Edit-a-thons
Edit-a-thons are in-person editing events where folks new to Folgerpedia can get direct help with the MediaWiki platform and some dedicated time to create Folgerpedia pages. The first Edit-a-thons in Folgerpedia's history will be held 3:30 to 4:30, April 7th and 21st, 2015, in the Boardroom. No experience is necessary, although you'll need to bring a laptop with you. We'll have staff on-site to register anyone who has not already created a Folgerpedia account. If you would like to preregister, please go to Getting started.
Topics and Citation
Folgerpedia articles can take a variety of forms:
Topical and subject-specific articles can tackle a variety of early modern literature or historical subjects related to the Folger's holdings (such as on Polonius, Queen Elizabeth's privy council, Coteries, or Sonnet sequences). Collections-related articles might give the history and context for an item in our collection, a history of a former collector, or a bibliography of items we hold on a given subject. We'd also love to have articles that give tips for researching a subject (including people, places, topics, genres, or kinds of books) at the Folger. The only guideline we'd like you to observe is to somehow relate the article to the Folger.
Unlike Wikipedia, Folgerpedia is happy to accept your original research and we highly encourage you to cite primary sources. If you quote from a source, please cite it so others may find it. See the how-to on Footnotes for a helpful refresher. We prefer you use the Chicago Manual of Style.
Useful Help pages
VisualEditor
To edit in VisualEditor, select the paper icon drop down menu in the upper right corner of your screen and click “Edit.” The page should be a tan background and a toolbar will appear along the top. This editing method displays the page as it will look as a finished product. For editing tips, see the VisualEditor help page. n.b. VisualEditor is currently not supported on Internet Explorer. Developers hope to eventually support VisualEditor on Internet Explorer 9 and higher in the future.
MediaWiki editor
To edit in the MediaWiki editor, select the paper icon drop down and click “Edit source.” This is the HTML editor. To view what the finished product will look like without saving, select “Show preview” at the bottom of the page. For editing tips, see the MediaWiki help page.
MediaWiki links for editing basics
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Cheatsheet
- Quick reference glossary of frequent actions used in wiki markup.
- http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Help:Contents
- This is your MediaWiki bible. Most questions regarding MediaWiki markup can be answered by referring to this list.
- http://folgerpedia.folger.edu/Help:Getting_started
- Basic outline for beginning work in Folgerpedia.
- http://folgerpedia.folger.edu/Folgerpedia:Manual_of_Style
- This article is very important—in order to maintain consistency across the wiki, we ask that all editors refer to this guide continually to ensure that they are following all style requirements.
- http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Manual:FAQ
- For more in depth problems, consult the FAQ. Please report any wiki malfunctions to folgerpedia@folger.edu.
- http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/MediaWiki
- To read the documentation about the MediaWiki platform, please feel free to consult this link.
Templates
- Template for collection item articles
- Template for finding aid articles
- Template for former owners of Folger materials articles
- Template for researching articles
- Template for teaching articles
Known Stubs in Want of Editing
It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single article in possession of a good title must be in want of content. Not sure where to start? See if you can help us fill out one of these pages!
Researching herbals at the Folger
Augustin Daly: a finding aids article
Shakespearean Characters
Polonius: Character page
Ophelia: Character page
Mistress Quickly: Character page
Provenance narratives:
John Philip Kemble: Actor, Former owner of Folger items, particularly needs expansion related to acting
Mary P. Massey: Former owner of Folger items, blank
Henry Neill Paul: Former owner of Folger items, blank
Henry Huth: Former owner of Folger items, adding details
J.O. Halliwell-Phillipps: Former owner of Folger items, adding details
Thomas Jefferson McKee: Former owner of Folger items
Joseph Quincy Adams: Former owner of Folger items
William Thomas Smedley: Former owner of Folger items, blank
- For more inspiration on former owners, see the Image Database mediaGroup on Bookplates and Provenance marks
Shakespeare's plays, more generally
Hamlet#Translations: citations for translations of Hamlet
Julius Caesar: the Play
Twelfth Night: the Play
Henry VIII: the Play
Examples
Promptbooks : a general "collection item" article, focusing on a genre
Lady Anne Kerr manuscript receipt book circa 1674 : a specific "collection item" article, focused on a single item
John Lydgate : a bibliography / aka a "finding aid article"
Teaching critical digital literacy : a pedagogy article / aka a "teaching article"
Researching promptbooks at the Folger : a research guide/ aka a "researching article"