Registration is now open for the two-day conference "Exploring Maps: History, Fabrication, & Preservation," to be held November 2 & 3 at the Athenaeum of Philadelphia.
The great majority of maps were produced for practical use, not designed to last. Many are oversize and have been folded or rolled for storage over the years. Often, maps were created using media that has not proven stable with time. In each case, the practicality of the map has worked against the likelihood of its long-term preservation and has presented conservation challenges. Maps that remain intact today are consequently even more valuable, not only for their aesthetic beauty but also for the rare insight they offer into the landscapes and world views of the past.
This program will provide an overview of the history of maps and address predominant issues in their care and preservation. Speakers will also explore creative, innovative approaches to reinterpreting and revitalizing historic maps through advances in preservation and technology.
For more information (and to register by the October 21 deadline), visit our online registration pages. Browse our program calendar to learn about other CCAHA educational programs and conferences offered throughout the year.
Major funding for this program was generously provided by the National Endowment for the Humanities, with additional support from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, the Philadelphia Cultural Fund, and the Independence Foundation.
Images: Director of Book Conservation Jim Hinz examining the third volume of Atlas Novus from the Norman B. Leventhal Map Center at the Boston Public Library / Senior Conservation Assistant Jilliann Wilcox washing A Plan of the City of Philadelphia and Environs, a map from The Athenaeum of Philadelphia