Ball State University Libraries Black History Month Maps

Black History Month Maps:  The Tuskegee Airmen

The Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site was dedicated this weekend near Tuskegee, Alabama.  The site includes a restored Hangar 2 at Moton Field that will serve as a museum featuring artifacts and oral histories of the Tuskegee Airmen.  The Skyway Club, where the airmen relaxed, will include furnishings from the 1940’s. 

The Tuskegee Airmen were the first African American military pilots, serving in World War II.  The map above (click to enlarge) shows locations of the over 1,000 missions flown by the airmen during the war.  The map is from the Atlas of African American History by James Client and is available from the Atlas Collection on the second floor of Bracken Library.  The Atlas of African American History and Politics: from the Slave Trade to Modern Times by Arwin Smallwood is also available for research and learning.

For more information about these cartographic resources, please contact the Ball State University Libraries’ GIS Research and Map Collection at 765-285-1097.

Black History Month Celebrations at Ball State University Libraries

Black History Month Presentation and Map:  Trials, Triumphs, and Trailblazers: Historic Women in African American History

The Ball State University Libraries’ GIS Research and Map Collection (GRMC) on the second floor of Bracken Library is celebrating Black History Month with a special public presentation in Muncie.  Also a custom map about African American history is displayed in the GRMC windows as a commemorative exhibit.

The Geography of Black History is a special Black History Month program created by the GRMC.  The program will be held in the Auditorium of the Cornerstone Center for the Arts in downtown Muncie at 520 East Main Street on February 12 from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m.  Free parking is available, and the presentation is open to the public.  Registration is not required, but anyone interested in attending can call the Cornerstone Center at 281-9503. The program will present maps depicting major events and figures in Black history, including custom maps featuring great figures in Indiana history.

The GRMC is also presenting a map exhibit featuring a custom map of historic women in African American history (above, click to enlarge).  The map, Trials, Triumphs, and Trailblazers: Historic Women in African American History, shows well-known women from Harriet Tubman to Condoleezza Rice, but also some lesser known women from history.  Descriptions of the women’s accomplishments are listed on the map.  This map includes photographs from the University Libraries’ Digital Media Repository’s The Other Side of Middletown collection.  The map is available for use in research and education from the Cardinal Scholar institutional repository. 

Other custom maps from the GRMC celebrating great events and people in African American history can also be accessed from Cardinal Scholar.  Maps showing the Negro League Baseball teams, a map about the life of Madam C.J. Walker, a map of the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and previous Black History Month exhibit posters with maps from atlases are all available from this online resource.  Users can search "Black History Month" in the search box of Cardinal Scholar to review all of the available maps and posters.

For more information about the Black History Month program or any of the maps in the GRMC, please call 765-285-1097.  For more information about the Digital Media Repository collections, please contact the Archives and Special Collections at 765-285-5078.

China Maps Available from Ball State University Libraries

Celebrating the Chinese New Year with Cartography:  China Maps Available from Ball State University Libraries

The Ball State University Libraries’ GIS Research and Map Collection (GRMC) on the second floor of Bracken Library has a large collection of maps of China available for research and learning.  Cartographic resources can be an excellent visual resource, and the maps and atlases in the collection include both historic and new maps of China, its provinces, and cities.

The collection includes dozens of cities in China, including new and historic maps of Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Chengdu, Nanning, and Xi’an.  Many of the city maps are folded and easy to use for touring, but the collection also includes large street and topographic maps.

The collection includes maps showing precipitation, military regions, and even clothing recommendations for travel in China.  An illustrated Yangzi River map includes the Three Gorges Dam. 

The U.S. Central Intelligence Agency publishes updated maps of countries, and these new maps (top map above, click to enlarge) can be accessed digitally via the University Libraries’ Digital Media Repository in the Maps of the World collection.  Historic maps of China are also available in the International Historic Maps collection.

