 SECRETS UNCOVERED ARTISTRY IN ARCHITECTURE Finding out about Muriel Spark The genius of Robert Adam on display FREE 

The magazine of the National Library of Scotland www.nls.uk Issue 32 Summer 2016

Are we there yet? Our new exhibition will steer you through your place in the world

WELCOME

 SECRETS UNCOVERED ARTISTRY IN ARCHITECTURE Finding out about Muriel Spark The genius of Robert Adam on display FREE  has been home to the Library since the

The magazine of the National Library of Scotland www.nls.uk Issue 32 Summer 2016 17th century. Now, for the first time, riches from the national collection will be on show in Glasgow

Are we Mapping our there yet? Our new exhibition will steer you through your place in the world past and future

DISCOVER This summer is a very special one for the National Library of ISSUE 32 SUMMER 2016 Scotland because it marks the final stage of preparations to CONTACT US open our brand new premises in Glasgow within the iconic We welcome all comments, Kelvin Hall building. This provides a new home for our Moving questions, submissions and subscription enquiries. Please Image Archive as well as giving people in Glasgow and the west write to us at the National Library of Scotland access to extensive digital resources including our of Scotland address below or email [email protected] rapidly growing electronic legal collections. It has been a massive endeavour to make this wealth of FOR THE NATIONAL LIBRARY material available in Glasgow for the first time, and in this EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Alexandra Miller issue of Discover we take a tour behind the scenes before the doors open in September. EDITORIAL ADVISER The Library’s map collection is one of the biggest in the Willis Pickard world, and this summer we have a new exhibition, You are Contributors: Bryan Christie, Here, which provides a journey through some of the most Richard Goslan, Nigel Donaldson magnificent maps ever produced. It includes the first map PUBLISHED BY printed of Scotland from 1560, through to the online era of Connect Publications Google Earth. We have also now launched technology that www.connectmedia.cc allows you to bring historic maps to life with an innovative EDITOR 3D viewer. Lauren Campbell Besides that, we are marking the Year of Innovation, [email protected] Architecture and Design 2016 by exploring the work and DESIGN legacy of Robert Adam, one of Scotland’s most celebrated Renny Hutchison [email protected] architects, and we have a fascinating feature revealing the secrets being unearthed from 274 boxes of material belonging to ADVERTISING Dame Muriel Spark, the largest modern literary archive we hold. Alison Fraser [email protected] As always, we’re on a journey of discovery, and I look forward to bringing you along with us. ISSN 1751-5998 (print) ISSN 1751 6005 (online)

NATIONAL LIBRARY OF SCOTLAND George IV Bridge, Edinburgh EH1 1EW TELEPHONE 0131 623 3700 FAX 0131 623 3701 Dr John Scally, EMAIL [email protected] National Librarian The National Library of Scotland is a registered Scottish charity. Scottish Charity No. SC011086 www.nls.uk

FIND US ONLINE THE THE ANSWER IS www.nls.uk CLUES IN OUR ARCHIVES Using the images to the @natlibscot left, can you guess which www.facebook.com/ famous scientist we are NationalLibraryOfScotland referring to? www.flickr.com/ Let us know if you photos/nlscotland guess it correctly! www.youtube.com/ Tweet @natlibscot using user/NLofScotland hashtag #natlibquiz

SUMMER 2016 | DISCOVER | 3 CONTENTS

This image is a detail from the cover of the Christmas 1994 edition of The Spectator

6 NEWS Read about how you can now view historic georeferenced 28 maps in stunning 3D and could you write the next Frankenstein? READ THE You can certainly try by entering TRAGIC TALE this ghost story competition OF THE IOLAIRE DISASTER 13 CELEBRATING ADAM We’re marking the Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design with an exhibition in our treasures display on architect Robert Adam

16 SUMMER EXHIBITION Join us on a “walk-through” of your place in the world at our fascinating exhibition - You are Here

21 WELCOME TO GLASGOW The National Library of Scotland is making its debut in Glasgow to showcase riches from the national collection

24 BOX OF TREASURES Our Muriel Spark Curator Colin McIlroy shares some of the fascinating items he’s uncovered in Spark’s vast collections

34 MEMORY LANE It’s time to reminisce with some delightful railway posters from across the years

CONTRIBUTORS...

