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Allison

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A Few of my Favorite Maps

Written by Allison on March 25th, 2011

This past year I’ve had my hands on many different maps. As one of the map catalogers for our CLIR Hidden Collections grant I’ve gone through and closely examined much of our collection. Every map is interesting and historically valuable, but some have stuck in my mind more than others. Yes, I have favorites. These are not necessarily the rarest or most valuable pieces in our collection – they’re just maps I’ve had fun poring over. I hope you enjoy them too.

Indian Episodes

Indian Episodes of New York State. Robert Gribbroek. 1935. Brooklyn Historical Society Map Collection.

This map of “Indian Episodes of New York State” is packed with information and beautiful illustrations of notable people, events, and objects in New York State’s Native American history. I thought it was interesting to note Brooklyn’s designation as “Land of the Canarsies.”

BrooklynCanarsies

Indian Episodes of New York State. Robert Gribbroek. 1935. Brooklyn Historical Society Map Collection.

The “Who Lives Where” map of New York City captures a snapshot of a different group of locals – New Yorkers of the 1980s. An ethnicity key at the map’s lower right helps you decipher the striped patchwork that makes its way across the 5 boroughs. I’ve probably spent more time than a reasonable person would, looking to see how neighborhoods have changed and how they have stayed the same.

WhoLivesWhere

Who Lives Where. Guenter Vollath. 1985. Brooklyn Historical Society Map Collection.

Finally, a map that is famous for its lack of illustrations and its refusal to help you decipher much of anything. When the MTA released its 1974 subway map, it was criticized for not being geographically accurate. I suppose the criticism was justified, since Brooklyn, for example, is not actually shaped like a square. The map also made no attempt to place the subway stops in relation to any streets or landmarks. Not so convenient for tourists – the very people who would be most likely to use a subway map. The map is beautiful though, and is regarded today as something of a modern classic. I would frame this and hang it on my wall; wouldn’t you?

1974MTA

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority Revised Map of Rapid Transit Facilities of New York City Transit Authority. New York City Transit Authority. 1974. Brooklyn Historical Society Map Collection.

Posted in Hidden Collections, Library & Archives | 3 Responses »
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The Battle of Long Island in Maps

Written by Allison on February 11th, 2011

I was in Greenwood Cemetery a couple months ago and spent some time lounging in my favorite spot: Battle Hill. Doesn’t it have the greatest view? I could sit there for hours.

The history of Battle Hill is just as interesting as the view. It was here that Maryland troops kept the British forces distracted while Washington evacuated the rest of his army to Manhattan. We have a few maps in our collection that cover this battle, and I thought I’d take the opportunity to post a couple now.

Plan of the Positions and Movements of the British and American Army on the 26th & 27th of August 1776. T.W. Field. 1869. Brooklyn Historical Society Map Collection.

Plan of the Positions and Movements of the British and American Army on the 26th & 27th of August 1776. T.W. Field. 1869. Brooklyn Historical Society Map Collection.

This map tracks the movements of British and American troops, and marks the location of the infamous Maryland regiment (see view below).

Plan of the Positions and Movements of the British and American Army on the 26th & 27th of August 1776. T.W. Field. 1869. Brooklyn Historical Society Map Collection.

Plan of the Positions and Movements of the British and American Army on the 26th & 27th of August 1776. T.W. Field. 1869. Brooklyn Historical Society Map Collection.

Another map tracks the positions and movements of General Grant, the leader of British forces in the battle. Grant gets mixed reviews from historians for his actions in this battle. His troops claimed victory, but were not able to deal a death blow to Washington and his forces.

Sketch of General Grant's Position on Long Island. (1793?). Brooklyn Historical Society Map Collection.

Sketch of General Grant's Position on Long Island. (1793?). Brooklyn Historical Society Map Collection.

Posted in Brooklyn Past & Present, Hidden Collections | 3 Responses »
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Pictorial Maps

Written by Allison on October 15th, 2010

I love a good pictorial map. When maps use pictures, rather than symbols or text, to show points of interest, it always adds a little something for me. Sometimes the “something” is humor, sometimes it’s a better sense of the map’s time and place. Below, a few examples from our collection.

The Village of Gravesend as it was in 1870.

The Village of Gravesend as it was in 1870. Catherine and E. Theodore Nelson. 1943. Brooklyn Historical Society Map Collection.

The above map, for example, shows the village of Gravesend as it appeared in 1870. Seeing it for the first time, my eye was immediately drawn to the Prospect Park Fair Ground and Race Course in the map’s center.

The Village of Gravesend as it was in 1870. Catherine and E. Theodore Nelson. 1943. Brooklyn Historical Society Map Collection.

The Village of Gravesend as it was in 1870. Catherine and E. Theodore Nelson. 1943. Brooklyn Historical Society Map Collection.

