Mapping Isabella Bird: Geolocation & Unbeaten Tracks in Japan (1880)

About

This website is an open-source hub for students, educators, and researchers interested in the history of explorer Isabella Lucy Bird (1831-1904). It uses her example to explore the relationship between maps, explorers, visual culture, and tourism in Japan in the late nineteenth century. The website is run and maintained by Dr. Christina M. Spiker since 2017. She first became interested in Isabella Bird while completing her doctoral dissertation on indigenous Ainu representation in the exploration of Hokkaido.

Many of the interactive maps found on this site are powered by tabular data (spreadsheets) culled from historical texts freely available on Archive.org and HathiTrust Digital Library. These sources are in the public domain. This information is visualized through various geospatial mapping applications, such as CARTO, ArcGIS, Mapbox, Leaflet, and StoryMapJS. These maps are then placed into context alongside examples of relevant visual culture.


The project is still in its infancy, but collaborations are encouraged and welcome. If you or your classroom would like to become involved, please don't hesitate to get in touch by leaving a comment below.

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