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Meetup at the National Archives
Backstage Pass Tour and Editathon
Saturday, August 6, starting at 11 am
National Archives at College Park,
8601 Adelphi Road, College Park, Maryland
Who should come? You should. Really.
And in case you got the wrong information before, there really is public transportation available to the site (read below)

Details

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The National archives building in College Park.
Who and what

The next Washington D.C./Baltimore-area meetup will be hosted by the National Archives at their College Park facility. This event will consist of a regular social meetup, a discussion with Dominic about WP:NARA, and a tour of the building by NARA staff. There will be time set aside for lunch, which will be provided, so be afraid to stay the whole day! ;-)

Afterward, we will be signing up for research cards and then there will be an afternoon editing session; we will also have the chance to scan and upload documents for Commons (request documents for scanning by Fridy afternoon). You can stay for the whole day, or just come for some of the day's activities. People of all ages are welcome. There will be swag.

During the work week prior to this meetup, Dominic will be holding Wikipedia workshops for NARA staff, and some interested staff will be joining us on Saturday to edit.

Building security has asked us to try to have an accurate list of the attendees beforehand. If you are planning on coming, please send us an e-mail with your name to socialmedia@nara.gov; no record of this information will be kept after Saturday. (Note: no one will be turned away for not having RSVPed.) Since we were unable to secure funding for food, please be prepared to chip in (ATM on-site) for any food you have. We will be ordering enough for everyone.

When

Saturday, August 6, 11 am to 5 pm.

Time Activity
11:00 - 11:30 Arrival, security check, socializing (snacks!)
11:30 - 12:15 Brief introduction to WP:NARA by Dominic, possible talks by NARA staff, Q&A from Wikimedians
12:15 - 1:00 Lunch and socializing
1:00 - 2:00 Tours of the building and research card signups
2:00 - 5:00 Editathon, scanathon, uploadathon, categorizathon, etc. in the NARA research rooms and/or library
Where

National Archives at College Park, 8601 Adelphi Road, College Park, Maryland. College Park is about 25 minutes from central DC, 35 minutes from Arlington, Virginia and 45 minutes from Baltimore.

The building is not within walking distance of the College Park Metro station. If you are planning on taking public transportation, see the instructions below.

Getting there
Driving Directions (Approximate)
  1. From Virginia, take I95 where it becomes part of the Capitol Beltway, take I95 towards Baltimore. Get off at Exit 23, Kenilworth Avenue, MD 201. Turn Left (South or West, I think), go about 1 mile to Greenbelt Road, MD 193, turn right. See item 3.
  2. From New York through Baltimore, take I95 or the Baltimore-Washington Parkway to the Capitol Beltway in the direction of Alexandria. Get off at Exit 23, Kenilworth Avenue, MD 201. Turn Right (South or West, I think), go about 1 mile to Greenbelt Road, MD 193, turn right. See next item.
  3. At Greenbelt Road, stay on MD 193 as it becomes University Blvd, about 5 miles, turn right onto Adelphi Road, go about 2 miles.
Public Transportation
If you're in the Washington Area: get to the University of Maryland-College Park Metro station. Then see the instructions once you're there. On the note below mentioning the free shuttle bus it states there is no bus service on Saturday. This is incorrect. While the R3 does not run on Saturday, the C8 does run on Saturday.

There is also a free shuttle bus from the Prince George's Plaza Metro station. It leaves15 minutes after every hour, which means you'd either be quite early or a little late.


Metrorail requires you buy a farecard in advance to ride metrorail so you may want to put enough on the card for a round-trip. You'll need to have cash for fares unless you want to spend $5 to buy a SmarTrip Card (it's $10 for the card which includes $5 in fare value), in which case you can pay for bus and rail fares by credit card. But you can generally only buy a SmarTrip card at a train station. If coming from BWI or Dulles, you could pay $6 cash for the inbound trip, then buy a SmarTrip card at the train station for $10 on your credit card, then use your credit card to add about $10 more value. The trip will cost about $10 each way if paying cash, less if using a SmarTrip card.

