Earl Discusses Top Historians and Qualifications
"Top historian" is an informal reference dependent on the subject
or research area. Most historians get a degree and learn as much as possible
on their area of interest. They seldom question any of the information
they study and do not reach beyond the available data.
My Top Historian goes a little (or a lot) further to get an answer. Robert
Barnsdale (long before he was degreed) wasn't stopped by any obstacle.
If he reached a dead end he'd just keep digging until he found an answer.
Sometimes the answer is not the preferred or expected answer.
Robert, (a Salisbury family descendant) was aware that something was amiss in the Salisbury family history with the William the Conqueror/brass plaque/Salzburg story. He didn't stop looking.
He became aware of an old Salisbury family estate in the area near Sawley Abby (North of Wales) and decided to give the area some additional study. His trips to local libraries and local record offices were fruitless. He changed his stragegy and started working more like a detective than a historian. He returned to Sawley Abby where he sat in the ruins gazing at the few remaining walls and arches.
While leaving, he met a local man who was out walking his dog. They exchanged
greetings and conversed. When Bob told the man about his search, the man
informed him of a home near the Abby that had stored all the old volumes.
It required several trips to the Abby area and to the old home before Bob
got his questions answered. The working conditions were poor. The room
only had one light bulb. The volumes were damaged with age. The writing
was a combination of Latin and old English.
Thank goodness no Welsh. |
