The Early History of Nupedia and Wikipedia: A Memoir (part1) (part2) posted on SlashDot is a terrific read. I really really really recommend it!
“Larry Sanger was one of the moving forces behind the pioneering Nupedia project. That makes him one of the people to thank for Wikipedia, which has been enjoying more and more visibility of late. Sanger has prepared a lengthy, informative account of the early history of Nupedia and Wikipedia, including some cogent observations on project management, online legitimacy, dealing with trolls, and other hazards of running a large, collaborative project over the Internet.”
I also recommend the Power Structure page on meta.wikipedia.org
“Wikipedia’s present power structure is a mix of anarchic, despotic, democratic, republican, meritocratic, technocratic, and even plutocratic elements”