing the knowledge of the daily lives of historical individuals and families and the techniques for studying them. And it is people who make history, is it not? I have always respected historians, and would expect the same in return. Professional genealogists may not have earned degrees. But that is because degree granting academic institutions do not yet recognize genealogy as a separate discipline worthy of a degree. Was anthropology always recognized as such? Did any social science spring full grown from the head of Zeus? Of course not. You fought for your recognition. Now we are fighting for ours. Do not denigrate us simply because you got there first. Remember your own origins. ______________________ Donald W. Moore, CGRS Antecedents® LLC http://www.antecedents.com Certified Genealogical Records Specialist and CGRS are service marks of the Board for Certification of Genealogists® and used here under license. Antecedents is a registered service mark of Antecedents LLC. To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html