Wikipedia:WikiProject University of Oxford/QueenVictoriasJournals

{|style="background:#dee; border:1px solid #00c; margin:0.5em; padding:0.5em;border-radius: 8px; width:100%" !colspan=2 style="font-size:150%;"|Queen Victoria's Journals Editathon
 * Queen_Victoria_1887.jpg
 * Queen_Victoria_1887.jpg

About the Event
The Bodleian Libraries organised an editathon focusing on the Queen Victoria's Journals online resource (www.queenvictoriasjournals.org), hosted at Radcliffe Science Library (Bodleian Libraries), Oxford, on Friday 24 May 2013, to coincide with Queen Victoria's birthday. The day included a short talk and a tour through the online resource from the Queen Victoria's Journals project staff as well as a visit to the Bodleian Library's current exhibition, Magical Books - From the Middle Ages to Middle-earth. While organising, the event was supported by Wikimedia UK volunteer Andrew Gray, additionally some support was given with promotion and organisation by WMUK office.

We aimed to improve the coverage of individuals and events mentioned by Queen Victoria in her diaries and journals. The journals have been transcribed and digitised; they are available online by subscription and were made available for free global use for a limited time to coincide with the anniversary of Queen Victoria's birthday on 24 May. The project staff have created a list of people as well as a timeline of events mentioned in Queen Victoria's journals.

Virtual participation was also very welcome.


 * Date: Friday 24 May 2013, 1pm-4pm (introduction from project staff at 1pm; visits to exhibition from 4pm)
 * Venue: Training Room, Radcliffe Science Library, Oxford (directions).
 * Participants: Several staff members and some external writers as well as interested Wikipedians. There was space for around 30 people in total. We included some training for newcomers.
 * Registration: Below and also captured on Eventbrite.
 * Cost: Free!
 * Contacts: Any questions? Please contact or communications@undefinedbodleian.ox.ac.uk

On the day
We were based in a computer lab; but people were also able to connect to wifi and use own laptops.

The event began at 1pm and was held in the Training Room at the Radcliffe Science Library, Oxford (directions). A staff member was on hand to guide people through.

Timetable

 * 1.00pm-1.10pm Registration, housekeeping
 * 1.10pm-1.30pm An intro to and tour of the Queen Victoria's Journal resource, agree starting topics
 * 1.30pm-3.50pm Edit, research, basic training
 * 3.50pm-4.00pm Summary and closedown
 * 4.00pm Visit to Bodleian exhibition Magical Books for those interested (free, on the main Bodleian Library site)

Trainers from Wikimedia UK
Also being involved in editathon.
 * 1) Charles Matthews (talk)
 * 2) RexxS (talk)

Participants
4 were newcomers to Wikimedia projects, who received 1-1 tuition from the trainers present. 25% of audience was female.

The list below is the sign up page before the event. On the day, there were 11 people present in total (including trainers) in person. All the people contributing during the event can be seen here.


 * 1) Liz McCarthy
 * 2) Ylva Berglund Prytz
 * 3) Sarah Kremen-Hicks
 * 4) Andrew Davidson (talk)
 * 5) Brian Kelly
 * 6) Mervyn (talk)
 * 7) Geni (talk)
 * 8) Izzie McMann
 * 9) Mark Phythian-Adams
 * 10) Julia Baird
 * 11) Lara Weisweiller-Wu
 * 12) Sylwia Kowalczuk

Remote participation
The IRC channel for the event was irc|wikipedia-glam.
 * 1) John Byrne / Johnbod
 * 2) Kristan Tetens
 * 3) Sharon Cogdill (talk)
 * 4) Monica Drake
 * 5) PC Fleming

Improving and creating articles
The Bodleian Libraries would value contributions to improve and create articles relating to all areas of Victorian life, particularly those names, topics and places mentioned by Queen Victoria in her journals. This includes:


 * 1) Statesmen, national leaders and politicians, including British Prime Ministers such as Benjamin Disraeli, William Ewert Gladstone, Robert Peel and Archibald Primrose; monarchs and leaders such as Leopold I of Belgium, Tsars Nicholas I and II as well as Alexander I of Russia, Napoleon III and Maharajah Duleep Singh.
 * 2) Figures in the arts and intellectual world, including Lord Byron, Franz Liszt, Mendelssohn, Tennyson, Jenny Lind, Walter Scott, Charles Dickens and Alexander Graham Bell
 * 3) Figures of importance to Queen Victoria, including children, ladies in waiting such as Emily Lamb and advisers or other figures such as John Conroy, John Brown and Louise Lehzen
 * 4) Events and places of historical importance, such as the Coronation of Queen Victoria, various battles and wars, palaces and homes related to Queen Victoria

A substantial list of individuals and places mentioned in Queen Victoria's journals can be used for further inspiration. There is a corresponding wikified list.

