Talk:Walter W. White/GA1

GA Review

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Nominator: B3251 (talk · contribs) 04:07, 9 June 2024 (UTC)

Reviewer: Reidgreg (talk · contribs) 00:18, 1 January 2025 (UTC)

Please take all review comments as suggestions. I'm generally willing to discuss anything. If you want to discuss a specific point, please do so right below that point, indenting another level. General comments can go at the end of the page. I try to be thorough with my reviews so this is a bit long. Please let me know if you have any trouble understanding the markup that I'm using.

As of this timestamp, the preliminary review that follows covers the references and some tiny bits from additional sources for broader coverage. I'll no doubt have more notes on prose following any expansions, but I wanted to get this posted for you today. Please take your time, I'm in no rush to complete the review. – Reidgreg (talk) 07:26, 2 January 2025 (UTC)

Criterion

GA review (see here for what the criteria are, and here for what they are not)

1. It is reasonably well written.

   a (prose, spelling, and grammar): b (MoS for lead, layout, word choice, fiction, and lists):

2. It is factually accurate and verifiable, as shown by a source spot-check.

   a (reference section): b (inline citations to reliable sources): c (OR): d (copyvio and plagiarism):

3. It is broad in its coverage.

   a (major aspects): b (focused):

4. It follows the neutral point of view policy.

   Fair representation without bias:

5. It is stable.

   No edit wars, etc.:

6. It is illustrated by images and other media, where possible and appropriate.

   a (images are tagged and non-free content have non-free use rationales): b (appropriate use with suitable captions):

7. Overall:

   Pass/Fail:

   I'd like to see a bit of expansion and then will provide copyediting notes for smoothness and cohesion of prose.

Review comments

Referencing & verifiability

• White1906 pages 53 & 54, used 6 times for basic genealogical and biographical information. I'm not sure how closely the author is related to the subject; it might be best to get another source on a couple small points.
  • Walter Woodworth White was born on December 14, 1862, in Saint John, to parents Vincent S. and Charlotte (née Douglas) White. good for all except the maiden name, which is covered by the second reference.
  • and afterwards took further education at the University of New Brunswick (UNB), where he received an honours Bachelor of Arts in classics and natural science in 1882. Two years later, he received his M.D.C.M. at McGill University; he also received his ad eundem here. good. Note that the piped link to faculty of medicine is good as assumed (timeline okay).
  • White began his career as a physician in 1887, in his home city of Saint John; he was later considered to be one of the leading physicians here. Good, but for the underlined part it might be good to have an additional source if possible, to allay any concerns of bias from the author.
  • later serving as a member of its commission board. [St John General Public Hospital] This was noted as current at the time of publication, 1906.
  • White practiced Episcopalianism.
  • They had four children.
• archives-CanB might want to add |publisher=Council of Archives New Brunswick to the citation template, so readers won't have to guess. Used six times:
  • Walter Woodworth White was born on December 14, 1862, in Saint John, to parents Vincent S. and Charlotte (née Douglas) White. Has everything but the birthdate, which is covered by White1906.
  • He attended Saint John High School
  • as a surgeon [1890 General Public Hospital]
  • He stopped working here in 1912, and later took another surgeon position at the Lancaster Hospital from 1919 until 1930.
  • Throughout his medical career, White served as the president of several medical organizations, including one based in Saint John, another one based provincially, along with national medical organizations Canadian Medical Association as well as the Medical Council of Canada. for appointments
  • In 1901, White served as the warden for both the City of Saint John as well as Saint John County.
• untitled reference "Botany course decided winner of Holmes medal" Montreal Gazette ProQuest 433482929. Nice to see the ProQuest id, not sure if you need the url as well.
  • White also briefly studied botany, having taken a UNB course in the subject. He was advised against taking the same course again by professors at McGill, which led to him missing out on receiving a Holmes Gold Medal. but this could probably be clarified, see Prose.
• American College of Surgeons Yearbook 1923 via Internet Archive. Used once:
  • Beyond degrees received in Canadian institutions, White would further receive a Master of Arts, M.D., Legum Doctor, L.R.C.P., and a Fellowship of the Royal Colleges of Surgeons from Edinburgh as well as a L.F.P.S. from Glasgow. all, may need to decrypt some of the acronyms for linking.
• The Canadian Syndicate 1902 Album of Canadian Mayors page 234 via Internet Archive. One page used three times
  • Passage as above, confirms MA, MD, CM, LRCP, LRCS Edinburgh and LFPS Glasgow. (ie: all but LLD, which is covered by the above.)
  • Additional roles he served under include being a Bank of New Brunswick director as well as a public school trustee.
  • On April 16, 1902, he was elected Mayor of Saint John
• The Lancet 1907, page 1507
  • In 1907, White also received a diploma of M.R.C.S. from the Royal College of Surgeons of England.
• History of the General Public Hospital in the city of Saint John, NB William Bayard, 1896, pp 40–41.
  • In 1890, he was appointed to the General Public Hospital in Saint John
• The Royal Visit St. John Daily Sun. 14 Oct 1901. page 5.
  • By around late 1901, White was a Major for the 3rd New Brunswick Regiment. very brief mention, would be nice to have something with more detail.

