Talk:Stephen Badlam/GA1

Article (edit | visual edit | history) · Article talk (edit | history) · Watch

Reviewer: 3df (talk · contribs) 19:45, 28 November 2023 (UTC)[reply]

As you know, this is my first GA review, but I'm ready to try it out. This is an enjoyable article about an American Revolutionary veteran and furniture maker, Stephen Badlam. I summarized some possible issues or omissions with the article in this list:

• The lead says Badlam did surveying work before the war. Is there any more information about this work that could go in the Early life section? There's very little here about his first 20 years.
  • "Ezra Badlam (1746–1788), who later served as an artillery chief and colonel during the Revolutionary War." Consider deleting this sentence or moving it somewhere else. Maybe you could bring it up in the Personal life section.

     Removed -Dcdiehardfan (talk) 21:59, 24 December 2023 (UTC)[reply]

  • Is there any more information about Mary available? (The article also doesn't mention her death, except in the infobox.)
• You have Badlam's military career listed under his early life. Even if he was primarily a cabinetmaker, this looks like a very impressive couple years as a successful officer. It may warrant a level 2 heading of its own, with the details in the infobox as well.

   Fixed I put both his mil and furniture career as subheadings under a master section titled "Career". -Dcdiehardfan (talk) 21:59, 24 December 2023 (UTC)[reply]

  • "While stationed in New York, he became acquainted with Alexander Hamilton, and was appreciated for his engineering abilities." Who appreciated Badlam, and what about his abilities earned him this praise?
  • "Here, was tasked with building additional fortifications." Consider wording this differently. If he's fortifying a fortified hill, would it be appropriate to say that he was upgrading the fortifications? Is there any possibility that Badlam's experience with surveying and cabinetmaking suited him to this job (RS permitting)?

     Fixed -Dcdiehardfan (talk) 21:59, 24 December 2023 (UTC)[reply]

  • The photo of the dresser is in the Revolutionary War section, although in the desktop browser it appears to be for the section about his furniture work. It should be moved to that section proper, because mobile and screen reader users visiting that section won't get to the image at all, unless they find it at the bottom of the preceding section.

     Done -Dcdiehardfan (talk) 21:59, 24 December 2023 (UTC)[reply]

• The cabinetry section suggests that Badlam was very good at what he did. Do any sources explain why his work is so good, or what characteristics you could expect to see in it? You do mention that some of it is in Heppelwhite style.
  • "As well as cabinetry, he built and sold picture frames, chairs, windows, looking-glasses, and advertised skills in molding and gilding." The molding and gilding skills might read better as a separate sentence.
  • "Badlam had multiple apprentices, including Abiel White and Abner Hersey who became notable cabinetmakers in their own rights." Consider "Badlam's apprentices included Abiel White and Abner Hersey."

     Done -Dcdiehardfan (talk) 21:59, 24 December 2023 (UTC)[reply]

  • There's a paragraph mostly about one piece of furniture for Derby. Is this an especially important work of his? And, are there any other interesting works attributed to him?
• Consider mentioning in the house photo caption that this was the house Badlam partially shared as an annual school. (If that's really the house in question. Otherwise, the photo might be a better fit for the Personal life section)
• "Badlam had seven children, all with his first wife, Mary:" The article doesn't mention a second wife, except in the infobox. Can information about her be added?
• (The infobox includes Badlam's mark. It looks like a crop from a black-and-white photo. Would it be appropriate for this to be traced to just the text? It might be easier to read that way. I can do that if you'd like.)

So, this isn't a comprehensive list, and I don't know which of these points I've brought up are due or necessary for the article (or available for expansion from the sources you have access to). But I am left wanting from a reading of the article, particularly about Badlam's wives and his art style, so I wanted to bring this stuff up before completing a review.  On hold 3df (talk) 00:20, 3 December 2023 (UTC)[reply]

Hello! I'm a random editor and not actually the prime editor btw, but I've decided to toss my hat in the ring and try to help out a bit here and there where I could. -Dcdiehardfan (talk) 21:59, 24 December 2023 (UTC)[reply]

@3df, I see there's been no motion on this review at all yet this year. Are you able to close it? -- asilvering (talk) 01:43, 4 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Hi there, I didn't forget about the review. I'm an inexperienced reviewer and want to be sure that I get it right. 3df (talk) 04:45, 4 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Well, you put it on hold on 3 December, and it's usually expected that GA reviews are completed within a week. If you think the article passes the GA criteria, you should pass it. If you think it doesn't, you should fail it. The nominator has been completely unresponsive. But I see they're not completely inactive - @Generalissima, what's going on? -- asilvering (talk) 06:04, 4 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]