Wikipedia:Meetups/UK/Senate House Library Nov 2015

About the event

The event will focus on editing Wikipedia pages about local history. We provide the training to edit Wikipedia and research local history using Victoria County History (VCH) and British History Online (BHO) materials, and you create or enhance local history articles.

Contributing to Wikipedia articles with VCH and BHO materials is a continuation of the process that began with the first VCH volumes published in the early 20th century. VCH editors reveal the mysteries of the archives through the VCH volumes. Digitising these volumes and making them freely available on BHO further increases their exposure, removing barriers of cost and location, and introducing new ways of discovering content via search. Using these texts as source material for Wikipedia articles is the natural progression of this revelation process. Anyone can edit any Wikipedia article, which democratises the construction of knowledge and allows you to participate in the research of your own local history.

Come and learn a new skill, or five!

This is the London end of a multi-site event. A parallel events will be held in Leicester.

How do I prepare?

• Book a place here
• Create a Wikipedia account - Special:UserLogin/signup

Do I need to know how to edit Wikipedia? And how to research local history?

Not at all! We will provide training in both aspects. If you'd like, you can get a head start: Wikipedia:Tutorial, or Getting started on Wikipedia for more information

Do I need to come with a list of topics to work on?

You are welcome to if you would like, but we will also have a list of suggested topics.

Do I need to bring a lunch?

Refreshments and lunch will be provided.

Do I need to bring a laptop?

Laptops will be provided, but you are also welcome to bring your own.

Is there a Twitter hashtag for this event?

Yes! It's #revealinglocal.

Is there an EventBrite page for this event?

EventBrite page

Agenda

• 10:00 - 10:30: Coffee, set up and registration
• 10:30 - 12:30: Wikipedia training and editing
• 12:30 - 1:30: Lunch (provided)
• 1:30 - 2:00: VCH and BHO workshops
• 2:00 - 3:30: Editing
• 3:30 - 4:00: Wrap up discussion and feedback

Attendees

• Philafrenzy (talk) 10:58, 29 August 2015 (UTC) (little bit remotely only)
• Meloche76 (talk) 09:54, 13 November 2015 (UTC)
• Johnbod (talk) 17:58, 13 November 2015 (UTC)
• I've signed up. I will need to borrow a laptop, please, as mine has recently self-destructed! Hassocks5489 (Floreat Hova!) 20:56, 13 November 2015 (UTC)
• I signed up on Eventbrite (+1) but have some work to do this morning so expect to be there about midday. Andrew D. (talk) 08:44, 21 November 2015 (UTC)
• Notapotter (talk) 10:04, 21 November 2015 (UTC)
• SMIHR (talk) 10:12, 21 November 2015 (UTC)
• Athens15 (talk) 10:13, 21 November 2015 (UTC)
• Luisa inthesky (talk) 10:18, 21 November 2015 (UTC)
• # Armond Dean (talk) 10:33, 21 November 2015 (UTC)
• Localthinker (talk) 10:39, 21 November 2015 (UTC)
• Jjaysea69 (talk) 10:35, 21 November 2015 (UTC)

Trainers

1. Edwardx (talk) 10:38, 28 August 2015 (UTC)
2. ϢereSpielChequers 17:20, 19 November 2015 (UTC)

Image adding exercise

The wrong Wakerley?

The real Wakerley?

• Image adding How to add an image from Commons to an article without one.

Here are some articles currently without images, for which we have suitable image(s) on Wikipmedia Commmons. Please take a slip of paper with the article name on, to avoid two people trying to add an image to the same article. The printed word still has its uses.

1. Fairbourne Heath, Kent
2. Fairfield, Derbyshire
3. Fairhill Centre
4. Fairhill, Hamilton, Scotland
5. Fairstead, Norfolk
6. Fairview, Cheltenham
7. Fairwood Common
8. Fallings Park
9. Falls of Edinample
10. Falls of Falloch
11. Falls of Glas Allt
12. Falls of Moness
13. Falls of Roy
14. Falls of Tarf
15. Falls of Turret
16. Falls of Unich
17. Falls of the Braan
18. Far Forest
19. Farington Moss

Wakerley

In February, Wakerley provided an unexpected learning experience. One of our cohort added an image at 11:12. Then it disappeared. And a new one appeared! Wakerley must have been on someone's Watchlist, as it was deleted at 11:16, and the new image was added at 11:18. We learnt that there must be more than one place called Wakerley, how checking coordinates could have avoided this, and the value of watchlists.

Listed buildings

If you want to start an article about a listed building, here are some useful resources:

• Historic England map search - just enter a postcode
• Grid Reference Finder
• Wikimedia Commons, for images
• Historic England reference template: <ref>{{NHLE|num= |desc= }}</ref>
• Coordinates template: {{coord|xx.xxxx|yy.yyyy|type:landmark_region:GB|display=title}}

Disability

This event is wheelchair accessible. If you need a disabled parking space please contact us in advance. Please tell us in advance if you need to have a hearing loop available.

Possible topics

• Women in local history
• Natural history of UK
• London−buildings, landmarks, streets, villages
• Buildings which no longer exist
• Traditional crafts by county
• Notable contributors to Victoria County History
• Religious houses across the UK
• Any place that interests you!

Potential articles to expand

• Guy Fawkes Night, to include local traditions
• Ealing
• Hackney
• Chelsea
• Bethnal Green
• Laleham
• Friern Barnet
• Hornsey

Articles worked on

• Berkeley Square, Lansdowne House, Devonshire House, bits added by Johnbod (talk) 01:12, 22 November 2015 (UTC)
• A. E. Sewell, London pub architect
• Asset of community value
• Lee Seng Tee, philanthropist - the room we were in is named after him!
• List of World War II prisoner-of-war camps in the United Kingdom
• South Mimms
• Architecture of Chiswick House
• Ratingen
• Halloween, etymology
• Nonsuch Mansion
• Nurali Aliyev
• Alexandra Stern
• Kristian Leif Andersen
• ARCHI magazine
• Eudes Assis
• Association of Judicial Unity
• Roy Tsui
• Philip Jackson, sculptor
• Dittrick Museum of Medical History
• Locally listed buildings in Brighton and Hove (still in userspace) Hassocks5489 (Floreat Hova!) 12:11, 25 November 2015 (UTC)

New articles created on the day

• Imperial Hotel, London, in nearby Russell Square
• Café Monico, on Piccadilly Circus, now demolished. Cited using British History Online (BHO)!
• Oxford Arms, Warwick Lane
• White Hart, Bishopsgate
• Alexandra Hotel, Knightsbridge, cited using BHO
• Francis Fowler, architect, cited using BHO
• de Montfitchet family, still in userspace