New Collab Just Dropped! 

December 16, 2024 – Yosemite National Park officials announce that Yosemite Archives is partnering with Mariposa County to conserve and digitize hundreds of maps from the Mariposa County Assessor's office. These maps show early placenames, toll roads, and early stagecoach roads, some of which are in the boundaries of what would become Yosemite National Park. These maps are critical in expanding the historic context of the park and surrounding communities. 

Paper conservator Caroline Spang is seen here (below) working on the plat of Duncan Road, which dates back to 1895 (a plat is a survey of legal boundaries and land features). She, alongside Yosemite Archives staff, is working to repair and protect these maps, some of which date back to the 1880's. The collection contains a variety of pen and ink hand-drawn maps, cyanotypes, and diazotypes which are in varying conditions. Years of use and handling have led to various tears and the loss of portions of the maps, as well as degradation in temporary fixes of tape and other adhesives. 

Through careful conservation and digitization, these important historic maps can be preserved for hundreds of years to come and will be free and available to the public online on NPGallery as the digitization process progresses.

Source & photo: NPS