The Atlas Collection also provides great resources for studying China. Environmental concerns like air pollution, soil degradation, and water quality are shown on the map (above) from the National Geographic Atlas of China published in 2007 and available from the Atlas Collection. The tourism map (above) is from the atlas, China: A Provincial Atlas published in 1995.

Atlases also offer charts and graphs depicting various topics.  Defense spending and total armed forces in the People’s Liberation Army of China are shown from the State of China Atlas published in 2007.  The second chart (above) from the atlas shows the number of forces and military equipment in China versus Taiwan.

Maps from the GRMC circulate for two weeks or longer.  Atlases from the Atlas Collection circulate for 28 days or longer.

The complete collection of maps of China has not yet been cataloged, so visit or contact the staff of the GRMC at 765-285-1097 to discover maps not listed in the library CardCat system or for more information about any of these cartographic resources.

Maps of the Super Bowl Stadium Site

Mapping the Super Bowl:  Locations of Giants and MetLife Stadiums from Ball State University Libraries

The Ball State University Libraries' GIS Research and Map Collection (GRMC) includes a collection of historic and current U.S. Geological Survey topographic quadrangle maps for the entire United States.  These maps provide an excellent resource for studying the development of places over time.

The topographic map shown above (top, click to enlarge) was published in 1995 and shows the location of the former Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.  Giants Stadium was demolished in 2010.

The bottom Google Earth image shows the location of the new MetLife Stadium, home of the New York Giants and Jets of the National Football League.  Ground was broken on the stadium in 2007, and it opened in 2010.  The satellite image shows the relative location of the stadium to the heart of New York City, Manhattan.

MetLife Stadium will be the site of Super Bowl XLVIII on February 2, 2014.  This is the first time the Super Bowl will be played in an open-air stadium in a cold weather city.

For more information about using topographic maps to study development, visit the GRMC Map Tutorials page to check out Maps and Cartography:  Topographic Maps or contact the GRMC at 765-285-1097.

The GIS Research and Map Collection (GRMC) will be closed on Monday, January 20 for the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday.  The GRMC will reopen at 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 21.

Commemorative Martin Luther King, Junior Map Available from Ball State University Libraries

The GIS Research and Map Collection (GRMC) on the second floor of Bracken Library has created a map of the travels of Dr. Martin Luther King, Junior, to commemorate the national holiday.  The map, Journey of a King: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Junior, (shown above, click to enlarge) depicts some of the places the civil rights leader visited during his lifetime.  The map is based on locations documented in the book M.L.K.: Journey of a King by Tonya Bolden available from the General Collection in Bracken Library.   The map is currently being displayed in the front window of the GRMC.

The map features photographs from the book and a timeline of important events in the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Junior.  Dr. King also visited Africa, the Holy Land and Oslo, Norway to accept the Nobel Peace Prize.

A PDF-format version of the map is available from the Ball State University Libraries’ Cardinal Scholar at https://cardinalscholar.bsu.edu/handle/123456789/195146.

The map may be used for classroom lessons and presentations.  The GRMC has a large-format plotter available for members of the Ball State University community to print off larger copies of the map.

Please contact the GRMC Monday through Friday from 8:00 to 5:00 at 765-285-1097 for more information about this map and other maps for exhibits and classroom lessons.

George Washington Bridge Map

Maps in the News:  Map of the George Washington Bridge Available from Ball State University Libraries

Ball State University Libraries' GIS Research and Map Collection (GRMC) has a huge collection of quadrangle topographic maps for the entire United States.  This U.S. Geological Survey topographic map, Central Park, NY-NJ (click to enlarge), details the area surrounding the George Washington Bridge near Fort Lee, New Jersey.  

The map shows the line marking the boundary between New York and New Jersey.  Red shading on the map depicts developed areas, with only significant buildings identified.  Green space is also identified--note the location of Central Park on Manhattan southeast of the bridge.  

Topographic maps are excellent research tools for studying the development of places over time.  Maps from this collection may be circulated for two weeks or longer.  Contact the GRMC at 765-285-1097 for more information.

