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Posted by: Carissa Pastuch
Join the Geography and Map Division and Philip Lee Phillips Society for this free in-person event, taking place on Thursday, May 8, 2025, from 1:15 PM to 4:15 PM in the Jefferson Building. Together we will will explore the significance of map surrounds through engaging talks about cartographic self portraits and the watermarks in the William Hacke atlas, along with a themed display.
Posted in: Events, Geography and Map Division
Posted by: Lena Mattson
In the early years of the Maryland colony, Lord Baltimore's name referred to his estates, an entire county, and a port town that would one day become the third largest city in the United States... 30 miles northeast of its current location.
Posted in: 17th century cartography, 18th century cartography, 19th century cartography, American History, Military History
Posted by: Amelia Raines
The Geography & Map Division recently digitized an important set of maps of Austria-Hungary. In this post, we explore these 19th- and early 20th-century maps and the layers of history and language that they contain.
Posted in: 19th century cartography, 20th century cartography, European History
Posted by: Tim St. Onge
Among our collection of "bird’s-eye view" maps of U.S. and Canadian cities created from the late 19th to early 20th centuries, the work Augustus Koch in particular stands out for his artistry, geographic range, and incredible cartographic detail. His maps and historical newspaper clippings relating to his work attest not only to his mastery of the form but the value of panoramic maps in instilling civic pride.
Posted in: 19th century cartography, City Histories
Posted by: Amelia Raines
Curious about our collections? Please join Geography and Map Division staff next week for a virtual orientation to our collections and resources!
Posted in: Events, Geography and Map Division
Posted by: Abraham Parrish
Learn about the purpose and variety of terrestrial and celestial printed globe gores. Globe gores are strips of paper containing printed maps in the sizes and shapes needed for globe construction.
Posted in: 16th century cartography, 17th century cartography, 19th century cartography, 20th century cartography
Posted by: Cynthia Smith
For centuries, there have been unconventional beliefs about the shape of the Earth. This post provides a historical overview of alternative theories about the Earth's form.
Posted in: American History, European History, Imaginary maps
Posted by: Meagan Snow
Learn about the development of the oscillating scan mirror (a key component of Virginia Norwood's multi-spectral scanner), which made Landsat I a success, changing the science of earth observation forever. The development of the oscillating scan mirror is documented in the "Virginia Norwood Papers," a new collection in the Geography & Map Division of the Library of Congress.
Posted in: 20th century cartography, Big Data and Visualization, Geographic Information Science, Physical Geography
Posted by: Amelia Raines
Join us on Tuesday, February 11 at 3pm Eastern for a virtual orientation to GIS and geospatial resources at the Library of Congress.
Posted in: Events, Geography and Map Division