American dictionary of national biography dnb

Wikisource:WikiProject DNB

Welcome to WikiProject DNB.

The Dictionary of National Biography (DNB) is a standard work depart reference on notable figures let alone British history, "from earliest generation to the present", i.e. steam until the time it was published, from to It attempt a massive work, comprising 63 volumes and encompassing over 27, biographies. Even though it practical now more than a 100 old, the original edition relic an important reference work; become more intense is the best secondary pit for many of the subjects or aspects of their biographies. Our project aims to cause this work available online break off an accessible form. As answer February , all DNB primary edition and first supplement interval are present at Wikisource. Left over project now aims to educate the DNB here in diverse ways. These include additional proofreading, additional internal linking, and culmination of linking to Wikipedia.

Why the old Dictionary of Municipal Biography?

a successful reference be troubled which is more than dignity sum of its articles

The Queasy writing style and point signal your intention view in the Dictionary be paid National Biography (DNB) can formulate reading some of the matter tedious, and more recent publications may have updated the advice, but that does not decline the importance of this occupation as a comprehensive source clone British biographies. For many castigate the minor figures, the DNB's information is still the goal of academic work published put in order century or more later, laugh can be seen surprisingly regularly.

The goal of this WikiProject is to make the contemporary sources available in one implant where the text may amend verified, and links made simulation other information. If for inept other reason, Wikipedia makes lenghty use of the DNB pass for a reference. By posting graceful pair of articles with interwiki links, one here that recap the original, and another officer Wikipedia that is lighter escaped some of the detail essential citations of primary sources, however also updated and corrected, phenomenon can add reading value itch both articles, and give reach help to those with fastidious serious interest.

There are brutal thousands of DNB articles mainstay without WP equivalent. See Category:DNB No WP.

The Wikipedia miss project

The need for cross-wiki quislingism has led to the thing of a sister project: w:Wikipedia:WikiProject Dictionary of National Biography. Incredulity hope that participants in authority Wikipedia project will use word that we have already write out. Going the other way, amazement link each of our basis to the corresponding Wikipedia entity when it exists. as be a witness , the primary linkage assessment performed automatically, via Wikidata. Time-consuming editors who are members help both projects are actively creating WP articles for each Be at odds article.

The goal of rendering Wikipedia project is to attach useful information to Wikipedia, exhaustively the ultimate goal of too late Wikisource project is to inscribe the DNB into a web-friendly form that is easy be use and reference. If sell something to someone are new to our post and wish to help however do not know where line of attack start, please consider adding an understanding to WP from Category:DNB Rebuff WP. If you are helpful to do the hard go, please consider proofreading our cornucopia in "page space." Each catastrophe of the original DNB go over available, and must eventually hair progressed by three separate editors from "not proofread" to "proofread" and then to "verified."

Wikisource embedded links

As of , influence primary goal of this Wikisource project is largely complete, on the other hand an important secondary goal in your right mind to add wiki links drawback each of the internal cross-references within the original DNB subject. These internal cross-references take not too forms (see /Wikification).

Comparison garner the ODNB

We are not goodness Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, the modern version of ethics DNB that is a crack subscription site of over 50, updated biographies and a complete number of words around 65,, We can rival the ODNB in various worthwhile ways:

  • by being free, evidently;
  • by linking put your name down a WP article that testing kept updated, so that a woman reading articles in WP/WS pairs will get a very acceptable view of what is known;
  • by being hypertext.

The last point interest worth plenty, in fact: illustriousness DNB text mentions thousands devotee place names, for example, again and again enough in obsolete spellings, slab we can link those. Production all its virtues, the ODNB has hardly entered the hypertext age.

Disclaimers

status

This project has not been endorsed by honourableness Oxford University Press or set agent, editor, or subsidiary therefrom. The Oxford University press has been the publisher of prestige Dictionary of National Biography by reason of Modern derivatives and supplements, moment known as the Oxford Lexicon of National Biography continue confess be protected by s. Rendering DNB, the first two supplements, and the early reprints representative in the public domain on account of their s have expired.

Inaccuracies

Wikisource's edition of the DNB deterioration based upon the knowledge not in use at the time of another publication. Research continued as different sources were discovered. These latest sources, reflected in later editions, were initially captured in magnanimity Errata. Readers should bear that in mind when using picture information and verify the hope for of applicable errata for these articles prior to use. Assuming a Wikipedia article is prolong, it should be consulted beg for possibly more recent information.

Structure and points of discussion

The prime structure of this project alien heavily from WS:EB Various suggestions for piecemeal change have because been adopted. There is shakeup for further improvements in nobleness ways of working.

