NCpedia is an online encyclopedia maintained by the State Library of North Carolina’s Government and Heritage Library (GHL).  The mission of NCpedia is to publish authoritative articles and information related to North Carolina’s history, culture, environment, people, and more. Due to the volume and depth of NCpedia’s content, the GHL relies on library staff, institutional partners, and individual researchers for the development of new content.  

Historically, many of our entries came from partnerships with publishers such as the University of North Carolina Press and the North Carolina Museum of History’s Tar Heel Junior Historian. Academic publications have also helped supplement NCpedia and include contributions from University Libraries (ex. NC A&T University) or university affiliates. The North Carolina Office of Archives and History, and the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources also regularly contribute to the site. Independent researchers, local historians, and freelance writers also graciously share their work with us to help support NCpedia’s portfolio. Our contributors come from many different states, occupations, and organizations.  

The GHL always welcomes new partnerships and contributions to NCpedia. If you would like to contribute, please review these guidelines and contact us at digital.info@dncr.nc.gov with any questions.  We look forward to hearing from you!

Submission Guidelines for Contributing 

Given the nature of NCpedia’s mission, content submitted to our site must adhere to the criteria listed below.  

  • Submissions should be composed in an e-text document, like Google Docs, Microsoft Word, Pages, or another word processing software. The file should then be saved to be emailed as a file attachment (.doc, .docx, .pdf, etc.). The GHL will not accept drafts submitted as web pages or through links to documents.
  • Article submissions should be emailed as file attachments to the State Library of North Carolina’s Government & Heritage Library at digital.info@dncr.nc.gov
  • As NCpedia is an online encyclopedia, submissions should be encyclopedic in tone. Encyclopedic articles are comprehensive overviews of topics they discuss and are composed primarily of facts, media, and other verifiable data. They do not advocate for any position or argument. They solely present the organized facts of the desired topic. Encyclopedia data is also built upon other authoritative information, like scholarly journals, historical primary sources, secondary published research, and/or collected scientific or demographic data.  
  • As stated, submissions to NCpedia should remain neutral and non-partisan in tone. They should avoid divisive, glamorizing, harsh, or otherwise polarizing language. They should also present information with as much neutrality and balance as possible.  
    • Encyclopedia articles should avoid using subjective and superlative language including but not limited to "the best/the worst," "hero/villain," "valiant/cowardly," "honorable/dishonorable."
  • Generally, submissions to NCpedia typically range from 500 to 1400 words in length. Articles may extend to 2000 words in length for some topics. In some cases, complex topics may warrant more than one entry.
  • Submitted drafts should try to avoid “scope creep.” This can include unnecessary historical details, rambling, or other tangents that detract from the desired and specified topic(s). Links or additional resources in the references can help provide this context if it is important to the subject.
    • Example: A biographical article about Richard Caswell does not need to include an in-depth discussion of the American Revolution as it occurred in the United States.  
  • Articles should be created at an understandable reading level (think school-aged learners). Opt for simpler alternatives to complex words and avoid excessive or elaborate language. Try to avoid compound sentences and dependent clauses that complicate the passage. The goal of NCpedia is to share information about North Carolina with all readers. Many newspapers in the United States publish at a 9th- to 11th-grade reading level so that the majority of their audience can read it–this is a good rule to follow.  
  • In some cases, there may be discrepancies between historical resources and their interpretations. These differences should be noted in the article text.  
  • A properly formatted list of references is required. Please include all resources used in the creation of the article. Documented resources are integral to maintaining our authoritative nature. They also allow researchers to follow our work and improve upon our findings. Submissions should generally have at least five reputable bibliographic sources. Some niche informational topics may have access to less authoritative resources–in those cases, fewer resources is acceptable. If possible, primary sources (historical letters or journals, government publications of the time, etc.) and their information should be used initially. References should also include resources that are considered authorities on the topic submitted. Examples of authorities include academic journals, other encyclopedias, or published research collections. Please format references in the submission’s bibliography according to the Chicago Manual of Style (CMoS). An example of a properly formatted reference list in Chicago Style is available on their website.
  • Submissions should not include in-text citations. Footnotes are appreciated as they assist our staff in fact-checking submissions, although footnotes are not included in the final publication on our website.  
  • In-text hyperlinks to other NCpedia articles or other reputable online resources about related content are encouraged. Try to only include links to topics that are critical to understanding the topic or are not well known. Links tend to fail over time, and more links in an article creates an increasingly unstable web infrastructure for NCpedia.  
  • The inclusion of images, video, and audio resources is encouraged (when appropriate). Included media must follow proper copyright guidelines. This means that it must be in the public domain, have Creative Commons Licensing, be the intellectual property of the contributor, or have permission secured to include them on NCpedia.  Please use the Chicago Manual of Style to provide citation information for supporting media submitted to complement an article. Include its creator, year created, title, owning institution (when applicable), and URL (where applicable). For more in-depth copyright information, visit the University of Pittsburgh’s copyright guide.  
  • List the town(s)/county(s) of importance to the topic. For biographies, list the town(s)/county(s) of birth, death, and/or major life event(s).  
  • A named author for the submission is desired. NCpedia does not allow pen names, nicknames, or screen names.

