User talk:Quarry historian

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Hello, Quarry historian, and welcome to Wikipedia! Thank you for your contributions. I hope you like the place and decide to stay. Here are some pages that you might find helpful:

I hope you enjoy editing here and being a Wikipedian! Please sign your messages on discussion pages using four tildes (~~~~); this will automatically insert your username and the date. If you need help, check out Wikipedia:Questions, ask me on my talk page, or ask your question on this page and then place {{helpme}} before the question. Again, welcome! bd2412 T 04:59, 29 November 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Headstone

Please do not add advertising or inappropriate external links to Wikipedia. Wikipedia is not a mere directory of links nor should it be used for advertising or promotion. Inappropriate links include (but are not limited to) links to personal web sites, links to web sites with which you are affiliated, and links that exist to attract visitors to a web site or promote a product. See the external links guideline and spam policies for further explanations of links that are considered appropriate. If you feel the link should be added to the article, then please discuss it on the article's talk page rather than re-adding it. See the welcome page to learn more about Wikipedia. Thank you. Vsmith (talk) 22:41, 6 September 2010 (UTC)[reply]

I have reverted Vsmith's removal of the stone plate reference. At first glance I wondered if it was a modern company promoting its wares, but after looking at the information you added I was delighted at its quality and usefulness. I assume Vsmith's action was in good faith as we do sometimes get companies adding promotional material (spamming) here. Ephebi (talk) 11:30, 7 September 2010 (UTC)[reply]

My questions: 1. Are you referring to the addition of the "Marble Color Plates" book link to the "Marble" or "Headstones" section of Wikipedia? I placed a link to the book in both, and only the link in "Headstones" remains. 2. Was the link to the "Marble" section inappropriate? (There is no date of publication on the book, but my guess is early 1900s.) 3. Are these links inappropriate merely because these books reside on my personal web site on stone quarries? Would it be better not to indicate that the link is on my "Stone Quarries and Beyond" web site - a volunteer, nonprofit site? Quarry historianQuarry historian (talk) 16:45, 7 September 2010 (UTC)[reply]

The link was removed for two reasons: first it was added as an external link by a user who has only edited to add external links and that set off some alarm bells. Secondly, it was a large file that appeared to be promoting one company. I didn't see that it was an historic reference, sorry for that. Now, you mention above that the file is hosted on your "personal web site" and regardless of the nature of the web pages, that is of concern. We simply don't promote our own stuff. Seems that you should perhaps mention the page on the article talk page and let some other editor add the link thereby avoiding any suggestion of conflict of interest. As user:Ephebi has re-added one page above by reverting my removal that is fine and they are taking responsibility for the addition thus avoiding you possible WP:COI with the site. Further if Ephebi or another user wishes to relink the marble paper - no problem as now I see its historic potential (just might note the file size as it took awhile to download on my sluggish connection). Vsmith (talk) 20:29, 7 September 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Thank you for explaining. I think I will stop adding links to these historical documents to Wikipedia. None of these links were meant to bring traffic to our web site but to add links to valuable, historical documents no usually available. You are correct that the color plates PDF is rather large, but I was concerned with the quality of the images. Feel free to delete any or all of the entries I've added to Wikipedia as they all lead to our web site. Thanks again for your assistance. Quarry historian (talk) 23:02, 7 September 2010 (UTC)Quarry historian[reply]

OK, I have re-added those links. Please don't let this incident put you off editing on WP. Notwithstanding Vsmith's concern about conflict of interest, the things you have added are obviously of good quality and are of great interest to a cemetery 'specialist' such as myself. However, if you are adding links to a private website then there is a general editorial concern about it being from a reliable source or original research. But as you provided a link to 3rd party works then this shouldn't be a concern. If you feel in doubt then it might be best to propose this in a talk page first (though having said that, there is another policy that says WP:BEBOLD. Thanks, Ephebi (talk) 12:56, 8 September 2010 (UTC)[reply]

I have formatted a marble samples catalog published between the 1890s and about 1915 - no date of publication given in book. Since I am not supposed to place this in the "Headstone" section myself on my web site, would someone else like to add it? (Also, I think the earlier Vermont Marble Co. Color Plate catalog published mid-1900s (with no date of publication) & this new Thompkins-Kiel catalog would both be of interest in the "Marble" section of Wikipedia.Quarry historian (talk) 19:37, 21 September 2010 (UTC)Quarry historian[reply]

"Products of Tompkins-Kiel Marble Company" Stone Catalog, Distributors of Marble - Stone, 505 Fifth Avenue, New York, ca. 1915(?) http://quarriesandbeyond.org/cemeteries_and_monumental_art/quarry_to_cemetery_stone/tompkins-kiel_mrbl_color_plates_cat_intro.html