19 September 2005

New future plotted for old mapping

A huge collection of 50,000 maps and 1.5 million aerial photographs from around the world is destined for a number of new homes when it completes its transfer away from current custodian, Ordnance Survey, next month.

The Southampton-based agency’s International Collection is made up of maps and survey information from more than 60 countries – some of it spanning more than 100 years.

“Ordnance Survey merged with the Directorate of Overseas Surveys (DOS) in 1984 and we’ve looked after this treasure trove ever since,” says Ordnance Survey’s International Engagement Manager, Sallie White. “But we now feel it will be of greater benefit and value to the nation if it is made available through a number of specialist institutions. Not only will the move offer safekeeping for what we regard as unique public records – it will also provide access to the information for many more people.”  

 “In the past, parts of the collection have been used to help with work such as archaeological investigations, primate research, expedition planning, and even the settlement of international boundary disputes at the International Court in the Hague.

“The list of possible uses for these maps, photographs and survey records is considerable. Another example is environmental monitoring. It is possible to integrate this kind of information with remote-sensing data and trace long-term trends in vegetation over large parts of the developing world.”

The collection is being made available to the public via The National Archives, The British Empire and Commonwealth Museum in Bristol, The British Film Institute’s National Film and Television Archive, The Royal Geographical Society in London, The University of Portsmouth, Cambridge University Library – including the Charles Close Society archive – and The Bodleian Library of Commonwealth and African Studies at the University of Oxford.

An event, marking the handover, is to be held at the Royal Geographical Society, Lowther Lodge, Kensington Gore, on Wednesday 12 October from 2.30 pm. Speakers will include Ordnance Survey Director General and Chief Executive Vanessa Lawrence and Director of the Royal Geographical Society Rita Gardner.

Also there to share his knowledge and experience of the collection will be former Ordnance Survey Director Alastair MacDonald. The event is to include an exhibition – giving visitors the chance to understand how they can get access to and use the maps, photo and survey material in future.

The National Archives (www.nationalarchives.gov.uk) will hold the DOS international boundary archive (which comprises files, maps, photographs and survey data), the original DOS archive map catalogue, selected="selected" files, 35 mm slides, photograph albums, a number of manuscript maps, a sample selection of DOS map sheets with full supporting records, and part of the book and pamphlet collection. These items have been selected="selected" with the help of a panel of experts drawn from the surveying community and including former DOS employees. They illustrate the work and scope of DOS and its predecessor bodies. Work is currently underway to catalogue and prepare these items for public access.

The British Empire and Commonwealth Museum in Bristol (www.empiremuseum.co.uk) has the air photos (together with cover diagrams, film reference cards and so on, and the original DOS Wild Stereoscope) on permanent deposit. A second set of the DOS mapping and relevant items from the book library have also been placed with the Museum’s Library.  These records will be available to the public in the near future.

The British Film Institute’s National Film and Television Archive (www.bfi.org.uk/index.html) will preserve a small number of cinematic films.

The Royal Geographical Society (RGS) in London (www.rgs.org) have a complete set of the maps created by DOS and its predecessor and successor organisations. This part of the Collection is now available to the public. Some of the non-DOS mapping has also been transferred to the RGS and added to their collection.

The University of Portsmouth (http://www.port.ac.uk/departments/academic/geography/) will receive parts of the book and pamphlet collection as a contribution to the history of cartography project.

Efforts have been made to ensure that there is a complete record of DOS mapping in Cambridge University Library (a Legal Deposit Library) http://www.lib.cam.ac.uk/maps/Home.htm
In addition, many DOS map production record files have been presented to the Charles Close Society (http://www.charlesclosesociety.org.uk/ccshome.htm) for incorporation into The Charles Close Society Archives, which are housed in Cambridge University Library’s Map Department.

The Bodleian Library of Commonwealth and African Studies at Rhodes House in the University of Oxford (http://www.lib.ox.ac.uk/libraries/guides/RHO.html; http://african-environments.ouce.ox.ac.uk/) has a duplicate set of air photographs, formerly in the care of the University of Greenwich and the School of Oriental and African Studies.

For information about the Ordnance Survey International Collection, visit www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/aboutus/international

 

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