Lessons learned from using historical maps to create a digital gazetteer of historical places

Abstract

ABSTRACT The purpose of this document is to provide guidance to new and inexperienced gazetteer builders, especially those constructing a digital gazetteer of historical places using historical maps, and in particular those building a gazetteer as a means to an end of answering specific research questions vs. those building a gazetteer as an end in itself to be used by the general research community. In support of this target audience, the following is an accumulation of lessons learned while using historical maps to create digital gazetteers of historical places. The lessons cover gazetteer planning, design, and construction issues. As an overview of how to use historical maps to create a digital gazetteer of historical places, this document can provide new and inexperienced gazetteer builders with starting points for in-depth study of these and associated issues. An example gazetteer is provided to illustrate the lessons covered here.