tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28102666.post3796562956536596356..comments2024-03-14T13:25:20.613-05:00Comments on Boston 1775: Different Shades of Buff Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28102666.post-75155599081956647182013-09-06T11:02:38.158-05:002013-09-06T11:02:38.158-05:00Thanks for this line of discussion. It's reall...Thanks for this line of discussion. It's really very thought-provoking.<br /> <br />I've been trying to figure out where I fit in since my academic training is in archaeology, I'm an artist, I've studied genealogy to aid my research, and am a collector... All of this has informed and aided my ability to do credible research even though I do not have a piece of paper that says I have a degree in history. <br /><br />The problem is, how to be taken seriously by the academically-annointed historians? <br /><br />And it seems the academic historians have many problems being heard also. See Jill Lapore's recent blog about The New Economy of Letters http://hnn.us/article/153209.<br /><br />Another trend is now many "real" historians are scrambling to write "creative non-fiction." In my opinion, most I've read so far are not good at it. Perhaps they should get a degree in creative writing? <br />merykahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11516637012694980614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28102666.post-77573532433335823082013-09-06T06:35:41.278-05:002013-09-06T06:35:41.278-05:00Wonderful post! I'm a hybrid--a professional ...Wonderful post! I'm a hybrid--a professional academic in another discipline who reads history (academic and popular) for fun. One of the highlights of my career as a history buff was being introduced to Laurel Ulrich at a conference on Maine material culture. My friend, a professional historian who understands the importance of sharing with the public, introduced me as an "avocational historian." I've worn the label proudly ever since. csccathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01086267403885905754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28102666.post-42231009703546307422013-09-06T00:42:23.959-05:002013-09-06T00:42:23.959-05:00What an excellent assessment. Being a buff, and a...What an excellent assessment. Being a buff, and a genealogist that gives lectures, I have to say that the collectors and reenactors can provide the genealogists a lot of information if you are researching more than "lines." Great post!RodFleckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08378656044482949196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28102666.post-41694593759697117012013-09-05T15:10:56.632-05:002013-09-05T15:10:56.632-05:00Mr. Bell - an excellent post that I will be sharin...Mr. Bell - an excellent post that I will be sharing with my history friends.<br /><br />And to John L. Smith Jr - - I agree whole-heartedly.<br />Very well said!Historical Kenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04979801752112100293noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28102666.post-42409286039655805792013-09-05T12:50:27.315-05:002013-09-05T12:50:27.315-05:00I understand your distinction between degreed acad...I understand your distinction between degreed academics and scholars vs. history buffs. During the recent course of writing the book I'm doing on the Revolutionary War, I was asked if I'm a "historian"? My degrees, like those of David McCullough, Richard Brookhiser, Kevin Phillips or Rick Atkinson, are of a non-history major. But I, a layman, still consider those named individuals "historians". My old friend in Santa Cruz, Dr. Page Smith of UCSC who wrote the iconic two volume series "A New Age Now Begins - A People's History of the American Revolution" (writing while I was visiting with him at his house even) was as academically-degreed as any "historian", but hated the snooty attitudes of academics and revolted against their scholarly exclusion of "buffs". He always said if at a certain point a person considers themselves a "historian", then you are. You needn't have the sword of Kings dubbing each shoulder for the title. John L Smith Jrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04209064146960498237noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28102666.post-89160220540151273492013-09-05T09:06:41.126-05:002013-09-05T09:06:41.126-05:00I'm a general history buff, the kind who used ...I'm a general history buff, the kind who used to photocopy documents at Bowdoin College and now delights in finding those full texts available online.<br /><br />I've never felt an interest in donning period clothing, but I have the utmost respect for those who wish the full, authentic experience and who'll sleep in tents through twenty degree nights without giving in to the modern sleeping bags that our ancestors were without.Steve MChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15026970188928733645noreply@blogger.com