Historic Texas Maps On Display At Texas A&M’s Cushing Library

One of many solely pristine historic maps of Texas now resides at Texas A&M College’s Cushing Memorial Library and Archives. This map, amongst others, will probably be on show by means of Dec. 9 as a part of the exhibit “Charting Texas – A Historical past of the State Via Maps.”

The exhibition, situated on the library’s second ground, options a number of maps and books documenting centuries of exploration and political competitors for one particular space of North America – Texas.

“I’m enthusiastic about ‘Charting Texas’ for the reason that exhibit brings into view a lot historical past and geography of Texas from these lovely, but revealing and informative maps,” stated Anton duPlessis ’03, curator of the Louise and Floyd Chapman Texas and Borderlands Assortment.

Due to developments over time in geographic information, surveying methods and printing know-how, guests can see the historical past of Texas’ borders and statehood emerge by means of the colourful show of a skillfully curated collection of 70 historic maps with accompanying manuscripts and books.

“You’ll see how Texas adjustments by means of the acquisition of land grants and with the affect of immigration. After which in the end governmental resolution making on the native and federal ranges,” stated Director of Cushing Library Beth Kilmarx.

Among the many assortment is Stephen F. Austin’s 1830 Map of Texas, landmark piece of Texas and cartographic historical past as the primary map of Texas to be printed in the USA and the second map of Texas ever to be printed – the primary being printed in Philadelphia by H.S. Tanner.

Among the many assortment is Stephen F. Austin’s 1830 Map of Texas, a landmark piece of Texas and cartographic historical past as the primary map of Texas to be printed in the USA by H.S. Tanner and the second map of Texas ever to be printed – the primary being printed in Mexico Metropolis.

The copy of Austin’s 1830 map at Cushing Library is certainly one of solely 10 or so which can be recognized to exist. In contrast to different maps on show, it’s in notably pristine situation having been saved in its unique leather-based folio. Acquiring a map of this high quality with a leather-based folio is extraordinarily uncommon, duPlessis stated.

As a part of Austin’s land settlement with the Mexican authorities, Austin needed to put together a map depicting rivers, coasts and traits of the land. His map supplies an in depth and correct illustration of Texas derived from his years as an empresario – the individual chargeable for engaging settlers to the frontier areas of Mexico below Spanish, and later Mexican, rule.

The oldest map within the assortment dates to 1574, with the latest relationship to the early half of the twentieth century. The form of Texas advanced, expanded and contracted as wars had been gained and misplaced each right here and on different continents, Kilmarx stated.

The maps within the assortment had been created to facilitate territorial growth and help colonization by claiming lands earlier than they had been occupied by colonial powers, heedless of the indigenous inhabitants.

“A specific favourite is an early 1760s hand drawn map by a soldier at San Saba displaying the areas of Spanish, French, and Indigenous websites throughout this contested area,” duPlessis stated.

Lots of the books featured within the exhibit served to advertise immigration to Texas, praising the wealthy, plentiful and cheap land and interesting local weather. As soon as settlers arrived in Texas, books and manuscripts supplied guides to totally different property surveying strategies with accompanying illustrations and tables that coated the geometric rules of surveying.