Standards and Practices
Editorial Standards and Practices
The Encyclopedia of Indianapolis (EOI) adheres to accepted scholarly standards in research, documentation, and presentation. Each entry is developed with a commitment to accuracy, reliability, and clarity, reflecting best practices in historical scholarship and digital publishing.
As far as possible, factual material and interpretive assertions in each entry are verified by editorial staff through reputable primary and secondary sources. Authors are asked to document their sources. While this documentation does not appear publicly with each entry, it is kept in the editorial files of the EOI for reference, review, and future editorial use.
While the ultimate responsibility for editorial standards, practices, and the expansion of the encyclopedia’s intellectual content rests with editorial staff, the EOI depends on the generosity and expertise of individuals willing to share their knowledge of the city’s history. Entries are written by a mix of EOI staff, citizen-experts, historians, educators, museum professionals, and other scholars. Anyone may contribute, provided they demonstrate strong critical writing skills, sound historical research practices, and the ability to meet EOI’s standards for accuracy and reliability.
The editorial staff welcomes suggestions for new entries. To be included in the EOI, suggestions must fit within EOI’s criteria for inclusion:
- Organizations and businesses must have a substantial connection to Indianapolis and have made a significant impact on its culture.
- Structures and places must have played a significant role in the city’s development, influenced its culture, or have been a site where a significant change of policy or practice occurred.
- Events must have significantly impacted the city’s culture, fit into the context of a larger initiative, or have impacted changes in policy or practice.
- People must have a significant connection and/or have made a measurable impact on the city or to the region. Impact can be defined in various ways, including reputational impact, but mere presence in the city generally will not suffice to sustain a claim of significance.
Topic recommendations should include a brief summary explaining the subject and its significance to the history of Indianapolis. If you wish to propose an entry, please complete the form below.
Correction Policy
The Encyclopedia of Indianapolis strives to present accurate and reliable information; however, errors may occasionally occur. We welcome and rely on our readers to help identify and correct mistakes so that the encyclopedia remains a trustworthy and evolving resource. When submitting a correction, include your name, email address, the title of the entry, and a brief description of the error. Suggested corrections must also be supported by verifiable documentation. The documentation you provide will guide our staff through an investigative process and, if warranted, revision of the entry. Please note that entries cannot be modified based solely on differing interpretations of the subject matter.