Holiday Hours at Ball State University Libraries

GIS Research and Map Collection Holiday Hours

The Ball State University Libraries' GIS Research and Map Collection will close today (December 23) at 3:00 pm and reopen on Thursday, December 26 at 8:00 am resuming regular hours until 5:00 pm.  The GRMC will close on Tuesday, December 31 at 3:00 pm and reopen on Thursday, January 2 at 8:00 am.

Please contact the GRMC at 765-285-1097.

News Maps Available from Ball State University Libraries

Syria

Washington, D.C.

 Healthcare coverage

South Africa

Russia

Tornadoes

Boston, Massachusetts

Tahrir Square, Cairo, Egypt

Vatican City

North Korea

London, England

2013 Places in the News:  Mapping Current Events with Maps from the GIS Research and Map Collection

The Ball State University Libraries’ GIS Research and Map Collection (GRMC) exhibits maps of places in the news in the front windows on the second floor of Bracken Library and digitally through the Blog.  The places in the news for 2013 have featured war, violence, and natural disasters from Syria to Moore, Oklahoma.  Political issues dominated the news—from intelligence and national security issues to healthcare coverage.  However, some good news events marked the year in maps—from the birth of an heir to the throne in London, England, to a new Pope elected in Vatican City in March.

These maps are just some of the nearly 140,000 maps, atlases, and other cartographic resources available from the GRMC.  Maps circulate for two weeks or longer and can be an effective research and presentation tool.

For more information, please contact the GRMC at 765-285-1097.

Indiana History Maps Available from Ball State University Libraries

Horsepower to Hysteria:  Map Exhibit Celebrates Indiana Sports History

Indiana was admitted to the Union in December 1816, so the “Map of the Month” exhibit in the front windows of the Ball State University Libraries’ GIS Research and Map Collection (GRMC) is Horsepower to Hysteria:  Indiana Sports History.  The map features great figures, events, and places in the sports history of Indiana.

The map identifies the hometowns of sports legends like John Wooden, Bob Griese, Larry Bird, Oscar Robertson, Marshall Taylor, and even the world’s fastest pacer horse, Dan Patch.  Legendary teams like the Milan basketball team depicted in the movie “Hoosiers” is featured as well as historic events like the Indianapolis 500 and the tragic Purdue football team train wreck in 1903.

The map is part of a series of Indiana maps created by the GRMC commemorating the state’s rich history and culture.  The Indiana maps are available for use in the classroom or for printing from the Cardinal Scholar DigitalRepository.  Photographs from numerous collections in the Ball State University Libraries’ Digital Media Repository are also featured.

For more information, please contact the GRMC at 765-285-1097.

End-of-Semester Printing and GIS Project Information

FAQ: “How Do I Print a Large Poster?”  “How Do I Connect to Ball State University Libraries’ GIS Data Server?”

Students are completing many final projects and homework assignments for the fall semester.  Often students must create presentations or large posters as a final project.  The Ball State University Libraries GIS Research and Map Collection (GRMC) has two large-format plotter printers available for use by members of the Ball State University community.

“How do I print a large poster?  How long does it take?  How much does it cost?”  Students can create a poster using a slide designed in Microsoft PowerPoint.  A guide explaining how to design a classroom or conference poster is available in Cardinal Scholar. 

A poster usually takes about fifteen minutes to print, but if many people are printing at the same time, the wait time will be longer.  Students and staff are charged for printing through their Bursar’s account, with the cost dependent on the size of the poster.  Printing on the plotters is available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. 

One of the most frequently asked questions in the GRMC arises from students trying to access the Libraries’ GIS Data Server in order to complete a GIS homework assignment or special project.

Members of the Ball State University community can access this data by entering user names and passwords if not already logged in to the Ball State University network: 

• In order to map a network drive, click on the Start button; right-click "Computer;" then click "Explore."
• In the Tools menu or on the Graphical User Interface (GUI), click "Map Network Drive."
• In the Drive box, click the drive letter "L."  (Note: By default ArcGIS Desktop uses full path names. Always map data to the same letter drive in order to avoid having to repair the data source when opening a map document).
• In the Folder box, type \\libgis\data.  (If not logged in to the BSU network, a BSU user name and password will be needed to access this data).

