Norman B. Leventhal Map Center at the Boston Public Library

CONTACT:

700 Boylston Street, Room 377
Boston, MA 02116
617-859-2506
www.maps.bpl.org

Roni Pick, Director

DESCRIPTION:

The Boston Public Library has in its archives over 200,000 magnificent rare maps, and 5,000 unique atlases. These could be a potent educational resource for understanding human history, civilization, and the world today, but for the past 50 years the Collection has been in storage; many items need curation and all must be made more accessible. In 2004 leading Boston philanthropist Norman B. Leventhal endowed an incorporated Map Center to begin to accomplish these tasks, and last September he contributed half of his own collection—178 maps—and an additional $10 million to the Center’s endowment for general operations. Its mission is to preserve, organize, and develop the collection for research and teaching purposes— including digitalization for global Internet access, public exhibition, and curriculum development for schools. Already this world-class Collection attracts 40,000 visitors annually; its Americana Collection has been added to the “Save America’s Treasures” list; its website (www.maps.bpl.org) has been nominated for two “Best of the Web” awards. The BPL is planning a state-of-the-art home for the Collection in the historic McKim Building at Copley Square. Through philanthropy, you can participate—how about funding educational resources, map conservation, or a public event?

(2007: CULTURE: Education: Informal: Historic)