A Journal of the MAP AND GEOGRAPHY ROUND TABLE OF THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIAT10N

No. 15, 1999 TABLE OF CO TENTS

Articles

Maps and Women page 5 By Ute J. Dymon and Margit Kaye

Sweeping the Skies: Some Celestial Ladies ofthe 17th -19th Centuries page 11 By Mary McMichael Ritzlin

Millie theMapperand Beyond: The Role ofWomen in Cartography Since World WarII page 23 By Judith Tyner

Research Note: Women in Cartography page 29 By Alice Hudson

Tribute toHelen Margaret Wallis,. 1924-1995 page 31 By NormanJ.W. Thrower

Et Cetera

Calendar page 2

Editorial page 3

IndextoAdvertisers page 2

~ MERIDIAN 15 1 ADVERTISING STATEMENT Meridian accepts advertising of products or services as it improves CALENDAR communication between vendor and buyer. Meridian will adhere to all ethical and commonly accepted ALA Annual Meeting: advertising practices and reserves the right to reject any advertisement New Orleans June 24-July 1, 1999 deemed not relevant or consistent with the goals of the Map and Geography Round Table. Inquiries IFLA Annual Conferences: should be addressed to Alice Bangkok August 19-28, 1999 Hudson, Map Division, New York Public Library, Fifth Ave and 42ncl St., New York, NY 10018. International Conference on the History of Cartography: Athens July 11-16, 1999 SUBSCRIPTIONS Meridian is published twice yearly. To subscribe, or to change an address, please write to Christine E. Kollen, Map Collection, University of Ari­ Meeting and exhibit announcements should be sent to the Editor. zona Library, Tucson, AZ 85721. Subscription rates are $20.00 for individuals; $25.00 for institutions. Add $5.00 for foreign subscriptions. Individuals must prepay, institutions may be billed. All foreign subscrip­ NEXT ISSUE tions must be paid in US. dollars. Make checks payable to ALAI GIS in Libraries at the Millenium MACERT.

This end-oC-century issue will include articles by David PURCHASING BACK COPIES We welcome your orders for back Cobb (GIS Impact on Library Services); Patrick issues of Meridian. They may be McGlamery (Role ofStatewide GIS Services); James obtained for $10.00 each ($12.00 foreign). Make checks payable to Boxall (GIS inLibraries in Canada); Nick Millea (GIS ALA/MACERT. Send requests to Jim in Libraries in the UK); Mary Larsgaard (Alexandria Coombs, Maps Library, Southwest Project and Beyond?); Tom Parris (Harvard's Missouri Slale University, 901 S. National, #175, Springfield, MO GeoSpatial Data Liboratory); and perhaps anothe,' 65804. surprise contribution or two. This issue looks at the role of GIS services in libraries and will review several ongoing applications. INDEX TO ADVERTlSERS

MAGERT page 4, 22 CIS page 10

2 MERIDIAN 15 ~ Editorial MERIDIAN This special issue ofMeridian was guest edited by Judith Tyner, EDITOR Professor of Geography at California State University at Long D.wid A. Cobb H~rvMd University Beach. We arc indebted to her continued interest and expertise SENIOR EDITOR in the subject ofwolllcn in cartography. Readers arc reminded Brenl Allison University of Minnl'SOt" that Meridian also has shown an interest illihis subject with DIRECTOR OF PRODUCTION AND previous articles: "Prc:rwcnticth Century WOlllell MaplIlukcrs" DESIGN by Alice C. Hudson (No. I, J989) and "Women's Cont,"iblltiolls to Donna P. Koepp Universi1y 01 K"ns.ls North American Cartography: Foul" Profiles" by Mary McMichael Ritzlin (No.2, 1989). I'RODUCTION MANAGER Kevin Spradlin OkJ"hom~ Stat" University

This particular special issue continues 10 add to the important ASStSTANT DESIGN EDITOR Peter Linberg"r University of Akron role that wOlllen have played in the history of caI"tognlphy. While that role is receiving its due recognition, there remains consider­ DIRECTOR OF ADVERTIStNG able l'esearch to be undertaken. Meridian not only encourages Alice Hudsoo New York Public Library this research but would invite results of such research to be SUBSCRIPTIONS MANAGER submitted for publication. Chrisline Kollen_...... _•. University 01 Arizona

DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Dymon and Kaye's "Maps and Women" addresses the issue and James A. Coombs ...... Southwesl Missouri names of thosc women who were hidden behind thc mcn in the Sl.11e University field of mapmaking. We al'e introduced to the wives, daughters, EDITORIAL BOARD widows, and teachers who made significant contributions and Phillip Hoeho...... Sl"nford University shown where additional reseal'ch is needed. M"ry L..usg"Md University of Cali/orni", S.,nt"B"rb"ra Ritzlin's "Sweeping the Skies" reveals the significant role that a small minority of womcn contributed to the field of astl'onomy. Robert 5_ MMtin Sl"le Library 0/ Tex"s Their names may not be familiar to everyonc, but they show that Stanley D. SlevenS S"nt~ Cruz. Cali/omia a struggling single mother, a Yankee librarian, and a one-time concert performcr may provide inspiration fOI' a new generation CONSULTING EDITORS ofwomen scientists. Helen Jane Armslrong ..... Uoiv"rsi1y 0/ florida TonyCampbell __ British library Tyner's "Millie the Mapper and Beyond" article rcvicws the notable rolc of womcn in the growth of cartography during World Edward H. Dahl National Ar>;hives of C,nad.l War 11, and their continucd rolc in academic disciplines and John B_ CM"er,Jr llethesda. MaryLlnd professional organizations after the war. During this post-war pCI'iod, wOlllen incrcased in their numbers and movcd from often Francis Herbert Royal Geographical Society "invisiblc" positions to morc visiblc and rcsponsible oncs. Bm!>.,.a B. McCorkle L..,wrence, Kans.ls

Joho T. Monckton J.T. Moncktoo Lid., Chicago This issue also includes a MCllloriunI for Helen Wallis by Norman Thrower and a Rescarch Note from Alice Hudson concerning her GaryW. North Reston, Virgin~1 projcct on womcn in cartography. Nancy Pruett Sandia Natiooal L..lboratories

Rcaders arc cncouragcd to submit papers, rcsearch notes, and Norm"n J,W. Thrower Universi1y of Cllifomia, other publication matcrials to the editor. los Aogek'S

Alberta Auringer Wood .. Memor~1l Uoiversity 0/ David Cobb New/oundl.lnd January 1999 David Woodward Univ"rsi1y of Wisconsin

Frances WOOl1w"roJ ..... University of British Columbia ea MEIUDIAN 15 3 AVAILABLE NOW!!

A Publication of the Map and Geography Round Table of the American Library Association

MAGERT Circular No.2

Index to the Library of Congress "G" Schedule

A Map and Atlas Classification Aid

By Alberta Auringer Wood & James A. Coombs

1996

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$25.00 Price includes postage & handling ISBN: 0-8389-7821-5

Order from: Jim Coombs, MAGERT Distribution Manager, Maps Library, Southwest Missouri State University, 901 S. National #175. Springfield, MO 65804-0095. Voice: 417/836-4534 fax: 417/836-6799 e-mail: [email protected]

4 MERIDIAN 15 ~ Maps and Women

Ute J. Dymon, Associate Professor of Geography, Kent State University and Margit Kaye, Librarian, Yale University Map Collection

What is done or learned by one Man, which inspired the title of this class of women becomes, by virtue of paper. In Thrower's updated their com mOil womanhood, tile property version of this book, the title of all women. became Maps and Civilimtion. -Elizabeth Blackwell Others have picked up on the gender topic of women in cartogra­ Women cartographers have phy. Judith Tyner conducted a Identifying the role these women made many contributions 10 the field research project on Westtown played withinsociety provides us of cartography over the years. School. Her depiction of the with an understandingof their However, women's contributions in cartographic roles women filled contribution to the field ofmapping as well. the field of mapping were absent in during and after World War II the documentation of the history of supports the notion of a "Millie the cartography. In recent years, Mapper" striving in that war effort scholars have identified that women in tandem with women factory mappers often were hidden behind workers. After teaching the History initials or husbands' names, making of Cartography several times, I it difficult to identify them. Other became plagued by the question, women whose names appeared on "Where are the women in our maps and globes are just now cartographic history?" starting to be discovered and recog­ Despite the absence of refer­ nized for their part in advancing the ences to women in publications science of mapping. Identifying the abOllt the history of cartography, role these women played within recent historical research reveals society provides us with an under­ that many women made major standing of their contribution to the contributions in the field of map­ field of mapping as well. ping. Like their male counterparts, The fascinating contributions of women were map sellers, engrav­ women cartographers through the ers, publishers, cartographers, After teaching the History of ages have been overlooked by most colorists and globe makers. Brian Cartographyseveral times, I scholars attempting to present the Harley (1989) suggests "that we became plagued by the question, history of cartography. Therefore, should encourage an epistemologi­ "Where are the women in our cartographic history?" many female cartographers were cal shift in the way we interpret the delighted to learn that Penny nature of cartography," and he Barckley and Alice Hudson started claims that a deconstructive turn of their research project on early mind may allow cartographic women map makers. The absence of history to take a fuller and richer women's names in the history of direction. By identifying and cartography was highlighted with recognizing women's contributions Norman Thrower's book, Mnps and to the field, our understanding of

era MEIUOIAN 15 5 cartography's range in everyday life excellent education for a girl of her increases. time, resulting in her ability to The problem is that the work of complete and update the map her many women cartographers was father started (Ritzlin, 1989). hidden behind their husbands' Widowed with nine children 10 names. Yet, these unsung female raise, Mary Biddle received signifi­ cartographers contributed signifi­ cant assistance from her father, who cantly to the advancement of not only maintained his own family, What motivations or reasons mapping, and they opened doors for but also his grandchildren. [n 1762, led women tochoose this unconventional profession? females who have since entered the Mary Biddle edited a map of Phila­ field. Answers to two key questions delphia by her father, Nicholas Scull, are needed: What motivations or which bears her name. reasons led women to choose this The work of Eliza Colles, a unconventional profession? How woman engraver who started did they receive their training? working for her father by the age of After profiling several females from thirteen, was documented by Walter the 17th to the 18th century, a Ristow (1980). Her father an­ pattern becomes evident. The nounced a proposal for the publish­ majority of women were exposed to ing of a Survey of tile Roads in the mapmaking through their families. United States of America. The Suroey They were the daughters, wives or was to be published in parts; how­ widows of male cartographers. ever, it did not receive financial Unfortunately, in other cases backing and was never completed. we will never know much about the He embarked on another project, The background of women whose Geograpllical Ledger and Systematized Widowed with nine children to raise, Mary Biddle received names appear on various maps. For Atlas. This project also failed to significant assistance from example, Elizabeth Bermingham's receive financial support, and only her father... chart represents the earliest sailing parts of it were published. Eliza's chart of North America (1727). name is engraved on several plates Showing degrees of latitude in its of her father's Geographical Ledger borders, the chart contains four and Systematized Atlas, revealing her inset maps - Port Royal, South skillful work. Without formal Carolina; New Providence, the schooling or training, the assump­ Bahamas; St. Augustine, Florida and tion can be made that her father was Charleston, South Carolina. The her mentor who taught her the skills great degree of detail on her of engraving. Unfortunately Eliza Charleston map suggests that she died in 1799, at the age of twenty­ either came from South Carolina or, three, and we will never know at least, had been there (5. Sider, whether or not her name would have Andreasian and Mitchell Codding, appeared as an anomaly on the list 1992). of the great male mappers.

