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 ______ ORDERING INFORMATION _ $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.