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This map is # 328 in Stephenson's Land Ownership Maps checklist. Another copy exists at the Library Company of Philadelphia although it may also not be in the best shape. Jefferson M. Moak Archivist National Archives at Philadelphia >>> [email protected] 08/31/09 6:01 AM >>> This is a MapHist list message (when you hit 'reply' you're replying to the whole list) o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + I do not normally post entire newspaper articles, preferring to give extracts and leave you to pick up the full text if you want it from the given link. I hope I will be excused on this occasion because this touches on an issue that surely unites us, namely that maps containing original information need to be appreciated for the historical value of what is often a unique record. ------------------------------ Very rare 1859 Michigan wall-map possibly not thought worth preserving August 30. < http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2009/08/map_may_be_doomed.html > 'Map from 1859 may be doomed' (by Dean Bohn in the Flint Journal). The entire text of a worrying article about what is clearly an important wall-map of two Michigan counties in 1859, apparently known in only one other example, which, according to the article, is not in the Library of Congress [though this is not clear]. The amount of money estimated for its restoration does not sound excessive. The fact that it was previously owned by the founder of the community which now holds it is surely an important factor: 'Who needs Mapquest or a Global Positioning System when you have a cloth map from 1859? However, the 150-year-old map is in rough shape, and members of the Swartz Creek Area Historical Society wonder if it's worth the cost to recondition it. "In my opinion, it'll cost $3,000 to $5,000 - or more - to restore it, and I really don't think it's worth it for that kind of money," said Bill Morgan, founder and president of the historical society. Morgan and society vice president John Simor on Tuesday morning unrolled the map in the historical room of the Swartz Creek city hall where it is stored. The unrolling of the map - which measures 64 x 58 inches (5.33 x 4.83 feet) [i.e. 163 x 147 cm] - is infrequent because of its poor condition. 'The chain of ownership of the map is not certain. The map states: "Map of the Counties of Genesee & Shiawassee by Geil & Jones Topographical Engineers, Philadelphia" and "1859." "We believe the Calkins family bought it for the township hall, although the township hall wasn't built until 1878," Morgan said. "Caleb Calkins was the original settler in Clayton Township, when it was still a part of Flushing Township for the first 10 years. The Calkins School was named after his son, Edmund Calkins. Calkins Road is named for the family," he said. After many years, the map came into the possession of Calkins, descendant Beulah Hansen, who stored it in her attic. It was likely there for decades, said John Simor, vice president of the historical society. In 2005, Hansen donated the map to the society. Hansen, 89, is in fragile health. 'The map - consisting of an oil-cloth backing and a paper map matted on the front - has water stains and is breaking apart. "Storage in the attic, where it went through summer heat and winter cold, is the reason it's in such atrocious condition," Morgan said. "I don't think it'll make another 100 years," Morgan said. "There's one just like it in the Buick Gallery at the Sloan Museum," Morgan said. "These are the only two we know to exist." Another, a copy, is in Owosso. '"Members of the Shiawassee County Historical Society bought a replica from the Library of Congress, a smaller version, but they took it to Lansing to have it enlarged," Morgan said. "I think that's what we need to do, so we can hang it up at the Clayton Township Hall." Morgan said he did contact a document restoration company in Pennsylvania to inquire about restoring the map, but the company wouldn't give him a quote unless Morgan sent them the map so they could examine it. At day's end, Morgan and Simor carefully rolled up the map once more. "Roll it careful, buddy," Morgan said. "It could be 50 years before it's unrolled again." Tony Campbell [email protected] ** from 'Latest News' http://www.maphistory.info/newslatest.html [Note. Most news entries are NOT posted to MapHist] _______________________________________________ MapHist: E-mail discussion group on the history of cartography hosted by the Faculty of Geosciences, University of Utrecht. The statements and opinions expressed in this message are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the University of Utrecht. The University of Utrecht does not take any responsibility for the views of the author. List Information: http://www.maphist.nl Maphist mailing list [email protected] http://mailman.geo.uu.nl/mailman/listinfo/maphist _______________________________________________ MapHist: E-mail discussion group on the history of cartography hosted by the Faculty of Geosciences, University of Utrecht. The statements and opinions expressed in this message are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the University of Utrecht. The University of Utrecht does not take any responsibility for the views of the author. List Information: http://www.maphist.nl Maphist mailing list [email protected] http://mailman.geo.uu.nl/mailman/listinfo/maphist
