The Guilderland Historical Society website is dedicated to preserving and sharing the rich history of Guilderland and the surrounding areas. Our goal is to provide a reliable, engaging, and informative resource for community members, historians, and the public, while maintaining the highest standards of accuracy and integrity in our content. This editorial policy outlines the principles guiding the development, publication, and management of content on our website.
1. Content Accuracy and Integrity
- Fact-Checking: All articles, resources, and features published on the Guilderland Historical Society website are carefully researched and fact-checked. We strive to ensure all information is accurate, supported by credible sources, and up-to-date.
- Citations and Sources: Where appropriate, content will include citations or references to primary and secondary sources, historical records, and scholarly work to ensure transparency and credibility.
- Editorial Oversight: Content is reviewed by knowledgeable historians, scholars, and Guilderland Historical Society members to ensure accuracy and objectivity.
2. Inclusivity and Diversity
- Representation: We are committed to showcasing the diverse history of Guilderland, ensuring that the stories of all individuals and communities—regardless of ethnicity, race, gender, or background—are represented.
- Respectful Language: Articles will use respectful, inclusive, and non-biased language that reflects the diversity of the Guilderland community.
- Ongoing Research: We will continually seek out previously overlooked or underrepresented historical narratives and perspectives.
3. Editorial Independence
- Objectivity: The Guilderland Historical Society is committed to presenting historical content with impartiality. Our website content is not influenced by external political, commercial, or social pressures.
- Non-commercial Nature: Our website content is educational and informational. We do not accept sponsored content or advertisements, ensuring our content remains unbiased and authentic to the mission of the Historical Society.
4. User-Generated Content
- Submissions: The Guilderland Historical Society welcomes contributions from the public, including articles, photographs, oral histories, and other materials that relate to the history of Guilderland.
- Moderation: All user-generated content is reviewed and edited for accuracy, relevance, and quality before being published. The Historical Society reserves the right to remove or edit content that does not meet editorial standards.
- Attribution: All submissions will be properly credited to their authors, unless anonymous submissions are accepted under specific circumstances.
5. Content Categories
The content on the Guilderland Historical Society website is organized into several key categories, including:
- Local History: Articles, essays, and features on historical events, landmarks, and figures in Guilderland and the surrounding region.
- Research Resources: Digitized documents, historical records, and reference materials available to the public for research.
- Educational Outreach: Resources for teachers, students, and lifelong learners to engage with Guilderland’s history.
- Community Contributions: A section for articles and submissions from members of the Guilderland community.
- Upcoming Events and News: Announcements of Historical Society events, programs, and news relevant to local history.
6. Ethical Guidelines
- Respect for Privacy: Any content that involves living individuals or their descendants will be treated with the utmost respect for privacy. We will avoid publishing personal information without consent unless it is relevant to historical research and publicly available.
- Copyright Compliance: All content published on the website will comply with copyright laws. When using third-party materials, proper permissions will be obtained, and due credit will be provided.
- Corrections: We strive for accuracy, but if errors are identified, they will be corrected promptly and transparently. A notice will be added to the updated content when necessary.
7. Updating and Archiving Content
- Timeliness: Content will be regularly reviewed and updated to ensure it reflects the most current understanding of local history.
- Archiving: Older content that remains historically significant will be archived in a way that remains accessible to users, and updates or revisions will be noted.
- Link Maintenance: All links to external sources will be checked periodically to ensure they are active and relevant. Broken links will be fixed or removed.
8. Community Engagement and Feedback
- Engagement: We welcome feedback and dialogue from the Guilderland community and our website visitors. We encourage constructive criticism, suggestions for improvement, and contributions that help expand the historical narrative.
- Contact: Readers are invited to contact the Guilderland Historical Society with questions, comments, or inquiries about the website’s content.
9. Policy Review and Revisions
- Regular Review: This editorial policy will be reviewed annually to ensure it reflects the evolving needs of the Guilderland Historical Society and the best practices for content development.
- Revisions: Any revisions to this policy will be documented and shared publicly on the website to ensure transparency.