Wikipedia talk:Selected anniversaries/September 15

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This is the talk page for making suggestions or discussing improvements to Wikipedia:Selected anniversaries/September 15.

To report an error when this list is currently on the Main Page, see Main Page errors. Please remember that this list defers to the supporting articles, so it is best to achieve consensus and make any necessary changes there first.
Before making a suggestion, please read the selected anniversaries guidelines. Please remember that this list usually defers to supporting pages when there is disagreement, so it is best to achieve consensus and make any necessary changes there first.
To discuss improvements to the corresponding September 15 article, see Talk:September 15 instead.

Frequently asked questions

Q1: Why is [Insert event here], an event that is "more important and significant" than all the others that are currently listed, not posted?: A1: Relative article quality along with the mix of topics already listed are often deciding factors in what gets posted. Any given day of the year can have a great many important or significant historical events. The problem is that there is generally only room on the Main Page to list about 5 events at a time, so not everything can be posted.

As stated on Wikipedia:FAQ/Main Page, the items and events posted on the Main Page are chosen based more on how well they are written, not based on how much important or significant their subjects are. It is easier for admins to select a well-written, cited, verifiable article over a poor one versus trying to determine objectively how much a subject is important or significant.

Keep in mind that the quality requirements only apply to the selected bolded article, not the other links. Thus, an event may qualify for multiple dates in a year if there is an article written in a summary style and an article providing detailed content; if one of those pages have cleanup issues, the other page can be bolded as an alternate.

Another criterion is to maintain some variety of topics, and not exhibit, just for example, tech-centrism, or the belief that the world stops at the edge of the English-speaking world. Many days have a large pool of potential articles, so they will rotate in and out every year to give each one some Main Page exposure. In addition, an event is not posted if it is also the subject of this year's scheduled featured article or featured picture.

Q2: There are way too many 20th-century events listed. Why aren't there more events from the 19th century and before?

A2: The short, basic reason is the systemic bias of Wikipedia. There are not enough good, well-written articles on 19th-century and earlier events for all 365 days in the year. Currently, a majority of users seem to be generally more interested in writing articles about recent events. If you would like to further help mitigate the systemic bias in Wikipedia, see Wikipedia:WikiProject Countering systemic bias.

Q3: This page seems to be biased toward events based in [Insert country or region here]. What can be done about it?

A3: This again is attributed to the systemic bias of Wikipedia. Many users are generally more interested in working on good, well-written articles pertaining to their home country. Since this is the English Wikipedia, there will be more English-speaking users, and thus more articles pertaining to English-speaking countries. And if there are more users who are from the United States, there will probably be more well-written articles about events based in the United States. Again, if you would like to further help mitigate the systemic bias in Wikipedia, see Wikipedia:WikiProject Countering systemic bias.

Q4: Why is the birthday/death anniversary of [Insert name here] not listed?

A4: There are only four slots available for birth and death anniversaries. As with the events, article quality and diversity in time period, geography, and reason for notability are all contributing factors in whether an article gets selected for inclusion.

Q5: Are the holidays/observances listed in any particular order?

A5: Yes, there is a specified order: International observances first, then alphabetically by where observed.

Q6: Some of the holidays/observances that are listed have dates in parentheses beside them. What do they mean?

A6: There are two reasons that some holidays/observances have dates next to them:

Non-Gregorian-based holidays/observances are marked with the current year as a reminder to others that their dates do in fact vary from year to year.
National Days, Independence Days, and other holidays celebrating the nationhood of a country are generally marked by the year of the significant historic date being observed.

Today's featured article for September 15, 2025
Wikipedia:Today's featured article/September 15, 2025 create – talk – watch
Picture of the day for September 15, 2025
The featured picture for this day has not yet been chosen. In general, pictures of the day are scheduled in order of promotion to featured status. See Wikipedia:Picture of the day/Guidelines for full guidelines. create

← Wikipedia talk:Selected anniversaries/September 14 * Wikipedia talk:Selected anniversaries/September 16 →

The entry of when Google was founded is on both this entry and on the Sept 7 entry. no it isn't ur wrong u stupid fat head —Preceding unsigned comment added by 199.185.87.154 (talk) 21:08, 15 September 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Lehman Brothers

Should the collapse of Lehman Brothers in 2008 be included? It seems pretty significant to me since it's the start of the Global Financial Crisis. --WinHunter ^(talk) 11:12, 14 September 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Yes, it should be included. I actually added it a couple of days ago, but User:Zzyzx11 removed it afterwards. --bender235 (talk) 12:24, 14 September 2009 (UTC)[reply]

