D.C. Public Library's Historical Maps Of Washington Will Be Digitized

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D.C. Public Library's Historical Maps Of Washington Will Be Digitized

At the moment, about 8,000 historical maps of D.C. are sitting in drawers on the third floor at the Martin Luther King Jr., Memorial Library. Now D.C. Public Library staff members are collaborating with the non-profit education project, MapStory, to digitize some of these documents for easy public use.

The maps are part of the Washingtoniana Collection, range in date from 1612 to the present and are found both in print and microfiche. Lauren Martino, a special collections librarian working on the project, says about 100 to 200 will be selected for scanning. It's been "really challenging to pick," she said, but they're focusing on print real estate directories that date back to 1887. Martino said they were selected as the maps are "really descriptive and really colorful." Residents can use these maps to see the outline of their homes, and for that reason, Martino said they're very popular.
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The maps will be hosted on DCPL's site, as well as MapStory, where they can be layered and combined with other data for storytelling purposes. As an added bonus, the maps will have a digital record. At the moment, they can only be found via card catalog. ... Martino said the maps are "almost like a secret in here. There's information on the website, but there really hasn't been a good way to look at what we have."
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Indeed, once the maps are digitized — they have to be sent off-site for scanning, which will take a few weeks — DCPL will hold programming around them. This includes "warp-a-thons" where members of the public can help rectify the maps. MapStory uses a tool called a "warper" to plot an old map on top of a digital map, as Jon Marino, director of content for the non-profit, explained. Programs around storytelling with the maps will follow.

There was this comment:

Sadlycynical >ms_jlynn • 16 hours ago

Totally. And ICYMI, check out http://ghostsofdc.org/ (also on FB) for fascinating maps/photos/advertisements from another time. I love it.

"Storytelling purposes?" Whatever. I get over to the MLK Library about once or twice a year. When I go, it's to visit the Washingtoniana Room. Although I don't live in DC, I work there. Accordingly, I have a DCPL card. Even if I didn't work in DC, because the DCPL issues cards to residents of nearby cities and counties, I would still be able to get one.

This is a great development. I'm on the DCPL email list, so I think they'll be letting me know if they need any help with the project.



Map of D.C. from 1929. Via Library of Congress.

This map covers just about all the territory traversed by the Beltway. It goes as far west as Great Falls and nearly as far south as Mount Vernon. Imagine all the old rail lines, interurban lines, streetcar lines, abandoned airports, and who knows what else is on these old maps.