Before there was a Baylor University, before there was a Waco, and practically before there was a political subdivision known as Texas, the wild frontier that was destined to become the Lone Star State was sketched by cartographers to the best of their knowledge.

John Wilson, the interim director of The Texas Collection at Baylor University, shows a globe on display in the Frances C. Poage Map Room in Carroll Library. The room is named for Poage (picture on wall), the late wife of esteemed legislator and Central Texas historian Bob Poage.
Terri Jo Ryan photo

Whereas ancient mapmakers filled in the gaps on their charts with warnings like “Here be giants” or “Dragons roam there,” mapmakers studying this continent also tried to turn terra incognita into territory more familiar.

Intrigued by reports of the topographical features and unique aspects of the landscape, one map-maker two centuries ago labeled “New North Mexico” (Texas) with the phrase “immense herds of wild horses.”

Carroll Library at Baylor University is sharing the lore and legends behind some of its most celebrated land charts in its extensive collection with the grand opening of the Frances C. Poage Map Room at 2:30 p.m. Thursday.

Named for the late wife of the esteemed late legislator and Central Texas historian Bob Poage, the facility is the repository of some 10,000 maps, according to John Wilson, interim director of The Texas Collection.

The bulk of the holdings come from Bob Poage’s love of collecting, a passion he pursued for almost 60 years. His collection of topographic maps, along with acquisitions from the endowment, is housed in the new map room, which was designed by RBDR with millwork by Khoury of Waco.

Spreading out

A 9-foot by 9-foot table in the center of the room is where scholars and researchers can spread out while working with the maps. Under the glass-top is a large-scale reproduction of one of the originals in the collection, Wilson noted — joined by reproductions of the 1873 Bird’s Eye map of downtown Waco, and some 1869 subdivision platting.

Except for the above-mentioned décor, all the maps in the collection are the genuine originals — rips, stains and all.

The Frances C. Poage Map Room at The Texas Collection also has a cartographic reference book collection, map indices and related archival material stored for public use.
Terri Jo Ryan photo

The Frances C. Poage Map Room at The Texas Collection also has a cartographic reference book collection, map indices and related archival material stored for public use.
Terri Jo Ryan photo

To protect the fragile objects, Wilson said, the 800-square-foot room has heavy, dark curtains for keeping the sunlight out, and preserves its framed examples with 99-percent UV protective glass.

More than two dozen maps are mounted in frames the same size — 30 inches by 36 inches — because, Wilson said, he wanted them to have the same presence in the display.

Visitors will be able to see what is now Texas slowly taking shape through the years, by contrasting some of the earliest images created when geographical knowledge was sketchy. For example, a 1656 map published in Paris by the Spanish, depicts California as an island.

Later maps chronicle the often contentious borders between Texas and its neighbors — Oklahoma, New Mexico and Mexico.  

“You can see that a boundaries have always been questioned,” Wilson said.

The Poage Map Room also houses a cartographic reference book collection, map indices and related archival items stored for public use.

Wilson gives much of the credit for the years-long project or renovation and relocation to Ellen Brown, retired archivist of the Texas Collection. He also lauded the work of three students — museum studies major Robin Bischof, art major Anne Payne and business major Travis Porteous.

They have written most of the text for the displays and prepped all the maps for the exhibit, and did most of the grunt work to prepare for Frances C. Poage’s “coming out party,” he said.

Part of the opening festivities will be a 3:30 p.m. lecture Thursday by guest Toby Lester, author of “The Fourth Part of the World: The Race for the Ends of the Earth and the Epic Story of the Map that Gave America its Name.”

The presentation takes place in the Bennett Auditorium at the Draper Academic Building. After his talk, a book-signing and reception is set for The Texas Collection.

tjryan@wacotrib.com

757-5746

Terri Jo Ryan photo

Terri Jo Ryan photo