The data on this server is read-only, so needed datasets must be copied and pasted (using ArcCatalog) to an iLocker folder or a USB drive.  Also, the data on the server was provided by the Delaware and Henry County GIS Departments and must be used for education and research purposes only and may not be provided to third parties.

A tutorial with screenshots explaining how to map to the GIS Data Server is available on the GRMC Webpage.  For more information about using GIS, please contact Angela Gibson, GIS Specialist, at 765-285-1097.

GIS Map of the Life of President John F. Kennedy

ESRI GIS Map and Video Depicts the Life of John F. Kennedy

On the 50^th anniversary of the assassination of John F. Kennedy, leading GIS software developer ESRI has created an interactive story map of the major events in the life of the former president.  “Even though he was only President for three years, John F. Kennedy has become one of the most iconic individuals in American history."

Users can take a geographic tour of key moments in Kennedy’s life, from his birth in Brookline, Massachusetts, through his early travels in Europe, his tour of duty during World War II with the U.S. Navy, to his speech at the Berlin Wall, to his assassination in Dallas, Texas.  The map also features videos of famous speeches and how the geography of Dealey Plaza affected the events on November 22, 1963.  The map and video may also be embedded in other Web sites.

For more information about using story maps, visit the ESRI Web page or the Storytelling with Maps gallery.

(Photograph above shows candidate John Kennedy visiting  Muncie, Indiana, in 1960 and is from the Ball State University Libraries' Archives and Special Collections.  All rights reserved).

Gettysburg Maps Available from Ball State University Libraries

“Four Score and Seven Years Ago…” 

Gettysburg Maps Available from Ball State University Libraries

The National Park Service is commemorating the 150^th anniversary of the Gettysburg Address with special events at the Gettysburg National Military Park on November 16-23.  President Lincoln delivered the famous address—which defined the meaning of the war—on November 19, 1863 at the dedication of a cemetery.

The Ball State University Libraries’ GIS Research and Map Collection (GRMC) on the second floor of Bracken Library includes various maps of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.  A National Geographic map, 1863: Turning Point of the Civil War, shows the movements of two infantry regiments between Chancellorsville and Gettysburg.

Gettysburg, Pennsylvania: Illustrated Gettysburg Battlefield Map and Story (top above, click to enlarge) was published in 1959 and includes Civil War troops’ movements and positions.  The map also includes several points of interest.

The map, Gettysburg Battlefield, (bottom map above) was published by McElfresh Map Company in 1994.  This set of maps includes depictions of the first, second and third days’ battlefield and are printed reproductions of watercolor originals.  The maps include land use, vegetation cover, field crops, field lines, and farmers’ names as in 1863.

The map, Gettysburg Invasion and Retreat, was published as a part of the Maryland Civil War trails series and is a regional tourist map showing Civil War-related points of interest and recommended highway tours in five Maryland counties and adjacent parts of Pennsylvania.

The Maps of Gettysburg: An Atlas of the Gettysburg Campaign, June 3-July 13, 1863 was published in 2007 and is available from the Atlas Collection.  The atlas includes 144 full-page color enhanced maps that cover the advance, battle, and retreat.

Maps from the GRMC circulate for two weeks or longer.  Atlases circulate for 28 days. 

For more information about these maps or other cartographic resources, please contact Melissa Gentry in the GRMC at 765-285-1097.

Ball State University Immersive Learning Project Speaker at Bracken Library

The Lenape on the Wapahani River:  Friends of Bracken Library Program November 19 at Ball State University Libraries

Christopher Flook, Instructor in the Ball State University Department of Telecommunications, will present a program “The Lenape on the Wapahani River” for the Friends of Alexander M. Bracken Library on Tuesday, November 19 at 7:30 p.m. in Bracken Library room 104.  Flook and students Kayla Eiler and Alina Beteringhe will detail the history of Native Americans who settled along the White River and the documentary film being created as an immersive learning project.

