Online Archive and Guide for Transportation, Travel, and Wayfinding Cartography in American History and Culture

FAIN: PW-50535-10

Newberry Library (Chicago, IL 60610-3305)
James R. Akerman (Project Director: July 2009 to April 2016)

Creation of an online archive of 250 historic maps and a guide for the study of American travel, transportation, and wayfinding mapping.

The Newberry Library seeks to create an online archive and guide for the study, interpretation, and educational use of American travel, transportation, and wayfinding mapping. Building on the collections and curatorial strength of the library, this resource, titled "Mapping Movement in American History and Culture," will familiarize researchers, students, and the general public with the historic value of American maps of movement by providing an archive of high resolution images together with a set of interpretive frameworks, improving access to these maps through the creation of complementary research tools. The initial phase of this project will produce three elements: (1) an archive of 250 high resolution images of historic maps of movement; (2) 25 interpretive essays providing guidance to the study and interpretation of these maps; and (3) a guide to collections of historic transportation maps, finding aids, and online resources in historic transportation mapping.