The Daughters The Wife Many daughters who became Traveling extensively throughout Traveling extensively involved with a family map busi­ Canada with her husband, Elizabeth throughout Canada with her husband, Elizabeth Simcoe ness at an early age learned the Simcoe, the wife of the Governor kept a diary which included trade while growing up. They can be General of upper Canada, kept a many maps and drawings of found in all aspects of mapping. diary which included many maps the landscape. Continuing her father's work after and drawings of the landscape his death in 1651, Virginia Farrar (Ritzlin, 1989). An artist and a keen published an updated version of her observer, she enjoyed sketching and father's Mnp of Virginia which bears draWing her experiences. Elizabeth the name "Domina Virginia Farrar." produced small and large maps Her father's progressive thinking including her famous birch bark map allowed Virginia to receive an made around ]792.

6 MERIDIAN 15 ~ The Widows women by introducing map making Colette Hondius continued her and new teaching methods in husband's business after his death in geography. She not only taught 1612; however, Jodocus Hondius still her students how to produce hand­ received credit for the maps and drawn maps, but included in her atlases published by his wife. lessons how to use surveying Similarly, the widows of Guillaume techniques. She also co-authored De L'lIe and Jodocus Jansson contin­ with William Channing ued to publish maps after the deaths Woodbridge an American school MuyOvtrtol'l,. Iikt most womtn of atlas (Lutz, 1974). htr timt, o:ontinutd htrwork undtr of their husbands (ryner, 1997). htr initials, nthtr than htr full Mary Overton, the second wife By the early 18005, the in­ nMllt. and widow of Philip Overton who creased use of globes may have died in 1744, took over his map been another improvement in publishing business and advertised geography education. Elizabeth in the Scottish General Advertiser the Mount (1806·1850) was the only availability of a catalogue of about child of Judge John S. Mountby of 800 maps and plans of both ancient Setauket, Long Island. She was only and modern geographers. A copy of 16 when she produced a terrestrial the catalogue has never been found. globe in 1822. This large size globe, (Riet Van Alkemade Clements, 72.5 x 69.5 Col in diameter, has 1998). Mary is mentioned several exceptional details. The globe has times in Donald Hodson's COUIl/Y soft maple legs, a black cherry Atlas of lite Britislt Isles. Three years after her husband's death, she sold Figure 1. New Terrulrial Globe: by Elizabeth Mount, Setauket, Long Island, the business to Robert Sayer. Tooley 1822. By courtesy of the Yale University Garvan CoUection. (979) mentioned Philip Overton in his detailed inventory of mapmakers but did not mention Mary. She, like most women of her time, continued her work under her initials, rather than her full name. Clearly, to maintain their liveli­ hoods, these women continued their husbands' businesses but made their own contributions to these business ventures.

The Teachers By the end of the 18th century, women educators appeared and made cartographic contributions mainly for the purpose of educating pupils. In some schools such as the Westtown School, a Quaker boarding school near Philadelphia, the con· struction and use of globes became an established part of the curricu­ lum. Judith Tyner'S documentation of the Westtown School describes the experience of young women making a globe (ryner, 19%). Emphasizing the use of globes and maps in the classroom, Emma Hart Willard 0787-1870) changed the educational experience for young

~ I'ItEIUDIAN 15 7 constructed in the British Isles in the ~.--:..:::...:._.. . 1710s, and later this type of sewing art diffused to America where needlework was taught in the schools. An 1818 map sampler of Europe by Lydia Smith can be found in the Yale University Map Collec­ tion. (Figure 2). Amelia Giddings was only nine years old when she embroidered in 1815 a map of England. The coun­ ties are outlined in colored silk. County names and major points of interest are carefully embroidered. The map was recently purchased for the Yale University Map Collection (Figure 3).

Conclusion The contributions of women map makers are numerous. Just as the status of women in science as a whole is improving.. we are just scratching the surface to identify the accomplishments of women cartog­ raphers. With the increasing oppor­ tunities for women to receive a high tech education today, a standout woman cartographer has emerged and has been recognized on the international scene. A far cry from Figure 2. Map Sampler of Europe by Lydia Smith. By courtesy afme sitting at home wielding a sewing Yale University Map Collection. needle is Jerrie Cobb, age 67, who qualified as an astronaut. but NASA horizon and a brass meridian ring never gave her the opportunity to fly (Figure 1). The inscription lists in space. Several South American Elizabeth Mount clearly as the countries have honored her for her maker of the globe. The gores were mapping of dangerous areas in the drawn by pen, painted with water­ Andes. color and embellished with applied Each discovery of the contribu­ cutouts. The gores are glued to the tions of women to mapping enriches globe which appears 10 be made out all of us and hopefully the "hidden of papier-mache incorporated onlo cartographers" will become part of fabric. Elizabeth Mount's purpose any History of Cartography pub­ for making Ihis globe is not known; ...milp umplcl$ were lished in the future. constructed in the British Isles it is conjectured that she may have in the 1710s, and b.ler this been a schoolteacher and made the Literature Cited type ofscwingart diffused to globe for her pupils (Barquisl, 1992). Barquisl, David L 1992. American Tabk.'S and America when needlework LookingGbsses in t~ Mabel BndyGarvan wu laught in the schools. The Pupil and the Map and OthcrCollections al Yak- University. Yale UniV\.'f'Sily Art Gallery, New Haven,cr. Sampler Hark-y,l. Brian. 1989. ~Deconslructing the The term map sampler has been Map.H Cartograpltica 12(2), 1-20. applied to maps made by embroi­ Lutz, Alma. 1974. Emma Willard: PionL'er EducatorofAmerican Women. Boston dery. It appears that the first Beacon Hill I'rL'SS. embroidered map samplers wert! Personal Conversation with Riet Van

8 MERIDIAN 15 era AlkemadeClcmenl. Amslerdam, 1998. ThrowerNormanJ.W.I996. Mapsand Ristow. Walter W. "Eliza Colles. America's First Civilizalion. The University ofChicago Female Map Engraver." The MapCollo.'Ctor Pn.'SS, Chicago. 10(1980); 14-17. Tooley, R.V. 1979. Tooley's Dictionary of Ritzlin, Mary MacMichaei. "Women's Mapmakcrs. Meridian Publishing Com­ Contributions to North Amt.'fic:an Cartogra­ pany,Amsterdam. phy: fourprofilcs." Meridian. 2 (1989). 5-16. Tyner,Judith. "'The Hidden Cartograptlcrs­ SiderS., A. Andreasian and Mitchell Codding. Women in Mapmakins."Mercator's Work!. "Maps,Charts,Globes; Five Centuries of Nov/0..'C 1997. Exploration." The HispanicSocictyof Tyn~'!",Judilh. "The World inSilk; Embroi­ America, New York. N.Y. (1992). dered Globes 01 Westtown School." The ThrowerNormanJ.W.. 1972. Mapsand Man. MapCollector. 74, Spring 1996. Prentice-Hall,lnc.EngJ.:-wood Cliffs, N.J.

Figure 3. Map Sampler of England by nine-year-old Amelia Giddings. 181 S. By counesy of the Yale University Map Collection.

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~ MERIDIAN 15 9 INDEX AND CARTO-BIBLIOGRAPHY OF MAPs, 1789-1969 The new Part XIV to the CIS US Serial Set Index Edited by Donna P. Koepp, Government Documents and Map Librarian, University of Kansas

"The Serial Set maps, although widely THE MAPS FROM 1789-1897 COVER A WIDE owned, have been largely ignored because RANGE OF TOPICS

tliey are so difficult to access. The CIS bldex o [nland transportation -lakes, rivers, and other and Carto-Bibliography will remedy this natural waterways; canals; Indian trails; routes fault and add a vast corpus oforjgim~1 used by explorers, settlers, and the military; wagon cartographic artifacts to the usable archives roads and railroad routes ofAmerican history." ° Native Americans - population levels, ceded lands, migrations, reservations, villages, burial - Robert W. Karrow, Jr., Administrative grounds Curator of Special Collections and • Battlegrounds - Native American European, Curalor of Maps, The Newberry Library vs. United States vs. Mexican, Civil War ° Ulcation of forts, trading posts, towns, ware­ he more than 50,000 maps in the U.S. houses, slaughter houses, mills, mines (gold, Serial Set constitute a record of the silver, lead, copper, iron ore, coal), furnaces intellectual and cultural history of the T ° Economic conditions - commerce, trade, United States from its youth through its mining, and manufacturing maturity. They reveal the world - including ° Early plans and population levels of towns and the natural resource base of the North Ameri­ cities - Chicago, Washington DC, Key West, and can continent - as it was known, and docu­ other sites ment the ways in which the land was explored ° The environment - shoreline and inland and forever changed. vegetation, erosion, sediment buildup Often folded inside the published volumes, ° Navigational features - tides, coastlines, depths, researchers have had to search page by fragile ocean streams, water temperatures, dangers page to find those maps they knew to exist. But •International areas - Canada, Mexico, Europe, most Serial Set maps have remained undetected and more and unused. Publication Schedule FIRST TIME ACCESS TO MAPS IN mE US 1789-1897 segment Available now SERIAL SET 1897-1925 segment Available now CIS's new Index provides detailed access to 1925-1969 segment Available now Serial Set maps through four separate indexes: Each segmem will comprise 4 or more hardbollnd Subject/Geographic Area, Map Title. Personal vollimes ofsome 600 pages each. Names, and Corporate Names. The CarlO-Bibliography thoroughly anno­ YES! Please send us more information on tates each map. including a description of any CIS US Serial Set I"dex, Parr XIV: Index and Carta· special features, and lets you evaluate a map Bibliography ofMaps. J789-1969 before retrieving it. After you consult the Index and Carto­ Namtffitlt Bibliography, you can conveniently retrieve a reproduction of the map from the CIS US Organ;...tion Serial Set on Microfiche, or use your library's hardcopy collection of the U.S. Serial Set. Addrtu The Index and Carro-Bibliography ofMaps is being produced under the editorial direction of City/Stalt/Zip Donna P. Koepp, government documents and Photocopy, complete and mail this form to: map librarian at the University of Kansas. The indexing work was done at the University of ~YtaCIse Kansas with support from the University. Addi­ UPA °lEXls"·NEXls'° CIS UNIVERSE tional support was provided by National En­ Contrtssiooolln(Ofmation Strvia, Inc. RtpreWWrtt lEXIS-NEXIS in the "cO