Andrew Martin Robert Betteridge Bryan Christie Colin McIlroy Jennifer Giles Curator, Literature Curator, Rare Books, Media and External Muriel Spark Curator, Scottish and the Arts Maps and Music Relations Project Curator Communities & Collections Organisations, This map of Edinburgh from 1817 can now General Collections be viewed in 3D

4 | DISCOVER | SUMMER 2016

NEWS DIGITAL JOURNEY + ILLUSTRATING PHOTOGRAPHY + CURATOR’S CHOICE + TREASURES DISPLAY + SUMMER EXHIBITION Map the past online in

stunning 3D Above: Edinburgh as seen in 1817

The National Library of Scotland has In many ways, all these techniques launched a new 3D viewer that allows can be brought together by modern you to explore our georeferenced web-mapping technologies, allowing maps from a bird’s-eye perspective. visualisations of the modern and You can alter your altitude, tilt and historic landscape to be explored orientation to view any one of our 600 historic georeferenced map layers from all perspectives. draped over a 3D landscape. It is also The results are great fun and possible to fade the transparency and informative, as previous patterns of view different modern base maps and land-use or settlement on historic satellite imagery too. maps can be re-interpreted with reference to terrain. Our new 3D For centuries, map-makers have tried viewer also uses the open-source different techniques for showing the Cesium technology, which allows it third dimension (in the form of terrain to run inside any web browser, and or relief) in a two-dimensional map. enhanced with other techniques means it is also widely supported by Pictorial “molehill” symbols of the 17th such as hill-shading (lighting slopes a broad international community. century often gave way to hachures of the map from the north-west) or in the 18th century, with light and layer-colouring. The Edinburgh map-  Check out our 3D Viewer dark shades to represent gradual or making firm of Bartholomew excelled directly at http://maps.nls.uk/ steeper slopes. The contour lines we in layer-colouring, using a palette geo/explore/3d/ or through the are familiar with today are a relatively of colour from green at sea level, to 3D tab in the footer of our ‘Explore recent innovation, primarily appearing brown and white at higher altitudes, Georeferenced Maps’ viewer at in the 19th century, and were often to create stunning maps. http://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore

OVERLAY: OVERLAY: BARTHOLOMEW OS ONE INCH HALF INCH 1955-1961 1897-1907

6 | DISCOVER | SUMMER 2016

NEWS Restored volume of photographs stars in Madrid exhibition

The National Library of but its condition was too Scotland holds many fragile for it to be displayed fine examples of early without first being conserved. photography, including A comprehensive programme William Stirling’s Annals of of treatment was therefore the Artists of Spain (1848). undertaken by Claire The Annals comprises Thomson, one of the Library’s three text volumes and a specialist book conservators, fourth volume of Talbotype involving the dismantling, illustrations which is cleaning and re-sewing of generally considered to be the volume. This work was the first photographically recorded and made into a illustrated book about art. short film which is available Only 50 copies of the on YouTube at bit.ly/28Jkys5. Scientific testing at the National Galleries of Scotland (image courtesy of National Galleries Scotland) illustrated volume were A further consideration for produced and the Library’s the display was the exhibition copy has been the subject of lighting. Early photographs a long research collaboration are often extremely light with the University of sensitive and scientific testing Glasgow and National undertaken at the National Museums Scotland. This Galleries of Scotland using a project culminated in an Microfader machine (pictured exhibition about the Annals top left) produced data about which opened in May 2016 at the effects of light upon the the Prado Museum in Madrid. photographs. This allowed The Library’s volume was appropriate lighting to requested for the exhibition be specified.

