The Local Historian Volume 8 Number 5 February 1969

By Jones, A.G.E.

pp 160-165

In tracing the career of John Biscoe, the discoverer of parts of the Antarctic continent, the author advises in a more general sense on approaches which might be adopted towards maritime history research. He describes the ways in which he used navy lists, marriage indexes, naval journals, the records and publications of the Royal Geographical Society, naval biographies and London newspapers. Biscoe named several features and places in Antarctica, some of them after members of his family or people who had helped him in his explorations. The author shows how his career could be mapped by non-traditional 'detective' work.

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By Harley, J.B.

pp 167-179

The last article in this major series covered county maps, and summarised the general progress of cartography from the reign of Elizabeth I onwards. There is a bibliography of county maps and published sources, and Harley notes the following major stages in the development of the art of county mapping: i) the Elizabethan period, which saw the beginning of systematic regional cartography, with Christopher Saxton as the great pioneer and innovator - his work was extensively plagiarised, but in the early 17th century his main successor, John Speed, although he used Saxton's maps as a base, introduced many new features; ii) in the mid-17th century there were few new surveys, and Dutch mapmakers took over much of the English market - the period is marked by the increasing elaboration and ostentation of decorative features; iii) in the late 17th century scientific survey methods were refined and the Royal Society took an interest in cartography; iv) in the 18th century there was a rapid progress in mapmaking and map publishing, and techniques became increasingly standardised; and v) the advent of the Ordnance Survey in the early 19th century led to true national coverage at a variety of scales. Harley suggests that in using county maps the local historian should i) establish the date of map content - was it from new surveys or merely copying earlier maps; ii) identify the sources used by the mapmaker; iii) try to assess the completeness of the map and the selectivity of its detail; and iv) recognise potential bias on the part of the mapmaker in leaving out or including certain categories of information (see also 07 06 196-208; 07 07 223-231; 07 08 265-274; 08 02 61-71; 08 03 86-97).

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By Harrison, Brian

pp 180-186

A methodology for the study of the local forms of the temperance movement and the social and economic context within which it developed. The article discusses a range of key questions and issues which the researcher could investigate or address: i) the creation of a geographical plan, which maps local drinking places; ii) investigation of the social functions of public houses, including police records of drunkenness; iii) identifying the reformers and considering their social class and connections with other movements, such as Chartism; iv) researching the biographies of the leaders of temperance movements, to analyse their personalities and influences upon their thinking; v) researching the activities of the societies, looking at processions, demonstrations, campaigns, and meetings; vi) identifying links with other activities promoted by, for example, churches and chapels; vii) identifying the political leanings and linkages of the leaders and membership, including participation or campaigning in local elections; and viii) assessing the impact and effectiveness of the local movement in changing or influencing drinking habits and problems of drunkenness.