10 ~IEnIDIAN 15 ~ Sweeping the Skies: Some Celestial Ladies of the 17th-19th Centuries

Mary McMichael Ritzlin, Map Dealer, George Ritzlin Maps and Prints

While women were seldom Fontenelle's Enlreliens sur fa encouraged to study the sciences in pfurtllite des mondes, and its success centuries past, botany and as­ was such it went through many tronomy seem to be exceptions. In editions in the western European several instances, contributions by countries, as well as France. women were not only acknowledged Bernard Le Bouyer De Fontenelle in their lifetimes, but also praised. 0657-1757) was the nephew of Why is this? Pierre Corneille. A man of wit and Gener..Uytht'Se pursuits could Botanical specimens might be letters, he wrote on a variety of be .lCcomplished dose to home, no doubt reusuring tosociety. brought from afar or merely col­ topics, occasionally skirting accusa­ lected in one's own garden, but they tions of heresy; his Wide-ranging would usually be studied and interests led him to the study of painted at home. Likewise, astro­ astronomy. The heliocentric theory nomical observations were con­ was not widely held in France, and ducted from one's own rooftop; de Fontenelle took it upon himself calculations were made in one's own to "get the people of France - or at study. Generally, these pursuits least the ladies of the Salons - to could be accomplished close to understand the rotation and revolu­ home, no doubt reassuring to society. tion of the earth, and the Cartesian In my search for pre-20th century theory of vortices"

~ MERIDIAN 15 II Drumlangrig) that she found the clouds, while the lower half had a French book amusing. And "I scene of the author and the Marquise thought an English Woman might in her garden. The popularity of this adventure to translate anything a work in England is evidenced by yet French Woman may be supposed to another edition in 1nB. In 1719 have spoken... " John Harris published his Astro1lomi­ But it is Behn's preface - an cal Dialogues Between a Celltlemall and essay of more than 20 pages to a a Lndy... ' And as lale as 1841, Behn's defense of work of approximately 150 pages­ American astronomer and educator Co~mkus,.. nd her compuing Bibliulupl"ru­ which is remarkable. I3elm's biogra­ Denison Olmstead published a spin tiQn5 ofgwmetry, chronology, pher, Maureen Duffy, writes "In on astronomy for women in his and "stronomy versus many ways the introductory essay is Letters on Astronomy, Addressed to Q theori" of the new sciene" one of the most daring things she Lady. could h"ve been very disturbingto hermon' ever wrote. It defined her religious The number of translations, over orthodo:c readers. position unequivocally, it defied $t. an extended period of time, suggests Paul's law about women preaching that the educated woman's interest even though it wasn't done in a in astronomy was no passing fad. pulpit, and the world's law that the Yet even before de Fontenelle's new sciences were for men" (Duffy imaginary lady appeared ill print, 1979, p. 272). several women had not only inter­ Filled with now obscure refer· ested themselves in astronomy, but ences to 17th century political and had made real contributions to the religious controversies, with many field. pages devoted to comparative One of Tycho Brahe's "able One ofTycho Bnhe's "able philology, Behn also criticized the assistants" at Hven was his younger ;assist;an!s";at Bven WilS his Frenchman on his handling of the sister, Sophia (1556·1643), whom younger sisler, Sophi". character of the Marquise. He Tycho addressed as "Urania"­ "introduceth a Woman of Quality while modestly calling himself whom he feigns never 10 have heard "Apollo" (Gade 1947, pp. 88-89). of any such thing as Philosophy Sophia was the only one of his lsciencel before," and "he makes her siblings to share his interest in say a great many very silly things... " astronomy. (Behn, 1688, unpaginated preface). "The lunar eclipse of the eighth "It is hard for us today to under­ December, which he had computed stand the boldness of what she has in the book on the new star lof 15721. done," writes Duffy (p. 273); Behn's was duly observed, and he was on defense of Copernicus, and her that occasion assisted by his young­ comparing Biblical explanations of est sister, Sophia, at that time a girl geometry, chronology and as­ of 17 years of age, highly educated, tronomy versus theories of the new and not only conversant with sciences could have been very classical literature, but also well disturbing to her more orthodox acquainted with astrology and readers. But Behn concludes that the alchemy, and therefore in every way Bible may be taken allegorically on fit to assist her great brother" (Dryer, Sophi" eould ;also cut 1890, p. 201). horoscopes, d;abbJed in these subjects. It was nearly the last medicine, ;and involved of Behn's writings and may serve as Sophia could also cast horoscopes herself in ..Jchemy. a fitting epitaph to a remarkable life. (astronomers being called upon to Behn's skill in creating lively perform this service for crowned conversation for the Restoration heads at this time), dabbled in stage is evident in her translation medicine (inventing an anti-plague which shines compared to a more elixir), and involved herself ­ pedestrian version in 1715 by ruinously as it turned out - in William Gardiner, though his edition alchemy. did include a frontispiece. The upper This aristocratic and educated half showed the planets set among lady often visited Tycha at

12 l\IEIUl)JAN 15 ~ Uraniborg, and whenever she did (05B, Vol. VI, p. 360). "was received with open arms, for Elisabetha, 36 years younger she was rather a helpmate than a than Johannes not only presented guest" (Cade 1947, p. 131). Sophia him with three daughters, but also even met her second husband at "played a considerable part in the Hven, astronomer Erik Lang; they running of the observatory" (DSB, married in 1602. Tycho named one Vol. VI, p. 360). of his daughters after Sophia, but The daughter of a wealthy neither the younger Sophia nor any merchant, and very well educated, This truditt bdy sh~~ ill btt with 5tvtl'ill women in of his other daughters seems to have Elisabetha is shown working with Colrtognophic histof)'­ taken an active interest in astronomy Johannes in two illustrations from misidentificOilion (Cade 1947, p. 193). his Macllineae Cot/estis, (673). As A near contemporary of Sophia he also provided most of the was Maria Cunitz 0610-1664), the engravings for his work (in addi­ "Silesian Pallas" (EB 1910, Vol. 7, p. tion to running a successful 633). Educated at home by tutors, business and taking part in the her studies came under the guidance civic life of Danzig, Johannes was a of Dr. Elias von Loven who encour­ skilled engraver), we can deduce aged her interest in medicine, poetry, he was proud of his trophy wife ­ painting, music, mathematics and beautiful and intelligent. languages. They married, but their Using a brass sextant with a six­ happiness was marred by the foot radius (modeled on the one disruptions of the Thirty Years War. used. by Tycho Brahe at Hven), Once they were forced to take refuge Elisabetha "would keep the fixed in in a cloister, but 1648 Maria was radius aligned on the first star, EliubethOl,36 ytUS younger able to resume her studies and while her husband directed the thOin Joh~nes, not only correspondence with other scholars adjustable radius toward the p~tnttdhim with thrtt (Ogilvie 1988, pp. 63-64). second star, and then read the d;aughten, but OIlso"pIOlytd ~ considel'ilble put in the Maria Cunitz produced a simpli­ required angle on the scale" (CIH runningof thtobtstrvOltmy." fied version of Kepler's Rudolphine of A 1997, pp. 203-204) (FIGURE Tables, correcting some of his errors 1). This was not a job for weak­ but making others of her own. Her lings; working year round in the Ura"ia Propitia sive Tabulae open air in northern Europe, Aslro"omicae mire faciles, vim operating heavy machinery in the Ilypotilesium pllysicarum a Kepplero... dark is not for the faint of heart. was published in 1650, and con­ No wonder Johannes represents tained three plates. It is extremely Elisabetha and himself in fur-lined scarce. garments while at work. This erudite lady shares a fate Their home and observatory with several women in cartographic was destroyed by fire in 1679, but history - misidentification. The they rebuilt, and by 1681 were at Dictionary of Scientific Biography work again. After his death in gives her no listing of her own, 1687, Elisabetha edited and pub­ although "M. Cunitz" is mentioned lished Johannes' best-known work, in the Keppler entry. In the general the Prodormus astro1lOmiae exhibens ThtSt 100dies of the priviltgtd index she is identified as "Martin fundamenta quea tam ad movum c1ustS wt.rt thr Pn"CUlSOlS of Cunitz." plane et COTrectiOllem steflQTum... the rduuttd wornt.n for whom de Fonlt.nt.llt.w.ll5 writing.. Still another learned lady is with the accompanying atlas. The Catherine Elisabetha Koopman FiTmamentum Sobiescianum sive 0647-?), the second wife of astrono­ Uranographia contained 56 copper­ mer Johannes Hevelius. A wealthy plates engraved by Johannes before businessman and amateur astrono­ his death; the text and atlas were mer, Johannes built "what became, published in 1696 (Warner 1979, for a short period, the world's pp.112-113). leading astronomical observatory" These ladies of the privileged