Conservator Claire Thomson with the conserved volume

8 | DISCOVER | SUMMER 2016 of the greatest creations in Gothic literature were born. In the footsteps “That dark and stormy night when Frankenstein and the modern vampire were brought to life has had a huge impact on storytelling across the of Frankenstein world,” said Donald Smith, Director of the Scottish International Storytelling Create a monster of your own by entering this ghost story competition Festival. “We are celebrating the 200th anniversary of this incredible bout of creativity by following Lord A writing challenge issued 200 years time, he challenged his travelling Byron and issuing a challenge to ago which led to the creation of companions to write a ghost story. people today to come up with their Frankenstein and the world’s first Eighteen year old Mary Godwin own ghost story.” vampire story is being used to inspire was there with the man she would The stories should be written to a modern generation of writers. soon marry, the poet Percy Shelley, be heard, rather than for private The National Library of Scotland and Dr John Polidori, Byron’s personal reading. Six winning entries will and the Scottish Storytelling Centre physician and secretary. Responding be brought to life by professional are inviting entries for a ghost story to Byron’s challenge, Polidori wrote a storytellers at the Library on competition to mark the anniversary story, later published as The Vampyre, Halloween - 31 October 2016 - as of the first appearance of these which introduced the modern concept part of the Scottish International landmark works of Gothic horror. of the blood sucking Storytelling Festival. It was in June 1816 – “the year vampire and Mary Shelley without a summer” – that incessant sketched out a story  The closing date for entries rain forced the poet, Lord Byron, which would later be is September 5. For details and a group of friends to spend days published as Frankenstein on how to enter, visit: together inside the Villa Diodati, close (pictured right), or The www.tracscotland. to Lake Geneva. To while away the Modern Prometheus. Two org/ghoststory

to be celebrated,” said Elizabeth Oxborrow-Cowan, GLOBAL FIRST FOR Chair of the Memory of the World UK Committee. Scotland’s National Librarian Dr John Scally NATIONAL LIBRARY said the Library was well represented on the UK register and was The National Library of was set up to promote the This is the first time that a delighted to see the Haig Scotland has become importance of documentary collection item from a Scottish diary being added to the one of a select group of heritage and is run by the heritage organisation international register. institutions to have an item United Nations Educational, has appeared on the from its collections added Scientific and Cultural international register.  For more information on to a register that recognises documentary heritage of Organization (UNESCO). “The recognition by the Library’s Experiences of global significance. As Commander-in-Chief UNESCO of the Haig Diary the Great War, visit digital. of the British Expeditionary as having outstanding nls.uk/great-war/general/ The handwritten diary of Force, Haig commanded the international significance is haigs-legacy/index.html Field Marshal Douglas Haig largest British Army ever who commanded British assembled. He wrote a daily forces for most of the First diary entry throughout World War has been added the war which records THE SCOTTISH GENEALOGY SOCIETY to the international register events during key battles, Family History Centre of the Memory of the World such as the Somme and Programme. This programme Passchendaele. All Scotland’s OPRs on film… census records… Largest M.I. collection in Scotland and free access to www.ancestry.co.uk and www.findmypast.co.uk Open 5 days a week, except Friday & Sunday Contact us at 15 Victoria Terrace, Edinburgh EH1 2JL Telephone 0131 220 3677 [email protected] www.scotsgenealogy.com

SUMMER 2016 | DISCOVER | 9 A RICH HERITAGE Nan Shepherd, one of Scotland's best but least-celebrated writers, is the face of the new £5 note

Nan Shepherd, however, proves that there is more than one Scottish rural novel to read from that period, and at the time Rediscover an her work was highly acclaimed on both sides of the Atlantic. Shepherd worked at the Training Centre for Teachers, later author of note Aberdeen College of Education, as a much admired lecturer in English from 1919 till CURATOR'S CHOICE - ANDREW MARTIN, CURATOR, LITERATURE AND THE ARTS her retirement in 1956. She became in some ways a forgotten writer, still living in the home she had moved to as a baby, There is good news this year for Scottish she is a writer who deserves to be but maintained long friendships with literature in cashpoints and wallets and remembered – and not just at the shops. writers including Helen Cruickshank, check-outs all over Scotland. The Royal The Quarry Wood, The Weatherhouse, Willa Muir, Hugh MacDiarmid, William Bank of Scotland will feature the face of and A Pass in the Grampians are the Soutar, and Jessie Kesson. Nan Shepherd, one of our best and most novels, published between 1928 and Her friendship with Jessie Kesson, the interesting – but perhaps not particularly 1933 – all set in sharply-observed author of The White Bird Passes and well-known – writers on the new £5 note. rural communities in the North East Another Time, Another Place, famously But who is the striking figure in the of Scotland. started in a chance meeting in a railway new artwork? Her poetry collection, In the carriage, and Kesson always appreciated Nan Shepherd (1893-1981) was born Cairngorms, was published in 1934. the support Shepherd had given the and lived in Aberdeenshire all her life, and Readers who know their Scottish aspiring writer during that journey. published three novels, one collection literature may come across The Quarry In 1977, a 30-year-old manuscript of poetry, and one non-fiction work. Wood and immediately think of Sunset was published as The Living Mountain. Nevertheless, as this year’s honour from Song, ’s later but This celebration of her beloved the Royal Bank of Scotland underlines, famous novel, published in 1932. Grampians has had enduring appeal – and a quotation from that book will The Library holds all of Nan Shepherd's feature on the new £5 note. published works, plus correspondence In recent years, Shepherd’s work has and notebooks been rediscovered and republished. Enthusiastic new supporters include the travel writer Robert Macfarlane – author of The Wild Places and The Old Ways – who provided the introduction for a new edition of The Living Mountain, and presented a fascinating BBC TV documentary about it. Modern readers now see Zen-like qualities in Shepherd’s meditation on her beloved mountains. Here at the National Library of Scotland we have all of Nan Shepherd’s published works in the different editions, as well as original correspondence and notebooks, recording a long life. Those who have never read her before are in for a treat.

