WHAT THE STUDY OF EMINENCE CAN TEACH US

This article presents a revised theory of what eminence is, its relati on to productivity, its measurement, and the markers for it. The histo rical, systematic, and informational bases of families are used for th is revised theory, with the Bronte family being used for illustration. One important conclusion is that persons who are truly eminent (i.e., who create original and significant work), and persons who are simply high achievers, tend to come from different families entirely. Anothe r important conclusion, which exemplifies the revised theory, is that gifted children may not change their families. In earlier work gifted children had been described as organizers within families, but they ma y primarily organize families in terms of what the family wants and ha s already been doing. It may thus be best to describe families as ongo ing systems. There ir much that goes on within a family that is not go ing to be changed For gifted children that includes a richness of tale nt.