~ MERIDIAN 15 13 classes were the precursors of the the outside world knows but little...," educated (or at least intellectually writes Maggie Herschel in the curious) women for whom de forward to her aunt's memoires. But Fontenelle was writing. But if any of "these helpers and sustainers, men those women who purchased and or women, have all the same quality read his book were inspired to in common - absolute devotion and pursue astronomy in a serious way, unwavering faith in the indi· they left few public records. The vidual..." (Herschel 1879, pp.v-vi). Caroline was denied all but next woman to make an impact on Caroline, eighth child and fourth the most basic education-a the history of astronomy came from daughter was born to a regimental younger brotherwas kept from private lessons at home, an almost Dickensian background bandmaster and his peasant wife in since Cuoline would have - she had actually been appren­ Hanover on March 16, 1750. Twelve benefited. ticed to a milliner in her youth. Her years younger than her famous name was Caroline Herschel. brother William, she endured a "Great men and great causes hardscrabble childhood, with her have always some helper of whom father often absent. Her unwavering faith was put to the test more than once. When Caroline was only a Figure 1. The massive sextant used by Tycho and Sophia Brahe at toddler, William (age 14) enlisted in Uraniborg served as a model for the one Johannes and Elisabetha Hevelius operated at their observatory in Gdansk. (Copperplate engraving by Blaeu, his father's band in the Hanoverian circa 1650.) Guards. After the Seven Years' War he moved to England where he made his living as a music copyist and S£XTANS ASTltONOM1CU:; TRll,;ONICUS organist (CIH of A 1997, p. 231). 1'11.0 IlIST,.,liTI1S RI104,.,I

14 MEfUDIAN 15 ~ days in Bath (Herschel 1879, p. 32). brother (Herschel 1879, pp. 60-61). As William's hobby developed She was to discover eight comets into a vocation, Caroline joined in between 1785 and 1797, some with wholeheartedly, giving up a promis­ the "comet sweeper" telescope ing career as a soloist. She "carried William designed for her use. out extensive routine calculations, Although an extremely modest prepared catalogs and papers for person, Caroline's achievements publication, and even ground and did not go unnoticed in her lifetime. polished mirrors.. :' (05B, Vol. VI, p. She received many letters of She pJid J price for her devotion to WilIiJlll.;md his 322). congratulation from leading Jlmosl obsessive inlete$1 in She paid a price for her devotion astronomers 2. In 1787 she received utronomy. to William and his almost obsessive a salary of £50 from King George in interest in astronomy. On the night her capacity as assistant to William of December 31. 1783, she suffered a (EB 1910, Vol. 13, p. 391) and serious accident honors from the Royal Society Tile evefling Ilad been cloudy, but (DSB, Vol. VI, p. 323), which about 10:00 a few stars became visible, published her revision of Flamsteed alld ill tile greatest hurry all was got in 1798. The title block on John ready for observing. My brotller, at tile Cary's New and Improved Celestial front of tile telescope ftlle 2D-foot Globe credited new information telescope!, directed me to make some obtained "from the Works of Miss alteration i'l the lateral motion, wllicll HerscheL." (Van Der Krogt 1984, p. was done by machinery, on wllic11 the 85), and various numbers of the point of the support of tile tube and Memoires Academie des Sciences mirror rested. At eacll end of tile contained maps with Miss uroline wu 10 discover eight machine or trougll was an iron hook, Herschel's latest discoveries comels...some wilh the "cornel such as butchers use for hanging tlleir (Warner 1979, pp. 184-185). $wupe:r" telescope: Willi;un joints upon, and having to run in tile Nearing SO, William married a designed for her use. dark on tile ground cl1Vered a foot deep widowed neighbor. This was a with melting snow, I fell on one of tllese shock to Caroline, who then lived Ilooks, wllich entered my right leg separately but continued to work above tile knee. My brotller's call, closely with her brother. She "Make Ilaste!" 1 could only answer by a eventually extended her Jove and pitiful cry, "I am hooked!" (Herscllel devotion to his only child who was 1879, pp. 54-55). born in 1792. Later to become a William and his workmen rushed famous scientist and astronomer in to help, but "they could not lift me his own right, achieving a knight­ without leaving nearly two ounces of hood, little John "may have been my flesh behind.. .l was obliged to be saved from being a withdrawn my own surgeon..." When the local solitary by the remarkable relation· doctor tended to her injuries, he told ship with his Aunt Caroline... " Caroline "if a soldier had met with (058, Vol. VI, p. 323). such a hurt he would have been On William's death in 1822, entitled to six weeks nursing in a Caroline returned to Hanover, but hospital" (Herschel 1879, p. 55). continued her astronomical studies 'HJ sensitin portrait of;m Jged bul alert uroline wu mJde Caroline kept a diary for several for many years. Not many like­ theyeiillbdo~herdeilthin years, and her entries record a nesses exist of Caroline Herschel, 1848 by Georg Buss... mixture of the sublime and mundane and, apparently, only one survives - from cleaning brass-work on from her youth: a silhouette cut telescopes and calculating revisions shortly before her coming to for Flamsteed's Oltalog, to entertain­ England (CIH of A 1987, p.233). ing Queen Caroline's brother (who However, a sensitive portrait of an wanted to visit the Herschels' aged but alert Caroline was made observatory), 10 cutting out ruffles the year before her death in 1848 by for the shirts which she made for her Georg Buss, engraver to the court of

~ !\1EIUDlAN 15 15 Hanover. Demure in a cap and high­ ment, and exciting new discoveries, necked gown, Miss Herschel is amateur astronomers of both sexes seated at a small table, pointing to a multiplied in the 19th century. chart of the solar system spread Many texts were published for belore her. With unaccuslomed the use of children and families such pride or vanity, she is not wearing as Margaret Bryan's Compendious her spectacles, but they are sus· System of Astronomy... ," (1799, 1805), pended from a ribbon around her Burritt's Atlas, Desiglled To Illustrate Children of both sexes were neck (Friedman 1997, Entry 24). The Geograplly Of tile Heavens, (1835, introduced to astronomy as a Caroline Herschel's achievements 1856), and Eliza A. Bowen's As­ pleasant educational activity... were many, her honors far from tronomy by Observation (l888) which inconsiderable. But by the end of the contained four double-column pages century, she rated only two slight of notes for teachers (pp. 4-8). "So mentions in Agnes Clerke's Popular numerous are the works on As­ History of Astrol/omy Durillg The tronomy, that some will Ihink Nilleteellal Celltury - and one of another nol needed" wrole Asa these a mere footnote (Clerke 1889, Smith, apologetically, in the preface pp. 14, 112). to Smith's /IIustrated Astronomy With the spread of public educa­ (1850). tion, technical advances in tele­ If you lacked a star alIas of your scopes and other scientific equip- own, you could use the celestial globe at school, usually paired wilh a terrestrial globe. Should you wish to FIGURE 2. The Barritt-Serviss Siarulld PlalietFinder, a thick cardboard device view the night sky but could not with a volvelle to adjust for every day of the year. "The Heavens without a afford a telescope, you could pur­ telescope" for amateur astronomers. This dates from 1906, but earlier versions chase inexpensive "star-finders," were designed to be used with Burritt's Geography ofthe Heavells (mid-19th heavy cardboard devices with century). volvelles, offered by such publishers as Barritt-Serviss or Whitall (FIG· URE 2). Children of both sexes were introduced 10 astronomy as a pleasant educational activity, and before the explosion of modern light pollution, il was a hobby 10 be enjoyed al little cost. "No elemen­ tary science is so independent of expensive apparatus in schools as astronomy," writes Bowen in the preface to her text (p. 8). In contrast to today's tight school budgets, a grammar school in Highland Park, l11inois, built an observatory for the children's use as late as 1930. Many 19th century American girls were exposed to astronomy at an early age, some to follow it as a career, not a hobby. "I have never forgotten !father'sl calling me to the door in my eighth year and showing me the planet Saturn. My age at this period I calculated many years afterwards from the position of the planet." Thus Maria Mitchell, America's first

16 MEUJI)IAN 15 ~ woman astronomer, recalls her comet? IPoor Caroline Herschel!! earliest encounter with the beauties The Coast Survey is proud of her of the night sky (Howe 1888, pp. connection with it" (Wright 1949, 437-8). She also observed the p.65). eclipse of 1831 with her father, an Elias Loomis devoted a chapter equally memorable experience to "Miss Mitchell's Comet" in his (Wright 1949, p. 2). Recent Progress of Astronomy Born in Nantucket on the first of Especially ill tile United States, and August, 1818, Maria was the third Dr. Joseph Henry of the With herlove of mathematics child in a family of ten. To support Smithsonian sent a congratulatory and astronomy, Maria used his large family, William Mitchell letter with a $100 prize, "gallantly her father's observatory 10 study thenighlsky... turned his hand to many trades awarded to Miss Mitchell" (Wright from teaching, to serving as cashier 1949, p. 65). In 1850 Louis Agassiz of the Pacific Bank on Nantucket, to nominated Maria for membership building a small observatory and in the American Association for the compiling information for the U. S. Advancement of Science, and the Coast Survey (NAW, Vol. II, p. 555). women of America presented her He also rated chronometers for with a five-foot Alvan telescope Nantucket whalers, a job Maria (NAW, Vol. II, p. 555). successfully filled as a young teen, Along with the accolades came a during her father's absence (Wright gold medal from King Frederick IV 1949, pp. 21·2). After studying a year at Cyrus Pierce's school (the first normal FIGURE 3. A Map of/he eclipse ofFeby. 12th ill its passage across Ihe Ullited school in America), Maria returned Slates, a copperplate engraving from The Americall AlmanaCOlld Repository ofUseful to Nantucket and opened a girls' Kllowledge, For the Year 1831. Viewing this eclipse from her home on Nantucket at school (NAW, Vol. II, p. 555). She age 12 made an indelible impression on Maria MitchelL was also employed as the librarian J for the Nantucket Athenaeum • With her love of mathematics ". ,. '.' ~ ---. and astronomy, Maria used her •. , .. T- father's observatory to study the ., ;. "', ' night sky for her own enjoyment. ;" :- " , , On the evening of October 1, 1847, , , .'. she discovered what became known as "Miss Mitchell's Comet" (NAW, Vol. II, p. 55). In spite of controversy over who spotted the comet first (there were several observers in Europe), I • Maria's claim was upheld. She was even championed by British admiral /' and astronomer W. H. Smith who described her as a "young lady, J " ., £". industrious and vigilant, a good , : ..... '­ astronomer and mathematician" . (Wright 1949, p. 64). - Congratulations poured in: Dr. Alexander Bache sent his regards to " the "lady astronomer in whose fame I take personal pride having in some .~ degree helped foster...We congratu­ , late the indefatigable comet-seeker , I.' 'I 1 \ , , on her success; is she not the first - lady who has ever discovered a -- - -