10 | DISCOVER | SUMMER 2016 NEWS This abundant hairstin o literary riches

Scots Scriever Hamish MacDonald looks forward to sharing the Library's kist o riches through its Wee Windaes website and a series of summer events

yne takkin up the darg o Scots Scriever wi the National Library o Scotland mid-September last, time has passed in a gey Sthrang manner as I hae socht tae reenge somewhaur amang the mony thoosands o buiks, manuscripts an warks in the Scots leid in order tae seek some unity tae this abundant hairstin o literary riches, the pickins o which will be offert fir public consumption on the National Library’s forthcomin Wee Windaes website, wi an official launch date set fir October this year. Researches continue tae ceust up the antrin pleisant surprise. Featured on Wee Windaes is The Buke of Wha wid hae kenned that ane-time the Howlat – a poem o wit an imagination, scrievit in the 1440s fir Lady Elizabeth Jacobite satire, The Muckin o Geordie’s Douglas at Darnaway Castle in Morayshire Byre, mair kenspeckle as a bothy ballad or even as a single released by Scottish entertainer Andy Stewart, Australian colonies, later commuted luikin up tae the heichts o Abriachan wid be aince adaptit by Glesga poet tae five years. (Editor Gilbert MacLeod whaur Jessie Kesson aince bidit. an weaver Alexander Rodger intae a wid die in Australia, haein taen up Furder schuils visits tae the various full-blawn satire anent the Hanoverian the post o dominie whiles servin his airts o Scotland are anticipatit fir 2016- Succession. Rodger’s satire appeared sentence ayont seas). 17. We luik forrart also tae a halthy in the first edition o the 1819 Radical The braider remit o the scrievership, inclusion o Scots at the Verb Garden periodical Spirit of the Union, earnin tae share some o these researches venue at Belladrum Festival 2016, wi him an arraignment at the Glesga frae the National Library o Scotland’s communins, poetry an sang amang sedition trials which wid see his editor kist o riches amang the airts an pairts a rowthie an varied programme. An sentenced tae a life sentence in the o Scotland, has thus far seen carrants so the Scriever programme itsel rolls tae schuils in the likes o East Kilbride, oot an rolls on, wi nae doot a few mair Tain, Dingwall an Edinbrugh, events antrin surprises in store tae bumbaise, sic as the Borders Book Festival in kittle an conflummix the researcher June an a ceilidh tae handsel in the alang the wey. Jessie Kesson centenary o this year. As pairt o the Jessie Kesson event  The Scots Scriever post is funded we will celebrate Scots through story for two years by Creative Scotland. It is an sang, initially takkin a wheen o based at the Library and aims to raise bairns aboard the PS Jacobite Queen awareness, appreciation and use of oot oantae the watters o Loch Ness, Scots across the country.

SUMMER 2016 | DISCOVER | 11 THE STRATHMARTINE TRUST (Scottish Charity Number: SC 028924)

The Strathmartine Trust ( established in 1999) is a charitable trust the primary object of which is to support research and education in Scottish History.

The Trustees seek applications for the following grants:

• Strathmartine Awards - up to £5,000 to assist with the completion of existing projects and to aid publication.

• Sandeman Fund Awards - up to £2,000 for research in the field of early medieval Scottish History.

• Marinell Ash Award - a travel or study grant for the study of any aspect of Scottish or North American History available to a post-graduate student or independent scholar.

Full details and application forms can be obtained from The Strathmartine Trust by e-mail to: [email protected] or on the Trust’s website: www.strathmartinetrust.org.

