Talk:John James Cunningham

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Erskine book edit

Latest comment: 3 months ago6 comments4 people in discussion

The publisher Anuva Designs only has this one book in Google Books and I can't find any information on it. I am wondering if this book could possibly be self-published. Graywalls (talk) 19:11, 13 February 2024 (UTC)Reply

It's Anava Design, not Anuva, and this is the only book they ever published. I did a deep search to see if they are or were a publishing house or actual press, but came up cold. The Wayback Machine has zero records for their website (altho it's listed on page 4 of the book). Apparently it is a memoire on the artist written by his "lifelong friend" (Erskine), and based on: "correspondence between Cunningham and various friends". It is a self-published primary source, and as such would not contribute to notability, and probably should not be used at all because there was no editorial oversight. What are the three best fully independent sources that would contribute to GNG, as he doesn't meet NPROF, and not sure he meets NARTIST? Netherzone (talk) 21:47, 13 February 2024 (UTC)Reply

@Graywalls and Netherzone: Ironically, I started an RSN discussion about this exact matter at WP:Reliable Sources/Noticeboard#Is this book reliable or self-published? a short while before this post. The two of you may wish to read and comment there; it's been over a week since the last comments were made so it might roll over into the archive soon. Left guide (talk) 23:25, 13 February 2024 (UTC)Reply

@Greghenderson2006:, I disagree with placing Carmel Art thing in the lede, which is only sourced to OBITUARIES. Short form obits like this are submitted by family members as I have explained in edit summary and gives undue coverage. You've been restoring things removed by others lately without any attempt of discussion. Graywalls (talk) 08:15, 15 February 2024 (UTC)Reply

@Graywalls: I appreciate you bringing this to my attention. My feeling is that it was relavant to the overall narative of John Cunningham, specifically his contributions to the Carmel Art Association (gallery) and the establishment of the Carmel Art Insitute as an educational institution.

The setence reads: "He became president emeritus and transferred the responsibility of the Carmel Art Institute to the Carmel Art Association." Although this is coming from two obituaries, it is backed up by the statement by Alice Putnam Erskine, that says: "A unainmous vote was given by the Carmel Art Association on April 18, 1990 that they would take over the school (page 349)." I realize the Erskine source is in question, so I propose relying on obituaries as the only viable alternative. Greg Henderson (talk) 17:50, 15 February 2024 (UTC)Reply

I believe it's completely WP:UNDUE to prominently place something in lede based on some crummy self-published source and family submitted obituaries. Graywalls (talk) 02:01, 16 February 2024 (UTC)Reply

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