The event is free and open to the public. Free parking is available in the Emens parking structure next to Bracken Library after 7:00 p.m.  For more information, please contact John Straw at 765-285-5078 or jstraw@bsu.edu.  

Ball State University Libraries' GIS Research and Map Collection Offers Community Maps Class

The History Geography Maps Class at Cornerstone Center for the Arts November 18

The Ball State University Libraries’ GIS Research and Map Collection (GRMC) will be presenting a class for the community featuring maps from the collection.  The class will be held at the Cornerstone Center for the Arts (520 East Main, Muncie) on November 18 at 6:00.

Muncie’s Maps: A Hidden History will explore the history of the city of Muncie and the state of Indiana using maps from the GRMC.  More than just cartographic resources, maps can shed light on the history, economy, and culture of a place.  Historic maps will show the evolution of the city from a Native American village on the White River to a metropolitan city during the Gas Boom to an industrial center to the diverse city of today.

For more information about the class, visit the Cornerstone Web page or call Carly Acree King, Director of Education and Communication, at 765-281-9503.  Contact Melissa Gentry in the GRMC at 765-285-1097.  

Native American Heritage Month Map Exhibit at Ball State University Libraries

Native American Heritage Month Maps Exhibit

The Ball State University Libraries’ GIS Research and Map Collection (GRMC) is commemorating Native American Heritage Month with a special exhibit in Bracken Library.  The exhibit features maps and photographs from The Historical Atlas of Native Americans by Ian Barnes, which is available in the GRMC and Atlas Collection on the second floor of Bracken Library.

The maps include depictions of the ancient Native American culture and trade areas, Pontiac’s and Tecumseh’s Wars, Chief Joseph’s retreat, Indian wars in the west from 1850-1900, and Native American resettlement areas.  Photographs include prominent figures in Native American history—Sitting Bull, Sarah Winnemucca, Ely Samuel Ponder, Osceola, Gertrude Simmons Bonnin, and Tecumseh.  Other photographs show Oglala warriors on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota in 1908 and Comanche code talkers from World War II.

The exhibit is available in PDF-format from the Ball State University Libraries’ Cardinal Scholar.  Teachers and others may print off a copy of the exhibit for use in the classroom or other projects and displays for research and learning.

This exhibit is located in the front windows of the GRMC on the second floor of Bracken Library and will be available through the month of November. 

For more information about these cartographic resources, please contact the GRMC at 765-285-1097.

Ball State University Celebrates GIS Day November 20

Ball State University GIS Day November 20, 2013

GIS Day is celebrated this year on Wednesday, November 20.  The Ball State University GIS Knowledge Group will be hosting an event in Bracken Library in the Schwartz Complex and Bracken Library room 104 located just off the lobby from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Visitors can learn about GIS resources on campus, watch brief presentations from faculty, students, and staff describing class and research projects incorporating GIS methods, and view posters created by GIS users around campus.  A poster and presentation competition will award prizes to participants showcasing their work.

Presentations begin at 11 through noon.  The poster competition begins at noon, and users can browse information about GIS software and data resources on campus and participate in a question and answer session with the GIS Knowledge Group at this time.  More presentations will be held from 1 to 2 p.m.

Faculty, staff, and students interested in presenting one of the five-minute overviews about class or research GIS projects can contact Angela Gibson to reserve a block of time for the presentation at asgibson2@bsu.edu

GIS users wishing to create a GIS project poster for the competition may print posters free of charge in the Cooper Science GIS lab.  Contact Zaine Venter for information about printing at zventer@bsu.edu

This event is free and open to the public.  Anyone interested in GIS technology is invited to participate, view the posters and presentations, and vote for the best GIS projects.  For more information, please contact the Ball State University Libraries’ GIS Research and Map Collection at 765-285-1097. 