The closing date for the return of completed applications in each case is 15 November 2016. Please note the closing date.

12 | DISCOVER | SUMMER 2016 TREASURES DISPLAY

THE ADAM STYLE

Words: Robert L. Betteridge

High School and University before Monumental books joining his elder brother John in the go on display to family business, working on the construction of Fort George near showcase one of Inverness. His high school education in Latin immersed him in the culture Scotland’s most of ancient Rome and the close-knit celebrated architects Adam family shared their social circle with major figures of the Scottish Enlightenment such as David Hume and o mark the Year of Adam Smith. Raised in this intellectual Innovation, Architecture milieu, Adam cultivated an enquiring and Design 2016, the mind and the confidence to develop National Library of Scotland beyond the confines of what it meant to is displaying some of its be an architect in the 18th century. Tfinest architectural books to illustrate At a time when most architects the work of Robert Adam, one of were considered to be on a par with Scotland’s most celebrated architects. builders and other tradesmen, Adam Alongside Adam’s Ruins of the palace set out to educate himself in the art of the Emperor Diocletian at Spalatro of drawing and the architecture of the in Dalmatia and the monumental The classical world. With this knowledge works in architecture, early editions he would be able to converse with his of influential architects, such as the well-travelled aristocratic patrons as ancient Roman Vitruvius, Renaissance an intellectual equal: valued for his architect Andrea Palladio and Antoine judgement in taste, elegance and style Desgodetz, can be seen. Also, the when commissioned to design their fabulously coloured A book of ceilings, country villas and townhouses. To composed in the style of the antique gain this experience he undertook, in grotesque by George Richardson will be 1755-1757, a Grand Tour through France on display. and Italy. In Rome he was tutored in Robert Adam, the foremost of the drawing, sketched classical ruins and builder and architect William Adam’s pursued contacts that would help him sons, was born in Kirkcaldy on 3 July 1728. He was educated at Edinburgh’s Continues overleaf>

SUMMER 2016 | DISCOVER | 13 TREASURES DISPLAY

From previous page> Despite continued success in the 1760s, to establish an office in London with his younger brother James on his return. the Adams faced ruin in the early 1770s There are two significant books following a run on the banks produced by Adam, both born out of necessity: the first to make a reputation and the second the secure it. To fix the palace of the Emperor Diocletian at Adam even delegated the writing of his name in the public mind with the Spalatro in Dalmatia. the introduction to his cousin, the architecture of antiquity, Adam knew Having already spent so much time acclaimed historian William Robertson. he had to produce a book that would studying in Italy, there was little the Despite continued success in the demonstrate both his understanding and relentlessly self-improving Adam could 1760s, the Adams faced ruin in the early ability to interpret these ancient ruins. His add to his repertoire in Dalmatia and the 1770s following a run on the banks initial idea was to publish a new edition of illustration and surveying was largely and the financial problems brought Antoine Desgodetz’s Les edifices antiques undertaken by Charles-Louis Clérisseau, about by their speculative Adelphi de Rome, printed in Paris in 1682 and his instructor in drawing, and two scheme in London: a vaulted terrace of by the mid-18th century, a difficult and assistants. large houses with wharves below. The expensive book to acquire. However, this Like the work of Italian artist Giovanni scheme was London’s first neoclassical would require a survey of all the major Piranesi, with whom Adam struck up a development and bore the considerable monuments of ancient Rome and the friendship in Rome, some of the plates influence of Robert Adam’s study of project was abandoned. Instead, Adam in Ruins of the palace blend historical Diocletian’s palace. Always reluctant to sailed to what is now Split in Croatia to accuracy with artistic imagination to publish his own drawings, Robert Adam survey the ruins of the palace of the emphasise the poetic and novel aspects was persuaded to do so as part of the 3rd-century Roman Emperor Diocletian, of the ruins, and thus the sense of brothers’ plans to offset the financial publishing the results in 1764 as Ruins of wonder of Adam’s potential patrons. pressure the family practice was

