Maps and History Roundup

Stephanie Butnick, "Maps Chart Speech Patterns Across America," Tablet Magazine, June 5, 2013

Today in fun charts: Joshua Katz, a statistics PhD student at N.C. State University put together a series of maps of the United States which reveal the staggering extent to which where we live in influences how we say what we say. Basically, why New Yaw-kers speak differently than, say, Texans. In addition to illustrating the geographic coordinates of the sub/hoagie and soda/pop debates, Katz’s cartographical endeavor plots contentious pronunciation from coast to coast: caramel (where more vowels get dropped the further west you go), crayon (all over the board, literally), and mayonnaise (which I prefer to simply avoid both in speech and practice).>>>

Mickey Mellen, "Historic Overlay Maps of North Carolina," Google Earth Blog, June 3, 2013

Image overlays have consistently been one of the neatest features in Google Earth.  The most common use of overlays is to show imagery that is more fresh than what can be found in Google Earth (such as this one from President Obama’s Inauguration or this one from the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico).  However, overlays can also be used to showcase alternate maps such as detailed topography or historical maps like we’ll show you today.>>>

"Library hosts conference, exhibit on historic maps," NECN, May 17, 2013

The Library of Congress is hosting a conference and exhibit about the creator of one of the world's rarest maps. On Friday and Saturday, the library is bringing together scholars to discuss some of the unanswered questions about Martin Waldseemuller's 1507 world map and his other creations and experiments. The library purchased the 1507 map for $10 million in 2009. It was the first map to name "America.">>>

Joey Holleman, "Collection of old maps, engravings, lithographs gets new home on USC campus," Herald online, May 9, 2013

The Arader donation includes about 15,000 natural history watercolors, woodcuts, engravings, lithographs, chromolithographs and maps from the 16th to the 19th centuries. The new donation is so large, two full-time employees will be hired to process and catalog the collection, McNally said.>>>

"LONDON MAP FAIR - June 8 & 9 2013," LondonMapFairs

We exhibit at the historic London venue of the Royal Geographical Society (RGS). This event brings together around 40 of the leading national and international antiquarian map dealers as well as hundreds of visiting dealers, collectors, curators and map aficionados from all parts of the world. A very large selection of Original Antique Maps will be available for sale, ranging in age from the 15th C. to the 20th C., covering all parts of the world and priced to suit all pockets: from £10 to £100,000.>>>