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Kathy Chater seems to want the Family and Community History to be a journal providing a context for her and her pupils' genealogical interests in individual ancestors ("Abstracted ancestors", Books, THES , April 20).

Genealogy as such is not the stated editorial aim but rather the promotion of scholarly research on family and community history done by people inside and outside mainstream academia.

The journal has sought to bring together articles by academics with international reputations and - of no less interest and quality - by independent and sometimes less experienced scholars.

It is one of a small (but perhaps growing?) number of academic journals that support and publish high-quality research that the narrow definitions imposed by the research assessment exercise have so short-sightedly excluded.

Ruth Finnegan
Faculty of Social Sciences
Open University