Comments on: Strange maps

By: Elizabeth

Elizabeth — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 18:17:59 +0000

My Man Godfrey is one of my favorite films. It is so deep, and at times even very dark. I have a soft spot for all those old Hollywood in their glory days movies. They’re all so great and thought provoking.

By: Justine

Justine — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 02:56:41 +0000

Elizabeth: Thanks for the suggestions. I have read/seen all of those. Isn’t My Man Godfrey wonderful? Not that the others aren’t as well. But I have a large Powell and Lombard soft spt.

By: Elizabeth

Elizabeth — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 02:50:36 +0000

Justine:

I took a class on the great depression a couple of years ago and have a couple of sources, if you would like. The first is the book ironically titled “The Great Depression” by Robert McElvaine. Some great films from that era that chronicle the depression really well are “My Man Godfrey,” “Stage Door,” and “It Happened One Night.” Many of them have the happy endings stereotypical with this time, but they offer some real insight into women’s roles and the difficulties of the fallen man.

Hope that helps.

By: Justine

Justine — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 21:43:31 +0000

Cathy: It is, indeed. Now that I’m back from tour for a while I’m planning on visiting again. They have zillions of photos and diaries and letters and so forth I need to have a squiz at.

By: cathy

cathy — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 21:30:40 +0000

Is the New-York Historical Society still in existence? I interviewed with them for an internship tears ago, and they had an extensive map collection. A lot of the maps, which were incredibly detailed, had been generated by insurance companies. Which makes sense when you think about it, because if you’re going to sell, for example, fire insurance, you’d want to know precisely where the buildings with all the really flammable stuff were, such as garment factories.

By: Justine

Justine — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 20:21:55 +0000

PixelFish: Not at all! You were spot on. I’d just add that I was also mocking Australians. Especially those Sydneysiders and Melbournites who consider the rest of the country of zero interest.

By: PixelFish

PixelFish — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 19:10:15 +0000

Hi, Justine. I hope you’ll forgive my presumption in the analysis of your text and your own experiences. Glad you found the Strange Maps blog interesting enough to share with everybody–I found it via Making Light myself so it’s a semi-new discovery for me as well.

By: Justine

Justine — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 14:32:48 +0000

Jennifer: Thanks for the suggestions. I have indeed got a copy of the WPA guide. Two actually: an original and the reprint.

So far the libraries I’ve tried have not had what I’m looking for. I begin to suspect it does not exist.

By: jennifer

jennifer — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 10:44:02 +0000

Hi, a few thoughts — one, have you looked at the WPA Guide to NYC (it was republished several years ago, but I’m sure a library would have either the original — done in the 1930s by writers, artists, etc. through the Works Progress Admin. funding — or the republished). That’s a fascinating source of info.

A map library (most universities of a certain size have one) might be a good place to check for maps of the time. Call/email ahead to see if someone can help you.