Demystifying Historic Maps: A Practical Guide

Research Education at University Libraries workshops equip researchers with the tools, concepts, and skills needed for every stage of the research lifecycle.

This special lecture is powered by the GIS and Data Service Center to celebrate Annual GIS Day 2024.

Historic maps are beautiful and detailed artifacts. They combine art and science, are rich in content, however contain differences from modern maps that create obstacles to their understanding. In this guest lecture, Kathy Hart will briefly review elements of modern cartography then delve into elements of historic cartography, including the cultural influences, that will increase your understanding of historic maps. A sample of historic maps will be shown to illustrate concepts. No prior knowledge is required.

Kathy Hart, MLIS, is a Research Affiliate at the University of Pittsburgh’s World History Center where she promotes understanding of and integration of historical maps into research and teaching. Her career as a map librarian and manager includes serving as Section Head at the Library of Congress, Geography and Map Division, and previously, Head of the Map Library at Texas A&M University and Head of the Kelley Center at Rice University’s Fondren Library. She’s past Chair of ALA’s Map and Geographic Information Round Table, past co-editor of the Journal of Map and Geography Libraries and co-founded the GeoHumanities Special Interest Group of ADHO. Kathy recently began volunteering at McKeldin Library focusing on the map collections.