Preview
Identifier
metapth288615
Description
Dr. Ferdinand von Roemer‘s 1849 map of Texas contains considerable information about trails and roads in Texas in addition to other topographical, geological, and even botanical details. It is based upon A New & Correct Map of Texas by James T. D. Wilson, published by R. W. Fishbourne in New Orleans in 1845, a map based upon Texas General Land Office surveys that is quite rare today. Among the routes, trails, and roads depicted by Roemer’s map, but also on Wilson’s, are: the route of the Texan expedition to Santa Fe in the year 1841; the Chihuahua Trail; the road between Presidio and Nacogdoches; a number of roads in eastern, central, and south Texas; roads in western Louisiana and Arkansas; and even Preston road through Dallas and Bonham to the Red River. Interestingly, the roads labeled as ferries on the eastern side of Wilson’s map („Gaines‘ Ferry“, „Junker’s Ferry,“ „Ballou’s Ferry“) Von Roemer translates more properly into German as „Fähre“ (or literally „trails“). Von Roemer (1818-1891), generally recognized today as the father of Texas geology, was a professor of paleontology from a prominent family in Hildesheim (at that time part of the Kingdom of Hanover) who came to Texas in late 1845 at the request of Baron Ottfried Hans von Meusebach, the Commissioner-General in Texas of the Adelsverein (a German Society of Nobles supporting German emigration to Texas). Von Roemer had the recommendations and financial support of members of the Berlin Academy of Sciences, including Baron Alexander von Humboldt and the great geologist and paleontologist Leopold von Buch. Von Roemer’s task in Texas was to make a careful survey of the state, particularly focusing upon areas included in the Adelsverein grant. According to most scholars, he not only accomplished this in the eighteen months he spent here, but also his effort made significant contributions to geology, paleontology, and natural history. [Gift of Jenkins Garrett]
Archival Date
1849
Location
51/9
Collection Name
Cartographic Connections
Collection Number
2004-697
Publisher
University of Texas at Arlington Libraries
Original Format
Map
File Format
JPG
Rights
Any use of content downloaded or printed from this site is limited to non-commercial personal or educational use, including fair use as directed by U.S. copyright laws. For more information or for reproduction requests, please contact Special Collections
Subjects
Texas
Item Type
image
Names
Roemer, Ferdinand von (1818-1891)
Subjects
Texas