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Number 44, Winter 2003 cartographic perspectives 67 number of sacred “truths.” But Enterline’s book presents an Map, is in its second edition, with James Robert Enterline has chosen intriguing counterfactual hypoth- project direction by Marc H. to tackle the notion that Columbus esis, marshalling evidence from Miller, illustration by Tony Mil- was the European discoverer of rare, archival sources to support lionaire, and design by Cindy Ho. North America. True, Enterline the view that the Atlantic Ocean Copyright by Flushing Town Hall, goes to great lengths to preserve into which Columbus sailed in Flushing Council on Culture and much of Columbus’s presumed 1492 was far from the unknown the Arts, 1998. It is 21” x 17” accomplishments, his thesis in expanse of lore and fable. Though unfolded and retails for $9.95. This Erikson, Eskimos, and Columbus is the writing style is tedious, the map was produced as part of the that considerable evidence of book makes for interesting read- Queens Jazz Trail guided tour of European cartographic foreknowl- ing. The volume is nicely format- the borough, a program run by the edge of North America can be ted, well copyedited, with illustra- Flushing Council on Culture and discerned in world maps from the tions well reproduced (although in the Arts, Inc. 14th and 15th centuries, and that some instances the originals have The front side is an illustrative Columbus’s voyage in 1492 was the imperfections of the passing handdrawn map “poster” depicing predicated on that knowledge. centuries). Although there are famous jazz artists and their Enterline arranges his argument many endnotes, the author may homes in Queens while the back in a crafty manner, first preparing again be guilty of selecting felici- has a short essay about the impor- readers for his thesis by describing tously from the body of scholarly tance of Queens as New York City the “hypothetico-deductive” work. The gullible or less knowl- jazz musician’s borough of choice, scientific method he intends to edgeable reader may be convinced an address listing of their resi- employ as a basis for evaluating by Enterline’s arguments; how- dences, a short explanation of the and interpreting the evidence and ever, it is likely that most carto- Jazz Trail escorted tour and project ultimately asserting his thesis to be graphic historians may prefer that acknowlegements. true. This reviewer is also a prac- this book be forgotten by the At the very top (north) of the titioner of the scientific method, scientific community, or used as an oblique perspective map is blue but generally we start with a null object lesson in how to misapply sky with puffy white clouds, under hypothesis, which is the antithesis the scientific method in historio- which sits the nonsubject area of the research hypothesis, and graphic research. The best way, in boroughs of Manhattan (at top left) seek to refute the null hypothesis the end, is for readers to form their and the Bronx (at top center), in favor of the alternative. own judgment, and that is another while Queens, the subject area, Enterline does not follow this part of the scientific method to takes up the foreground and most approach, but rather works from which this author subscribes. of the remaining page. Manhattan every possible angle (sometimes and the Bronx appear in a cool literally) to find ways to support lavender evoking mountains of his thesis from the existing eviden- steel and concrete. These are tiary base of maps and globes that Maps of The Queens Jazz Trail, separated from the Queens side by survived from the medieval era to The Harlem Renaissance, and The the East River, which perhaps the present. This reviewer, while East Village. Published by Ephem- ironically appears in clean blue. trained as a historical geographer, era Press, Brooklyn, NY. The background coloring of is not an expert on the history of Queens is depicted in a fresh shade European cartography from 1000 Reviewed by Matt Knutzen, New of light green. to 1500 A.D., and lacks the detailed York Public Library Crisscrossing the map is a knowledge of the subject matter network of major roads, highways, necessary to fully evaluate Ephemera Press, of Brooklyn, NY, and expressways depicted in brick Enterline’s interpretations of each has produced three touring maps red. Small, tan banners adorn the map, atlas, and globe. However, related to the rich cultural land- various neighborhoods, parks, and Enterline does not provide the scape of New York City: The cemeteries where famous jazz reader with the reassurance that he Queens Jazz Trail, The Harlem artists lived, performed, and are has not selected only those docu- Renaissance, and The East Village. interred. Some of these have short ments supporting his argument, The following review provides explanatory text such as “St. and ignored those that do not. In description