Bohdan Krawciw was a poet and a collector. After he died his family donated his map collection to Harvard Map Collections. I viewed a selection of political, agriculture and geographical maps. Most of these related to Ukraine around 1930. This includes a definitive map of Chornozem soils in English and Ukrainian. Krawciw also translated poetry from Rilke into Ukrainian.
Map of soils of Ukraine: English version, 1968.
Source: Harvard Map Collection.
I viewed close to 100 maps in total. This was a focus of my visit. Harvard map collections are in Pusey Library. They include evidence of how Ukraine’s borders and boundaries have shifted and changed. It was interesting viewing a series of maps in sequence next to each other. Each with varying political borders. This included changes to Crimea, east and west Ukraine.
Map of Ukraine, 1945. Source: Harvard Map Collection.
Map of Ukraine, 1945. Source: Harvard Map Collection.
Map of Ukraine, 1910. Source: Harvard Map Collection.
I am also interested in design of these maps. Map designs include variations in colour, printing styles, typography and production. For example, paper size and folding. I viewed a huge range of materials, most of my requests were 20th century maps.
Map detail: Ethnographic Map of Ukraine,
1966. Source: Harvard Map Collection.
Ethnographic Map of Ukraine, 1955. Source:
Harvard Map Collection.