1842 Mather Geological Map of Long Island, New York

Geological Foundation for Long Island’s Development in the Second Half of the 19th Century.

The influential 1842 William W. Mather map of Long Island is considered the first comprehensive geological study of the island. Published while the Long Island Rail Road was still under construction, Mather's map captures a landscape that was still overwhelmingly rural, agricultural, and geographically remote from New York City, but whose soils, resources, transportation corridors, and development potential were becoming subjects of intense scientific and commercial interest. Within little more than a decade, the railroad would open vast portions of the island to easier settlement and speculation, initiating a land rush and a process of development that would ultimately transform Long Island into an extension of metropolitan New York.

A Closer Look

The map covers Long Island in full, from New Jersey and Staten Island eastward to Montauk and Fisher's Island. It also includes parts of Westchester, New Jersey, Rockland County, the Long Island Sound, and coastal Connecticut. A large inset map in the lower right depicts Manhattan with a special focus on geological features and topography. The line of the partially completed Long Island Rail Road, which within 15 years would change the demographics of Long Island, is noted. Various important Long Island communities, including East Hampton, Bridgehampton, Southampton, Amagansett, Riverhead, and Sag Harbor, among others, are named. In many cases, even individual buildings are detailed. The whole is laid out on a grid structure of 10-mile squares.

William W. Mather's Geology of Long Island

William W. Mather's geological survey of Long Island, undertaken for the First Geological Survey of New York (from 1837), was significant not only as a scientific achievement, but as a practical assessment of an island poised for rapid development. Mather systematically documented Long Island's soils, clays, sands, peat, water resources, building materials, agricultural potential, and underlying geology, providing valuable information for farmers, engineers, manufacturers, landowners, and speculators. His work coincided with the construction of the Long Island Rail Road and the beginning of a transportation revolution that would progressively integrate the largely rural island with New York City. By transforming Long Island's landscape and natural resources into systematic information, Mather's survey established a scientific foundation for the agricultural improvement, transportation infrastructure, settlement, and suburbanization poised to reshape the island over the subsequent century.

Publication History and Census

Prepared by William W. Mather from the survey work of John Calvin Smith. Engraved by Endicott and Company for part one of Mather's Geology of New York. This is the only obtainable large-scale map of Long Island to predate the American Civil War.

Cartographers

William W. Mather (May 24, 1804 - February 26, 1859) was an important American geologist and natural historian. Mather was born in Brooklyn, Connecticut to an old New England family. In 1823, as a young man, he entered the West Point military academy after which he served as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Seventh Infantry. His interest in Chemistry and mineralogy soon called him back to West Point where he acted as an Assistant Professor of Geology. After resigning from the Army in 1834 with a rank of 1st Lieutenant, Mather accepted a position as Professor of Chemistry at the University of Louisiana. Later he was employed as Professor of Natural History and Sciences at the University of Ohio, was appointed Geologist of the First Geological District of New York for Governor William H. Seward, and was the State Geologist of both Ohio and Kentucky. In 1847 Mather became president of the University of Ohio. During his long career Mather made copious notes regarding his geological explorations, published profusely, and had a lively and extensive correspondence - much of which remains accessible to this day. Mather reports on one humorous incident in Long Island where, while collecting rock specimens, he had a run-in with a local farmer. The famer, observing the care with which Mather collected and cataloged his rock specimens, assumed that Mather had, in fact, discovered gold! Mather died in Columbus, Ohio on February 26, 1859. Today the W.W. Mather Medal is an important Geologic Reserach commendation. (Collections of the Minnesota Historical Society, p. 133.)   Further Details...

John Calvin Smith (1809 – June 11, 1890) was an American surveyor and geographer active in New York during the middle part of the 19th century. He was a charter member of the American Geographical and Statistical Society (American Geographical Society). He worked with other important New York cartographers including John Disturnell (1801 - 1877), George E. Sherman (1812 - 1858), and Samuel Stiles (1796 - 1861), with whom he often published under the Stiles, Sherman & Smith imprint. Stiles may have introduced Smith to J. H. Colton (1800 - 1893), who acquired many of his map plates in 1853. Most of Smith's maps focus on New York counties, but he also issued maps of the United States, Illinois, Texas, and the California gold fields. Despite being an important and prolific cartographer, much of his personal life and history are shrouded in mystery.   Further Details...

Endicott and Company (fl. c. 1828 - 1891) was a New York based family run lithography firm that flourished throughout the 19th century. The firm was founded by George and William Endicott, brothers who were born in Canton, Massachusetts. George Endicott (June 14, 1802 - 1848) trained as a lithographer under Pendleton Lithography from January 1826. He later worked as superintendent of Senefelder Company until the summer of 1828. Afterwards, in 1830, he relocated to Baltimore and partnered with Moses Swett. Endicott and Swett relocated to New York City in December 1831. They remained partners until July 1834 when the relationship dissolved. George set up shop on his own account at 359 Broadway. William Endicott (1815 - 1851), George's younger brother of 14 years, joined the firm in 1840 and was made a partner in 1845, after which the name of the firm was changed to G. and W. Endicott. George Endicott died shortly afterward, in 1848, but William continued operating the firm as William Endicott and Co. until his own 1851 death at just 35 years old. The firm was carried on by his widow Sara Munroe Endicott until it was taken over by her son, Francis Endicott, who ran the firm from 1852 to 1886. George Endicott, Jr. subsequently ran the firm from 1887 to 1891. Peters, in his important work on American lithography America on Stone writes 'it is hard to summarize the Endicotts. They did everything and did it well... [they] worked with and for Currier and Ives, yet in spite of all that much of their work lacks real individuality.' The Endicott firm was responsible for many 19th century views and plans of New York City and state as well as plans of Sacramento, California, and the Midwest.   Further Details...

Source

Mather, W. W., Geology of New York, Part 1, 1842.    

Condition

Very good. Due to this map's unusual fold metric, all examples exhibit acid toning to some of the fold sections on the right side, but this specific example has the least such we have yet seen. A few minor repaired tears.

References

New York Public Library, Map Division, 01-5149. Haskell, D., Manhattan Maps: A Co-operative List, 865. OCLC 23046374.