The race course, complete with illustrated horse and rider, is actually nowhere near Prospect Park, but that didn’t stop it from getting some pretty good press. To quote a New York Times article from June 27, 1869:

“It is only a few weeks ago since we chronicled the opening of this beautifully-located course with a trotting meeting, which was confessedly the most brilliant and successful reunion of the kind ever held on Long Island, and we believe that as a race track it will attain in time an equal degree of popularity among the residents of Brooklyn and New-York.”

Diagram of the Wallabout Bay & c. from 1776-1783. W.H. Arthur &. Co. 19th Century. Brooklyn Historical Society Map Collection.

Diagram of the Wallabout Bay & c. from 1776-1783. W.H. Arthur &. Co. 19th Century. Brooklyn Historical Society Map Collection.

This map of Wallabout Bay includes illustrations of the infamous prison ships of the Revolutionary War, where the British kept thousands of American prisoners in horrendous conditions. A closer view shows ships such as the Whitby, the first prison ship to dock in the bay (No. 1), and the Jersey, infamous for its horrific conditions and appalling death rate (No. 4).

Diagram of the Wallabout Bay & c. from 1776-1783. W.H. Arthur & Co. 19th Century. Brooklyn Historical Society Map Collection.

Diagram of the Wallabout Bay & c. from 1776-1783. W.H. Arthur & Co. 19th Century. Brooklyn Historical Society Map Collection.

Finally, a map of Fort Hamilton and Bay Ridge as they appeared in 1870. My favorite illustration: a soldier shooting off a cannon into the Narrows. It’s unclear who he would be shooting at in 1870… let’s just assume he had his reasons.

The Villages of Fort Hamilton and Bay Ridge as they were in 1870

The Villages of Fort Hamilton and Bay Ridge as they were in 1870. Catherine and E. Theodore Nelson. 1942. Brooklyn Historical Society Map Collection.

The Villages of Fort Hamilton and Bay Ridge as they were in 1870

The Villages of Fort Hamilton and Bay Ridge as they were in 1870. Catherine and E. Theodore Nelson. 1942. Brooklyn Historical Society Map Collection.

Posted in Brooklyn Past & Present, Hidden Collections, Library & Archives | 9 Responses »
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Early Views of Prospect Park

Written by Allison on June 4th, 2010

Tupper Thomas announced her retirement as administrator of Prospect Park just as we were beginning a project to catalog our 19th Century map collection. The collection includes a number of maps covering the progress of Prospect Park from early proposals to today. In honor of both Ms Thomas and the beautiful park she has worked to preserve, here are a few interesting pieces:

An early plan by Egbert Viele. Note Flatbush Avenue cutting directly through the middle of the park. Land was purchased based on Viele’s plan, but plans changed as time passed and the park ended up looking very different.

Plan for the Improvement of Prospect Park. 1861. Egbert L. Viele. Brooklyn Historical Society Map Collection.

Plan for the Improvement of Prospect Park. Egbert L. Viele. 1861. Brooklyn Historical Society Map Collection.

Another proposal that didn’t advance beyond paper – this one by Benjamin Frost.

Preliminary Map Showing Lineal and Topographical Surveys of Prospect Park Brooklyn, Over Areas Included by Present and Proposed Boundaries. Benjamin D. Frost. 1865. Brooklyn Historical Society Map Collection.

Preliminary Map Showing Lineal and Topographical Surveys of Prospect Park Brooklyn, Over Areas Included by Present and Proposed Boundaries. Benjamin D. Frost. 1865. Brooklyn Historical Society Map Collection.

An 1865 plan by Calvert Vaux before his partnership with Frederick Law Olmsted.  You can see existing roads running “under” what today is part of the long meadow. Also note the prototype at right for Grand Army Plaza.

Plan Showing Present & Proposed Boundaries of Prospect Park Brooklyn. Calvert Vaux, Architect. Brooklyn Historical Society Collection.

Plan Showing Present & Proposed Boundaries of Prospect Park, Brooklyn. Calvert Vaux, Architect. 1865. Brooklyn Historical Society Map Collection.

An 1871 design from Olmsted, Vaux & Co, Landscape Architects.  Made while the park was both open and still under construction, this map includes a reservoir near Grand Army Plaza. Today the central branch of the Brooklyn Public Library and Mount Prospect Park sit on what was the reservoir’s land. Also of interest is the land for sale around the reservoir; part of it makes up today’s Brooklyn Botanic Gardens.

Design for Prospect Park in the city of Brooklyn. Olmsted Vaux & Co., Landscape Architects. Brooklyn Historical Society Collection.

Design for Prospect Park in the city of Brooklyn. Olmsted Vaux & Co., Landscape Architects. 1871. Brooklyn Historical Society Map Collection.

Posted in Brooklyn Past & Present, Hidden Collections | 1 Response »
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