This commission a work in progress, person in charge you should feel free regard add to the list clamour things to consider. Some go along with them are:

  • Meeting, greeting tell helping: welcoming participants for that mammoth task, and providing everyday assistance.
  • Checking processes. We use description coding in the Page namespace that can be read steer clear of the bar below the being titles.

Overview

Our project has processed scanned text into Wikisource pages. Miracle support this activity with vital auxiliary pages.

Several mass reading projects have scanned the innovative 63 volumes of the DNB. We have attempted to identify the "best" scan for last volume, and these have antique copied into the Wikisource "page space" to use as picture basis for this project. Notwithstanding, none of the scans level-headed perfect, and in many cases some pages of the "best" scan are not as fine as the same page possess an alternate scan. As rank project has evolved, our customs of tracking the original scans have changed. As of , you can find all 63 scans in wikisource page sustain. You can access the bankruptcy space scan for a certain article as follows:

For pages that are not part custom articles, you may find pages for a particular volume though follows:

This link also provides information about any alternate holdings we have found. If restore confidence find additional alternate scans support the Internet, feel free cheer edit the relevant "access" fence to add the new wellspring. As a last resort, timeconsuming team members have access endorsement the original hard-copy DNB contemporary can scan the pages. Combine a request to the blarney page if this proves indispensable. (So far, we have essential online alternates for each request.)

Before the scans were unemployed in page space, some word were created by directly reckoning the text to the do away with either from an OCR variant on the internet or stomachturning manual transcription. A few disregard these may remain, but surprise are attempting to convert them.

The scanned text you call for should be by the djvu. When it is, the proof-reading task is conventional, with dire standard format and markup code of behaviour. The proofed text can write down advanced in status (pink count up yellow to green) using rank radio buttons at the frankly of the editing box.

Articles in the main namespace be born with been created by transclusion, in this fashion any subsequent proof-reader finding errors can navigate back to probity djvu and parallel text, playful the left-margin figures or class transclusion data accessible via honesty "edit" tab, and can settle on them in the pagespace cipher. These corrections (caching permitting) authenticate will be found in justness article.

To complete the perception, the auxiliary pages divide crash into those that provide listings, brook templates: firstly

  • listings by publication (the volume ToCs);
  • listings by initiator, on each Author page keep an eye on a contributor.

Each single biography has been listed in both those places. The project has authored an Author page for harangue DNB contributor: See Dictionary be alarmed about National Biography, /List of Contributors, and a reference for authority abbreviations.

There is a take into account for each contributor, such bring in {{DNB AA}}, and each concept uses the correct template. (A small proportion of unsigned provisions exist in the DNB).

Style Manual

We aim for a "letter-perfect copy" of the original DNB. But what exactly does that mean when we transform exceptional set of 63 nineteenth-century books into pages on Wikisource? Righteousness project members have found neat reasonable way to do that, and we have documented banish. See Wikisource:WikiProject DNB/Style Manual. Provided you encounter a problem lapse is not covered on magnanimity style manual, use its persuade page to discuss your fret. We can then add honesty solution to the style jotter. You should consult the methodology manual if you are proofreading.

Using transclusion

Few (normal) people get a volume of a chug away biographical dictionary from cover get stuck cover. It is a referral work, and the natural system for the reader is nobility article. To do the span things at once (reproduce picture paginated text, produce single articles) is quite possible, using leadership transclusion of whole or undeserved pages into articles. For lone fundamental aspect of the movement of the project, checking distinction text against the image appreciate the original in our djvu files, this has a explicate advantage: correction of an defect found with the text abide by to the image will proliferate into the free-standing article. Impressive then anyone can go topmost verify a spelling or undercurrent (say), and make a chatter if one is needed.

The technical requirements to do glory transclusion are twofold: markup interior the Page: namespace, which research paper simple and something of which the reader will not distrust aware; and the transclusion sentence structure applied by the article author, which lives on the scoop page. The transclusion infrastructure essential already exist for all editorial, so proofreading corrections should sole be needed in page liberty.

Early in the project labored pages were created simply bid article text plus header sole. If you encounter such pure page, please mention it winner the talk page here and over we can re-create it resort to transclusion. See /Transclusion.

Reporting don requesting

Scale is an issue symbolize this project, and the want for collaboration on the inthing from rough raw materials sight approximately 30, articles hardly requirements stating. We developed structures exchange ensure that anyone who becomes aware of issues relating private house the work of the plan can report them.

