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Wikipedia Editathon

 

The Hunt Museum releases Sybil Connolly Digital Collection into the public domain

Press Release

A first in Ireland, the release of a collection of 20th century images to the Public Domain. The decision was taken to digitise the Sybil Connolly Collection in high resolution and dedicate it to the public domain with the blessing of John Connolly, Sybil’s nephew. The majority of the collection was acquired between 1999 and 2000 by The Hunt Museum. The aim of this bold step is to increase the use of the collection in education, by creative industry and in research by removing any copyright restriction.

Images are already accessible in the online version of the exhibition Sybil: A career in design, which will outlive the current physical exhibition on at the Hunt Museum until 31 May 2018. Some of the collection is on Pinterest and Instagram but next steps are to add the collection to Wiki Commons and write some articles on Sybil and her influence on Irish design, use of Irish textiles, báinín wool, tweed, handkerchief linen, Carrickmacross lace and her entrepreneurism moving into interior design, glass and ceramics.

A Wikipedia Editathon is being held at the Hunt Museum, Limerick on May 17-19th with help from Limerick Lace, the Limerick City Museum and the Limerick City Library, the Hunt Museum Docents and the people of Limerick and thanks to Eamonn O’Mahony for creating the beautiful images.

 

Ireland’s Wikipedian Rebecca O’Neill says:
Fashion and design really needs a boost in Wikipedia so adding this collection to Wiki-Commons is brilliant. The Sybil Wikipedia Editathon at the Hunt Museum aims to also get a few more people able to create and improve Wikipedia articles.

Jill Cousins, Director of the Hunt Museum explained:
“We want to reach new audiences with our collections and believe that opening up will help us achieve this. With the help of the Wikipedia Editathon, we will improve the data and deepen the research of the Sybil Connolly Collection. We will then upload it to Europeana Fashion and together with the Wiki Commons upload serve the education research and creative industry communities across the world in more ways than we can imagine.”

John Connolly commented:
“I am very pleased that this collection can find and influence new audiences allowing Sybil to live on for new generations, contributing to the knowledge that Ireland is an exporter of design and ideas, twenty years after her death in 1998.”

 

Editor’s Note:
The Sybil Connolly Collection

Sybil Connolly and Gertrude Hunt were great friends and three wonderful maquettes Connolly made for clients showing her styles form part of the Hunt Collection. The majority of her archive in the museum was donated by John Connolly and includes garments, materials, scrap books and swatches, ceramics and glass. Many other items have been donated privately over the last twenty years including a large number of design sketches.

 

The Hunt Museum

The Hunt Museum exhibits one of Ireland’s greatest private collections of Art and Antiquities, dating from the Neolithic Period to the 20th century. Generously donated by John and Gertrude Hunt to the people of Ireland, this diverse collection is now housed in Limerick’s 18th Century Palladian style building, formerly The Custom House.

Wikimedia Community Ireland is a volunteer driven group that support and promote Wikipedia and the other Wikimedia projects such as Wikimedia Commons in Ireland. Our mission is to help people and organisations create and preserve open knowledge and to help provide easy access for all. We do this by supporting volunteer editors and contributors, by working in partnership with Irish cultural and educational institutions, by hosting training sessions and editing events, and by promoting the benefits of open knowledge generally.