For an introduction to Wikipedia editing see Contributing to Wikipedia and more detailed advice for cultural sector professionals is available at Advice for the cultural sector.

If there are Wikipedia articles relating to Victorian life more generally that you'd like to work on, please add them below.

As I live in Bath, I've an interest in anything the journal;s may say about her visit to Bath. Brian Kelly--BrianKelly (talk) 12:50, 24 May 2013 (UTC)

Outcomes
Liz blogged about the event after it took place here.

She remarked she was very pleased with the event, and would be interested in running another one in the future.

Articles worked on
A partial list:
 * Abdul Karim (the Munshi)
 * Alfred, Lord Tennyson
 * American Exhibition
 * Bath, Somerset
 * Château d'Eu
 * Charles Dickens
 * Coronation of Queen Victoria started Johnbod (talk) 20:35, 24 May 2013 (UTC)
 * This should run on WP:DYK on June 2nd, 60th anniversary of the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II
 * Eaton Hall, Cheshire
 * Edward Bulwer-Lytton
 * The Frozen Deep
 * George Hamilton-Gordon, 4th Earl of Aberdeen, generally touched up, lead expanded, bits from jnls added. Johnbod (talk) 15:47, 24 May 2013 (UTC)
 * In Memoriam A.H.H.
 * John Brown (servant)
 * John Rolle
 * John Russell, 1st Earl Russell bits added from Jnls, (diff) Johnbod (talk) 15:47, 24 May 2013 (UTC)
 * Louis III, Grand Duke of Hesse
 * Matlock Bath
 * Mensa Bonsu
 * Not So Bad as We Seem, Or, Many Sides to a Character: A Comedy in Five Acts
 * The Old Curiosity Shop
 * The Parent's Assistant
 * Prince Charles of Hesse and by Rhine
 * Princess Alice of the United Kingdom
 * Princess Beatrice of the United Kingdom
 * Princess Feodora of Leiningen
 * Queen Victoria
 * Queen Victoria's journals - this article about the overall topic has now been nominated to appear on the main page in the Did You Know? section. Andrew Davidson (talk) 20:20, 25 May 2013 (UTC)
 * Queen Victoria's pets
 * Robert Gascoyne-Cecil
 * Royal Archives
 * Sir William Molesworth, 8th Baronet
 * Victoire Conroy
 * Marquis, Viscount, List of marquesses in the peerages of Britain and Ireland, List of marquessates in the peerages of Britain and Ireland, same bit added (diff)

Questions?
To answer any questions participants might have had before attending.


 * 1) Do I have to register to attend, or can I just arrive on the day?
 * It's not essential, but it's helpful. You can add your name to the participants list above and register on our event page.
 * 1) Do I need to have a Bodleian Libraries reader card?
 * No. (But you might want one if you edit Wikipedia and need to look things up in Bodleian Libraries collections.)
 * 1) Do I need to have a Wikipedia or Wikimedia account set up before I turn up?
 * No. But it is strongly advised that you set up an account before the event and let us know what it is! Some articles (including Queen Victoria) are restricted from editing, and an account created on the day may not be able to edit them.
 * 1) Is there a minimum number of Wikipedia edits I have to have made to be allowed to attend?
 * Not at all! All are welcome - even if you've never edited Wikipedia before. Being "a Wikipedian" is a self-defined thing, so if you call yourself a Wikipedian (or would like to become one) then come along.
 * 1) Do I have to be a member of Wikimedia UK?
 * No, this is open to all. If you're interested in membership, you can find out more about membership here.
 * 1) Do you have to own/bring a laptop?
 * The event will take place in a computer lab, so there is no need to bring a laptop. You are welcome to bring your own, however, if you would like. Info about wireless access will be provided.
 * It is possible to come along and take notes on paper for subsequent use. NB that in the reading rooms, pens are not allowed, only pencils.
 * 1) Are there any age limits?
 * Not to attend the event. However, if you want a Bodleian Libraries readers card, there may be age restrictions. Please visit Bodleian Libraries Admissions for more details.
 * 1) Is it just Wikipedia? What about the other projects?
 * Any Wikimedia project editors (such as Wikisource, Wikiquote, Wikibooks and Wikiversity) are welcome if you think that your project may benefit from real-life collaboration at the Bodleian Libraries.
 * 1) Is remote participation viable?
 * Yes! Please use the list of articles below as a starting place. The IRC channel for the event will be irc|wikipedia-glam which can be used to discuss changes or ask for help in real time from anywhere.