There historically has been an unwritten guideline in that one-year anniversaries are listed as backups and not part of the first visible set of 5 since those articles tend to still be unstable, their content still changes frequently, and still has parts full of Recentism. Cheers. Zzyzx11 (talk) 14:17, 14 September 2009 (UTC)[reply]

That is nonsense. That Lehman bankruptcy is part of history, and its anniversary will be the lead story around the world tomorrow. So you can either hide yourself behind some "unwritten guideline" that no one cares about anyway, or you can acknowledge the importancy of this event a year ago. --bender235 (talk) 14:25, 14 September 2009 (UTC)[reply]

To clarify, "unwritten" might not be the best term I used in my previous comment. It is more of a corollary to the rules that "the content on the Main Page is chosen based more on how well they are written, not based on how much their subjects are important or significant." As I said, such one-year anniversary articles tend to be unstable, their content still changes frequently, and still has parts full of Recentism. Also, such article, because they are only one year old, may not be completetely comprehensive, present every single view fairly and without bias, or contain major facts or details and places the subject in a long-term historical context. It is these reasons why I prefer that one-year anniversary articles are listed as backups and not part of the first visible set of 5. If you are trying to add this event because your only arguments is that "it is one of the most significant events that has ever happened" or "all the other media around the world are doing it", that does not really fly with me. There is more criteria than that. Zzyzx11 (Talk) 16:23, 14 September 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Isn't it absurd to claim that an article is "full of Recentism" when the article's topic has happened recently? Lehman Brothers, Financial crisis of 2007–2010, and Bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers might not win FA status right now, but still they are well sourced and well written. I just think the magnitude of the Lehman bankruptcy demands that we put this on the anniversary page tomorrow. --bender235 (talk) 16:46, 14 September 2009 (UTC)[reply]

For now But I'll repeat that trying to judge something that is "of magnitude of importance or significant that is demands to be posted on the Main page" is very POV. Regards. Zzyzx11 (Talk) 20:09, 14 September 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Doon school

The entry about Doon School, describing the school as "India's oldest all-boys public school," is inaccurate. Doon, as its own page describes it, is "relatively new among Indian boarding schools," founded in 1935. There are many schools in India much older. Most in the list below were founded as all-boys schools, though in the last decade or two, some may have become co-ed, at least in their upper grades.

St. Joseph's Higher Secondary School, Ooty, (boys only, founded 1820).
St. Joseph's College, Calcutta, founded 1829.
La Martiniere Calcutta, Boys School, found 1836.
La Martiniere Lucknow, Boys School founded 1845.
St Michael's High School, Patna, founded 1858.
Sherwood College, Nainital, founded 1869.
St. Vincent's High and Technical School, Asansol, founded 1877, 1895.
St Joseph's College, Nainital, founded 1888.
St. Joseph's Boys School, Coonoor, founded 1888.
St. Joseph's School, Darjeeling, founded 1888.
St. Patrick's Higher Secondary School, Asansol, founded 1891.
Goethals Memorial School, Kurseong, founded 1907.
St. Edmund's College, Shillong, founded 1924.

"Public school," in the announcement, really means "public school (UK)" i.e. a private school. Some in the list have remained all-boys. Even if all had become co-ed in the last few years, the wording is inaccurate. Fowler&fowler «Talk» 10:37, 16 May 2012 (UTC)[reply]

Read it properly. It is not "India's oldest all-boys.." instead "India's first public all-boys". And so it was. The schools you mention were opened by the people of British Raj for the British (this has changed since, of course). But Doon was the first public school in India catering to Indian boys. You know it Fowler, there are references galore in the Doon School article which has been on your anvil for quite sometime. --Merlaysamuel : Speechify 20:28, 16 May 2012 (UTC)[reply]

(Please indent your replies) Still incorrect. Firstly, it is a logical tautology that India's first public all-boys school is also India's oldest public all-boys school. Secondly, "India," in contemporary usage (that is, between 1858 and 1947), included domiciled Britons and Eurasians. They were counted in all the censuses of India from 1871 to 1941. "India" at that time meant the British Indian Empire. What India are you talking about? Thirdly, most schools in the above list had opened their doors to Indians by 1935, and many long before that. How else could Manekshaw (born 1914) have gone to Sherwood College? Where are these vaunted references that refer to Doon School in that way? Fowler&fowler «Talk» 04:14, 17 May 2012 (UTC)[reply]