~ I\f.ERlDIAN 15 17 of Denmark, which arrived by mail continued to live at the observatory. on October 5, 1848, nearly a year Her assistants were chosen from after spotting the comet (Wright among her pupils, and it was their 1949, p. 64). duty "... to photograph the sun at Maria continued as librarian at noon every pleasant day, and daily the Athenaeum as well as working as observations are several times taken a "computer," collecting data for the upon temperature, clouds and U. S. Nautical Almanac Office, by rainfall" (Parton 1886, p. 329). Her visit was coverd by the whom she was employed 1849-68 Maria was an inspirational local press, describing Maria (OSB, Vol. IX, p. 421). She also teacher, though somewhat uncon~ as "the most distinguished travelled, first to Chicago to visit the ventional regarding grades, atten­ lady mathematician and astronomer in the United family of Gen. H. K. Swift in 1857. dance, and dress codes. "In class States." Her visit was covered by the local Miss Mitchell is abrupt but kindly, press, describing Maria as "the most expecting and obtaining from each distinguished lady mathematician student the best that she can do. and astronomer in the United With the plodding, modest girl, States." They compared her only possessed of no brilliant qualities, with Britain's Mary Somerville4 but willing to work, she is always (Wright 1949, p. 99). patient...to the superficial and That same year Miss Mitchell conceited she shows little mercy... " traveled to Europe, where she met (Parton 1886, pp. 328-329). the leading scientists of the day But Miss Mitchell had her playful including Mrs. Somerville and Sir side: every year she gave a "Dome She soundsslighlly apolo­ getic; perhaps her frugal George Airy, Astronomer Royal. She Party" for her current and former Yankee background made also met Sir John and Lady Herschel students. Breakfast was served in her feel that hired help was (editor of Caroline's memoires) the observatory dome "upon tables ostentatious. (Howe 1888, p.445). arranged in a circle around the After her mother's death in 1861, walls, a rosebud and a tiny photo­ Maria purchased a house in Lynn, graph of the dome being laid at each Massachusetts for herself and her plate." The meal was followed by father. With his pension of $300 a word games, poetry recitation, and year, and her salary of $500 from her singing; the event was described as work for the Coast Survey, they lived "the unique social event in the comfortably, but "... we were obliged college year" (Parton 1886, pp. 329­ to keep a Ihired] girl, for I, having to 30). support myself by computing, could Mitchell continued to travel; to not do housework" (NAW, Vol. II, p. Burlington, Iowa (1869) and Denver 556). She sounds slightly apologetic; (1878) to observe solar eclipses; and perhaps her frugal Yankee back­ to Europe once again in 1873 (NAW, ground made her feel that hired help Vol. 11, p. 555). While on this journey was ostentatious. she met Otto Wilhelm Struve, Maria Mitchell then received an Director of the Pulkova Observatory offer that was hard to refuse ­ in SI. Petersburg, and his wife. Mme. appointment as Professor of As­ Struve told her that a great many Maria was an inspirational tronomy at the newly organized women in Russia were studying teacher, though somewhat Vassar College. To sweeten the deal, medicine, but not the other sciences unconventional regarding grades, attendance, and dress an observatory with a twelve-inch because they "did not pay." "Nei­ codes. telescope (the third-largest in the ther did medicine pay to women U.s.) would be built for her (NAW, until it was studied by them as a Vol. II, p. 556). Though concerned science. Ways open up when they about uprooting her elderly father, are steadily sought," replied the she accepted after receiving his forthright Miss Mitchell (Howe 1888, assurances he would not mind the p.458). change of scene (Howe 1888, p. 455). "She has always been noted for After her father's death, she her liberal and enlightened opinions

18 IHEllIOIAN 15 ~ upon religious and social affairs..." that Maria Mitchell served as a role and was not afraid of speaking her model to young American women mind (Parton 1886, p. 330). Mitchell of the late 19th century. Her was a member of the Association for reputation as an astronomer, her the Advancement of Women, and gifts as a teacher, were well·known served as president of that organiza­ and provided inspiration not only tion in 1870 (056, Vol. IX, p. 421). to her students at Vassar, but to Mitchell was beloved by her those young ladies able to attend students, many of whom went on to the colleges and universities ._Maria Milch~1Is~rv~d;lSa rol~ carve careers in the sciences; twenty­ opening to them. model to young Am~rinnwomen Ih~ bt~ five former students were to be listed Mitchell's successor at Vassar, of 19th century. in Who's Wllo, including her succes­ Mary Watson Whitney 0847­ sor, Mary Whitney (NAW, Vol. II, p. 1921), born the year of "Miss 556). Honored and respected in her own time (the New England Women's Club of Boston held annual "Maria Mitchell's Day" celebrations FIGURE 4. Portrait of Maria Mitchell at around age 65; from Daugh· for many years), Maria retired in ters ofGenius, a collection ofbiographicaJ sketches by James Parton (1886). 1886 and was named professor emeritus. "Well, if this is dying. there is nothing very unpleasant about it," she said shortly before her death on June 28, 1887 (American Heritage Magazine, Aug., 1967, p. 2n. It is unfortunate that Maria's sisters destroyed many of her papers after her death, deeming them too "per­ sonal." Surviving notebooks and letters are housed in the Maria Mitchell Library in Nantucket (Wright 1949, p. 241). Most portraits of Mitchell show her in late middle or old age (FIG­ URE 4); her strong features contrast oddly with her delicate lace C

~ IUEIUOiAN 15 19 Mitchell's Comet," was a member of comfort not available to her mentor. the class of 1865. Her talents were Annie studied at Wellesley and such that Mitchell urged mathemat­ Radcliffe before joining the staff at ics Professor Benjamin Pierce at the Observatory in 1896. She Harvard to invite Mary to attend his developed the "definitive Harvard class. He was happy to do so but system of spectral classification," was obliged to personally escort her discovering along the way 300 to class, Harvard being closed to variable stars. She became one of the "I hope when I gel 10 Heaven women in 1869 (NAW, Vol. 3, p. first women to receive a Harvard I shall not find the women 603). Corporation appointment (as playings«ond fiddle." Upon her appointment as As­ William Cranch Bond Astronomer in tronomy Professor at Vassar, Miss 1938). Her work on the Draper Whitney also served as a mentor to Catalog and the Draper Extension her girls: "As a result of [her photo­ assures her a place in the history of graphic studies] program, students modern astronomy (OSB, Vol. Ill, pp. trained at Vassar were soon in 49-50). demand in the leading observatories Like Maria Mitchell, Annie in America" (NAW, Vol. 3, p. 603). Cannon's love of astronomy started Mary Watson Whitney also left a early in life. While Maria was memorable death-bed farewell. "I inspired by her father, Annie was hope when I get to Heaven I shall influenced by her mother, who had not find the women playing second taken an astronomy class as a girl. fiddle" (NAW, Vol. 3, p. 603). Had Mrs. Cannon read Olmstead's Other women of Whitney's book as a youngster? Or studied generation chose careers in as­ from Burritt's star atlas? She developed Ihe "definitive tronomy, some with unlikely back­ As Mitchell gave her annual Harvard system ofspectral dassification:' discovering grounds. One was Williamina Paton "Dome Party," Miss Cannon spon­ along the way300 variable Fleming 0857-1911), who emigrated sored Easter egg hunts at her home, stars. from Scotland as a newlywed in Star Cottage, for the children of 1878. Abandoned by her husband neighbors and friends. And when and left with an infant son to sup­ she received a substantial prize for port, Mrs. Fleming worked as a her work, she used it to establish the domestic in the home of Edward C. Annie J. Cannon Prize for women Pickering, head of the Harvard astronomers. Miss Cannon stipu­ College Observatory (DSB, Vol. V, p. lated the prize take the form of a 33). brooch, which one could wear daily In 1881 she began working at the rather than a medal, good only for Observatory as a copyist and "com­ display (NAW, Vol. I, p. 283). puter." But through her "studies of This brief overview touches on the objective prism spectrum the lives of but a few of the women plates...Mrs. Fleming became the who have made contributions to leading woman astronomer of her astronomy. Their names may not day," discovering more than ten appear on stellar charts, but their novae. She classified 10,351 stars for discoveries, pioneer work in observa­ Miss Cannon sponsored the Draper Catalog. "Like Maria tion, in "computing," and stellar and Easter egg hunts al her home, Mitchell before her, she was during planetary photography helped build Star Cottage, for the children ofneighbors and friends. her lifetime the most famous woman our ever-expanding picture of the astronomer in America" (NAW, Vol. universe. From a struggling single II, p. 629). Her methods were later mother, to a one-time seamstress and refined by one of the young women concert performer, to a Yankee she supervised at the Observatory, librarian, the lives of Williamina Annie Jump Cannon (DSB, Vol. V, Fleming, Caroline Herschel and pp. 33-34). Maria Mitchell can still provide In contrast, Annie Cannon came inspiration for a new generation of from a background of privilege and women scientists.

20 /IIEIUDlAN 15 ~ NOTES Dictionary of Scientific Biography, S.v. Cannon, Annie Jump; Aeming.. W. 1. The author has not examined this edition Paton; de Fontcnelle, Bernard; Herschel, and cannot say whether it is also a Caroline; Heve1ius, Johannes; Mitchell, translation, or if Harris was simply Maria. inspired by de Fontenelle. Duffy, Maur('('n, 1979. The Passionate ShepherdesslAphra Behn 1640-89, NY, 2. Among the letters received were those Avon Books and Discus. from Astronomer Royal Nevil Dreyer, J.LE., 1890. Tycho Brahe A Maskelyne, who referred to her as NMy Picture Of Scientific Life And Work In

worthy sister in astronomy, W .lnd from The Sixteenth Century. Edinburgh, Sir Joseph Banks who thanks Caroline Adam and Ch,'Irles Black. "for advancing the science you cultivate Durant, Will and Ariel, 1963. The Age of with so much SUC«'SS.N In July of 1790 Louis XIV... NY, Simon and Schuster. French astronomer Joseph Jerome Lc Encyclopedia Britannica, 11th ed., s...,. Francais Dc La L.lnde sent a letter Cunitz, Maria; Mitchell, Maria; addressed to "Mile Caroline Herschel, Somerville, Mary.

