An edit-a-thon was held on June 21, 2013 to create and improve Wikipedia articles related to biodiversity research from the Smithsonian Institution's "Expeditions & Explorers" collection of over 8,000 primary source documents. The goal was to make the historical information and collections in the Smithsonian more accessible online through activities like transcription, Wikipedia article creation, and use of social media.

1. Wikipedia Edit-a-thon
June 21, 2013
Carolyn Sheffield, Project Manager
Expeditions & Explorers:
Opening access to the history of
biodiversity research

2. • Primary source
documentation of
biodiversity field work
• Estimated 8,000 items
• “Hidden” collections

3. Specimen Lists

4. Specimen Lists

5. Journals and diaries

6. Visual Documentation

7. From physical objects…

8. To online access
http://collections.si.edu

9. Social Media

10. Wikipedia Articles

11. Transcription

12. Questions?