Citing digital image from historical atlas in online map collection

By LKC on Sun, 11/28/2021 - 17:09

Forums

I'm seeking advice on the best way to cite a digital image of one titled plate from an 1859 atlas reproduced on the David Rumsey Map Collection website. The image can be found at https://bit.ly/3lh8HX3.

This requires a layered reference note, and I'm inclined to put the digital collection before the atlas because the Rumsey site was my source. Or is it more appropriate to follow the format for a digital image edition of a previously printed book? 

Rumsey identifies the creator and engraver of the maps as J. L. Hazzard, but I don't recall seeing an engraver named as author for an atlas. In that case, my citation would be something like this:

“A New Map of the State of Iowa,” digital image, David Rumsey Historical Map Collection (www.davidrumsey.com : accessed 28 November 2021), citing Samuel Augustus Mitchell, A New Universal Atlas Containing Maps of the various Empires, Kingdoms, States and Republics of the World ((Philadelphia: Charles Desilver, 1859), p. 35.

I found an1849 edition of the atlas in the Library of Congress' map collection at http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.gmd/g3200m.gcws0186, and it names Mitchell as both author and publisher. The LOC provides an example of a Chicago-style citation thus: 

Mitchell, S. Augustus. A new universal atlas containing maps of the various empires, kingdoms, states and republics of the world: with a special map of each of the United States, plans of cities &c., comprehended in seventy sheets and forming a series of one hundred and seventeen maps, plans, and sections. Philadelphia: Published by S. Augustus Mitchell, 1849. Map. https://www.loc.gov/item/map46000376/.

Here's another example of a Chicago-style citation offered by the LOC:

D.B. Cooke & Co. D.B. Cooke & Co's railway guide for Illinois shewing all the stations with their respective distances connecting with Chicago. Chicago, 1855. Map. https://www.loc.gov/item/gm70002897/.

My version keeping the redundant publisher name would be:

D. B. Cooke & Co. D. B. Cooke & Co.'s railway guide for Illinois shewing all the stations with their respective distances connecting with Chicago (Chicago: 1855; digital image, Library of Congress (https://www.loc.gov/item/gm70002897/ : accessed 9 September 2021).

Could this be shortened as follows? D. B. Cooke & Co. Railway guide for Illinois shewing all the stations with their respective distances connecting with Chicago (Chicago: 1855); digital image, Library of Congress (https://www.loc.gov/item/gm70002897/ : accessed 9 September 2021).

Feedback and guidance welcomed!

Lesley K. Cafarelli

 

Submitted byEEon Sun, 11/28/2021 - 18:23

Lesley, for the map presented by David Rumsey, in isolation of the book to which it belongs, EE would cite the map exactly as you have done:

“A New Map of the State of Iowa,” digital image, David Rumsey Historical Map Collection (www.davidrumsey.com : accessed 28 November 2021), citing Samuel Augustus Mitchell, A New Universal Atlas Containing Maps of the Various Empires, Kingdoms, States and Republics of the World ((Philadelphia: Charles Desilver, 1859), p. 35.

Regarding the citation suggestion made by LOC, two observations are in order:

  • LOC's suggestion is a Source List or Bibliographic Style citation, not a reference note.
  • This map at LOC appears to be a standalone publication, rather than one map from an atlas that offers many different maps.

EE would cite it as you have done, without the redundant name of creator, but with the standard punctuation used for titles—i.e.:

D. B. Cooke & Co.'s Railway Guide for Illinois Shewing All the Stations with Their Respective Distances Connecting with Chicago (Chicago: 1855); digital image, Library of Congress (https://www.loc.gov/item/gm70002897/ : accessed 9 September 2021).

The name of the creator, with an added 's is part of the title. It's hard to see without enlarging the map, but the map's title does use that 's. Many mapmakers of the era included their name or company name in the title.