Astronome Celebre, Slough. N He salutl-d Ide Fontenctlcl Bchn, Aphra, cd. & her as "Ma CherI.' Et SavantI.' CommereN translator, 1688. A Discourse Of New (Herschel 1879, pp. 87-90l. Worlds. From the French Made English By Mrs. A. Bchn... London, William 3. Maria's s.llary at the Nantucket Ath­ Canning. enaeum was $60 her first year, raised to Ide Fontenellel G.udiner, William, 1715. $75 her s('('()nd year. She received Con..,efs.ltions On the Plurality Of another increase in her third year to $100 Worlds. By Monsieur Fontenelle. per annum; it remained at this level for Translated from the Last Paris Edition the rest of her 2O-year tenure at the Wherein arc many Improvements Athenaeum. throughout... London. Friedman, Anna ~Iicity, 1997. Awestruck 4. Daughter of Vice-Admiral Sir William by the majesty of the heavens (exhibi­ Fairfax ilnd his second wife, Mary tion catalog). Chicago, Adler Plan­ Somen'iIIe was born in 1780. Encour­ etarium. aged in her intellectual pursuits by her CadI.', John Allync, 1947. The Life and father and two successive husbands, she Times of Tycho Brahe. NY, Princeton made her name through a reworking of University Press. Laplace's NLc Mccanique Celeste.N This Herschel, Mrs. John, 1879. Mcmoires and she did for the Society for the Diffusion Correspondence of Caroline Herschel... of Useful Knowledge (1831), Nwhich London, John Murray. raist.-d her at once to the first rank among Howe, Julia Ward, 1888. Our Famous scientific writersN

~ 1'I1E:IUOIAN 15 21 THE MAP AND GEOGRAPHY ROUND TABLE OF THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION presents...

Circulars

No. 1 Cartographic Citations: A Style Guide 1992 $10 ISBN 0-8389-7821-5 No.2 Index to the Library of Congress "GOO Schedule: A Map and Atlas Classification Aid 1996 $25 ISBN 0-8389-7821-5

Occasional Paper Series No.1 Exploration and Mapping of' the American West, Selected Essays 1986 $20 ISBN 0-932757-01-4

No.2 A Guide to Historical Map Resources for Greater New York 1988 $15 ISBN 0-932757-02-2

No.3 Mapping the TransMisslssippi West, 1540-1861: An Index to the Cartobibllography 1992 $35 ISBN 0-932757-03

No.4 The Mapping of National Parks 1993 $40 ISBN 0-932757-04-9

Available from: Jim Coombs Maps Library Southwest Missouri State University 901 S. National, Box 175 Springfield, MO 65804-0095 (417) 836-4534

22 l\IERlDJADI 15 ~ Millie the Mapper and Beyond: The Role of Women in Cartography Since World War II

Judith Tyner, Geography Professor, California State University, Long Beach

December ]7, 1941, President Forest Service, Soil Conservation Roosevelt signed a bill providing for Service and the Tennessee Valley an additional appropriation to the Authority would be assigned funds Army for the national defense effort. as subcontractors to produce maps This bill included funds for expedit­ for areas that would be assigned. In ing the completion of needed map­ order to provide the 1,000 to 2,000 ping in areas that the army desig­ personnel, the Committee hoped nated as strategic. that engineering schools would Even before the U.S. entered "The agencies concerned will establish recommended courses World War II, it was recogni:ted that ourmaps were inadequate. need a large increase in personnel. preferably for engineering juniors This is estimated at from 1,000 to and seniors as well as for liberal arts 2,000 additional employees during students. The five recommended the next year. The men needed courses were topographic map should, of course, be young and able­ drafting, two courses on use of bodied, and should preferably have a surveying instruments and survey· scientific background and have ing field procedure, planetable completed a short course especially topography, and photogrammetry. directed toward this work." I [italics Completion of any of these courses mine] would permit a student to qualify A funny thing happened on the for the Federal Civil Service exami­ way to the war. nation and earn $1,440 to $1,620 per year. The Birth of Millie the From January 1, 1942 to April 15, Mapper 1942, 99 proposed courses related to Even before the United States topographic mapping were ap­ entered WWlI, it was recognized proved by 57 institutions in 30 that our maps were inadequate--out states. There were two surprises. of date, insufficient coverage, and H.A. Sawchuck of the Civil Service scattered in many collections. After Commission read a report of the ...to provide the needed December 7, 1941 there was an Committee on Education and personnel, it was hoped that engineering schools would urgent need to correct the inadequa· Training for War Mapping in which establish recommended cies and major training programs he commented, "An interesting courses... were initiated. The open letter to the feature is the growing tendency to fledgling Congress on Surveying and enroll female students in these Mapping from the Committee on courses. Some of the Federal Education and Training for Defense agencies concerryed have indicated Mapping detailed the plans. The a preference for female eligibles for Army Corps of Engineers would certain types of work such as receive the money and USGS, the drafting, computing, and photo·

~ MEIUDIAN 15 23 grammetric work." 2 graphic, or photogrammetric drafts­ At the American Congress on man), the lowest level, to Chief Surveying and Mapping annual Engineering Draftsman, the highest meeting in June 1943, Douglas of the subprofessional grades. The Trowbridge, a professor of Civil reason for the large numbers of Engineering at New York University, women enrolled in training courses noted that in his course on topo· for these positions is usually as­ graphic mapping "24 students, sumed to be the lack of available The role of Millie the Mapper mostly girls, completed our course men. Although this was certainly a and the emergence of last summer and 16 of them obtained factor (one instructor lamented that cartognphy as a discipline are closely intertwined. positions in the office of the U.s. the draft board took some of his Coast and Geodetic Survey in New students before the end of the course York City.") In fact, during the and that few men applied for work course of this program, the training after the courses because they were courses in cartography and topo­ drafted), but probably a major graphic drafting had a larger pro­ reason was that salaries were good portion of women than men. Even and there were not many positions though photogrammetry had a for women that paid as well. mathematics prerequisite, about The Tennessee Valley Authority one-fourth of the students were was a major employer of women. women. Millie the Mapper was Beginning in March of 1942, the born. Maps and Surveys Division of the The second surprise was that TVA began employing and training although the 14 member Committee women for work as draftsmen, on Education for Defense Mapping computers, cartographers, and The reason for the large numbers ofwomen enrolled consisted entirely of professors of photogrammetrists. By early 1944, in training courses for these civil engineering or surveying, some 230 women had been employed, of positions is usually assumed of the departments involved in whom 185 were college women, to be the lack of available training cartographers were geogra­ mostly graduates. Fifteen women men. phy departments, and many of those held professional positions. Al­ involved in mapping at other though in that two year period, 57 government agencies, such as the women left, only five left because 055, were geographers, not civil they couldn't handle the job.~ engineers.4 Geographic cartography One might also assume that the rapidly became, as John Wolter women were taking such jobs only described it, "an emerging disci­ "for the duration," but examining the pline."5 The role of Millie the rosters of the American Congress on Mapper and the emergence of Surveying and Mapping belies that cartography as a discipline are assumption. The first meeting of the closely intertwined. Congress was in June 1941, and all 163 founding members were male, Women in Cartography in but by April of 1942, the Congress WWII had grown to over 400 and four By the end of WWII, thousands of women had joined.7 One of those ...by ApnTof1942, the women had been involved in carto­ was Elizabeth Platt of the American Congress had grown to over graphic activities at all levels. The Geographical Society, and another 400, and four women had was Miss Laurie Newsome, a topo­ joined. main areas were drafting, geo­ graphic research, libraries, and graphic engineer with USGS. Each training in cartography and map list of new members, especially in reading. 1944, added a few more women's The majority of women were names, including Clara Le Gear of employed by the government at the Library of Congress and six "sub-professional" levels as drafters, assistant engineering draftsmen with titles such as Jr. Engineering ("Engineering Draftsman" was the Draftsman (or cartographic, topo- official designation listed for both

24 MERIDIAN 15 ~ men and women) from the TVA. By University of Chicago for many the end of the war, 24 women were years, was involved in the Carto­ members of ACSM, most of whom graphic Institute at the University were drafters. It would seem these of Chicago from 1942-43 training women would not join a professional cartographers. She also served as organization unless they had career the Educational Director of the intentions. Army Map Service Corps of Engi­ Not all women were employed in neers.lI sub-professional fields. During the Map librarians played an Women withcartographic$kill$ important role. They were engaged wet(' urg('(i toapply fordvil war, more than 200 professional $ervice po$itiol\$. geographers were called to Washing­ in the collection and distribution of ton by the federal government, and maps for the war effort. Not only many of these were women. Some was the need for new maps urgent, were employed in higher level the War Department was desper­ cartographic positions, not simply as ately seeking older maps, city plans, drafters; others were researchers port plans, gazetteers, guide books, who provided the data to be geography journals, and place name mapped. The Office of Strategic lexicons for all places outside of the Services, whose cartographic divi­ US and Canada as reference materi­ sion was headed by Arthur als for intelligence work and for Robinson, employed professional creating new maps. They especially women geographers for research wanted materials published in the work and also for photogrammetry.· previous ten years. Through By 1943, the Civil Service Com­ requests in the BI/fletin of tile ACSM mission reported that the need for and other relevant journals, the public was asked to donate or loan Map libruial\$_.wl."t('l."ngaged geographers in general was not as in thecollection and di$tribution critical as for other fields, but the the material for the duration or of map$ for the war effort. demand exceeded the supply in until it could be reproduced. Maps cartography. Women with carto­ were to be mailed to Miss Viohla graphic skills were urged to apply Klipell, Head of the New York for civil service positions." How­ Library Branch, Army Map Ser­ ever, the number of women em­ vice. '2 The New York Public ployed as professiol/al cartographers Library became the major source, by the government was small. There and next door at Rockefeller Center were two at the US Co..,st and was the Geography Section of the Geodetic Survey and a few at USGS; War Department's New York Office Evelyn Pruitt was listed in the 1946 of Military Intelligence, which was roster of the Congress on Surveying the major user of the maps.I.' and Mapping as a cartographer at Notable female map librarians the Coast and Geodetic Survey. The during this period were Clara Le TVA employed ten women as Gear, the Assistant Chief of the photogrammetrists. Division of Maps of the Library of The military also recruited Congress, and Dorothy Lewis who women trained in geography for served as Map Librarian for the cartographic work. The Navy Department of State. The Navy offef('(j $pecial training incartography to offered special training in cartogra­ Women were also employed at WAVEofficel'S. phy to WAVE officers. While they the professional level in state preferred women with college agencies and began to participate in majors in geology or geography, professional organizations (al­ those with backgrounds in science, though not in great numbers). art, or architecture, were also Elisabelh M. Herlihy, Chair of the employed in cartographic work-Ill Massachusetts State Planning Not all women were directly BOard, made an impact by present­ employed by government agencies. ing a paper at the 1944 meeting of Edith Parker, on the faculty at the the ACSM. The report on the

