Each day, the website of the National Archives features a document related to the day's date in its "Today's Document" page. Additional items are also featured on the project's tumblr page. These are documents from the holdings of the National Archives that have some significance, because of the importance or uniqueness of either the document itself or its subject. The document's entry includes a description and links to related documents and other research aids. The popular Today's Document feature can be subscribed to via RSS, and is also the National Archives' first mobile app.
This is the project page related to efforts to foster collaboration between Wikimedia and the Today's Document section of the National Archives website. Right now, we are working on the proposals below for editing challenges.
The challenges
Success
There are two types of challenges related to the Today's Document feature. Both involve bringing an article closely related to a particular document up to "did you know" status. These challenges may be completed by multiple editors in collaboration, and all will receive credit.
Documents selected by the National Archives
Success!
National Archives staff have already preselected many future Today's Documents and they are viewable on the website before the days in question (index available at /Index). So, to complete this challenge, editors must:
Write or expand an article whose subject is a future document of the day, or closely related to one,[1] between one and six weeks before the document's scheduled day.
Ensure that the document is properly uploaded to Commons or Wikisource and categorized. The National Archives will be providing high resolution versions of any document used for the challenge. If an image, ensure that the image is the lead image in your article.
Use the {{Today's Document}} box in the article to link back the National Archives page.
Submit the article for WP:DYK and request that it be held for the document's date (keeping in mind that the National Archives' dates are based on the Eastern Time Zone). If applicable, be sure to include the image from the National Archives for possible main page inclusion.
List successful submissions below after they are approved at DYK.
Successful entries will be listed as resources at the National Archives' page for the document and editors will be given credit on that page as authors (including real name, if desired). These pages remain on the National Archives site after the document's day has passed.
Documents selected by Wikipedians
Success!
National Archives staff also daily select additional items beyond the prearranged documents for highlighting in the Today's Documents tumblr. So, to complete this challenge, editors must:
Write or expand an article whose subject is a National Archives document with a digital version, or closely related to one.[1] Ideally, these will be documents not previously used on Wikipedia. Remember, these should be documents associated with an upcoming date.
Documents may be searched using the National Archives' Archival Research Catalog or the new Online Public Access (not yet comprehensive) system; you can limit the search digital content in both cases.
Ensure that the document is properly uploaded to Commons or Wikisource and categorized. The National Archives will be providing high resolution versions of any document used for the challenge. If an image, ensure that the image is the lead image in your article.
Use the {{Today's Document}} box in the article to link back the National Archives page.
Submit the article for WP:DYK for approval and request that it be held for the document's date (keeping in mind that the National Archives' dates are based on the Eastern Time Zone). If applicable, be sure to include the image from the National Archives for possible main page inclusion.
List successful submissions below after they are approved at DYK.
The chosen documents for successful entries will be posted to the Today's Document tumblr feed, and the Wikipedia article text may be used as the description (TBD). Authors will be credited (including real name, if desired). These pages remain on tumblr after the document's day has passed.
Note: You may wish to use {{Today's Document talk}} to document the article being featured after the fact.
Not all documents are themselves notable, however, their subjects often are. Generally, if a document could be the lead image for an article and is essential to illustrate the article, it should be considered closely related.
Volunteers
It may be useful to have a number of volunteers willing to act as clerks for this page, answering questions and ensuring that listed winners meet the requirements. If you are willing, please list yourself below:
...
Winners
List successful submissions below so they can be acted on by staff. We will try to ensure that high-resolution images are provided before main page appearances. Please also link to the Today's Document page or record for the document you used.
This project is still a proposal. Please discuss any suggestions for improvement on the talk page.
In addition, to make this project a reality we would need to:
See if people even like this idea(!)
Find out if the DYK holding area may be used in this way.
Determine whether editors will allow notice boxes linking to the National Archives page in articles themselves (for one day only).
Develop acceptable and appealing templates for article boxes, article talk page banners, and even optional badges (or other virtual swag) for winners to display.
Develop a parallel challenge for non-English Wikipedias (perhaps after a successful English Wikipedia trial?)
Develop a parallel challenge on Wikisource, perhaps for fully transcribed and validated documents?
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