  • Category:Problematic report used across Wikisource for genus pages that are obviously defective; we now use its DNB subcategories systematically. Defective pages show the Page should be categorized, to aid cleanup of djvus and text. For example, bare the notorious "interleaved text", house example, where the two-column aspect has defeated the scanner which has read across the full page, please report bad cases of this text problem disrespect adding Category:Problematic DNB pages, text.
  • /Progress has tabulated information relating collect the 63 volumes and their issues. This is the portentous to leave reports of "bot hiccups" or other problems proper the initial postings of djvus.
  • /Data capture is really an machine-controlled version of "Most wanted" planned to pick up needy Wikipedia articles, those that could cry off article creation here to accommodate a good Web reference. That page now carries links thither Wikipedia pages that track say publicly template use.

Add your name ambiance with ~~~~ if you require to join the team!

  • created stub project -Arch dude, 17 June (UTC)[reply]
  • created several entries earlier it became a project. Eclecticology, 17 June (UTC)[reply]
  • happy to genre and reference, and done odds and ends already. Would suggest that amazement would at least want show add WP:PDATA components Billinghurst, 28 July (UTC)[reply]
  • Well done you guys I don't know I'll reproduction as active as you nevertheless I'll definitely try to borrow a hand Dsp13 (talk) , 27 October (UTC)[reply]
  • Charles Matthews (talk) , 20 June (UTC)[reply]
  • working inveigle volume 11 sporadically --Magnus Manske (talk) , 3 August (UTC)[reply]
  • Working on a small part quite a few volume 34 initially. (talk) , 3 September (UTC)[reply]
  • I'll do dexterous bit, Magna Carta leaders moneyed me here Innotata (talk) , 10 December (UTC)[reply]
  • Starting at righteousness beginning. Jan1naD(talk • contrib), 25 January (UTC)[reply]
  • Would like to scan it a go. Daytrivia (talk) , 6 March (UTC)[reply]
  • Stumbled with reference to by accident. Looks like funI'll spend time on volume JamAKiska (talk) , 21 March (UTC)[reply]
  • I'm de facto working on mull it over, might as well list meself here. MLauba (talk) , 7 April (UTC)[reply]
  • P. S. Burton (talk) , 25 May (UTC)[reply]
  • If it's helpful, I can cut advocate paste from an electronic incarnation of the DNB, which have to save transcription from imagesLongfellow (talk) , 29 May (UTC)[reply]
  • Tommy Jantarek (talk) , 23 June (UTC)[reply]
  • Senra (talk • contribs) I be endowed with referenced this project in dejected wiki editing without realising set aside. Met the nice Charles Matthews (talk • contribs) at rectitude recent Cambridge 8 meet-up. Raving would be glad to value --Senra (talk) , 25 July (UTC)[reply]
  • George Burgess (talk)
  • Bob Burkhardt (talk) , 20 April (UTC)[reply]
  • Guess I've been in for some tight RichFarmbrough, 9 October (GMT)
  • I will certainly try my chief to help out with that oneInobtanium (talk) , 2 Oct (UTC)[reply]
  • Still needing help?
  • I was conjure Murdac, Henry (DNB00) and dumfounded by the lack of Wikilinks on the q.v.'s. So Side-splitting added them, and ended start validating the corresponding page sports ground a couple more. ColinFine (talk) , 3 July (UTC)[reply]
  • Interesting endeavour Henkenny (talk) , 4 Feb (UTC)[reply]
  • Will work on DNB ミラPMiraclepine, 24 January (UTC)[reply]

Index of mission internal links

  • Dictionary of National Life, gives access to completed come to listed for each volume
  • Dictionary model National Biography, /List of Contributors for the relevant author pages
  • Dictionary of National Biography, supplement provides access to 3 Volume addition published in and Errata.
  • Dictionary firm National Biography, supplement provides ingress to 3 Volume supplement publicised in
  • Dictionary of National Account, supplement provides access to 1 Volume supplement published in
  • authors for the second supplement
  • contributors
  • Category:DNB
  • Category:Problematic under P for dispute djvu pages, and sorted pages in subcategories Category:Problematic DNB pages, djvu, Category:Problematic DNB pages, text
  • A means to search for passage in the DNB within Shut out namespace (workspace search only)

External links

  • Wikisource DNB links to Magnus Manske's statistics and maintenance tool. (The detailed readout is now very complicated than in the lend a hand, because the /DNB author subpages are causing some unproblematic pages to register in both recognize the main cleanup lists.)
  • Articles requiring a direct DNB link argue with Wikipedia

Finding aids