14 | DISCOVER | SUMMER 2016 PICTURES OF INFLUENCE (Clockwise from left) the Pulteney Bridge in Bath, completed in 1774, was designed by Adam; View of the peristylium of the palace from Ruins of the palace of the Emperor Diocletian at Spalatro in Dalmatia; inside view of the third drawing room at the Earl of Derby’s house in Grosvenor Square from The works in architecture of Robert and James Adam under. Beginning in 1773, The works in architecture of Robert and James Adam was published in parts with engravings produced to the highest standards. On display were the commissioned works of the brothers, not to be used as a pattern-book by their rivals, but as an advertisement to potential clients who wished for the novelty and variety that only the Adams could provide. Despite the public humiliation surrounding the failure of the Adelphi, the introduction to The works in architecture showed that the brothers had lost none of their confidence in their ability, writing that “we flatter ourselves, we have been able to seize, with some degree of success, the beautiful spirit of antiquity, and to transfuse it, with novelty and as the Adam style can be found within publication helped to establish the Adam variety, through all our numerous works.” The works in architecture. Using classical style, not only in Britain, but also as far The publication is recognised as one of Roman decorative motifs the Adams afield as the United States and Russia. the most important architectural books created unified interiors in which every of the 18th century and reproduces some feature from carpet to ceiling and all  The beautiful spirit of antiquity: of the Adams’ finest work. fixtures and fittings in between were Robert Adam and his influences display Every aspect of what became known completed to their design. The book’s will run from 16 June until 18 September.

SUMMER 2016 | DISCOVER | 15 EXHIBITION

A new exhibition helps you walk through your place in the world by showcasing famous maps, providing fun activities and helping you question the objectivity of these visual representations Words: Bryan Christie open 22 JULY 2016 TO 3 APRIL 2017. Y U FREE ENTRY ARE HERE

n emerging sense of wonder at the world 1 often leads children ASCOTIA MAP to fix their own place (pictured right) Scotland as shown on the planet by in the first Islamic Awriting out their complete address, world atlas 1804 starting with a street and town and continuing with Scotland, 2 Great Britain, Europe, Northern THE GRAPHIC Hemisphere, The Earth. WAR MAP This summer, the National (pictured right, Library of Scotland takes you on above) from 1914 the very same journey with an enthralling new exhibition that 3 offers a physical “walk-through” CITY OF of your place in the world. EDINBURGH PLAN MAP You are Here takes you from (pictured right, the Library’s main building in below) from 1780 Edinburgh to the furthest reaches opportunity to learn more about hemisphere world map from the of the world, seen through some how maps are made and why they famous Blaeu atlas of 1660; one of the most magnificent maps may not be quite the precision of the finest plans of Edinburgh ever produced. tools you imagined. from 1896 and a Victorian school It will be a journey of discovery The exhibition will be a showcase room map of Europe. There are as you see how cartographers for some of the most famous also a number of more unusual have mapped the world down the maps in the Library’s world-class maps, including one charting the centuries from Glasgow to the collection, several of which will be smells that waft over modern- Galapagos – from where you live blown up to fill whole walls and day Edinburgh; a map of Scotland now, to where you have been on allow visitors to marvel at the detail where place names have been holiday, through to where you contained within. They include the replaced by phrases revealing the might want to visit in the future. first-ever printed map of Scotland Along the way, there will be the from 1560; a beautiful double Continues overleaf>

