Item Detail
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12668
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0
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0
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English
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Genealogical Groups in Changing Organizational Environment : From Lineage to Heritage
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Detroit, Michigan
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Wayne State University
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Ph.D. diss.
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"The Bicentennial celebration and the television showing of Alex Haley's Roots led to the rapid growth and diversification of genealogical organizations across America. The interorganizational relations between genealogical organizations in a Midwestern state are examined to determine how these groups managed a changing environment from 1972 to 1984. Two networks exist in this state. The hereditary network consists of patriotic pedigree societies, is concerned with narrow restrictive ancestral images, and uses genealogy as a tool to control recruiting and maintain status. The genealogy network consists of local and ethnic genealogical societies, genealogical service organizations (libraries and archives), and the branch libraries of the Mormon Genealogical Department. The members of the genealogy network emphasize a broad and inclusive view of ancestors. The genealogy network originated in the hereditary network. It gradually moved away from the hereditary patriotic groups and gained its independence with the creation of a council of local and ethnic genealogical societies. This council coordinated a number of successful projects and provided leadership on the crucial issues of access to vital records and the libraries. These networks reacted differently to genealogy's sudden popularity. The organizations of the genealogy network were able to manage their environment and grow with the changes. In contrast, the hereditary organizations have been unable to take full advantage of these changes. As a result, there has been a shift in perspective from a lineage concern with status to a heritage quest for identity. This shift is compared to the movement from transformative to expansive hegemony in American society." [Author's abstract]