Map Embodying the Information Received by the Committee on Meteorology of the Franklin Institute of the State of Pennsylvania in Relation to the Storm of March, 16th, 17th, & 18th, 1838, Illustrating the Report of the Meteorologist. (Historical Map)

Map Embodying the Information Received by the Committee on Meteorology of the Franklin Institute of the State of Pennsylvania in Relation to the Storm of March, 16th, 17th, & 18th, 1838, Illustrating the Report of the Meteorologist.

This is the first U.S. weather map. In his accompanying report, Espy states that the committee received back 50 responses from the 250 circulars it sent out to different parts of the United States and Canada regarding this notable storm. The map represents the assembled data, with reporting stations numbered from 1 to 50, roughly in order from south to north and from west to east as the storm was tracked. The three large circles show the eastern progress of the storm over the three days. Readings of barometric pressure, arrows for wind direction and relative strength, and descriptive words for precipitation/sky (rain/sleet/hail/snow, clear/fair/cloudy/heavy) are provided in the cells of small tables (three or four rows by two or three columns) printed next to each station number. Morning and evening results, if given, appear in adjacent cells of a row, and each row represents a different day (March 16, 17, 18, and sometimes 19). Like a time-delay photograph, the map nicely traces the regional movement of the storm, but graphic methods (shading, color, use of symbols) have not been developed yet to replace Espy’s data tables.

James P. Espy

From Espy’s “Report of the Committee on Meteorology” in Journal of the Franklin Institute of the State of Pennsylvania and Mechanics’ Register.

Philadelphia [Pa.]: : Published by the Franklin Institute, at their hall; F. Taylor, Washington City; G. & C. Carvill & Co., New York; and Joseph H. Francis, Boston., -1841.

1838

Devoted to Mechanical and Physical Science, Civil Engineering, the Arts and Manufactures and the Recording of American and Other Patented Inventions, n.s., 22 (1838): 161–175

Lithograph map, 23 × 27 cm.

English

Northeastern United States; Pennsylvania

James P. Espy

Map part of accompanying report on Meteorology.

Lithograph map, 23 × 27 cm.

[Historic Maps Collection]

American Antiquarian Society Historical Periodicals

http://libweb5.princeton.edu/visual_materials/maps/websites/thematic-maps/quantitative/meteorology/espy-map-1838.jpg

1838

March, 16th, 17th, & 18th, 1838