Chroniclers

/ˈkrɒnɪkləz/ noun

Definition

Plural of chronicler; people who record and write about historical events in order.

Etymology

From 'chronicler' (one who chronicles) plus the plural '-s.' Chronicler itself comes from 'chronicle,' traced back through 'chronica' to Greek chronos.

Kelly Says

Chroniclers were the first journalists—people like Bede, Froissart, and Holinshed who decided to write down what was happening around them, creating the primary sources that modern historians depend on completely.

Ethical Language Guidance

Gender History

Historian and chronicler roles were historically male-dominated professions; women's record-keeping and narrative contributions were often erased or attributed to men. The generic masculine in 'chroniclers' perpetuates this erasure.

Inclusive Usage

Use 'chroniclers' inclusively by default, or specify 'women chroniclers' when highlighting contributions. In discussions of medieval/ancient history, actively acknowledge women who recorded events but remain unnamed.

Inclusive Alternatives

["historians","record-keepers","narrators"]

Empowerment Note

Women such as Anna Komnenos (12th c. Byzantine), Bede's women scribes, and countless unnamed nuns maintained the chronicles of their times—their intellectual labor founded historical knowledge.

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