If arriving from out of town:
  • by Greyhound bus, walk to the New York Avenue Metrorail Station, take the red line toward Shady Grove, get off at Gallery Place, go downstairs, take the green line toward Greenbelt, get off at University of Maryland-College Park Station
  • by Amtrak, VRE or MARC, there is a Metrorail station in the same building as where your train arrives. From Union Station Metrorail Station, take the Red Line toward Shady Grove, get off at Gallery Place, go downstairs, take the green line toward Greenbelt, get off at University of Maryland-College Park Station
  • by Air from Ronald Reagan National Airport, take Metrorail Yellow Line toward Fort Totten or Mt. Vernon Square get off at Gallery Place, you're already downstairs, on the same platform, take the Green Line toward Greenbelt, get off at University of Maryland-College Park Station
  • by Air from BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport, take the B30 Metrobus to Greenbelt Station (this will cost $6 cash or SmarTrip), from Greenbelt Station, take the Green Line toward Branch Avenue, get off at University of Maryland-College Park Station
  • by Air from Dulles Airport, take the 5A Metrobus to L'Enfant Plaza (this will cost $6 cash or SmarTrip), then go to the L'Enfant Plaza Metrorail Station, on the upper level take the Green Line toward Greenbelt, get off at University of Maryland-College Park Station


Once you're at College Park station:

From the College Park Metro station, take the C8 Metrobus, which is at the end of the line so the only place you can go is in the direction of White Flint (it runs about every 1/2 hour on Saturday from 6:10 in the morning until 8:45 at night), the PDF of the schedule can be retrieved here: http://wmata.com/bus/timetables/md/c8.pdf , get off at Adelphi Road and Archives II building, it's about a 12 minute bus ride, then walk .05 mile S to 8601 Adelphi Road.

Once you get here

The National Archives is a large building with its own campus and free on-site parking. You will drive into the main entrance and there will be a security checkpoint. The guard will ask for ID and inquire about your reason for visiting; you may tell them that you are here for a public event and/or research. If coming by bus, you will be dropped off within this first checkpoint. There is one entrance to the building, where you will again have to show ID and go through an X-ray machine. After going through security, you will need to go straight ahead to the front desk to get your visitor pass for the tour and register any equipment you have brought. We are meeting in Lecture Room C, which is down the stairs to your right. There will be a sign and/or someone to point the way.

What to bring
  • In order to get inside the building, you must bring a photo ID.
  • Laptops, if you have them.
  • Scanners, if you have them. (Do NOT bring a scanner with ANY type of auto-feeder. You will not be able to take it into the research rooms under any circumstances.)
  • Cameras, if you have them.

Sign up

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Yes

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  1. Yay! Definitely going. Sounds fun. (talk)
  2. Very interested. I plan on driving from Arlington, and am glad to take others. --CutOffTies (talk) 22:17, 20 July 2011 (UTC)[reply]
  3. Dominic·t 13:36, 26 July 2011 (UTC)[reply]
  4. Probably, if the research materials are available.--Wehwalt (talk) 17:01, 28 July 2011 (UTC)[reply]
  5. Yes, I'll be there. GcSwRhIc (talk) 01:16, 2 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]
  6. Yes, and possibly pl:user:Marek Tuszynski. I will be coming from Fairfax and can give a lift to someone in the area or someone who can take metro to Vienna. --Jarekt (talk) 03:08, 4 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]
  7. If I can get a ride, I'll be there.--Danaman5 (talk) 18:01, 4 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]
  8. Yes. Maybe, would be of interest, but may be in Appalachia that weekend instead. [29July2011] --LarryMorseDCOhio (talk) 17:11, 5 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]
  9. Kirill [talk] [prof] 22:31, 5 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]
  10. I'm planning to come now, for sure. Carl Lindberg (talk) 00:11, 6 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]
  11. Going to try to make it. Edsu (talk) 01:59, 6 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]
  12. May upgrade to "Definitely" as the date draws closer and nothing else is on that day. --Cyde Weys 22:02, 28 July 2011 (UTC) Upgraded to definitely! See you guys tomorrow. --Cyde Weys 03:44, 6 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]
  13. MZMcBride (talk)

