Whitney, William H.
1890

Historical map of Watertown

Whitney's Historical Map of Watertown

DESCRIPTION: A lot of three (3) artifacts related to William Whitney's unpublished historical map of Watertown. 1) Blueprint map and MS ownership notes after Henry Bond. 2) Blueprint 3) Surveyor's trace "Whitney's Watertown Historical Map" 1000' = 1" In 1751 Henry Bond published his Map of the original allotments of land and the ancient topography of Watertown (proper) [1] Ownership on Whitney's map matches Bond's map but Whitney notes only a fraction of the total of the place names Bond documented.

William H. Whitney
(1843 - 1909)

During the period 1872 to 1888 Fuller & Whitney Civil Engineers, was conducted as a partnership between J. Franklin Fuller and William H. Whitney. That firm was instrumental in the latter half of the Back Bay fill and development project. Whitney assumed sole control of the firm in 1888 and changed the name to William H. Whitney.

In his autobiography Whitney refers to his work with the latest cutting-edge reprographic technology- blueprinting:

“In September 1881 I received a bronze medal at the Massachusetts Charitable Mechanic Association Exhibit for sun or blue prints. I developed a process from the French and used it in illustrating the growth of Back Bay lands. I issued to subscribers monthly schedules and maps showing the changes of ownership, increase in value, improvement by filling and public works.” (The New England Historical and Genealogical Register. Vol 64, January 1910. Number 253. p. lix)

CREATOR: Whitney, William H.

PUBLICATION DATE: 1890

GEOGRAPHIC AREA: United States

BODY OF WATER: Charles River

CONDITION: Good. Somewhat grubby with a few small light stains. No holes or tears.

COLORING: None

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SIZE: " x "

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