~ MERIDIAN 15 25 meetings stated: ranted by tile relatively brief space Miss Elisabeth M. Herlihy, the first during which tile average girl works woman to appear on a Congress between tile end of her school days and program, glamorized surveying and the beginning of married life. Tllere are mapping. She covered a brood field of some successful women engineers w/l(l state planning and pointed (lut specific have made this work tlleir life careers. cases with respect to the importance of Tllis group will undoubtedly increase in surveying and mapping information. the future, but probably will not He lamented that the S/Ie wall tile aftention and hearty amount to a very large proportion of immediate use of women in applause of all tllose present, and even the professional surveyors and map surveying and mapping had been "greatly impeded by a tlie "liard boiled" ellgilleers and makers. I? tenden,y... not to en,ourage surveyors were made to realize tlmt Of course, we must remember women to take ,ourses in woman's place transcends the bound­ that Quinn was writing over fifty sden,e, mathematks, and aries of the lJome.l~ years ago when it was uncommon me,haninl drawing." Although somewhat paternalis­ for women to combine marriage and tic, the reviewer clearly was im­ a career, and cartography was pressed, and Miss Herlihy's paper taught in engineering departments. was published as an article in the The rise in cartography training in Bul/etin in January of 1945. 15 geography departments occurred in the 19505, and certainly he did not When Johnny Came Marching foresee the great social changes that Home would occur in the second half of the By 1944, the numbers of women century. in the field had made an impacl, and Nol everyone shared Quinn's opinion Ihat women's numbers By 1948 the outlook as post-war possibilities were being expressed by the Women's considered. A. O. Quinn of the TVA, would be few. Hubert A. Bauer, in a Bureau of the U.S. Depart­ a major employer of women carto­ 1945 vocational and professional ment of Labor was even more graphic drafters, published an article monograph on cartography noted positive. in the ACSM Bulletin on "Women in that "with several years of excellent Surveying and Mapping:'l~ In his work to their credit, women's place article, he reviewed women's train­ in cartography appears to be estab­ ing, employment problems, and the lished. In fact, there are several post-war probabilities. He lamented phases of cartographic work for thai the immediate use of women in which women seem particularly well surveying and mapping had been fit. This is true for government and "greatly impeded by a tendency on private employment alike."18 By the part of colleges not to encourage 1948, the outlook as expressed by the women 10 take courses in science, Women's Bureau of the US Depart­ mathematics, and mechanical ment of Labor was even more drawing," so that employers had to positive. Although this bulleti. provide training courses. However, pointed out that women who were the wmtime experiences were interested in specializing in cartog­ changing the outlook of colleges, and raphy needed background in math Mr. Quinn expected that there would and civil engineering as well as What a,tually happened be more and better qualified women. photogrammetry and that few when Johnny came marching universities had the costly equip­ home? Did women give up In his post-war probabilities he cartography? noted that it was clear that women ment, they felt that instruction in could succeed in such work but cartography was advancing rapidly doubted that large numbers of and that with increased numbers of women would be trained and map collections, there might be working as engineers after the war. opportunities for a few additional The call of the }l(lme will still be women 10 serve as map librarians. with us, and tlte investment of time and What actually happened when eff(lrt involved ill a complete engineer­ Johnny came marching home? Did ing education is greater than is war- women give up cartography and go \

26 IU[IUOIAN 15 ~ home? Some certainly did, but demic subject in geography depart­ women's role in cartography has ments. Young men who had been been increasing since WWII and not employed as geographers and just in the sulrprofessional positions. cartographers during WWII and A few numbers support this. In Korea, notably Arthur Robinson, November of 1946 there were 110 George Jenks, and John Sherman, women members of the American began teaching and changed the Society of Professional Geographers, face of cartography. Increasing 20% of whom expressed an interest numbers of geography departments D~tnnintd not to bt (;ilug.ht short agooin. tht Army M.Ilp in cartography. The ACSM listed 20 offered courses in cartography and Strvkt instituted an applied women in its 1948 roster, the Asso­ photogrammetry, and young urtogr.llphy training progr.llm in ciation of American Geographers womt'n as wt'll as mt'n enrolled. As 1951. made a preliminary list in 1952 of the discipline emt'rged, it slowly AAG members with a special became acceptable to write a thesis interest in cartography; 252 mem­ or dissertation on technical subjects. bers responded, 40 of whom were The earliest American cartographic women. dissertation was Arthur Robinson's What were these women doing? FOUlidatimls of Cartographic Method­ The ACSM members didn't list their ology at Ohio State in 1947. positions, bul the majority had Robinson, Sherman, Jenks, Norman Washington, D.C. addresses which Thrower, and Richard Dahlberg. all would indicate government employ­ were early mentors to women ment. Others, especially the AAG graduate students in cartography. and American Society of Profes­ There was a lag between the first sional Geographers members, were dissertations by men and those by Robinson,. Shennan,.Jtnks, teachers, map librarians, editors, and women; several women wrote Thrower, and Dahlbtrg.. all Wtrt researchers. masters theses in the early 1960s, tarly menlors to women Frances Hanson is a notable and in 1966 Mei-Ling Hsu wrote the gnoduate students in urtogra­ phy. example of the immediate post-war first true cartography dissertation period. Determined not to be caught by a woman.l~ The 19705 and early short again, the Army Map Service 80s brought a burst of activity for instituted an applied cartography both men and women with 42 training program in 1951. Frances cartography dissertations between Hanson, who received her Ph.D. 1969 and 1982, 11 of which were by from Pittsburgh in 1948, was se­ women.211 Those women were the lected to be program director. She first cadre of female cartography not only directed the program for 25 professors and were also instrumen­ colleges and universities, but also tal in professional organizations: developed the visual and textual Judy Olson, president of AAG; Trish materials used in the program. Caldwell, president of ACSM. Others assumed executive positions in private industry, notably Barbara Women and the Emergence of Bartz Petchenik at Donnelly and Academic Cartography Sons. By the 1950's major changes were Numbers have gone up overall Those women we~ Ihe first udrt of female cutography proftsSors. taking place in academic cartogra­ as well. By 1987 out of 813 mem­ phy for both women and men. bers of the American Cartographic Before WWII it was unusual for Association (a division of ACSM), women to teach cartography because 127 or about 16% were women. the cou.rses were offered in schools of 34% of these were academics, 23% engineering where women were not were federal employees, 33% in encouraged to apply as students or private industry, and 10% in state faculty. However, after the war agencies. • geographic cartography emerged, The Cartography Specialty and cartography became an aca- Group of the AAG currently lists

~ MERIDIAN 15 27 over 500 members, 153 of whom are 7. Membership Rosters of the American women, and the North American Congress on Surveying and Mapping. Cartographic Information Society 8. Department of L'l.oor, Women's Bureau. (NACIS) in 1995 listed 126 women Tile Outlook for Womw ill Geology, members or 33 percent of the mem­ Geographyalld Me/eorology, Bulletin No, bership, 223-7, 1948. It is the period since WWlI that has seen the greatest rise in the 9. "Geography Study on Increase," Education for Victory, February 15, 1943. number of women involved in cartography and from "invisible" 10. Outlook {or Women positions to highly visible, 11. Elaine F. Bosowski and Deborah Pasquariello, "Forgotten Pionccr of Geographic Education: Edith Putnam Parker, 1886-1961," unpublished paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the NOTES AAG, March 1995.

1. "Education and Training for Defense 12. ACSM Bulletin, 1943 Mapping. An Open Letter from the Committee on Education and Training 13. Alice C. I-Iudson, ''The Library's Map for Defense Mapping," Blilletill of the Division Goes to War," BibliolJ, v3 #2, Natio7lal Cougress all Surveying and 1995, pp_ 126-147 and Bulle/in SLA Mapping (Now American Congress on Geogrnphy & Map Division, No. 182, Surveying and Mapping). Spring 1996, pp. 2-25.

2. I-I.A. Sawchuck, ''Training for War 14. ACSM Bulle/in, July 1944, pp. 5-6. Mapping Report," Bulle/in of the NatiOllal COllgress au Surveyillg alJd Mappillg, 1942, 15. ACSM Bulletin, January 1945, pp. 38-44. p.7. 16, Quinn, "Women in Survl.!ying and 3. Douglas Trowbridge, "War Training Mapping," pp. 37-40. Program," presented at Annual Meeting, June 5, 1943, Billie/iII of th.. National 17. Quinn, "Women in Surveying and Collgress on Surveyillg alld Mappillg, 1943, Mnpping," p. 40, pp.13-15. 18. Hubert A. &lUer, Cartography (Map 4. Chauncy D. Harris, "Geographers in the Making), Boston: Bcllmnn Publishing Co., United States Government in Washing­ Inc., 1945, 31 pp. (Vocational and ton, DC, during World War II," Profes­ professional monograph No. 60) sional Geographer, vol 49. #2, May 1997, pp. 245-256. 19. Clyde E. Browning. A Bibliograpllyof Dissertations in Geography: 1901-1969, 5. John Wolter, Tire Emerging Discipline of University of North Carolina at Chapel Cartograplly, Dissertation, University of Hill, Department of Geography, Studies Minnesota, 1975. in Geogrnphy No.1, 1970.

6. A.n Quinn, "Women in Surveying and 20. Clyde E. Browning. A Bibliography of Mapping," Bulletin oftlreAml!rican COllgre,% Dissertations in Geograplly: 1969-1982, on Surveying and Mapping, April 1944, pp. University of North Carolina nt Chapel 37-40. Hill, Department of Geography, Studil.!s in Geography, No. 18, 1983.