Maybe

[edit]
  1. Lwoodyiii (talk) 16:09, 21 July 2011 (UTC)[reply]
  2. Would like to help (and learn too), but I don't have a laptop nor a scanner. I also would be rather late (say 2:00 PM), if I come. Should I go anyway? TheBlueWizard (talk) 02:22, 28 July 2011 (UTC)[reply]
    Please do! There are public computers, and there will (hopefully) still be Wikipedians staying afterward for the editathon for you to join at 2. Dominic·t 20:55, 28 July 2011 (UTC)[reply]
    OK I will go then, unless something freaky pops up. Thanks! TheBlueWizard (talk) 03:35, 29 July 2011 (UTC)[reply]
  3. Current IRL situations may make this unfeasible. We shall see as the date approaches. Evilgohan2 23:28, 28 July 2011 (UTC)[reply]
    At this point, it's a solid negative, unfortunately. ⒺⓋⒾⓁⒼⓄⒽⒶⓃ② 08:53, 6 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]
  4. I'm already asking for the day off from work; once I know for sure, will change my maybe to a definite yes. mijotoba (talk) 01:01, 29 July 2011 (UTC)[reply]
  5. I am in a power wheelchair and must use public transportation, as me and my chair weigh 750 pounds. I have a laptop but unfortunately my scanner includes both a flatbed scanner and sheet feeding scanner so it wouldn't be allowed. I'd love to go, I live right next to College Park in the town of University Park. I'll see how I feel then, if I'm up to the trip. Paul Robinson (Rfc1394) (talk) 15:17, 29 July 2011 (UTC)[reply]
    I'm a strong maybe at this point. (no longer just a maybe) Carl Lindberg (talk) 18:42, 2 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]
  6. Consider me a strong maybe as well. Jeff Bedford (talk) 00:24, 3 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]
  7. Now that I see it's the C8 bus, I probably will come. A hint: for people coming from Montgomery County, going to College Park and then taking the C8 from there is not the way to go. The C8 crosses most of the major north-south bus routes in Montgomery County (as well as passing 3 blocks from my home!) -- BRG (talk) 18:39, 3 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]
  8. I'm also a maybe.Rppeabody (talk) 03:13, 6 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Unable to attend, but wish to be informed about future meetups

[edit]
  1. I will be out in Chicago during this time. See you at Meetup 21! SchuminWeb (Talk) 03:29, 22 July 2011 (UTC)[reply]
  2. Prior obligations, sorry. Really want to come, but there's practically no way. Blurpeace 03:16, 23 July 2011 (UTC)[reply]
  3. I will be in Israel. hare j 20:57, 25 July 2011 (UTC)[reply]
  4. I also have prior obligations, but would like to stay on the list for future meetups. Doc2234 (talk) 20:39, 28 July 2011 (UTC)[reply]
  5. Won't be able to make it, but keep me in mind for future events - and have fun, everyone! --David Shankbone 22:35, 28 July 2011 (UTC)[reply]
  6. Will be out of town. Curious about how much editing/scanning you'll get done, but I love the idea of putting that in the schedule. Kingdon (talk) 02:10, 29 July 2011 (UTC)[reply]
  7. Wonderful idea! I will be away at Wikimania but would have loved to come. -- Econterms (talk) 05:29, 29 July 2011 (UTC)[reply]
  8. I will be on vacation, and I'm sorry to say I want to be as far away from Archives II as possible. :-) Let me know if you guys need anything! BcNARApix (talk) 13:47, 29 July 2011 (UTC)[reply]
  9. Out of town that weekend. I'll make it to a Wiki meetup at *some point*. :-] --EEMIV (talk) 19:51, 30 July 2011 (UTC)[reply]
  10. Busy that day, but would like to attend similar such events in the future. David in DC (talk) 16:53, 1 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]
  11. It would have been nice to have more than 2½ weeks advance notice because some of us work on the weekends. –Dream out loud (talk) 23:44, 1 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]
  12. Also in Israel, regrets,Sadads (talk) 20:44, 3 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]
  13. I'm 12 and live in Long Island,sorry!
  14. Looks good. - Dank (push to talk) 17:43, 20 July 2011 (UTC) I'll be up in a couple of months. - Dank (push to talk) 00:24, 31 July 2011 (UTC)[reply]
  15. Sigh, another cool event I can't make:( DMacks (talk) 00:24, 6 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]
  16. Sorry, tomorrow is moving day for me. Cheers! bd2412 T 00:57, 6 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]
  17. Family matters. Der Wohltemperierte Fuchs(talk) 11:49, 6 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Not wishing to be informed about future meetups

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Note: the best way to stop notifications is to remove your name from this page: Wikipedia:Meetup/DC/Invite/List.

Items for scanning

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There will be an opportunity to digitize new documents for Commons. Please search the online catalog and request any items would like to have pulled so they will be ready for us when we visit. Check the catalog record to be sure the documents you want are housed in the College Park facility (many of them are). For now, we may be restricted to still pictures. Items digitized by Wikimedians will be cataloged and added to the National Archives online catalog by NARA staff!

