Thank God for "Amateur" Historians

Andersonh1

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From a blog I enjoy frequenting, the writer praises all those "amateur" historians out there who do valuable work. We don't always need that college degree in history to make valuable contributions to the study of history:

https://www.relicsandbones.com/blog/thank-god-for-autodidacts

There is one more thing that I really like about this book. This effort proves, beyond any shadow of a doubt, that “amateur” archaeologists and historians are making serious and dramatic contributions to the study of history and archeology. Dancy’s work is a textbook example of how passion and practice can lead to expertise in almost any field without formal training.

American autodidacts have contributed some of the most respected works in the fields of archeology and history. Shelby Foote, a college dropout, wrote one of the definitive works on the American Civil War. Bruce Catton, another renowned Civil War historian, was also a college drop out.​
 

jgoodguy

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Cautionary tale.
Theranos founded by college dropout Elizabeth Holmes zoomed. By 2014, Theranos had raised more than $400 million with an estimated value of $9 billion.By April 2016, Theranos came under criminal investigation by federal prosecutors and the SEC for allegedly misleading investors and government officials about its technology.[59] The case is considered "extremely unusual" by a former assistant U.S. attorney for the Justice Department.[60] The U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce requested information on what Theranos was doing to correct its testing inaccuracies and adherence to federal guidelines in June 2016.[61][62] In May 2018 John Carreyrou reported that American business and government leaders lost more than $600 million by privately investing in Theranos.[128] Major investments had been made by the Walton family ($150 million), Rupert Murdoch ($121 million), Betsy DeVos ($100 million), and the Cox family (of Cox Media Group) ($100 million).[13] The final liquidation of the company in September 2018 rendered these investments completely worthless.[21]

Sounds familiar:
Theranos claimed to have developed devices to automate and miniaturize blood tests using microscopic blood volumes. Theranos dubbed its blood collection vessel the "nanotainer" and its analysis machine the "Edison."[95][96][97] The technology has been criticized for not being peer reviewed.[98][99]

 

rittmeister

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this dude ...

... was an amateur, too (and a bloody one at that)

... just saying

the dude
 

jgoodguy

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this dude ...

... was an amateur, too (and a bloody one at that)

... just saying

the dude
OTOH
Schliemann's excavation of nine levels of archaeological remains with dynamite has been criticized as destructive of significant historical artifacts, including the level that is believed to be the historical Troy.[1]
 

rittmeister

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OTOH
Schliemann's excavation of nine levels of archaeological remains with dynamite has been criticized as destructive of significant historical artifacts, including the level that is believed to be the historical Troy.[1]
that's why i called him a bloody amateur
 

Viper21

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From a blog I enjoy frequenting, the writer praises all those "amateur" historians out there who do valuable work. We don't always need that college degree in history to make valuable contributions to the study of history:

https://www.relicsandbones.com/blog/thank-god-for-autodidacts

There is one more thing that I really like about this book. This effort proves, beyond any shadow of a doubt, that “amateur” archaeologists and historians are making serious and dramatic contributions to the study of history and archeology. Dancy’s work is a textbook example of how passion and practice can lead to expertise in almost any field without formal training.

American autodidacts have contributed some of the most respected works in the fields of archeology and history. Shelby Foote, a college dropout, wrote one of the definitive works on the American Civil War. Bruce Catton, another renowned Civil War historian, was also a college drop out.​
One advantage "amateur's" have, is they don't have the pressure of the peanut gallery. That is to say, they don't have to follow the consensus. While an amateur is rarely respected by "professionals", they have to ability to look into subjects, without the influence of a predetermined narrative that so many professionals follow, or prefer.

For example, look at how some amateur's have been (or their work) treated. When a new, or unique tid bit of information is found, it is usually rejected by the masses because, their finds aren't, "peer reviewed", or because, they aren't "trained historians", or "professional" historians...lol.

In my experience, painting with a broad brush here, most college degree folks, snub non college degree folks. Both are capable, there's plenty of examples to draw from. Though, some folks are convinced, if you don't have a degree, or initials next to your name, your work is automatically discredited, regardless of the content.
 

5fish

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Though, some folks are convinced, if you don't have a degree, or initials next to your name, your work is automatically discredited, regardless of the content.
I agree. I have felt success scorn even thou I have a degree but not in history...
 
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