• Provincial Appointments Daily Sun 18 July 1902 page 2.
  • In 1902, White was provincially appointed as the Boys' Industrial Home board of governors chairman.
• Acadiensis Acadiensis, David Russell Jack ed., 1905. page 17. via Internet Archive. Used once:
  • By 1905, White was also serving as the Champlain Tercentenary Committee's Chairman. on picture caption.
• "City Council - The New Council Was Inaugurated Tuesday Morning". Daily Sun. Saint John, N.B. May 7, 1902. p. 3
  • he was officially appointed to the position [of mayor] on May 6, 1902, succeeding John Waterhouse Daniel.
• "35 Candidates Nominated for the Civic Elections" St John Sun via Google News Archives
  • He did not run for re-election in 1906, though he did endorse candidate James H. Frink. source has that he co-signed the mayoral nomination papers for Frink.
• "Dr. W. W. White Elected Mayor of Saint John" Daily Mail 1926
  • On April 12, 1926, White was re-elected as Mayor of Saint John for a two-year term. Despite being a particularly late campaign entry, he won the election with 2,876 votes.
• "Elected Warden" Montreal Star 1930 via Newspapers.com
  • On January 21, 1930, White, while still serving as mayor, was elected to serve as warden again.

• "Mayor of Saint John Will Act Second Term" Montreal Star 1930 via Newspapers.com
  • During April of that same year, White, as the only mayoral candidate at the time, was re-elected for another two-year term as mayor, which began on May 1, 1930. I was wondering if this needed a tweak as the source says that mayoral nominations closed 7 April 1930 with White being the only nominee for mayor. But, as his new term started on 1 May, his official (re)election had to have happened in April.
• "Full List of Candidates for the Provincial Election" Daily Mail 1930 via NB Historical Newspapers
  • White also began participating in provincial politics. In June 1930, he emerged as a Government (Conservative) candidate for the four-member district of Saint John City in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick along with Leonard Percy de Wolfe Tilley, William Henry Harrison, and Miles E. Agar.
• "The Baxter Administration was Handsomely Sustained" Daily Mail 1930 via NB Historical Newspapers
  • On June 19, 1930, all four of them beat the Opposition candidates by a landslide; each received over 8,500 votes, with White himself receiving 8,902 votes, the most out of any other candidate in the district.
• "Brittain Elected Saint John Mayor" Montreal Gazette 1932 via Google News
  • Back in Saint John municipal politics, White ran for re-election for a sixth mayoral term in 1932, as one of five candidates. He came in third place with 1,323 votes, resulting in his mayoral position, which he had held since 1926, being succeeded by James W. Brittain, who was elected on April 11, 1932.
• "Premier Renominated" Ottawa Citizen 1935. via Newspapers.com
  • On May 21, 1935, White announced his candidacy for re-election in his incumbent legislative seat representing Saint John City. The election was to be held on June 27. The source says he was renominated by a Conservative convention (along with Tilley and Harrison) on 20 May.
• "Detailed Results of New Brunswick Election" Vancouver Sun 1935 via Newspapers.com. This and the preceding references up to Album of Canadian Mayors are cited once each.
  • White, along with the other incumbent Conservatives, were all defeated by four members of the New Brunswick Liberal Association. Should perhaps be clear that this is the other incumbent Conservatives for Saint John City lest a reader think that the Conservatives were defeated across the province.
• "Death-record" Vital Statistics from Government Records (RS141) – Provincial Archives of New Brunswick. Used twice:
