Did You Know #16 Interactive Timelines

When developing research projects, a timeline of events can be extremely helpful for illustrating the sequence and inter-connectivity of concepts. Dipity is an online resource which enables you to create interactive timelines and includes a timeline, flipbook, list and map view. On the main page the site includes a top news story theme and provides an interactive timeline of events. Below are some examples of the Timeline and Map functions in Dipity related to the H1N1 Vaccine.


The dipity website also enables you to create a login where you can add content from Flickr, and RSS feed, blogs, YouTube, Twitter, and several other sources dynamically. You can even create individual events and add them to the timeline. Once you have created your timeline, post the link to Twitter, Facebook, Myspace, or embed the timeline widget on your own website!

Have fun experimenting with this site and share your feedback with us below.

Special Thanks to Steven Park from the University of Connecticut Learning Resource Center for sharing this link with us.

Did You Know? #15 GeoMentor Seeking Educators

Outside the Neatline (overseen by the University of Connecticut Libraries Map and Geographic Information Center) is seeking a GeoMentor relationship with formal(public/private schools) and informal educators(Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, etc...) in the state of Connecticut. What exactly does a GeoMentor do?

"A GeoMentor 'adopts' a school, class, or club and supports the educator/s in working with youth. Using tools of geography (such as maps and globes, atlases, charts, imagery, and field work), the GeoMentor helps the educator and youth develop skills in geographic thinking." ~ GeoMentor.org

Since Outside the Neatline is integrated with MAGIC we can offer access to one of the nations premier map collections, online geospatial data, knowledgeable mapping professionals. We are eager to create learning opportunities that provide interdisciplinary research and learning experiences.

Please watch the video below featuring the release of the GeoMentor program and visit the website to learn more about the program at http://geomentor.org

If you have any interest or questions concerning the program please contact Jeff Dunn at:

jeffrey.dunn@uconn.edu
or
magic@uconn.edu

Please use "Outside the Neatline" in the subject line for both addresses.

Map of the Week #7 - Montana 1911

State of Montana - Department of the Interior General Land Office Map - 1911

While searching for maps of Yellowstone National Park, this gorgeous map of Montana was discovered while exploring the map collection at MAGIC. This 1911 map includes Indian Reserves, National Parks, Reclamation Projects and U.S. Land Offices as well as several other features.

This map includes railroad lines and it is clearly visible that the Northern Pacific Railroad has a spur line which provides passengers with access to Yellowstone National Park. The desire to connect Yellowstone via rail is clearly evident in the History of Northern Pacific Railroad by Eugene V. Smalley in1883 which is included below.


Explore this map in the original size view (this may take a few moments to load) and share the amazing features relevant to your research with us by posting a comment.

Did You Know? #14 Holy Bjerknes! El Nino in the News.

"The sky is falling! ...err... I mean... Balloon Boy is coming!"
No, nothing as eventful as that... What I really meant to say is "El Nino is coming! "

Thankfully, there is no need to wonder if your life will be impacted. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration(NOAA) has released their winter outlook report highlighting the effects of the latest El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) event. Not sure what ENSO is all about? The below animation shows what happens to ocean water temperatures and heights in the Pacific Ocean during an ENSO event. Following the animation is a link that will take you to a site that describes ENSO in more detail.

Follow this link for a description about the events that take place during an El Nino.

If you're living in New England, don't blame the weather on ENSO! Check out the maps below created by NOAA to see which areas of the United States will be affected. Oh yeah, Want to know what that "Holy Bjerknes" business is all about? Click Here!

Did You Know? #13 European Union

Historical maps from a large selection of libraries in the European Union are now available to search and download from Europeana. Europeana links you (the world) to over 4.6 million digital items from collections that include the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, the British Library in London and the Louvre in Paris. Oh, and if maps are not your thing there's art, text, audio and video there too!

Map of the Week #6 - Columbus, Ohio

Map Showing the Great Coal Fields, Natural Gas Fields, Steam and Electric Railroads: and All Important Towns, Villages, and Streams Tributary to Columbus Within a Radius of 70 miles

Flickr Link

The above map depicts the city of Columbus, Ohio in 1902 in an azimuthal projection with the center focused on the city of Columbus. This unique perspective includes a limited view of the region with a 70 mile range and highlights numerous gas and coal fields along with railroads connecting the region.

A notable location on the map includes the Hocking Coal Fields (southeast of Columbus) which includes New Straitsville, Ohio. This was the site of the 1884 coal miners strike where striking coal miners planned for their strike in Robinson's Cave, and pushed burning coal cars into a coal mine owned by the New Straitsville Mining Company, setting the mine ablaze.


















While not completed until 1903, the Columbus, Delaware, and Marion interurban electric railway is clearly depicted on this map.
























There are several other interesting locations on this map. Feel free to share you favorites by including them in the comments for this blog post.

Map of the Week# 5 Chicago's World Fair 1893

Visitors map created on Rand McNally & Co's. Map of Chicago 1890

Flikr Link

The above map was modified to give visitors to the Worlds Columbian Exposition of 1893(A.K.A. The Worlds Fair) a guide to the city of Chicago and a subtle suggestion as to where to lodge, especially for the Christian visitors.

Notable locations on the map in regard to the Worlds Fair of 1893 are indicated by a red hashed area located in the southeast portion of the map. Details of the Columbian Visitors' Association's "South Shore" building and it's location in relation to the World's Fair Grounds are illuminated by an inset map set in Lake Michigan.

Above and Below: World's Fair Grounds 1893


The "South Shore" Columbian Visitors Association

While not the primary focus of the map, many of Chicago's Parks and Cemeteries are noted on the map in the color of green.

PARKS:
Some well known parks include Lincoln Park and Lake Park.

Left: Lincoln Park, Right: Lake Park

Lincoln Park originally served as a cemetery for the city beginning in 1843 and later became a city park in 1864. Attractions within this park include the Lincoln Park Zoo, a conservatory, and the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum.

Lake Park, now known as Grant Park was officially named as a park in 1844. Grant Park contains and links many famous Chicago attractions and events. Most notable is the Buckingham Fountain pictured below.

Connected to Grant Park in the northwest corner is Millennium Park which hosts concerts and other events. Millennium Park is also the home of the sculpture Cloud Gate, affectionately referred to as "The Bean" by locals.

Institutions located within close proximity to Grant Park include:

• Adler Planetarium & Astronomy Museum
• Field Museum of Natural History
• The Shedd Aquarium
  
• The Art Institute of Chicago

Two of Jeff's favorite events also take place at Grant Park:

1. The Taste of Chicago - Usually around the week of the 4th of July.
2. The Chicago Marathon - This year the start will take place October 11, 2009 at 7:30 a.m. Click here for the course map!

CEMETERIES:
Also noted on the map in the same shade of green as the parks are cemeteries within the city limits. These include:

Graceland Cemetery
Founded 1860

St. Boniface Cemetery
founded 1863

Oakwoods Cemetery
founded 1854

Rosehill Cemetery
founded 1859

Finally, there is one last feature on this map that I'd like to illuminate and share. The Union Stock Yards of Chicago, the source of inspiration for The Jungle published by Upton Sinclair in 1906.

Chicago has a long and interesting history, but this weeks map only provides a snap shot of the city in 1890. Hopefully I've covered some of the more interesting features, but I'm sure I've missed a multitude of fascinating stories and facts. Please feel free to take up where I've left off, there are many more parks, cemeteries, and places of interest left on the map to explore!