Editorial Guidelines for Submitted Drafts

The content of NCpedia requires a specific scope and tone. As such, it must also be curated to align with these goals. NCpedia and its editors reserve the right to change submitted content so that it properly aligns with our standards and publishing mission. Changes and edits to any submitted content are explained below.  

  • The mission of NCpedia is to highlight North Carolina's unique resources, people, and culture to enrich, educate, and inform. Submissions are reviewed and evaluated based on their suitability to the mission and content goals of NCpedia and the State Library of North Carolina.
  • NCpedia is a non-profit digital publication managed by the Government & Heritage Library (GHL) at the State Library of North Carolina. GHL is generally unable to pay contributors for submissions.  
  • As stated in our submission guidelines, NCpedia is used by researchers of all ages with a variety of interests and needs. Entries should contain accessible language and content for our diverse audience. If a content submission is too rich, it will be simplified while retaining the author’s intent and tone. This can include changing words, sentences, or phrases so that they are more easily understood.
  • Fact-checking is conducted on all submissions by librarians at the Government and Heritage Library. If the entry contains minor non-factual information or gaps, they will be corrected. Serious oversights in presented information will result in a delay to the content’s edits and potentially a draft rejection.  
  • Submitted entries should already be proof-edited and ready for publication at the time of submission. Entries should be in the specified format, use clear language, be free of grammar errors, and contain a list of references consulted. NCpedia staff may make some editorial decisions and minor changes for publication, but submissions should require little or no editing from staff.  
  • The GHL reserves the right to reject submissions that do not meet its content, editorial, and publication requirements.  

Article Structure Guidelines

Please adhere to the following guidelines for elements required for encyclopedic entries and articles. Examples of representative entries are included at the end of each section. 

NCpedia Biographical Article Guidelines

  1. Bibliographic and subject elements:   Title, Author, Author Affiliation (if applicable), Date of Publication, Birth Date - Death Date (of subject)
  2. Introductory Paragraph:   For a biographical entry, an introductory paragraph should provide a summary of the individual, his/her occupations, place of birth, parents, known siblings, schools attended, any military service, and a summary of other significant areas of work and contribution. Include complete birth and death dates, if known.
  3. Body Text:  Biographical articles should remain neutral in tone and provide as complete a portrayal of the individual as possible. For a biographical entry, the article should provide a chronological overview of important aspects of the individual’s life, giving special attention to events occurring in, or of importance to, North Carolina.  Community service, organizational memberships, philanthropic contributions, religious and political affiliations, career information, publications, awards and merits, and other relevant topics of historical research should be included. If the information is available, please include any marriages and children, as well as date of the death and how the subject died.  Include the place of burial when known.  
  4. Sample Biographical Entries:  
    1. (Old) Tassel
    2. Titus, Ishmael
    3. Bauer, Rachael Blythe 
    4. Freelon, Philip Goodwin
    5. Waddell, Alfred Moore
    6. Darden, Christine Voncil Mann
    7. MacDonald, Flora
    8. Scott, Armond Wendell

NCpedia Topical Article Guidelines

  1. Bibliographic and subject elements:  Title, Author, Author Affiliation (if applicable), Year Written/Year of Publication
  2. Introductory Paragraph: The introductory paragraph should summarize the topic, its significance to history, and its ties to themes in North Carolina.  
  3. Body Text: Topical articles should remain neutral in tone. The article should provide a chronological overview of important aspects of the topic, giving special attention to events occurring in, or of importance to, North Carolina. Specific geographic locations, like cities and towns, of merit should be discussed. Discrepancies between sources and interpretations should be noted.  
  4. Sample Topical Entries
    1. Bennett College
    2. Hamlet Chicken Processing Plant Fire
    3. North Carolina Freedom Park

Citation

Dease, Jared. "How to Contribute to NCpedia." NCpedia. State Library of NC. March 2026. https://www.ncpedia.org/contribute.