Exploring Maps: History, Fabrication, and Preservation

The great majority of maps were produced for practical use, not designed to last. Many are oversize and have been folded or rolled for storage over the years. Often maps were created using media that has not proven stable with time. In each case, the practicality of the map has worked against the likelihood of its long-term preservation and has presented conservation challenges. Maps that remain intact today are consequently even more valuable, not only for their aesthetic beauty but also for the rare insight they offer into the landscapes and world views of the past.

This program will provide an overview of the history of maps and address predominant issues in their care and preservation. Speakers will also explore creative, innovative approaches to reinterpreting and revitalizing historic maps through advances in preservation and technology.
 

The Academy of Certified Archivists will award five Accreditation Recertification Credits (ARCs) to eligible Certified Archivists (CAs) attending this program. For more information, go to: www.certifiedarchivists.org.

Major funding for this program was generously provided by the National Endowment for the Humanities, with additional support from the Philadelphia Council on the Arts, the Philadelphia Cultural Fund, and the Independence Foundation.