GIS Day Events

Indiana GIS Day and Conference Set for November 5, 2013

From Indiana Geographic Information Council Newsletter

Explore the innovative ways GIS is used to improve government operations.  GIS has the unique capability to help explain large amounts of information via maps and graphics using location information.  Cross-agency applications appear seamless when data is merged into a GIS.  See and learn the many new avenues for using this increasingly important technology.

The Indiana GIS Day and Conference will be held at the Indiana Government Center South Conference Center at 402 West Washington Street in Indianapolis on Tuesday, November 5 from 8:30 am to 3:00 pm.  Registration is free.  Anyone who plans, manages, or performs any geospatial activities will benefit from attending this event.  Presentations and resources are for GIS users at all levels of experience and include Arc Hydro:  GIS for Water Resources, How to Unlock the GIS Data Vault, When Good Maps Go Bad (Cartography), and How to Preserve and Integrate Historic Sanborn Maps in Your GIS.  Pre-registration is required.

The Ball State University Libraries’ GIS Research and Map Collection (GRMC) will be hosting GIS Day in Bracken Library from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm on Wednesday, November 20.  This event will feature learning sessions and a poster display.

For more information, please contact Jim Sparks, Indiana Geographic Information Officer, at 317-234-5889 or Angela Gibson, Ball State University Libraries GIS Specialist, at 765-285-1097.  A full agenda is available on the Indiana Geographic Information Council Web page.

Cuban Missile Crisis Maps from Ball State University Libraries

Thirteen Days in October:  Mapping the Cuban Missile Crisis

Today, October 14, marks the day in 1962 when United States photographic intelligence revealed evidence of nuclear missile—medium-range (MRBM) and intermediate-range (IRBM)—sites in Cuba delivered from the Soviet Union.  The date marks the anniversary of what became known as the “Cuban Missile Crisis” as President Kennedy set up a blockade of Soviet ships to Cuba and considered attacking Cuba if the missile sites were not dismantled and returned to the Soviet Union.

The maps above (click to enlarge) depict the geography of the world on the brink of nuclear war.  The top map is from the Palgrave Concise Atlas of the Cold War published in 2003.  The map shows the area of the United States and other countries that were threatened by Soviet missiles launched from Cuba.  The map also shows the area covered by U.S. air patrols and key military bases, including one at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

The second map is from the Historical Atlas of the United States also published in 2003.  This map shows the supply route and Soviet ports used to deliver the missiles to Cuba.  The countries in blue represent NATO and U.S. allies, while the peach color represents countries allied with the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact.  Concentric circles show the ranges of intermediate-range and medium-range missiles launched from Cuba.

The atlases are available from the Atlas Collection on the second floor of Bracken Library.  Atlases circulate from the library for 28 days or longer, and the maps can easily be scanned for use in papers, presentations, and other research and learning.

For more information, please contact the GIS Research and Map Collection at 765-285-1097.

Exploration Maps Available at Ball State University Libraries

Columbus Day:  Mapping Where Christopher Columbus Discovered America

The Ball State University Libraries’ GIS Research and Map Collection (GRMC) on the second floor of Bracken Library includes a collection of maps and atlases depicting the routes of European explorers. 

The map above (click to enlarge) shows the routes of Christopher Columbus’ journeys between Spain and the Caribbean.  The map was published by the National Geographic Society in 1986 and identified new evidence that marked Columbus’ landfall at Samana Cay, a large uninhabited island in the Bahamas.

Another map from the National Geographic Society, The Explorers, shows the voyages and travels of explorers beginning in A.D. 100 through the 1900’s and includes the exploration of the Arctic and Antarctica.

Historical Atlas of Exploration: 1492-1600 and Atlas of Exploration are also available from the Atlas Collection.  These atlases include maps and charts about the great discoveries in geography and mapping.

Maps from the GRMC circulate for two weeks or longer, and atlases circulate for 28 days or longer.