PS The project page here says, "This page usually defers to supporting articles for accuracy or when there is disagreement, so it is best to achieve consensus and make any necessary changes there first." Where does the Doon School article state this fact? Let us achieve consensus there before Wikipedia unwittingly prints inaccuracies on its main page. Fowler&fowler «Talk» 04:22, 17 May 2012 (UTC)[reply]

PPS I've started a discussion about sourcing in this section of the Doon School Talk page. Fowler&fowler «Talk» 05:36, 17 May 2012 (UTC)[reply]

I have removed the entry for now, given the confusion about the specific date. Nolelover ^Talk^·^Contribs 22:07, 18 May 2012 (UTC)[reply]

2012 notes

Omitted: Constans II (ineligible—maintenance); Pope Innocent X (ineligible—maintenance); HMS Whiting (1812)/Doom Bar; Battle of Morotai
Included: Opening of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway (first appearance); Battle of Harpers Ferry (first appearance; 150th anniversary); Nuremberg Laws/Flag of Germany (both: 6th appearance, last in 2010); Battle of Inchon (3rd appearance, last in 2008; rescued from Ineligible)
Repeats: Gilles de Rais (2nd consecutive appearance; 2 total)

—howcheng {chat} 06:16, 15 September 2012 (UTC)[reply]

2013 notes

Omitted: HMS Whiting (1812); Opening of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway; Battle of Harpers Ferry; Nuremberg Laws; Battle of Inchon
Included: John Bull (locomotive) (5th appearance, last in 2010); Battle of the Somme (4th appearance, last in 2006; rescued from Ineligible); Battle of Morotai (2nd appearance, last in 2011); 16th Street Baptist Church bombing (3rd appearance, last in 2007; rescued from Ineligible; 50th anniversary)
Repeats: Gilles de Rais (3rd consecutive appearance, 3 total)

—howcheng {chat} 05:08, 14 September 2013 (UTC)[reply]

2014 notes

Omitted: Gilles de Rais; John Bull (locomotive); Battle of Morotai (ineligible—TFA for 2014)
Included: Opening of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway (2nd appearance, last in 2012); Battle of Harpers Ferry (2nd appearance, last in 2012); Flag of Germany (7th appearance, last in 2012; blurb previously also featured Nuremberg Laws, which is currently ineligible)
Repeats: Battle of the Somme (2nd consecutive appearance, 5 total); 16th Street Baptist Church bombing (2nd consecutive appearance, 4 total)

—howcheng {chat} 07:47, 14 September 2014 (UTC)[reply]

Protected edit request on 15 September 2014

This edit request has been answered. Set the |answered= or |ans= parameter to no to reactivate your request.

For the section On This Day... the Independence day for the Central American Countries should also include Honduras among the other countries, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala and Nicaragua. ^[1] 208.13.170.13 (talk) 16:03, 15 September 2014 (UTC)[reply]

Not done. The Honduras article has an orange maintenance tag on it, which makes it ineligible for inclusion. —howcheng {chat} 16:09, 15 September 2014 (UTC)[reply]

Due to one sub-section that was tagged years ago? This really disrupts the cohesion of Central American independence. Where else in the world do 5 neighboring countries celebrate independence on the same day? Request for a review of this. Gonzomalan (talk) 21:58, 15 September 2014 (UTC)[reply]

Not done: Sorry, but the rules are the rules. Plus, it is now the 16th, so this will have to wait until next year. — Mr. Stradivarius ^{♪ talk ♪} 06:08, 16 September 2014 (UTC)[reply]

If you are really concerned, please work on that section to bring it up to par. Thanks. —howcheng {chat} 16:25, 16 September 2014 (UTC)[reply]

References

^ http://en.wiki.x.io/wiki/List_of_national_independence_days

Suggestion for 2015

I would suggest adding the Battle of Dobro Pole to this year's list as it started a chain of events leading to the Armistice of Thessaloniki and the Armistice of Mudros among other significant events.--Catlemur (talk) 11:41, 13 September 2015 (UTC)[reply]

Sorry, didn't see this until after I was done with the edit. Let's try that on the 18th instead. —howcheng {chat} 16:50, 13 September 2015 (UTC)[reply]

Sure.--Catlemur (talk) 16:53, 13 September 2015 (UTC)[reply]