  • Following his political career, White continued working in the medical field until his retirement in 1942. Strictly speaking, it says that he worked until as a doctor/surgeon until 1942, but not the circumstances under which he stopped working. It's probably best just to state that and let the reader assume that he retired, which is most likely the case (in the absence of contrary information). Addendum: the CP obituary has "retired physician and surgeon".
  • White died on July 10, 1952, in Saint John, at the age of 89. He was buried four days later at Fernhill Cemetery.
• "Marriage-record" used once (along with following source) for:
  • He married Helen (Nellie) Gertrude Troop on June 14, 1893, in Saint John. first source covers everything but "Nellie". The second source (below) has "Nellie" and the marriage year, and a bit about their home.
• "TJ-Hrabluk-2000" Telegraph-Journal 2000. ProQuest 423098913
  • His future wife was initially discouraged to marry him because of her peers; they considered White, a 28-year-old at the time, to be too old of a husband. White and his family lived in the house for the remainder of his life. though the timeline is a bit confusing as written.
• "Gazette-1996" "New Brunswick inns encourage sociability: Conveniences are modern but the breakfast muffins are usually homemade" ProQuest 433019606
  • Prior to their marriage, White had a brick mansion built in 1891 for his future wife
  • The building was later operated as the Parkerhouse Inn,
• "Historic city inn changes hands" ProQuest 423221846
  • architected by McKean and Fairweather, who had also built the Saint John City Market, the Saint John Masonic Temple, as well as the Fredericton City Hall.N source does not name the architects (underlined).
  • Trying to look further into this. Couldn't find it in the list at McKean's biography page or Fairweather's bio page at Biographical Dictionary of Architects in Canada. The school "across the street" is at Sydney and Leinster Streets. Possibly 71 Sydney Street (name of restaurant at Parkerhouse Inn).
• "Mystery treasures from Parker House up for bid Saturday; Yard sale Boxes full of hidden surprises available" Telegraph-Journal 2006 ProQuest 423258874
  • and, since August 2005, has been operated by Chipman Hill Suites. Source has that it was purchased in August 2005, but this piece is only October 2006. Best that can be said is that is was operated by Chipman Hill Suites between 2005 and 2006. Suggest finding a more recent source... or maybe just remove it as it's a bit off-topic for the biography.
• Obituaries - Dr. Walter W. White Montreal Star Canadian Press via Newspapers.com
  • His obituary labeled him as "one of Saint John's most distinguished citizens." I think the quote needs inline attribution: An obituary carried in The Canadian Press called him "one of Saint John's most distinguished citizens."
• Idyllic refuge in the city WEEKEND ESCAPES The Packerhouse Inn, with its pretty rooms and attractive furnishings, doesn't fit blue-collar image of Saint John. Helga Loverseed. ProQuest 385485909
  • This was later echoed in 1991 by The Globe and Mail, who considered White "one of the city's most prominent citizens." The author, a freelance journalist and writer of travel guides, wrote that as a special to the Globe. Since she isn't a staff writer, I don't feel this should be attributed to the Globe. So a bit of a rephrase there.
• Cloutier1995 University Entrance Awards p.82
  • For a period of time after his death, a four-year scholarship valued at CA$1,400 was awarded in his name to "the most promising male student" graduating from Saint John High School and entering UNB. A little confused about the page numbering in the document. There seems to be more than one page 82. Easily found using the search.

Breadth & focus

I'd like to see expansion on his six-decade military career, perhaps making the first paragraphs of Career a subsection "Military officer and physician" or similar. The two seem to be intertwined somewhat. It'd also be nice to include some of his political policies or achievements, but I didn't find any sources for expansion there. Here's what I did find:

