Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/Gerald P. Pulley

The following discussion is an archived debate of the proposed deletion of the article below. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as the article's talk page or in a deletion review). No further edits should be made to this page.

The result was Keep for now to allow verifiable references to be added. Nominator will relist if this has not been achieved within 60 days. Tyrenius (talk) 16:23, 17 December 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Gerald P. Pulley

Gerald P. Pulley (edit|talk|history|links|watch|logs) – (View log)

Non-notable individual, with no sources. Article appears to have been created by a user with a strong WP:COI. Presence at a historic event, doesn't consitute notability unless the subject is involved with the event (i.e. not a bystander), seems like this personw as a bystander to the mentioned events. Mbisanz (talk) 16:28, 13 December 2007 (UTC) Withdrawn per conversation here User_talk:DonnPulley. Will monitor for 60 days and refile unless sources added. Thank you for your time. Mbisanz (talk) 22:30, 14 December 2007 (UTC)

• Delete, I agree with the nom, unsourced, no notability established. Cirt (talk) 16:33, 13 December 2007 (UTC).
• Delete, The possibility of WP:COI seems strong, don't see anyone digging up reliable sources for this article. Justin ^chat 16:59, 13 December 2007 (UTC)
• Delete, No references or citations, and the lack of notability as per nom.--Pmedema (talk) 17:43, 13 December 2007 (UTC)

There may be something here. (comment below by Keeper). I don't know a lot of military stuff, but this is interesting. An "oral history" at a presidential library - they certainly don't care to have everyone's opinion recorded at presidential libraries. Maybe he's notable? Also, this source that I can't read fully without subscription includes the line: Gerald Pulley, the first presidential photographer, recalled how his boss Harry Truman treated cameramen well.... All that to say, the article needs some serious help/wikification/non-COI-ing, etc. But hey, that's what we're here for, right? Keeper | 76 18:21, 13 December 2007 (UTC)

I don't have access to the second one either. But according to this [1], about 500 people recorded oral histories, including one Harry L. Abbott who recorded it as a particpant in the 1922 Dem party. I don't think we can use that as a basis then. On the other hand, I'd be interested to see what that payperview page says. I'll do some digging. Mbisanz (talk) 18:44, 13 December 2007 (UTC)

From the 1991 Austin American-Stateman newspaper, I have "Gerald Pulley, the first presidential photographer, recalled how his boss Harry Truman often referred to the White House as the "White Prison."

"He loved to get away," Pulley said. "His favorite spot was the `Little White House' in Key West, where he and his aides wore loud shirts, played cards, and maybe drank a little bourbon."

From the 1994 Virginian-Pilot newspaper I got "Gerald Pulley will bring his 1954 DeSoto, which his parents bought new 40 years ago and named Effie."

No results for "Gerald Pulley" in the 1851-2004 NYT database, or the databases for Christian Science Monitor, Los Angeles Times, New York Times Book Review, New York Times Magazine, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Wall Street Journal Eastern Edition, Wall Street Journal Western Edition, Washington Post, Ebsco Newspaper source, Catalog of U.S. Government Publications, or Who's Who.

I think we can safely say he is has no independent coverage. Mbisanz (talk) 18:53, 13 December 2007 (UTC)

Like I said, I don't know a lot....of military stuff. I wish I had a 1954 DeSoto, but if Gerald Pulley has one that doesn't make him any more notable than me when I get one. :-) Your searching trumps mine for sure, thanks for the thoroughness both in nominating and backing it up. Changing to delete per nom. Keeper | 76 19:16, 13 December 2007 (UTC)

• Note: This debate has been included in the list of Visual arts-related deletions. – David Eppstein (talk) 21:09, 13 December 2007 (UTC)
• keep A presidential photographer is in my opinion always notable, because he will end up being quoted in history. As the Austin American article linkedto above says "White House photographers are the eyes for the record. Their sights and insights heighten our understanding of presidential administrations and history by depicting what words can't communicate." The subsequent career is also important. This is a case where I would expect the references to be in printed books about Roosevelt, almost none of which are on line. Neither are most of the general periodicals of that period. neither are most US military magazines and newspapers, or photography publications. None of that impressive array of sources is really relevant. "President and founder of the National Association of Naval Photography." This is the sort of thing which needs that rarely used WP resource, a library. DGG (talk) 02:50, 14 December 2007 (UTC)
• Comment My folks had a '54 or '55 DeSoto and it was a fine car. Am I notable on that count? How about my folks? Edison (talk) 07:04, 14 December 2007 (UTC)

The above discussion is preserved as an archive of the debate. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as the article's talk page or in a deletion review). No further edits should be made to this page.