2015 notes

Moved to Ineligible: Gilles de Rais (maintenance)
Omitted: Opening of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway; Battle of Harpers Ferry; Battle of the Somme
Included: HMS Whiting (1812)/Doom Bar (both: 3rd appearance, last in 2012); John Bull (locomotive) (6th appearance, last in 2013); Battle of Morotai/Battle of Peleliu (Morotai: 3rd appearance, last in 2013; Peleliu: first appearance)
Repeats: Nuremberg Laws/Flag of Germany (Nuremberg: 7th appearance, last in 2012 (was previously ineligible); Flag: 2nd consecutive appearance, 8 total); 16th Street Baptist Church bombing (3rd consecutive appearance, 4 total)

—howcheng {chat} 16:49, 13 September 2015 (UTC)[reply]

Add Free Money Day?

Currently there are three events from the 19th Century, two from the 20th, and none from the 21st. If we want to balance it with an ongoing event in the 21st Century, I'd like to suggest Free Money Day. Disclosure: I do know one of the people organising it. However it is a notable event, with media coverage each year, and it adds to the variety of the event types. --Chriswaterguy talk 04jgjmigmdounia

29, 14 September 2015 (UTC)

2016 notes

Omitted: El Salvador (ineligible—maintenance); John Bull (locomotive); Battle of Morotai/Battle of Peleliu
Included: Free Money Day (first appearance); Battle of Harpers Ferry (3rd appearance, last in 2014); Battle of the Somme (6th appearance, last in 2014; 100th anniversary)
Repeats: HMS Whiting (1812)/Doom Bar (both: 2nd consecutive appearance, 3 total; 200th anniversary); Nuremberg Laws/Flag of Germany (Laws: 2nd consecutive appearance, 8 total; Flag: 3rd consecutive appearance, 9 total); 16th Street Baptist Church bombing (4th consecutive appearance, 6 total)

—howcheng {chat} 16:06, 14 September 2016 (UTC)[reply]

2017 notes

Rescued from Ineligible (unused): Bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers
Omitted: International Day of Democracy; Guatemala; Honduras; Nicaragua; HMS Whiting (1812)/Doom Bar; Battle of Harpers Ferry; Battle of the Somme
Included: Saint Dominic in Soriano (first appearance); Invasion of the Cape Colony (1795) (first appearance); Opening of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway (3rd appearance, last in 2014); Jean Sylvain Bailly (first appearance); Isambard Kingdom Brunel (first appearance); Ann Bannon (first appearance)
Repeats: Nuremberg Laws (3rd consecutive appearance, 9 total); 16th Street Baptist Church bombing (5th consecutive appearance, 7 total)

—howcheng {chat} 15:41, 15 September 2017 (UTC)[reply]

2018 notes

Omitted: Free Money Day (ineligible—no longer active?); Saint Dominic in Soriano; Opening of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway; Nuremberg Laws; 16th Street Baptist Church bombing; Jean Sylvain Bailly; Isambard Kingdom Brunel; Ann Bannon
Included: Gilles de Rais (4th appearance, last in 2013; rescued from Ineligible); Act of Independence of Central America (first appearance); Battle of the Somme (7th appearance, last in 2016); Battle of Meligalas (first appearance); Bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers (3rd appearance, last in 2010; 10th anniversary); Catherine of Austria, Queen of Poland (first appearance); Anna Winlock (first appearance); Anton Webern (first appearance)

—howcheng {chat} 05:57, 16 September 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Born/died

@Amakuru and Howcheng: Would either of you mind substituting in Catherine of Genoa, Phil Lamason, and Signe Toly Anderson? They are already in the eligible section. I missed the deadline last night. The three in there right now are a repeat from last year.--- Coffeeandcrumbs 19:15, 14 September 2019 (UTC)[reply]

Done — Amakuru (talk) 19:29, 14 September 2019 (UTC)[reply]

2019 notes

Omitted: Gilles de Rais; Act of Independence of Central America; Battle of Flers–Courcelette; Battle of Meligalas (ineligible—maintenance); Catherine of Austria, Queen of Poland; Anna Winlock; Anton Webern (ineligible—maintenance)
Included: Saint Dominic in Soriano (2nd appearance, last in 2017); John Bull (locomotive) (7th appearance, last in 2015); Battle of Morotai (4th appearance, last in 2015; 75th anniversary); 1959 Khrushchev visit to the United States (first appearance; 60th anniversary); Catherine of Genoa (first appearance); Phil Lamason (first appearance); Signe Toly Anderson (first appearance)
Repeats: Bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers (2nd consecutive appearance, 2 total)

