Photo By Leon Roberts | A 16-foot replica of an 1888 Muscle Shoals Map is on display at the U.S. Army Corps of...... read more read more
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NASHVILLE, Tenn. – An 1874 military map of Middle Tennessee and 1888 map of Muscle Shoals were recently restored and replicas of them are now being showcased in the Barlow Conference Room located at the headquarters of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District.
Librarian Tammy Kirk said the Nashville District is in possession of the original maps, but is using scanned copies for display in order to preserve the originals.
“I took both maps to the Tennessee State Library and Archives where the preservationists taught me how to clean and preserve them,” Kirk said. “The Muscle Shoals map was in very good shape, considering its age and size. We just used soft dry sponges, much like a make-up sponge, to clean the front and back.”
She said the military map of Middle Tennessee was worn, torn and even separating from its backing in many areas, especially where it was creased and folded.
“We cleaned it using the same soft sponges. We also used soft erasers for more soiled areas. We used paste made from wheat flour to glue the torn and flaked areas. Finally, we encased the map in Mylar creating a static charge to hold loose flakes in place,” Kirk explained.
The Nashville District printed a scanned copy of the military map that already existed in the Library of Congress to use for display. However, Kirk had to get the Muscle Shoals map scanned and printed because it is the only known copy.
Lt. Col. John W. Barlow, the first Nashville District commander, authorized the creation of the Muscle Shoals map, which is more than 16 feet long. Although the map was scanned in three segments and digitally stitched together to form one digital product, it was printed in one piece. The aluminum backing is composed of two-eight-foot pieces that had to be bonded together before the single print could be adhered to the bonded material for display in the room that is named in Barlow’s honor. The process saved considerable work, expense, and degree of difficulty in managing the installation of the finished piece, which crews completed Sept. 15.
The original maps were discovered in storage in 2012 when Corps of Engineers office spaces were cleared out and renovated at the Estes Kefauver Federal Building in Nashville. Donald Dean, lockmaster at Wheeler Lock on the Tennessee River, came into possession of the maps, but Lt. Col. James A. DeLapp, the commander at the time, retrieved them. The commander wanted to display them at the time, but hanging the fragile originals could have damaged them. The librarian took possession and developed a long-term plan to restore and preserve them, and to display replicas.
Kirk said restoring, scanning and displaying copies of the original maps better serves the natural curiosity of people who like to get close to them and enjoy their historical significance.
“People can get up close to them without fear of doing any damage. They are now very accessible,” Kirk said.
Lt. Col. John L. Hudson, Nashville District commander, said displaying these maps is significant given that the maps were important documents used by engineers in the early days when the district had far-reaching impact on regional development.
“These maps have historical significance and serve as a reminder of the impact the Corps of Engineers has had in the development of both the Cumberland River and Tennessee River basins,” Hudson said.
(For news, information and updates please follow the Nashville District on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/nashvillecorps and on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/nashvillecorps)
| Date Taken: | 09.16.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 09.16.2014 17:50 |
| Story ID: | 142354 |
| Location: | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE, US |
| Web Views: | 97 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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