Abstract

This research is a two-pronged investigation. First it is a methodological examination of the potential of GIS and mapping technologies to aid in the creation of microhistories or local histories. I explore how locations and buildings can be analyzed as historical artifacts. Secondly, it is a case study of the public library in Lexington, Kentucky in seeing what location can tell us about the institution’s history. I begin at the library’s founding in 1795 going all the way to present day. Maps are used at each stage to explore shifting library objectives. Through seeing GIS as a tool that can bridge the gap between quantitative and micro histories, I merge techniques from a variety of subfields to present an assessment of accessibility to the Lexington Public Library (LPL) for over 200 years.

Advisor

Hettinger, Madonna

Department

History

Disciplines

Accessibility | African American Studies | Architectural History and Criticism | Digital Humanities | Finance | Geographic Information Sciences | History | Human Geography | Latina/o Studies | Organizational Communication | Organization Development | Race, Ethnicity and Post-Colonial Studies | Social and Cultural Anthropology | Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education | Social Welfare | Tax Law | Urban Studies | Urban Studies and Planning

Keywords

GIS, libraries, Kentucky, accessibility, microhistory, spatial history, organizational history, local history

Publication Date

2019

Degree Granted

Bachelor of Arts

Document Type

Senior Independent Study Thesis

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© Copyright 2019 Robin Emmons