28 I\-IEJUDIAN 15 ~ Research Note: Women in Cartography

Alice Hudson, Chief Map Division New York Public Library

20 years ago a little research project was initiated, and in the New York Public Library. In addition which ended up being a long-term, if not lifetime, to just looking carefully at every old map that project-and that is, researching the names of passes through our hands in our home situation, women who worked the field of mapmaking we also see maps at map fairs, in dealers' inven­ prior to the 20th century. tories, and in the many antiquarian catalogs. So we spend time watching and waiting for new Penny Barckley, formerly map librarian at SUNY names, and for new maps and atlases, to link to Farmingdale, and the late Maud Cole, formerly names already on hand. Curator of Rare Books, Center for the Humani· ties, N.Y.P.L., were the instigators of this project Perhaps the most valuable tools we have now are in 1977. Penny worked with me on this for friends and associates in cartography who supply several years before her retirement. I then us with names which they have come across. continued to plug away, in off hours, away from Following is the most recent example of profes­ my job as head of the Map Division, N.Y.P.L. In sional courtesy and generosity, and a model for more recent years, Mary McMichael Ritzlin, map all of you out there! dealer from Highland Park, IL, who had also independentlybeen working on women in Jane Renwick's manuscript maps are found in the cartography, joined with me to continue the American Geographical Society library in Mil­ work. waukee, at the University of Wisconsin. Christo­ pher Baruth kindly sent along quick copies of her We go along with Ronald Vere Tooley, who maps for review. The maps are fairly large mentioned in his Dictio"ary of Mapmakers that manuscript maps of Connecticut and Maine. "There is scarcely any biographical information on the greater number of the names The map of Connecticut is based on an earlier recorded...One of the main aims of this work was published map, perhaps from a school atlas, and to place a name within a given period, where is signed "Jane Renwick, June 17, 1813." It is a possible with the dates of birth or death or, typical early 19th century classroom exercise, alternately, the dates of the first and last surprising to us today for its accuracy and skill. publication...Unfortunately, a high percentage are These classroom maps are found in public and known from only a single entry." This remains private map collections across the U.s., and are very true today for our work in finding women in prized for their rarity, and often, for their beauty. cartography. However, the young girls who created them were not professional mapmakers by any means. At present, our approach is almost passive­ This sort of mapmaking was commonly pro­ aggressive! We both are fortunate to revel in the duced by students in girls' schools, most notably maps that cross our paths daily, in the George Emma Willard's school. Miss Willard is a noted Ritzlin Maps & Prints shop, in Highland Park, IL, producer of 19th century school atlases.

~ IUEJUDIAN 15 29 Who was Jane Renwick? She was a 12-year-old 19th century Philadelphia apprenticed under her. student when she drew the Connecticut map. Recently her logbooks describing transactions in The map of Maine is dated 1836? and may have her map coloring business have been discovered been drawn later in life. Her brother James was by a graduate student working in Philadelphia. It involved as a commissioner, in 1840, in the is hoped an examination of these materials will settlement of the boundary between Maine and enhance our awareness of the day-to-day opera­ New Brunswick, Canada, but this map seems not tions of this busy printer's operation. Leona to be related to that project, as Northern Maine is Hudak in her classic study, "Early American omitted. Women Printers and Publishers, 1639-1820," proVides much of the biographical information Because these are maps created for school we have on Lydia but makes no mention of these projects, technically, she does not fall within the recently discovered materials. framework of our research project, but at the same time, these maps are quite skillful produc­ Mary Ritzlin and I are continuing to gather names tions. These manuscript school maps are often but are also now working to polish off the data­ seen in dealers' catalogs and need to be familiar base as it stands and publish it within a year or as a type. two. We are not academics with tenure pres­ sures, but time does press on, and issues like Jane's family connections are of great interest. retirement loom, inspiring us to get these names Her map of Connecticut is signed "Jane Renwick, in print for others to then take, research and fly June 17th, 1813." Because of a flourish at the end with- revealing ever more of the long and of her signature, it has been misspelled complicated history of women and maps. "Renwicke," which is incorrect. Within the cartouche is a later handwritten note which states The generosity of folks such as Phil Hoehn, "She was wife of Chas. Wilkes." The map has a Deborah Warner, Patrick Dempsey, and on and plate glued in the lower right corner with the on... make this work ever so much more satisfy. following message, partially in manuscript: ing and complete. We very much appreciate the "Am. Geographical & Statistical SOCiety. From generosity of fellow map folk as we plug away at the Heirs of Prof. Renwick Donation 5 May this directory. If, indeed, like the folks at A.G.S., 1868.404" and the date fl813?] is handwritten in you run into names of pre-twentieth century the lower right hand corner of the sheet. women in cartography: publishers, printers, cartographers, colorists, mapsellers, etc., etc., She was born June 3, 1801 and was the daughter please do contact us at the addresses below: of William Renwick, a New York City business­ man, and his wife, Jane Jeffrey Renwick, daugh­ Mary Ritzlin ter of a Presbyterian clergyman. Jane's brother George Ritzlin Maps & Prints was James Renwick, noted engineer and profes· 473 Roger Williams Avenue sor at Columbia University, and she was the aunt Highland Park, IL 60035 of James Renwick, architect of St. Patrick's 847-433-2627 1847-433-A-MAPI Cathedral, New York City. One of nine children, 847-433-6389 fax Jane was probably born in Scotland and came to the United States with her parents. She was a Alice Hudson member of a well educated and socially promi­ Map Division, N.Y.P.L. nent family. Jane later married Charles Wilkes, 5th Avenue & 42nd Street or Commander Wilkes, of the famous United New York, N.Y. 10018-2788 States Exploring Expedition. 212-930-0589 212-930-0027 fax Another woman involved in cartography was [email protected] Lydia R. Bailey, the City Printer for Philadelphia, from ca. 1830-1850. Some 40 master printers in

30 MERIDIAN 15 ~ Tribute to Helen Margaret Wallis, 1924-1995

NormanJ.W. Thrower, Emeritus Professor of Geography, University of California, Los Angeles

Helen Wallis, who only rarely used her Honorary Fellowship from the International middle name or initial, was a remarkable Cartographic Association, 1991. On receiv­ person. She had a number of firsts to her ing the International Map Collector's Soci­ credit including first woman Superinten­ ety R.V. Tooley award in 1986, she was dent of the Map Room of the British Mu­ presented with a bound copy of a bibliogra­ seum, 1967, and on the creation of the phy of her writings. British Library, first Map Librarian, 1973­ 1986. She joined the Map Room in 19S1. The publications of Helen Wallis are numer­ after receiving her B.A. in Geography from ous and distinguished, and those up to her Oxford University, as Assistant Keeper II retirement are recorded in The Map Collector, under R.A. Skelton whom she eventually 40, 1987,30-38. They begin with an article, succeeded. "The First English Globe: A Recent Discov­ ery," Geographical Journal, 117:275-290, 1951. Whilst working at the British Museum, Globes were a continuing research interest Helen completed her D. Phil (Oxon) writing of Dr. Wallis as was geographical discovery, on the Exploration of the South Sea, 1519-1644 the subject of her dissertation as noted and was promoted Assistant Keeper I in above. Her first book was Carteret's Voyage 1954. During her early years at the British Round the World, 1766-1769 (two volumes) Museum, Helen's travels were limited, but 1965, published by the Hakluyt Society of later she journeyed extensively, especially to which she was a long time member and conferences and to give lectures in many officer. A work of which she was justly parts of the world. After her retirement in proud was The Maps and Text of the Bake of 1987, she was able to take up longer-term Idrography Presented by Jean Rotz to Henry overseas appointments. It was on one of VIll now in the British Library, Oxford: The these. as first Mitchell [LibraryI Scholar in Roxburghe Club, 1981. Commissioned by Residence in Sydney, Australia in 1994 that Viscount Eccles, this book gave rise to a her health, already poor at this time, dete­ number of publications detailing her ideas riorated. Helen died early the next year in on Java-la-Grande (Australia?). Arguably, England. She was never married. her most important of several joint publica­ tions is Cartographic Innovations: An Interna­ The recipient of many honors, Helen Wallis tional Handbook of Mapping Terms to 1900 valued especially the Order of the British (with Arthur H. Robinson) for the Interna­ Empire (OBE) announced in the Queen's tional Cartographic Association, 1987. Birthday Honours, 1986. There were also honors from France and the United States, In addition to her larger works are journal and she was the first woman awarded an articles, chapters in books by others, re-

~ MEIUDIAN 14 31 views, obituaries, and so forth. A special Helen Wallis was an accomplished pianist feature of her publications (with colleagues) and a devotee of the theater. She was are catalogs of British Museum/British optimistic, friendly, and democratic, feeling Library commemorative exhibitions includ­ particularly at home in the United States ing The American War of Independence (975); and Australia. In all activities such as orga­ Sir Francis Drake (977); and Sir Walter nizing conferences and the day-to-day Raleigh (985). Because these exhibitions routine of librarianship, she went the sec­ were seen by many visitors in the British ond mile. Helen Wallis was a lady of great Museum and at international venues where faith, and when this reviewer telephoned they traveled, they were particularly influ­ her only a few days before her death from ential. cancer, she remarked that she was ready to go, having had a good life.

1998 Ristow Prize Winners

Each year the Washington Map Society (WMS) awards the Ristow Prize for cartographic history and map librarianship in honor of Walter W. Ristow, one of the nation's premier map librarians and cartographic authors. Dr. Ristow was for many years head of the Geog­ raphy and Map Division at the Library of Congress and was founding president of the Soci­ ety.

The first place winner for 1998 is Ken Mitchell, a graduate student in the History Depart­ ment at the University of Minnesota. His prize winning paper is entitled "Juan de la Cruz Cano y Olmedilla's Mapa Geografico de America Meridional." Mr. Mitchell's winning en­ try will be published in The ]'(lrt(1lnll, the journal of the WMS. He received a cash award of $500 and membership in the WMS for the coming year.

This year the \tVMS received a number of excellent papers. Three individuals submitted papers that were judged to be worthy of Honorable Mention, and the papers will be pub­ lished in future issues af The Partalnll. Lucy Chester, a graduate student in the PhD program of the Department of Ilistory at Yale University, submitted a paper entitled "Mapping im­ perial Expansion: Colonial Cartography in North America and South Asia." Lisa Davis­ Allen, a doctoral candidate in the history program at the University of Texas at Arlington, submitted a paper entitled "The Nationall'alette: Painting and Map-Coloring in the Seven­ teenth Century Dutch Republic." Jennifer Turnham, a doctoral candidate in history at the University of Minnesota, submitted a paper entitled "Mapping: the New World: Nicolas Sanson's 'Amerique Septentrionale' and French Cartography in the Seventeenth Century." These individuals will receive a membership in the \tVashing:ton Map Society for the coming year.

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