and analysis of these Michael’s Cemetery: Scott Joplin scientific terms, he may be guilty three titles. buried in a pauper’s grave, 1917, of “publication bias,” that is, the marker placed, 1985” and “Ja- publication only of positive The first, The Queens Jazz maica: Site of the first jazz commu- findings. Trail, A Full-Color Illustrated nity in Queens. Clarence Williams 68 cartographic perspectives Number 44, Winter 2003 and Eva Taylor, arrive in 1923...” visual hierarchy. The portraits, clubs. In its second edition by while others simply designate oval with blue outline borders and Ephemera Press with project neighborhoods, such as “Hollis.” green backgrounds, rest like direction by Marc H. Miller, Depictions of apartment buildings, bubbles on the surface and are the illustration by Tony Millionaire, colleges, churches, and houses most eye-catching elements of the and design by Kevin Hein. 2001. large and small appear in their design. The text banners used to The map is 18" x 24" unfolded and approximate relative locations. indicate neighborhoods and retails for $9.95. Small green labels adorn each buildings are slightly smaller and On the cover is a short history indicating their significance; e.g. are behind the portraits but sit on of the Harlem Renaissance, a “’Count’ William Basie 174-27 top of roads and buildings. The walking tour map with 61 points Adelaide Rd.” and “The Louis buildings have no outlines and of interest labelled as numbered Armstrong Archives, Queens appear to sprout from the back- circles and a corresponding College, CUNY.” Finally, small ground of the map itself. The numbered list explaining each stop portrait vignettes of the jazz overall effect is an easily under- along the tour. The numbered legends fill in the remaining space stood thematic map. circles are coded red for existing and are sized according to their This map, while educational sites and black for demolished relative importance. and interesting in its own right, is buildings or sites. Some of the The alphabetical address list on limited in its usability for the explanations are short and to the the back side supplies the reader following reasons. The first is point, such as “#59, Apartment of with the essential information to related to the nature of the place Duke Ellington, 935 St Nicholas lead them to the various homes being mapped. Queens has a Ave. Jazz music’s leading com- and cemeteries of the musicians highly dense and complicated road poser and bandleader, Ellington depicted and further provides a infrastructure that is usually lived here from 1939 to 1961.” list of “Places of interest for jazz depicted on maps twice the size of Others, such as the Apollo Theater, fans.” The latter (mostly jazz the Queens Jazz Trail map. There- are lengthier and include some concert halls) also includes tele- fore, in order to fit all of the history as well as contact informa- phone numbers. Also on the back pictorial elements onto this map, tion. These sites are listed in order side is a short history of the the mapmaker has greatly general- of the route and fall under various development of Queens as the ized the road network. Because of subheadings within the tour, such place where it appears that most of this, buildings depicted are in their as “Along 136th St” and New York City’s jazz greats were general neighborhood. A reader “Hamilton Heights and Sugar born, raised, eventually settled, or not on the guided tour would most Hill.” died. likely have a very difficult time On the other side is a The Queens Jazz Trail map was finding Louis Armstrong’s house handdrawn pictorial map depict- designed specfically to accompany at 34-56 107th Street knowing only ing important historical people the guided tour organized by the that the nearest cross streets and places of the era, including Flushing Council on Culture and depicted on the map are Northern residences of important artists, the Arts. While this author Boulevard and the Grand Central civil rights figures, and musicians, admittedtly has not taken the tour Parkway. This has limited the use as well as civil rights sites, night himself, it is clearly one that, for of this map to participants on the clubs, and art studios. On the right the jazz afficionado, would ani- guided tour, users who know and bottom edges of the map is a mate the lives of jazz legends, Queens roads very well, or those small inset area depicting more personalizing them in the context who are carrying along a detailed people and places important to present-day Queens. The portraits street map of the borough. Manhattan’s African American and the small drawings of build- These things aside, the Queens history that happen to fall either ings give this map a very human Jazz Trail map provides useful above 153rd Street or below 115th touch while the texts, both on the information for the jazz lover, Street.

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