Women and Cartography in the Progressive Era

In the twenty-first century we speak of a geospatial revolution, but over one hundred years ago another mapping revolution was in motion. Womens lives were in motion: they were playing a greater role in public on a variety of fronts. As women became more mobile (physically, socially, politically), they used and created geographic knowledge and maps. The maps created by American women were in motion too: created, shared, distributed as they worked to transform their landscapes. Long overlooked, this womens work represents maps and mapping that today we would term community or participatory mapping, critical cartography and public geography. These historic examples of women-generated mapping represent the adoption of cartography and geography as part of womens work. While cartography and map use are not new, the adoption and application of this technology and form of communication in womens work and in multiple examples in the context of their social work, is unprecedented. This study explores the implications of womens use of this technology in creating and presenting information and knowledge and wielding it to their own ends. This pioneering and original book will be essential reading for those working in Geography, Gender Studies, Womens Studies, Politics and History.