• Career beginnings. ref archives-CanB has a paragraph on his military service, stating that he received his commission in 1887 – the same year that White1906 has him beginning to practice medicine and surgery. We can't synthesize the 'presumed fact' that he began his career as a military surgeon, but the two statements can be placed beside each other for the reader to draw their own conclusion.
• Halifax Explosion. ref archives-CanB has that he was Medical Officer in Halifax at the time of the Halifax Explosion. It appears that he had no hospital appointments between 1912 and 1919, roughly corresponding with WWI, and it seems that he was called to service (from the reserves lists) during those years. this report does not specifically mention White but does note that there were five artillery units attached to Halifax Fortress at the time of the explosion, and the Canadian Army Medical Corps had about 600 people, operating a Garrison Hospital, a quarantine hospital, and a convalescent hospital (Camp Hill, now part of Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre), as well as a Canadian Army Medical Corps Training Depot with 400 personnel.
• Also at archives-CanB, a short summary of his unpublished Militia Memories says that it describes his militia memories "from 1884 to 1942". This timeline suggests he joined the militia shortly after graduating from McGill. Of his time from 1884 to 1887, he may have been a medical intern with or sponsored by the militia or army, before fully practising as a surgeon (and receiving his commission as an army/militia officer).
• I found Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery – Lest We Forget – W which has, about midway down: Colonel Walter Woodworth White VD – Born Saint John, N.B. 14 Dec 1862; surgeon; Commanding Officer; 3rd New Brunswick Regiment of Garrison Artillery 1902-1907; Canadian Army Medical Corps, CEF; Mentioned in Despatches, Halifax Explosion; president, Saint John Medical Society, New Brunswick Medical Association, Canadian Medical Association, Medical Council of Canada; member, University New Brunswick Senate; chairman, Boy’s Industrial Home; governor, Wiggins Male Orphanage; director, Bank of Nova Scotia; member, Saint John Board of School Trustees; Alderman, Saint John, 1891, 1893 and 1907; warden Saint John City and County, 1901 and 1930; mayor, Saint John, 1902-1906, 1926-1931; president, board of Commissioners, Saint John General Hospital, 1942-1952; deceased 10 Jul 1952; age 89; interred Fernhill Cemetery, Saint John, N.B.
• Small bio Canadian Men and Women of the Time (1912) with some years of promotion.
• marriage announcement (also here) mentions in 1893 he is first lieutenant of the number 2 (Dorchester) battery of artillery. They apparently fired a 17-gun salute for his wedding!
• Internet Archive has an imperfectly scanned "McMillan's Almanac for 1897" which has: 3rd Regiment Canadian Artillery, Adjutant C[apt] Walter Woodworth White and the 1996 version has New Brunswick Battalion Garrison Artillery adjutant [C]apt Walter Woodworth White.
• The CP obituary has "He was largely responsible for establishment of the Saint John General Hospital, his association with this institution and its predecessor having extended over a period of nearly 60 years." This is probably referring to the second Saint John General Hospital (built 1931). I tried looking around (for example, [1] ) but haven't found anything else to corroborate this. Nonetheless, it could probably be included with some toning down for caution.
• The Lancet 1937 p. 119 announces his appointment as an officer of the Order of Saint John (chartered 1888).
• UNB Alumni News 100 year special reproduces, on page 5, Alumni Bulletin vol 4 no 1 of January 1926, which announces White appointed by the NB Government as a member of the Council of Physicians and Surgeons of NB.
• The scholarship was still offered in the 2009–10 undergraduate calendar, then valued at $900 x4 = $3600. Also page 118 of the UNB 2004-05 undergraduate calendar.

Neutrality

No real controversies or worries about balancing sources. I would like to see some superlatives (e.g.: "leading physician", "most prominent citizens") either toned down or better qualified, which I'll address under prose as a matter of copyediting.

Stability

Aside from a single vandalism post several years ago, the article history looks clean.

Prose

• Two years later, he received his M.D.C.M. at McGill University; he also received his ad eundem here. White also briefly studied botany, having taken a UNB course in the subject. He was advised against taking the same course again by professors at McGill, which led to him missing out on receiving a Holmes Gold Medal. Avoid the full points in the acronym M.D.C.M. → MDCM (MOS:ACRO). This is a bit awkward with also used more than once and could use a rewrite. Suggest: Two years later he received his MDCM and ad eundem from McGill University. Although he graduated first in his class, he was disqualified for a Holmes Gold Medal as he had not completed the full curriculum at McGill, having been advised by his professors to withdraw from a botany course on material he had covered during his previous studies at UNB.
• Beyond degrees received in Canadian institutions, White would further receive a Master of Arts, M.D., Legum Doctor, L.R.C.P., and a Fellowship of the Royal Colleges of Surgeons from Edinburgh as well as a L.F.P.S. from Glasgow. In 1907, White also received a diploma of M.R.C.S. from the Royal College of Surgeons of England. Acronyms, past tense. Suggest: Prior to 1902, White received a Master of Arts, MD, Legum Doctor, LRCP and a Fellowship of the Royal Colleges of Surgeons from Edinburgh as well as a LFPS from Glasgow. In 1907, he received a diploma of MRCS from the Royal College of Surgeons of England.
• White began his career as a physician in 1887, in his home city of Saint John; he was later considered to be one of the leading physicians here. The author of the source is possibly related to the subject so would rather have a clearly neutral source for the underlined part or otherwise tone it down a bit.
• Throughout his medical career, White served as the president of several medical organizations, including one based in Saint John, another one based provincially, along with national medical organizations Canadian Medical Association as well as the Medical Council of Canada. Throughout means "from beginning to end" which is misleading, as he did not hold these appointments from the beginning to end of his career. I'd replace it with "during" or something similar.

Media

Four images, each with a public domain tag.

General discussion

Please let me know here when you're done making changes and you're ready for me to check the article again. Happy editing! – Reidgreg (talk) 07:26, 2 January 2025 (UTC)