In doing research for Ozarks' History over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to scan some wonderful old documents, maps, and photographs found in archives, universities, and old shoe boxes. There have been many things I could not take home; and if I could, I wouldn't have the room to store them properly. Yet, in many of these endeavors, I have used a tool that has been indispensable. It is a mobile scanner called a Flip-Pal Mobile Scanner.
In a matter of 4 minutes, the EasyStitch program found the 42 overlapping scans and created a beautiful reproduction. Additionally, the toolbox also has a program which will restore old & faded maps and pictures and bring them back to life.
The picture below originally came out of a book from a nameless university library. I don't even think they know that maps like this exist in their collection. But, I had the opportunity to go there one day, inquire about a certain book, and then get a wonderful scan. A slightly faded, black & white facsimile can be found on a website called Hathi Trust Digital Library. By the way, Hathi Trust Digital Library is a wonderful tool for doing research without charge. A few months later, I found this map at an old book sale. It's amazing the treasures that still lay in U. S. Congressional House Documents / United States Congressional Serial Set, commonly referred to as the Serial Set. The publication of the Serial Set began in 1817 with the 15th Congress. All Congressional Documents before 1817 can found in the American State Papers.
The map/plate below is something I hunted for years; and to my knowledge, there is only one in existence. The plate was originally published in 1888, and it measures about 24" x 16". Therefore, it was pretty much a given it would not be relinquished into my custody. I used my Flip-Pal scanner, and I ensured each scan overlapped the proceeding one. Scanning can be done at 300 dpi, which takes about 6 seconds, or 600 dpi, which takes about 11 seconds. I scanned this plate below at 600 dpi and made 42 scans.
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Taber, H. S., James C. Long, Charles C. Taft. 1888. Map of the White River from Forsyth, Missouri, to the Mouth. (Little Rock, AR: Pantagraph & U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, 1888), p. 1.
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About 12 minutes later, I pulled out the SD card included in the scanner and placed it in my computer. This SD card has a program called the Flip-Pal Toolbox, which includes an EasyStitch software program. With this software, the puzzle has met its match.
In a matter of 4 minutes, the EasyStitch program found the 42 overlapping scans and created a beautiful reproduction. Additionally, the toolbox also has a program which will restore old & faded maps and pictures and bring them back to life.
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This title plate ended up being 187 Megs.
It prints out in beautiful resolution.
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Not only can this scanner be used for historical research, but it can be used in preserving personal and family history, detailed coins & medals, jewelry, hand drawn art, and other keepsakes.
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1st page of the White River Map starting at mile marker 505, Forsyth, Missouri, in 1888.
Taber, H. S., James C. Long, Charles C. Taft. 1888. Map of the White River from Forsyth, Missouri, to the Mouth.
(Little Rock, AR: Pantagraph & U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, 1888), p. 2.
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42 overlapping scans stitched back together of Forsyth, Missouri.
This plate ended up being a 156 Megs
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Close up detail of the White River passing through Forsyth, Missouri, scanned at 600 dpi.
Notice the engineers detailed the depth of the river channel about every 100 feet and
the depth from each bank about every 0.33 miles.
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The picture below originally came out of a book from a nameless university library. I don't even think they know that maps like this exist in their collection. But, I had the opportunity to go there one day, inquire about a certain book, and then get a wonderful scan. A slightly faded, black & white facsimile can be found on a website called Hathi Trust Digital Library. By the way, Hathi Trust Digital Library is a wonderful tool for doing research without charge. A few months later, I found this map at an old book sale. It's amazing the treasures that still lay in U. S. Congressional House Documents / United States Congressional Serial Set, commonly referred to as the Serial Set. The publication of the Serial Set began in 1817 with the 15th Congress. All Congressional Documents before 1817 can found in the American State Papers.
This map below required only 12 overlapping scans.
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Royce, Charles C., 1897. “Map Showing Indian Cessions, Grants to Indians and Changes in Western Boundary of Arkansas.” In 18th Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology, Part 2, House Documents, 56th United States Congress, Session 1. (Washington D. C.: United States Printing Office. 1903), pp. 689-692.
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| “Map Showing Area and Acreage of Portions of Arkansas Derived from Various Indian Treaties.” In Executive Documents of the Senate of the United States, 51st Congress, Session 1. (Washington D. C.: United States Printing Office. 1890), p. 6. |
If you would like to take a closer look at this great research & preservation tool, click on the image below.
Enjoy Your Ozarks' History.
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