====== Notability Policy ======

Michipedia takes a broader view of notability than many large online encyclopedias.

Our mission is not merely to document the most famous people, places, organizations, and events. Our mission is to preserve Michigan's historical, cultural, geographic, institutional, and community knowledge—including details that may be overlooked elsewhere.

===== General Principle =====

A subject is considered notable if it contributes meaningful information to the understanding of Michigan, its people, its institutions, its communities, or its history.

Notability is not determined solely by fame, media coverage, popularity, or national recognition.

===== Inclusion Over Exclusion =====

Michipedia favors inclusion when reliable documentation exists.

Subjects may merit articles because they are:

* Historically significant
* Regionally significant
* Locally significant
* Culturally significant
* Institutionally significant
* Genealogically significant
* Educationally significant
* Connected to a broader Michigan topic

A subject does not need to be famous to be worthy of documentation.

===== Research Value =====

Michipedia recognizes that serious research often requires following a chain of connected subjects.

A researcher studying:

* A historical figure
* A family
* A community
* A business
* An institution
* A government agency
* A historical event

may need access to information about many related people, places, organizations, and events.

For this reason, connected subjects are often considered notable when they help readers understand a broader topic.

===== Local and Regional Subjects =====

The following subjects are generally presumed notable when adequately documented:

* Michigan counties
* Cities, villages, and townships
* Schools and educational institutions
* Historic buildings
* Government agencies
* Churches and religious institutions
* Local businesses with historical significance
* Community organizations
* Historic cemeteries
* Parks and recreation areas
* Lakes, rivers, and geographic features
* Transportation infrastructure
* Historic families and genealogical subjects

Local significance is a valid form of notability.

===== Historical Preservation =====

Michipedia recognizes that many important subjects existed before the internet era and may not have extensive modern media coverage.

Historical subjects may be considered notable when documented through:

* Archival records
* Government documents
* Historical newspapers
* Institutional records
* Books
* Academic publications
* Museum collections
* Historical society records

The absence of modern news coverage does not automatically make a subject non-notable.

===== Organizational and Institutional Records =====

Organizations, schools, governments, churches, tribes, museums, and other institutions often maintain records that document people, events, and activities that may not receive extensive independent coverage.

Such records may establish relevance and support inclusion when properly cited and verified.

===== What Is Not Enough =====

The following alone do not establish notability:

* Advertising
* Promotional materials
* Unverified claims
* Social media popularity
* Temporary publicity
* Personal opinion

Subjects must still be documented through reliable sources.

===== Editorial Discretion =====

Editors should ask:

> "Will this information help someone understand Michigan more completely?"

If the answer is yes, and reliable documentation exists, inclusion is generally preferred.

===== Guiding Philosophy =====

Michipedia is a historical and educational archive.

Where some encyclopedias ask, "Why should this topic be included?"

Michipedia often asks:

> "Why should this piece of Michigan's story be forgotten?"

{{tag>policies notability inclusionism historical_preservation research genealogy editorial_policy}}