Awhile back, Guy Rocha, retired Nevada State Archivist, and I were discussing the definition of "Historian" and historical writing. Guy told me there is no definition of Historian in American law or in known judicial decisions, but that there is an important one from a British judge on the Queen's Bench, part of the High Court. Since many of the Forum members are probably already familiar with Irving v. Penguin Books Ltd., in which the last appeal was denied in December, 2000, I am sure that for them I am late to this party. In the suit, David Irving said the Penguin book written by Deborah Lipstadt had defamed his reputation as a historian. The court found otherwise. The case is easily Googled, and the Wickipedia entry is interesting. The lawsuit dealt with a Holocaust denier against a Lipstadt's book, which countered the denier personally and harshly. The Queen's Bench decision runs 333 pages. It has since been digested by Yale Law Journal writer Wendie E. Schneider into seven points which the judge wrote must all be met to be considered an Objective Historian. I found the condensed points interesting and feel they are worth sharing with those Forum members who may not be aware of the case. Since I enjoy working with primary documents, and believe secondary sources (which by definition include my own writing) should be carefully considered, I find the seven points to be good guidelines. 1. The historian must treat sources with appropriate reservations. 2. The historian must not dismiss counterevidence without scholarly consideration; 3. The historian must be even-handed in treatment of evidence and eschew "cherry picking"; 4. The historian must clearly indicate any speculation; 5. The historian must not mistranslate documents or mislead by omitting parts of documents; 6. The historian must weigh the authenticity of all accounts, not merely those that contradict a favored view; 7. The historian must take the motives of historical actors into consideration. Robert E Stewart "Historical researcher" Carson City Nevada