Some family : the Mormons and how humanity keeps track of itself / Donald Harman Akenson.
2007
CS14 .A44 2007 (Mapit)
Available at General Collection
Items
Details
Title
Some family : the Mormons and how humanity keeps track of itself / Donald Harman Akenson.
Author
Akenson, Donald H., 1941-
ISBN
9780773532953
0773532951
9780773537279 (pbk.)
0773537279 (pbk.)
0773532951
9780773537279 (pbk.)
0773537279 (pbk.)
Imprint
Montreal : McGill-Queen's University Press, c2007.
Language
English
Description
x, 349 p. : ill. ; 24 cm.
Call Number
CS14 .A44 2007
Dewey Decimal Classification
929/.1
Summary
In our age of information, genealogical research has become one of the most popular activities in the world and the Family History Library of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is one of the most important resources. This book explains and evaluates the history and functioning of this massive undertaking, in the process providing an insightful study of the Mormon scriptures and their implications for genealogical work. One of his central arguments is that there are four basic genealogical forms. The supporting evidence runs from the Solomon Islands to classical China to ancient Ireland. Highly significant on its own, it also provides the information needed to assess the Latter-day Saints' efforts to provide a single narrative of how humanity keeps track of itself. Appendices cover topics of vital interest to historians, genealogists, and ethnographers--the use and limits of genetic data in genealogy, the reality of false-paternity as a widespread phenomenon in genealogical lines, the vexing matters of incest and cousin-marriage. Taking a unique perspective on a neglected topic, Akenson draws far-reaching conclusions about the stories cultures tell themselves. Some Family will be of interest not only to religious scholars but also to anyone who has ever used the Family History Library of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to explore their ancestry--From publisher description.
Bibliography, etc. Note
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Record Appears in
On-Campus Resources > Books
All Resources
All Resources
Table of Contents
Pt. 1. Getting in touch. Yesterday's news
What do the Mormons think...?
The indomitable overcoming the inevitable
pt. 2. The course of Adam. What's the plot?
The grammars of genealogical ascent
A big imperial engine?
Resistance, submission, subversion
pt. 3. The saints come marching. God's massive engine?
Appendices. A. The poverty of terminology
Inbreeding and incest
False-paternity
False-maternity
Genetics as genealogical evidence.
What do the Mormons think...?
The indomitable overcoming the inevitable
pt. 2. The course of Adam. What's the plot?
The grammars of genealogical ascent
A big imperial engine?
Resistance, submission, subversion
pt. 3. The saints come marching. God's massive engine?
Appendices. A. The poverty of terminology
Inbreeding and incest
False-paternity
False-maternity
Genetics as genealogical evidence.