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William Patterson Cumming (1900-1989) was the foremost authority on maps of the southeastern United States. He wrote the definitive text, The Southeast in Early Maps , covering the region from the period of discovery to the American Revolution. This monumental and indispensable reference was first published in 1958. The latest edition, published in 1998 by UNC Press, was the fulfillment of a promise made by Dr. Louis De Vorsey, Jr. to Dr. Cumming in 1989. William P. Cumming was born in Nagoya, Japan in 1900, the son of missionary parents. In his early teens, he embarked on a journey that led eventually to the United States where he completed his primary education before enrolling at Davidson College. He graduated from Davidson in 1921 and subsequently received his M.A. and Ph.D. in English from Princeton University. Afterwards, he studied for a year at Oxford University and eventually returned to Davidson, teaching English for many years and retiring as head of the Department and Irvin Professor of English in 1968. Many are familiar with the story of how Dr. Cumming's hobby began. For those who aren't, a brief synopsis follows. While in England in 1928, he chanced upon a 1676 map of Carolina in a print shop. He was fascinated by several curious features on that map, including the "savana" that was described as underwater much of the year. Since this "savana" included the present location of Davidson, and since he did not recall being underwater while there as a student, he set out to learn how such a peculiar cartographical error occurred. Of course, as all fellow cartophiles know, it's impossible to be interested in just one map. Dr. Cumming's research and subsequent acquisitions resulted in a remarkable collection, The William P. Cumming Map Collection at Davidson College. Sources: The Southeast in Early Maps by William P. Cumming, 3rd Ed. revised and enlarged by Louis De Vorsey, Jr., published by UNC Press © 1998. William P. Cumming Map Collection At Davidson College, published by Davidson College © 1993. Example of the Speed map of Carolina in the above hyperlink is from the Hargrett Library at the University of Georgia. |
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Courtesy
of the Cumming Collection, Davidson College Library