Harvard Map Collection

Harvard Map Collection. The Harvard University library system, which includes the Harvard College Library and the Widener Library, has a long history of collecting and preserving maps and other geospatial materials, with the Harvard Map Collection being one of the oldest and largest of its kind in the United States. The collection has grown significantly over the years, with significant contributions from John Harvard, Paul Revere, and other notable American Revolutionary figures, including George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. The Harvard Map Collection is also closely tied to other Harvard University institutions, such as the Harvard Graduate School of Design and the Center for Geographic Analysis.

● History

The Harvard Map Collection was established in 1818, with a significant donation of maps and atlases from John Adams and other prominent American collectors, including Benjamin Franklin and Alexander Hamilton. Over the years, the collection has grown to include over 400,000 maps, 6,000 atlases, and numerous other geospatial materials, with significant contributions from European collectors, such as Alessandro Malaspina and James Cook. The Harvard Map Collection has also been influenced by other notable cartographers, including Gerardus Mercator and Abraham Ortelius, and has played a significant role in the development of geography and cartography as academic disciplines, with ties to institutions such as the Royal Geographical Society and the National Geographic Society. The collection has also been used by numerous Harvard University researchers, including William Morris Davis and Ellen Churchill Semple, who have made significant contributions to the field of geography.

● Collections

The Harvard Map Collection includes a wide range of maps and other geospatial materials, including historical maps of Europe, Asia, and the Americas, as well as topographic maps of Mount Everest and other notable mountains. The collection also includes numerous atlases, including the Theatrum Orbis Terrarum and the Atlas Maior, which were compiled by Ortelius and Joan Blaeu, respectively. The Harvard Map Collection also has significant holdings of maps and other materials related to exploration and colonization, including the Voyages of Christopher Columbus and the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Other notable collections include the Piri Reis map and the Waldseemüller map, which are considered to be among the most important maps in the history of cartography. The collection is also closely tied to other Harvard University institutions, such as the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology and the Harvard Museum of Natural History.

● Facilities and Access

The Harvard Map Collection is located in the Pusey Library at Harvard University, and is open to the public for research and study, with access to numerous databases and other digital resources, including the Harvard Geospatial Library and the Library of Congress. The collection is also accessible through the Harvard University online catalog, which includes detailed descriptions of the maps and other materials in the collection, as well as links to digital versions of many of the maps and other materials. The Harvard Map Collection also offers a range of services and resources for researchers, including scanning and digitization services, as well as access to GIS and other geospatial analysis software, such as ArcGIS and QGIS. The collection is also closely tied to other Harvard University libraries, such as the Widener Library and the Houghton Library.

● Digital Initiatives

The Harvard Map Collection has undertaken a number of digital initiatives in recent years, including the digitization of large portions of the collection and the development of online databases and other digital resources, such as the Harvard Geospatial Library and the David Rumsey Map Collection. The collection has also collaborated with other institutions, such as the Library of Congress and the National Archives and Records Administration, on digital projects and other initiatives, including the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Spatial Analysis project. The Harvard Map Collection has also developed a range of online exhibitions and other digital resources, including the American Shores exhibition, which explores the history and culture of the United States through maps and other geospatial materials. Other notable digital initiatives include the Old Maps Online project and the MapWarper project.

● Conservation and Preservation

The Harvard Map Collection is committed to the conservation and preservation of its maps and other geospatial materials, and has undertaken a number of initiatives in recent years to ensure the long-term preservation of the collection, including the development of a conservation laboratory and the hiring of a conservator to oversee the preservation of the collection. The collection has also collaborated with other institutions, such as the Library of Congress and the National Archives and Records Administration, on conservation and preservation projects, including the Save America's Treasures program. The Harvard Map Collection has also developed a range of guidelines and other resources for the conservation and preservation of maps and other geospatial materials, including the American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works (AIC) and the International Council on Archives (ICA). Other notable conservation initiatives include the Northeast Document Conservation Center (NEDCC) and the Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts (CCAHA).

● Exhibitions and Outreach

The Harvard Map Collection has a strong commitment to exhibitions and outreach, and has developed a range of exhibitions and other programs in recent years to promote the collection and engage with the wider community, including the Boston and Cambridge, Massachusetts communities. The collection has also collaborated with other institutions, such as the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology and the Harvard Museum of Natural History, on exhibitions and other projects, including the Native American and Indigenous Studies program. The Harvard Map Collection has also developed a range of educational resources and other materials for teachers and students, including the Harvard University Geography department and the National Council for Social Studies (NCSS). Other notable exhibitions and outreach initiatives include the Smithsonian Institution and the National Geographic Society. Category:Map collections