For more information, please contact the GRMC at 765-285-1097.

Leaf View:  Online Fall Foliage Maps

Travelers searching for the best fall colors can access fall foliage maps on The Weather Channel Web page.  Maps are divided in nine regions, showing peak times or users can click on an individual state from the list.  The maps are updated daily and list conditions as patchy, near peak, peak, and past peak.  Most of the maps currently show no change:  “Only occasional patches of color, not fully developed.  The predominant color is still green.” 

The Brown County Indiana “Leaf Cam” is also now available online.  The camera is mounted high above one of the overlooks of the county so viewers can watch the changing of the leaves.  Typically the peak time for change in Brown County is the second or third week of October, but weather affects the times of the changing colors.

Hispanic Heritage Month, September 15, 2013

Hispanic Heritage Month Map Exhibit at Ball State University Libraries' GIS Research and Map Collection

The Ball State University Libraries' GIS Research and Map Collection (GRMC) is commemorating Hispanic Heritage Month with a special map exhibit.  The exhibit includes maps, charts, and photographs from The Atlas of Hispanic-American History from the Atlas Collection on the second floor of Bracken Library.  Included are maps of the attack on the Alamo, the California mission system, New Spain, and styles of Latin music.  Charts and photographs also describe Cesar Chavez and the United Farm Workers Movement.

The exhibit is posted in the front windows of the GRMC on the second floor of Bracken Library through October 15.  The Atlas of Hispanic-American History is available for circulation from the Atlas Collection.

For more information, please contact the GRMC at 765-285-1097.

Washington Navy Yard Maps

Maps of Washington, D.C. and Washington Navy Yard from Ball State University Libraries

The Ball State University Libraries' GIS Research and Map Collection (GRMC) includes a large collection of maps of Washington, D.C. and the surrounding area.  The top map shows the location of the Washington Navy Yard in the top right corner (click to enlarge).  This United States Geological Survey topographic maps shows the location compared to Washington National Airport, the Pentagon, and Arlington National Cemetery.  The second map was published by H.M. Gousha and includes updated roads and tunnels.

For more information, please contact the GRMC at 765-285-1097.

Syria Maps Available from Ball State University Libraries

Maps in the News: Syria

The Ball State University Libraries’ GIS Research and Map Collection (GRMC) has a significant collection of maps of Syria and the Middle East.  The maps include both historic maps of the country and the region and new, updated maps.

The image shown above (top, click to enlarge) is from a historic pictorial map of Syria from 1943 called “Illustrated Syria.”  The map depicts agricultural and industrial products and places of interest, including parts of Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon, and then Palestine.  An inset map shows main roads, air routes, railroads, pipelines, and political divisions.  The map text is written in English and Arabic.

Other maps of Syria in the collection include tourist maps, maps of archaeological sites, road maps with images of sites of interest, economic activity maps, and land use and population maps.  A unique tectonic sketch map showing oil wells and petroleum exploration from 1978 was produced by the Foreign Scouting Service.  Four sets of topographic maps of Syria at varying scales are also available.  Newer maps showing administrative divisions and relief show the changing borders of the region, and many of the maps include the Golan Heights.  City maps of Syria are also featured in the collection, including a reproduction of a bird’s eye view map of Damascus from 1575.

The most up-to-date maps of Syria are published by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), and the GRMC includes hundreds of political and physical maps in this collection.  The collection of CIA maps is also available online in the Digital Media Repository.  The Ball State University Libraries’ Digital Media Repository provides online access to a variety of primary source materials and cartographic resources.  This collection, Maps of the World, provides digital maps of nearly 200 regional and national maps.  These public domain maps reflect the most current changes in national borders and territories.

The Atlas Collection on the second floor of Bracken Library also includes resources on Syria and the Middle East.  The Historical Atlas of Syria and the Lonely Planet Atlas of Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon are available for circulation for one month or longer.

Maps from the GRMC circulate for two weeks or longer.

For more information, please contact the GRMC at 765-285-1097.