The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 87, July 1983 - April, 1984 Page: 218

View a full description of this periodical.

Southwestern Historical Quarterly

campaign maps, examples of early land-division systems and later ur-
banization, a geological map, and the first road map of Texas. With
respect to military maps, for example, one is left to wonder what maps
Sam Houston and Antonio L6pez de Santa Anna used in the Texas
War for Independence, or if they used maps at all.
One can debate the choice of maps included in the color portfolio,
but one has to admire the intelligence and lucidity of Robert S. Mar-
tin and James C. Martin's User's Guide. In an introduction, they
thoughtfully explain the nature of maps as cultural artifacts. Then,
employing illustrations of maps that supplement those they describe
from the portfolio, they trace the cartographic history of Texas. They
also include illustrations of map-making instruments, a glossary of
terms, and a useful bibliography. They have done important and
conscientious work on a complex subject and presented their results
in a highly readable manner.
In the end, this work provides two bonuses in addition to the merits
listed above. First of all, it paves the way for future students who
must determine in detail just how the information on these maps was
acquired. This will involve the study of numerous relatively unknown
Spaniards, early Texas explorers and surveyors like Theodore Gentilz,
the field operations of the Texas Land Office, and the full story of the
U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey activities in Texas. These topics con-
tain literally hundreds of stories as dramatic as those of the Texas
Rangers.
The second bonus is obvious. These beautiful maps, when framed
and hung on the walls of homes, offices, and schools, as they should be,
provide a unique and vivid history of Texas-a history not to be put
away on the shelf, or taken lightly.
The University of Texas at Austin WILLIAM H. GOETZMANN
Trails to Texas: Southern Roots of Western Cattle Ranching. By
Terry G. Jordan. (Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1981.
Pp. xv+s220. Preface, illustrations, figures, tables, notes, bibliog-
raphy, index. $15.95.)
Trails to Texas is an invaluable book that systematically, methodi-
cally, and yet imaginatively traces the diffusion of herding practices
over a span of two centuries and half a continent. Moreover, it devas-
tates both the Webb-Turner frontier interpretation and the Hispanic-
American interpretation of the origins of open-range cattle raising on

218

Upcoming Pages

Here’s what’s next.

upcoming item: 255 255 of 543
upcoming item: 256 256 of 543
upcoming item: 257 257 of 543
upcoming item: 258 258 of 543

Show all pages in this issue.

This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.

Tools / Downloads

Get a copy of this page .

Citing and Sharing

Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.

Reference the current page of this Periodical.

Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 87, July 1983 - April, 1984, periodical, 1983/1984; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth117150/m1/254/ocr/: accessed March 29, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.

Univesal Viewer

International Image Interoperability Framework (This Page)

Back to Top of Screen