Atlas of Canada
Canada · Department of the Interior · 1906
Related Reviews & Articles
A List of Atlases: Atlas of Canada
Goode, J. Paul · 1918
This paper presents a comparative evaluation of six atlases published in the early twentieth century (1904–1916), assessing their cartographic design, informational richness, production quality, and value for users. The analysis is based on a qualitative examination of physical specifications—such as dimensions, binding, colour plates, map types, text supplements, indexes, and price—to draw conclusions about the state of atlas-making in the Anglophone and Francophone worlds. The review begins with a fragmentary reference to an unnamed British imperial atlas, notable for a 70‑page index with geographical coordinates and a 134‑page gazetteer. White’s “Atlas of Canada” (1906) earns high praise for its completeness and excellent colour maps, mounted on stubs. Reclus’s “Atlas de la plus Grande France” (circa 1916) is singled out as a masterpiece: 160 colour maps, each double‑page spread accompanied by text or black‑and‑white diagrams, presenting maximal information in an aesthetically refined manner. The author laments that no English‑language atlas matches its value or craftsmanship. Rand McNally’s “International Atlas of the World” (1915) is judged a solid American reference work, employing wax‑process printing and offering detailed U.S. statistics at a modest price. Schrader’s “Atlas de Géographie Moderne” (1904) exemplifies the French tradition of page‑efficiency, with double‑page colour maps backed by monochrome graphics and text, particularly comprehensive on France and its colonies; its geographic vision is held to align with the best American ideals. Hammond’s “Comprehensive Atlas,” by contrast, represents low‑cost production with cursory drawing and careless workmanship, although it remains functional as a pocket reference. The survey reveals a stark quality spectrum: sophisticated French atlases like those of Reclus and Schrader set a benchmark for integrated physical‑economic cartography and presentational elegance, while less expensive English‑language alternatives often compromise detail and drawing quality. The paper implicitly advocates a model that combines rigorous geographic content with a clear, user‑oriented layout—a standard that, in the author’s view, was then best realised by French atlas publishers.
Atlases of the Western Hemisphere: A Summary Survey
Stephenson, Richard W. · 1972
This survey updates Ena L. Yonge’s earlier review by cataloguing and describing significant general and thematic atlases of the Western Hemisphere published over the subsequent ten-year period. It compiles 147 volumes, organized by geographic coverage from hemispheric to continental, national, and subnational scales, including atlases of the United States, Canada, and their constituent states and provinces. The descriptive compilation highlights the diversity of atlas production: comprehensive national atlases (e.g., *The National Atlas of the United States*, *The National Atlas of Canada*), regional economic and resource atlases, historical atlases, road and marketing guides, and specialized thematic works covering topics such as climate, vegetation, population, and industry. Key findings reveal a vibrant period of cartographic activity driven by government agencies, university geography departments, and commercial publishers. These atlases serve a wide range of purposes—from academic teaching aids and land-use planning to business decision-making and public education. The survey underscores the atlas’s continuing role as a vital synthesis of spatial information during a decade marked by notable advancements in thematic cartography and multidisciplinary resource documentation.
National atlases as indicators of scientific and economic change
Unknown · 1965
This paper examines how national atlases serve as indicators of scientific and economic change, using Canada’s three federal atlases (1906, 1915, and 1957) as a case study. By analyzing the subject matter coverage, methods of cartographic presentation, organizational order, and language policies across these editions, the study reveals the evolution of geographic knowledge, data availability, and national priorities. The 1906 and 1915 atlases focused heavily on physical geography, transportation, and population, but largely omitted economic activities, relying extensively on statistical diagrams rather than spatial maps. The 1957 edition significantly expanded coverage to include economic activities such as agriculture, mining, and manufacturing, while also incorporating advances in soils, flora, fauna, and glaciology. Cartographic presentation shifted from diagram-dependent formats to precise spatial distributions, reflecting improved survey techniques and data collection. The sequential study of these atlases demonstrates how each volume records the state of geographic science and the cartographic arts at its time, while also exposing knowledge gaps that can guide future research. Language policy evolved from English-only in early editions to bilingual English-French production in 1957, mirroring Canada’s developing biculturalism. The author concludes that national atlases, if produced in a continuing series, can function akin to a periodic census—providing a systematic, updatable record of national development and serving as a foundation for long-term geographical planning and institutional continuity.
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