The Map Room

In the Daily Herald of Arlington Heights, Illinois, Diane Dretske writes an essay in praise of county atlases:

County atlases were certainly a marketing tool to sell books, but they occurred at just the right time in American history when farms and small communities were beginning to prosper. The atlas became a symbol of local achievements, boasting the accomplishments of farmers. Midwestern farmers were especially fond of the gilt-lettered atlases, putting them on parlor tables and proudly turning to the page where their farms were featured. …

Historic atlases are one of the most requested collections for research at the Lake County Discovery Museum’s archives [where Dretske works]. County atlases are rare, due in part to their heavy use by owners and large size that made them difficult to store properly.