—howcheng {chat} 16:03, 16 September 2019 (UTC)[reply]

2020 notes

Rescued from Ineligible (unused): Battle of Signal Hill
New articles (unused): Declaration of the Rights of Woman and of the Female Citizen (moved from September 4)
Omitted: Saint Dominic in Soriano (ineligible—maintenance); John Bull (locomotive); Battle of Morotai; 1959 Khrushchev visit to the United States; Bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers
Included: Free Money Day (rescued from Ineligible); Invasion of the Cape Colony (2nd appearance, last in 2017; 225th anniversary); HMS Whiting (1812)/Doom Bar (Whiting: 5th appearance, Doom Bar: 4th, both last in 2016); Nuremberg Laws (10th appearance, last in 2017; blurb previously also featured Flag of Germany, but Flag of Nazi Germany is a better target article even though it's ineligible); Battle of Meligalas (2nd appearance, last in 2018; rescued from Ineligible); 16th Street Baptist Church bombing (8th appearance, last in 2017)
Repeats: Catherine of Genoa (2nd appearance, 2 total); Phil Lamason (2nd appearance, 2 total); Signe Toly Anderson (2nd appearance, 2 total)

Forgot to change the births/deaths this year. :( —howcheng {chat} 02:56, 17 September 2020 (UTC)[reply]

Act of Independence of Central America

.. from Spain 15 September 1821, observed as the independence day of Guatamala, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Costa Rica. IMHO, this should be included in selected anniversaries and/or holidays.Jaredscribe (talk) 04:52, 15 September 2021 (UTC) This is the first anniversary listed on es.wiki.x.io, and there is a separate mention for each national day corresponding.Jaredscribe (talk) 05:00, 15 September 2021 (UTC)[reply]

2021 notes

Moved to Ineligible: Battle of Signal Hill (maintenance); Opening of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway (TFA for 2021-05-22); State visit by Nikita Khrushchev to the United States (maintenance)
Omitted: Free Money Day (ineligible—not notable enough); Invasion of the Cape Colony; HMS Whiting (1812); Nuremberg Laws; Battle of Meligalas; 16th Street Baptist Church bombing; Catherine of Genoa; Phil Lamason
Included: Declaration of the Rights of Woman and of the Female Citizen (first appearance); Battle of Flers–Courcelette (first appearance); Battle of Morotai (5th appearance, last in 2019); Parsons Green train bombing (first appearance); Edmé Boursault (first appearance); Charles-Amédée Kohler (first appearance)
Repeats: Signe Toly Anderson (3rd consecutive appearance, 3 total; 80th birthday)

—howcheng {chat} 20:42, 16 September 2021 (UTC)[reply]

2022 notes

Moved to Ineligible: Gilles de Rais (maintenance); John Bull (locomotive) (maintenance)
Omitted: Declaration of the Rights of Woman and of the Female Citizen; Battle of Flers–Courcelette; Battle of Morotai/Battle of Peleliu; Parsons Green train bombing; Edmé Boursault; Charles-Amédée Kohler; Signe Toly Anderson
Included: Landing at Kip's Bay (first appearance); Opening of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway (4th appearance, last in 2017; rescued from Ineligible); Hydroelectricity in Turkey (first appearance); Scandinavian Airlines System Flight 130 (first appearance; 50th anniversary); Catherine of Austria, Queen of Poland (2nd appearance, last in 2018); Phil Lamason (3rd appearance, last in 2020); Ann Bannon (2nd appearance, last in 2017; 90th birthday)

—howcheng {chat} 17:12, 21 September 2022 (UTC)[reply]

Serial killer 'achievements'

I don't think that every individual murder by a serial killer is so important as to be included among the 'selected anniversaries' alongside major battles, inventions etc. And by overemphasising them, we are granting these sickos the 'fame' that many of them, being grandiose narcissists, have reportedly been eager to achieve. Looking at the page for 15 September, you get the impression that it is enough to kill two women in a shop to have your name and 'glorious achievement' listed alongside those of the inventor of the locomotive or of Mehmed The Conqueror. 62.73.72.3 (talk) 19:11, 15 September 2024 (UTC)[reply]

[1] ttp://en.wiki.x.io/wiki/List_of_national_independence_days

[1]