User:Brandymcook/Wikipedia Thoughts

Thus far, Wikpedia has been confusing since I have never edited in it before. My Collections Care and Management class has introduced me to Wikipedia and how to edit, and later, to create an article. At first it was a little confusing, but I'm getting used to the terms used and how to operate the site. (posted on November 9, 2010).

For my assignment due for November 16, 2010, I had to make revisions to an artwork in or near my hometown. I chose Indianapolis because I couldn't find anything in Beech Grove. I chose Ann Dancing and made five small revisions. I think I did them correctly, although I'm not sure about adding to the Description without a resource. None of the other information in the Description area had any resources. I made 3 changes in that area. I did, however, catch a mistake in the infobox, and I corrected the date from 1997 to 2007. My last change was adding an internal link to Massachusetts Avenue. The actual article for Ann Dancing is not very long and doesn't contain much information. Artist information for the most part is missing except for the essentials. The sources seem legitimate. The few sources that are there are from a press release, blogs, and Indianapolis websites. I trust the sources with about an 9. I found a website and any information I saw on it was accurate to what I saw on the article. It had a few tags, like on the artist, which makes up for lack of information for that in the article. I also added one. Overall, the article is easy to read and understand, but could definitely use development. Brandymcook (talk) 16:30, 16 November 2010 (UTC)

Now I have made my first Wikipedia article live. I have added an image and content. I am not finished, but I'll say it's a good start for someone who has never created an article before. I did have the worst time trying to download a picture, but I finally figured it out. I have only put in a little of my research and have a few more sources I need to confirm before completing the article. Overall, I am pleased with how much I have learned in using Wikipedia and Flickr. Brandymcook (talk) 21:56, 30 November 2010 (UTC) ---

Oliver P. Morton (Schwarz) and Reliefs, is a public artwork by Austrian artist Rudolf Schwarz, located on the East side of the Indiana Statehouse, which is inIndianapolis, Indiana, United States of America.

Description
The Oliver P. Morton memorial is composed of 3 bronze statues and 2 bronze reliefs. The pedestals on which the statues stand are of granite. Oliver Perry Morton stands positioned in the center, raised above the other two figures by a full figure's height. One of those figures of a soldier is placed on the proper left holding a bayonet and is uniformed. The other figure of a soldier is placed on the proper right holding a rifle and wearing a sword on his proper left and is uniformed as well. Below the figures at the base of the pedestals are two flags crossed with olive branches, and there is an oak wreath of leaves and acorns in the center. The reliefs are located on the proper right and proper left of the statues. The relief that is proper left is facing south. It shows Oliver P. Morton orating. The relief that is proper left is facing north. It shows him standing in an infirmary tent. On the backside of the statues are two plaques. The top plaque is located on the pedestal of Oliver P. Morton. It says:

"Oliver Perry Morton Born in Wayne Co. Indiana August 4, 1823. Died in Indianapolis November 1, 1877. Aged 54 years 2 months and 25 days. Admitted to the Bar in 1847. Served as Governor of Indiana from January 18, 1861 to March 4, 1867. Served as U.S. Senator from Indiana from March 4, 1867 until his death November 1, 1877."

"In all ways and at all times the friend of the Union soldier. The friend of the country.  The upholder of Abraham Lincoln. The defender of the flag and the Union of the States.  Patriot.  Statesman. Lover of Liberty.  Heroic in heart. Inflexible in purpose and ever to be known in history as The Great War Governor"

On the plaque below the first on the lower part of the pedestal it says:

"The annual meeting held in June, 1904, The Department of Indiana. Grand Army of hte Republic. An organization of the honorably discharged soldier and sailors who served in the Army and Navy to preserve the integrity of the Republic of the United States of America, in the Great Civil War from A.D. 1861 to 1865, memorialized the legislature of the State of Indiana to appropriate sufficient money to erect this monument ot perpetuate the memory of Oliver Perry Morton The Great War Governor of Indiana during that period."

Location history
As seen on the memorial label, the memorial was installed in 1907. The work was commissioned by the Indiana General Assembly.

Oliver Perry Morton
Oliver Perry Morton was the first Indiana native to be governor of Indiana. He was born in Salisbury, Indiana in Wayne County. When he was young he worked as a hatter's apprentice for four years before attending college at Miami University in Ohio. He studied law in Centerville, Indiana and at law school in Cincinatti, Ohio. Morton was originally a Democrat, but he was one of the organizers of the Republican party. In 1860 he was elected lieutenant governor on the ticket with Henry S. Lane. He became governer when Lane was elected to the United States Senate. Morton was re-elected to serve as governor in 1864 until 1867 in which he was elected to the United States Senate. He was considered a leading Radical Republican during his government career. He died on November 1, 1877.