H-65. Introduction to the History, Collection, Description and Use of Maps

Alice Hudson

This course provides a general overview of maps as social, cultural, intellectual tools and their place in the library and the academy. It is intended for rare book curators, generalists, conservators, map librarians, and antiquarian dealers and collectors who seek to focus on the particular nature of the cartographic materials that impact their work or interests. A mix of presentations, including Powerpoint slides, group exercises, hands on work with maps, atlases and globes, will familiarize students with the map as artifact. This course will be a prerequisite for future RBS map courses in the cataloging of rare maps, preservation of prints and maps, and courses devoted to Ptolemy / Sanson / Blaeu, &c.

Although this course is intended to introduce map history, participants will derive most from the course if they have already been exposed to the problems in understanding maps and who might eventually take advanced courses in this subject at Rare Book School. Such participants might include rare book librarians, conservators, map librarians, map collectors, and map dealers.

In their personal statement, applicants should describe the nature of their developing interest in the history of the map, their expectations of the course, and the purposes to which they propose to put the knowledge gained from the course.

Course Resources

Course History