McCasland Maps Go Live in November
September 30, 2008
For Immediate Release
STILLWATER - Two years and more than 1,000 maps later, the OSU Library is pleased to present the McCasland Digital Collection of Early Oklahoma and Indian Territory Maps. The project extends open and free access via the Internet to a rich source of Oklahoma history.
This project was made possible thanks to a gift of over $76,000 from the McCasland Foundation. The McCasland Digital Collection of Early Oklahoma and Indian Territory Maps has ensured the ultimate preservation of hundreds of early Oklahoma and Indian Territory maps. These fragile maps are scarce and not readily available outside of a few research libraries nationwide. The project extends open and free access via the Internet to this rich source of Oklahoma history.
“We are very grateful to the McCasland Foundation for their support not only of this project but many other efforts at the OSU Library,” said Jennifer Paustenbaugh, associate dean for planning and assessment. “These maps are a valuable resource to Oklahoma history scholars. Time has deteriorated them, and these important documents could have been lost were it not for this preservation and access project.”
The maps for this project are among the earliest official documents produced by the U.S. government. These early publications were collated into the U.S. Congressional Serial Set. The OSU Library is fortunate to own the largest paper collection of Serial Set volumes in Oklahoma.
These maps are of great historical significance to scholars, genealogists and the general public, but they are extremely rare; their condition is fragile and continues to deteriorate with time. Thanks to a gift of over $76,000 from the McCasland Foundation, these maps will be preserved for generations to come.
McCasland Digital Collection of Early Oklahoma and Indian Territory Maps is online at http://okmaps.library.okstate.edu/.
This is the second major project McCasland has sponsored at the OSU Library. In addition, the McCasland Foundation supports OSU/Okmulgee, the College of Arts and Sciences, KOSU, the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, the Center for Veterinary Health Sciences and the General University Fund.
Oklahoma State University is a modern land-grant system that cuts across disciplines to better prepare students for a new world. Oklahoma's only university with a statewide presence, OSU improves the lives of people in Oklahoma, the nation, and the world through integrated, high-quality teaching, research and outreach. OSU has more than 32,000 students across its five-campus system and nearly 21,000 on its Stillwater campus; with students from all 50 states and about 110 nations. Established in 1890, OSU has graduated more than 200,000 students who have made a lasting impact on Oklahoma and the world. CREATE - INNOVATE - EDUCATE - GO STATE!
URL: http://www.library.okstate.edu/news/fall07/maps.htm
Last Updated: 14 November 2008
