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Historians, sociologists, and anthropologists have common characteristics as each relies on the services of memorialists to give understanding to those fields of scholarship.
Throughout this article, I draw heavily from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition , using direct quotes where appropriate for definitions.
Historian
History is “a narrative of events; a story;” “a chronological record of events, as of the life or development of a people or institution, often including an explanation of or commentary on those events;” “an established record or pattern of behavior.” History is “the branch of knowledge that records and analyzes past events.” And, a historian is (1) “a writer, student, or scholar of history;” (2) “one who writes or compiles a chronological record of events; a chronicler.”
Sociologist
A sociologist “is a social scientist who studies the institutions and development of human society,” one who specializes in sociology. Sociology is (1) “the study of human social behavior, especially the study of the origins, organization, institutions, and development of human society;” (2) “analysis of a social institution or societal segment as a self-contained entity or in relation to society as a whole.”
Anthropologist
An anthropologist is “a social scientist who specializes in anthropology.” Anthropology is “the scientific study of the origin, the behavior, and the physical, social, and cultural development of humans.”
Memorialist & Memorials
A memorialist is “(1) A person who writes memoirs;” (2) “person who writes or signs a memorial;” or (3) “who builds memorials as an expert.”
A memorial is (1) “something, such as a monument or holiday, intended to celebrate or honor the memory of a person or an event;” (2) “serving as a remembrance of a person or an event; commemorative;” (3) “of, relating to, or being in memory;” (4) “a recognition of meritorious service;” (5) “a structure erected to commemorate persons or events.”
As I stated at the start, the historian, sociologist, and the anthropologist have something in common with the memorialist. It is in the commemoration, the remembrance, and the building of monuments to serve as a celebration to honor the memory of a person or event that provides keys to our values, relationships, history, our culture, our sociology, and our anthropology.
Memorialization is an important foundation for historians, sociologists, and future historians who will seek to understand and learn from the time in which we live. Do your part by building a memorial that serves as a lasting legacy to your family history, and serve your community by doing so. Celebrate your life and the life of your loved ones, and honor the memory of a person or event with a fitting memorial. It is the right thing to do!
i The American Heritage© Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company, Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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