Submissions:2025/Creative Sources: The Importance of Community & Oral Histories
This submission has been noted and is pending review for WikiConference North America 2025.
Title:
- Creative Sources: The Importance of Community & Oral Histories
Type of session:
- Lecture (15-30 min)
Session theme(s):
- Credibility, Future of Wikipedia
Abstract:
Title: Creative Citations: Collecting Facts from Unusual Sources
History is documented well beyond the page. Videos, interviews, advertisements, and even song lyrics can contain irreplicable historical information. How can we, as editors, do our best to incorporate facts from a diversity of sources - without compromising encyclopedic integrity?
As a case study, I will present about Brooklyn New York's Empire Roll-A-Palace, a long-gone disco roller rink with a diverse stamp on recorded history. Writing the article involved compiling information from 1930s newspaper ads, 1979 college magazines, 20-year-old DJ forums, court hearings, and New York City government documents.
By doing our best to include sources beyond books, I argue we can paint a fuller, more unbiased picture of our world - and further our goal of Preserving All Human Knowledge.
Afterwards, we will open the floor for questions, suggestions, and concerns.
Author name(s):
Wikimedia username(s):
- evedawn99
Affiliated organization(s):
- Wikipedia
Estimated length of session
- 20
Will you be presenting remotely?
- I will present in-person
Okay to livestream?
- Livestreaming is okay
Previously presented?
- No, this would be my first time sharing this presentation.
Special requests:
- I would necessitate a projector/speakers to show a slideshow. If no projector is provided, I can supply my own. I would prefer a microphone for the audience in order to allow them to ask questions at the end.