User:Dsmdgold/Medieval book wikiproject ideas

I would like to start a Wikiproject to gather together those interested in medieval manuscripts, especially those that are illuminated. Here are some thoughts on the possible scope and activities of such a project. Feel free to edit this page as you see fit.

Scope

All Medieval manuscripts, defined as those produced between the invention of the Codex and the invention of the printing press. The project would also take notice of manuscripts produced before the main period, especially those that were important precursors to developments within the main period. Additionally the project would take notice of manuscripts that were produced after the invention of the printing press that were a continuation of the traditions of book production developed in the main period, as well as manuscripts produced as conscious efforts to revive traditional methods. This project would focus on European, Islamic and closely allied traditions.

My goal with this definition of scope is to bring all medieval manuscripts under one umbrella, along with the earlier pieces (e.g. Romance Papyrus) which are relevant, and later manuscripts like the continuation of illuminated manuscripts into the sixteenth century, revivals such as the those by Blake, Morris, and the Saint John's Bible, and continuations like the Icelandic manuscripts, the Pennsylvania Fraktur and the Islamic and Indian traditions that continued into the 19th century. I feel that the Islamic traditions are branches off of the same tree as the European traditions. However the Mesoamerican and Far Eastern traditions are different trees altogether, which is why I have excluded them. If there is stronger support for a broader wikiproject I will, of course, agree to that. Although my interest is primarily limited to illuminated manuscripts, I have made this project larger to include al medieval manuscripts because, once again I believe that all of these manuscripts are part of the same very large tradition. I would also like to get people who are knowledgeable about things like paleography and bookbinding involved. Dsmdgold 04:19, 15 March 2007 (UTC)

Activities

• Encourage production of articles on individual manuscripts, manuscript types, artists, techniques and tools, schools and periods, scripts, and other manuscript related topics.
• Encourage and assist in bringing individual articles to featured article or featured list status.
• Identify and bring groups of articles to featured topic level.
• Identify manuscript images which meet the Feature Picture criteria.
• Find and place manuscript images in appropriate non-manuscript articles
• Create a central repository for research aids such as web site guides and bibliographies
• Identify and enhance areas within the scope of the project which are under represented on Wikipedia.
• Develop suggested criteria for "Perfect articles" within the topic.
• Develop and maintain a categorization scheme for manuscripts.
• Develop, when possible, articles or article sections on manuscript tradition for the various texts from the period.