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Bring-a-long Patagonia memorabilia to the National Library

PRESS RELEASE
10.06.15
 
Members of the public with a link to the Welsh colony in Patagonia are invited to share their stories and personal memorabilia at an ‘Edit-a-thon and Bring-a-long’ event at the National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth on Friday, 19 June from 10.00am onwards.

The aim of the event - part of the new ‘Gwladfa’ exhibition marking the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Welsh colony in Patagonia - is to add to and improve on information available on Internet encyclopedia Wikipedia and the People’s Collection Wales website.

National Library staff will be on hand during the event to show participants how to edit Wikipedia, in both Welsh and English.  A scanning station will be available to make digital copies of various documentation, which can then be posted online.

Plans are also underway to connect with Wikipedia editors in Patagonia in order to improve related Spanish-language articles.

The event is being hosted by Jason Evans, the National Library’s Wikipedian in Residence.  Jason, who has been appointed to the year-long post, which is co-funded by the Library and registered charity Wikimedia UK, is responsible for organising events to improve Welsh-related content on Wikipedia.  He is also working with the Library to share its digital content with Wikipedia.   

Jason Evans said:  “There has been considerable interest in the new ‘Gwladfa’ exhibition and members of the public have already begun offering old photographs and the like related to Patagonia.

“This event is a further opportunity to generate new material for both Wikipedia and People’s Collection Wales and also offers support and free training to members of the public interested in developing ‘open knowledge’ resources online.”

The ‘Gwladfa’ exhibition describes the Welsh settlers’ preparations for a new life in South America and the hardships they faced as they crossed the Atlantic on board the Mimosa.  

They eventually landed in Puerto Madryn on 26 July 1865, where, despite an arid, inhospitable landscape, they established a self-governing community with the Welsh language and culture at its heart.

A Welsh-language Bible carried on board the Mimosa is on short-term loan to the Library for the exhibition, which is being staged until 12 December.  Other memorabilia includes manuscripts and artwork from the Library’s own collections.

Please contact Jason Evans on jje@llgc.org.uk to sign up or contribute to the event.

Ends

For more information please contact Hannah Thomas on hannehelinor@googlemail.com or 07810 794853 or Lydia Whitfield at Effective Communications on LWhitfield@effcom.co.uk or 07890 953402

Editor’s notes

  • The National Library of Wales can be found off Penglais Hill in Aberystwyth.  It is clearly sign-posted along the main roads into the town.
  • The Library is home to over four million printed volumes, including many rare books such as the first complete Welsh translation of the Bible (1588).
  • Wikipedia is a free Internet encyclopedia that members of the public can edit
  • The People’s Collection Wales is a website full of fascinating photographs, sound recordings, documents, videos and stories about the history and heritage of Wales and its people
  • More information on the history of the Welsh in Patagonia is available on a trilingual website called Glaniad