December 8, 2000

Contact: Mary Rosenbloom, University Libraries, (785) 864-8921.

Early maps of New England on view at Spencer Library

LAWRENCE -- Ever wanted to take a fall foliage tour in Norumbega?

Cartographically speaking, New England didn't exist until 1614 when John Smith (of Pocahontas fame) bestowed the name on the northeastern portion of what was to become the United States. Before 1616, maps usually called the area Norumbega.

Visitors to "The Early Maps of New England," an exhibit now on display at the University of Kansas Spencer Research Library, can watch the conceptual and political development of New England through an impressive array of maps dating from the 1500s to 1800.

The exhibit is drawn from Spencer library's Department of Special Collections. Barbara Backus McCorkle, retired curator of maps at Yale University, assembled the exhibit with the assistance of Jim Helyar, special collections graphics curator. McCorkle began her career in map librarianship at the Spencer library in the late 1960s and returned to Lawrence in 1994 after her retirement from Yale.

McCorkle compiled the forthcoming book "New England in Early Maps, 1513-1800" (John Carter Brown Library, Brown University), which attempts to list every map of the New England region printed prior to 1801. All of the maps displayed in the Spencer library exhibit are included in the book.

"Spencer Library is a tremendous resource for students and scholars in so many fields," McCorkle said at a recent presentation to the KU Friends of the Library. "It is simply marvelous that right here in Lawrence geographers, historians and others have access to these primary documents of discovery and map-making."

"The Early Maps of New England" is on display until Jan. 28, 2001. The exhibit is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday, and noon to 4 p.m. Saturdays when the university is in session. For additional information call (785) 864-4334.