  • Record group 56 (Department of the Treasury) ARC Identifier 516597 / Local Identifier 56-SE (1926 Sesquicentennial exhibits), ARC Identifier 516597 / Local Identifier 56-DE (1936 Pacific International Exhibits)--Wehwalt (talk) 17:16, 28 July 2011 (UTC)[reply]
  • German Flown Aerial Photography, compiled 1939 - 1945 (ARC Identifier 306065 / Local Identifier 373-GXPRINTS ) --Jarekt (talk) 21:26, 5 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]
  • Also Treasury Record Groups 56 and 104, Records of the United States Mint, Director's Office, whatever they have for 1907, 1908, 1912, 1913, 1916, 1917 and 1921 (if there's room, 1909)--Wehwalt (talk) 00:59, 3 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]
  • Any chance we could get portraits of USAF or US Army four star generals digitized? I've got a list of Generals with low-quality or non-existent portraits below:
List

Likely in these series: [1] and [2]

  • John W. Roberts
  • Melvin Zais
  • Michael Patrick Chamberlain Carns
  • Henry Viccellio, Jr.
  • Robert L. Rutherford
  • Monroe W. Hatch, Jr.
  • Robert L. Reed
  • Tommy R. Franks
  • Jack I. Gregory
  • Bennie Luke Davis
  • John W. Vogt, Jr.
  • Bryce Poe II
  • George J. Eade
  • William V. McBride
  • Joseph T. Palastra, Jr.
  • Montgomery Meigs
  • Crosbie E. Saint
  • James V. Hartinger
  • George Lee Butler
  • Richard Hastings Ellis
  • Charles A. Horner
  • Howell M. Estes III
  • Joseph W. Ashy
  • Robert M. Shoemaker
  • Robert T. Marsh
  • John J. Hennessey
  • Donald R. Keith
  • Frederick F. Woerner, Jr.
  • Volney F. Warner
  • Donn A. Starry
  • Glenn K. Otis
  • Robert Sennewald
  • Paul F. Gorman
  • William J. Livesey
  • William E. DePuy
  • Louis T. Seith
  • Robert RisCassi
  • William W. Hartzog
  • William F. Kernan
  • Alton D. Slay
  • Thomas M. Ryan, Jr.
  • Earl T. O'Loughlin
  • Andrew P. Iosue
  • Billy M. Minter
  • Wilbur Creech
  • James A. Hill
  • John G. Lorber
  • Walter T. Kerwin, Jr
  • Berton E. Spivy, Jr.
  • Lewis Blaine Hershey
  • John H. Michaelis
  • George V. Underwood, Jr.
  • Orval R. Cook

I don't expect anything to be done, but this is just if anyone is interested. Connormah (talk) 18:26, 29 July 2011 (UTC)[reply]

If they are brought out, I will scan them.--Wehwalt (talk) 16:41, 31 July 2011 (UTC)[reply]
Much appreciated. Not all are needed, just any that can be found. I have been looking rather hard for a portrait of Orval R. Cook and have only been able to find a (crappy) scan of a four-star portrait. If the original or anything of better quality can be found, that'd be great. Connormah (talk) 19:24, 2 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Follow-up

[edit]
Commons uploads

Please be sure to post all of the pictures we took to Commons. I have created commons:Category:August 2011 NARA Backstage Pass for this purpose. You should also use this for uploading scans. When uploading scans, you may use commons:Template:NARA-image-full, filling in as many fields as you know. The unique identifiers we recorded were the "local identifier", while ARC is "None" (until NARA staff catalogs these items! :-) ). You may use {{PD-USGov}} for copyright license. Don't worry too much about formatting; as long as these images are also tagged with commons:Category:August 2011 NARA Backstage Pass, we'll be able to find and standardize them all after they are uploaded. Dominic·t 18:03, 7 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Future scanning parties at the National Archives

This event was fun and we got to handle a lot of cool materials, but, of course, there are millions more records like the few we were able to scan. We can make meetups at the National Archives a regular occurrence! Not only are we helping improve the breadth of Commons' material, we are also helping the National Archives digitize its holdings. There will always be at least the large scanner for Wikimedians to use, and probably 1-2 others. In the future, we can make more specific requests, and work in other departments besides still pictures, like textual. We should aim for another scanning party sometime next month.

Sounds like it went very well! Would definitely have joined you all if I hadn't been out of town. SchuminWeb (Talk) 21:14, 7 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]
Me too. -- Econterms (talk) 04:10, 8 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]
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