16 | DISCOVER | SUMMER 2016 SUMMER 2016 | DISCOVER | 17 EXHIBITION

From previous page> original meaning of these names cradle of civilisation. What if such and the first ever map showing maps were centred on China or population density across the UK. Africa – would this make us look at The journey will take visitors the world differently?” said Paula. through five locations from There was an interesting Edinburgh to Scotland, onto Great example of how maps can be seen Britain, Europe and, finally, the to distort when the BBC produced world. Each location will feature a new weather map in 2005. famous or intriguing maps and will Thousands of people complained ask questions which will challenge that the map showed the UK from our acceptance of what we see a southerly perspective and made within them. Scotland and the north of England “Maps are everywhere – on our look smaller. A motion was even phones, in our cars and pockets, tabled in the House of Commons on walls, bus stops and adverts – before the BBC decided to alter but how much do we really know the tilt of the map to show more about them?” said map curator of Scotland. Paula Williams who has developed purpose. Paula gave the example The creation of maps involves 4 the exhibition. “They help to shape of the guide to the London tube a careful selection process which how we see and understand the system. The distances shown 1652 downplays some features and world but they are not completely between many stations are not WORLD MAP exaggerates others to achieve objective instruments – they accurately represented on the Drawn by the desired outcome. “You can Nicholas Visscher are created by individuals, often map, resulting in travel times often (pictured above) get much more out of maps if with specific aims in mind. I hope much longer or shorter than the visitors to the exhibition will be map would indicate. “If you do not thrilled to see the marvellous maps understand what a map is doing, on show, but will also learn more it’s easier to make mistakes and about both the usefulness and misjudgements.” the limitations of different types How are hills shown on a flat of maps.” piece of paper? Why does north Map making requires the traditionally appear at the top of employment of a set of skills to maps? What is the grid in a grid convert the reality of city streets or reference? Do maps go out of date? rugged, rural landscapes onto a flat How are decisions made on what to piece of paper. As the American include on a map and what to leave comedian Roseanne Barr famously out? These are just some of the joked: “Men read maps better than questions that the exhibition will women because only men can seek to answer. understand the concept of an inch There will be examples of maps equalling a hundred miles.” that fit particular purposes such Maps are a marriage between as a planning map from 1820 of art and science but perfection Edinburgh showing the proposed has to take second place to construction of George IV Bridge where the Library is now located. This makes the complicated construction of the route appear I hope that much simpler than it was in reality and may have helped to sway after people visit decision makers to approve the project. Far from presenting an the exhibition objective reality, this map was designed to influence the viewer. they will be Maps are powerful tools and much more help to shape the way we look at the world, whether in the streets questioning of around us or in the farthest reaches of the globe. the maps in “We are used to seeing world 6 their pockets maps with Europe very much in the centre which may reinforce EXPERIMENTAL PAULA WILLIAMS ideas of Europe being the modern PROJECTION (LAMPTON)

18 | DISCOVER | SUMMER 2016 you understand how they are places in the world. This will be constructed,” said Paula. “I introduced with a quote by best- hope that after people visit the selling Scots writer Alexander exhibition they will be much more McCall Smith talking about the questioning of the maps in their importance of the personal maps pockets or their phones and not – “those maps of our private world treat them as the absolute truth.” we use every day; here I was As well as challenging people’s happy, in that place I left my coat view of maps, the exhibition will behind after a party, that is where provide fun tasks to test map skills. I met my love; I cried there once, I This will include using the scale on was heartsore; but felt better round maps to calculate the distance to the corner once I saw the hills of popular destinations. People will Fife across the Forth, things of be able to create their own map that sort, our personal memories, symbol and search through old that make the private tapestry of place names to try to identify what our lives.” they are called today. Images from The Library’s map collection the Library’s collection will also be is one of the most extensive in used to ask visitors to identify the 5 the world and the exhibition will location being featured. provide a showcase for some of UK Lastly, the exhibition will have SOUTHERLY its riches. “It will include some a “map memory board” inviting PERSPECTIVE well-known, important maps as people to record their favourite well as some that may surprise and, hopefully, delight,” said Paula. “We hope it will enrich visitors’ understanding of one of the key information resources used in the world today.”

map reference SEE OVERLEAF FOR MAPPING MILESTONES

SUMMER 2016 | DISCOVER | 19 EXHIBITION M PPING MILESTONES How the map has evolved over the centuries, from the crude representations of the 16th century to views of the world using cutting-edge technology... 1560 1905 This is the first ever Colourful, easy to use maps of Scotland were published map of produced by the Edinburgh firm of John Scotland. Maps at this Bartholomew and Son and became instantly time were based on popular with travellers and tourists. The half- written descriptions inch to the mile series sold so well that they rather than measured were extended to cover the whole of Britain. surveys and this one was engraved and printed in Italy, probably by Paolo Forlani. It is based on a map by the English cleric George Lily.

1755 The Jacobite uprisings of 1715 and 1745 convinced Government forces that they needed accurate maps if they were to control the Highlands. This led to William Roy’s Military Survey of Scotland (1747-55), and 2005 the creation of the first The era of online maps begins with the detailed maps of the launch of Google Earth. It maps the Earth by Scottish mainland. superimposing images from satellites, aerial photography and geographic information system (GIS) data. Google Earth has been 1843 downloaded more than a billion times. The Ordnance Survey mapped Scotland, recording practically all man-made and natural features in the landscape, including every road, railway, field, fence, wall, stream and building, even down to smaller features such as letter boxes, bollards on quaysides, mile posts, and flag- staffs. These maps helped to give shape and content to Victorian Scotland.

20 | DISCOVER | SUMMER 2016