Final Mapping Identities Workshop Examines Power

On Wednesday 8 October, Drs. Oisín Plumb and Andrew Lind (both of INS) hosted the third and final workshop for the Mapping Identities RSE-funded project at the Mitchell Library, Glasgow. With previous workshops’ having explored Identity and Cosmology, the focus of this workshop was Power. This produced a range of fascinating papers, covering the medieval to the modern.

From land-use mapping and the blurring of border lines, to examples of how maps are used within power dynamics at local and national levels, the session provided much food for thought. As well as the lively discussion, attendees were treated to an introduction to the various map collections held by the Mitchell Library and a session on the Hunterian Museum’s numismatics collections in the Kelvin Hall.

As the project nears the end of its first phase, key themes have clearly emerged. Across all three workshops, the interconnected nature of identity and representation has been clear, so too have the various motives behind map production and use. Oisín and Andrew hope that these conversations will be furthered at the upcoming Mapping Identities conference at UHI Perth on 9-10 February – a call for papers will be released soon!

Oisín and Andrew would like to thank the National Library of Scotland, Orkney Library and Archives, the Mitchell Library and the Hunterian Museum for all of their support, as well as all of the participants and attendees. 

Stay tuned for the call for papers and further updates from the project!