Guatemala危地马拉
Curatorial Note
AI-curated draftThe tradition of national atlas compilation in Guatemala emerged during a period of institutional consolidation in the mid-20th century, when the Guatemalan Geographic Institute took on the task of systematically documenting the country's physical and human geography. The museum's collection holds three editions, spanning 1964 to 1972, all in Spanish. The first two, both titled 'Preliminary Atlas of Guatemala' (1964 and 1966), served as foundational efforts, establishing cartographic standards and data collection methods. The culmination came with the 'National Atlas of Guatemala' (1972), published by the Ministry of Communications and Public Works. This definitive work covered Guatemala and Belize, featuring numerous maps at appropriate scales, as noted in contemporary reviews. The atlas's editorial approach combined rigorous geographic surveys with accessible design, reflecting the institute's dual mission of scientific accuracy and public utility. These atlases collectively laid the groundwork for subsequent national mapping projects, and the 1972 edition in particular became a reference point for regional cartography, influencing later atlas initiatives in Central America. Today, they stand as enduring records of Guatemala's geographic identity and institutional cartographic achievement.
The Shelves
Contemporary and Later Comment
- Article1974Atlas & Book Reviews: National Atlas of Guatemala
Thatcher, Edward P.
This review article evaluates two major reference publications: the *Atlas Nacional de Guatemala* (1972) and the four-volume *Gazetteers of the Northern Provinces of Nigeria* (reprint edition, 1972). Through descriptive and critical analysis, the author assesses the cartographic quality, content organization, and scholarly utility of each work. The Guatemalan atlas is praised as a superior cartographic achievement, distinguished by its appealing format, carefully chosen color photographs, and clear, well-designed symbols. Notable high points include a striking plate on internal migration and effective physical, human, and economic resource sections. However, the reviewer identifies several shortcomings: frequent absence of representative fraction or linear scales on map plates, lack of a political organization section, inconsistent lettering sizes, omission of department boundaries, and an overabundance of lifeless gray photographs that detract from the overall quality. Despite these flaws, the atlas remains a valuable visual introduction to Guatemala, compensating readers’ language limitations with universal graphic clarity. The Nigerian gazetteers are presented as far more than simple tables; they are administrative handbooks compiled between the arrival of the British and the 1930s, containing rich demographic, ethnologic, and economic records. Volumes on the Hausa emirates and the pagan groups of the Plateau Province are especially commended for their historical depth. A major weakness is the insufficient number of maps. The reviewer concludes that both works, despite minor correctable faults, are essential acquisitions for scholarly libraries, particularly those with Latin American or African collections. The atlas compensates for its textual limitations with exceptional visual communication, while the gazetteers offer unique primary-source documentation for historical research.
- Review1976Book review: Atlas Nacional De Guatemala
Paul S. Anderson
This review assesses the Atlas Nacional de Guatemala (1972), published by the Guatemalan Geographic Institute. Covering Guatemala and Belize, the atlas contains numerous maps at appropriate scales, with notable strength in physical resources and primary economic activities. Its demographic section draws on the 1964 census, while text on social and industrial themes is less developed. Despite minor flaws and some photographic contrast issues, the atlas is a valuable reference for Central American studies and merits inclusion in major libraries; its limited printing may become collectible.
From the Physical Collection
Photographs are being prepared for this hall.