Haiti海地
Curatorial Note
AI-curated draftHaiti's national atlas tradition emerged within a specific postcolonial and academic context, shaped by collaborations between French and Haitian scholars. The sole atlas in this collection, the *Atlas of Haiti* (1985), was produced by the Centre d'études de géographie tropicale (C.N.R.S.) in partnership with the Université de Bordeaux 3, under the direction of Christian Girault. This work stands as the third national atlas of the Caribbean, following those of Cuba and Puerto Rico, marking Haiti's entry into a regional cartographic movement. The atlas is noted for its abundant information, beautiful maps, and precise accompanying notices, reflecting a meticulous editorial approach that combined geographic rigor with visual clarity. However, contemporary reviews also expressed reservations, suggesting that while the atlas serves as an impressive reference, certain aspects may have been constrained by data availability or interpretive choices. Its publication in French, the country's official language, facilitated its use in education and policy. The atlas's lasting significance lies in its role as a foundational cartographic document for Haiti, offering a comprehensive snapshot of the nation's geography at a pivotal moment, and influencing subsequent geographic studies in the Caribbean. Though no later national atlases are held in this collection, the 1985 work remains a benchmark for understanding Haiti's spatial identity.
The Shelves
This is the first volume of the national atlas tradition in our collection.
Contemporary and Later Comment
- Review1987Review: Atlas d'Haïti
Mike Morrisssey
The Atlas d'Haïti (1985), published through the French Centre d'Étude de Géographie Tropicale and directed by Christian Girault, represents the third national atlas of the Caribbean, after Cuba and Puerto Rico. It contains thirty chapters arranged conventionally, covering Haiti’s location, history, physical environment, population, agriculture, transport, trade, and social services. Each chapter comprises a concise thematic review, a bibliography, and a full-page, full-color map of outstanding cartographic quality and current data. Town maps and satellite imagery complement the country maps. Criticisms include uneven black-and-white photographs that overemphasize poverty and the absence of page numbering for future updates. Overall, the atlas is a visually impressive, authoritative reference, though photographs reduce its balance.
- Article1987Lectures: Atlas d'Haïti
Hervé Théry
This review assesses the Atlas d'Haïti, published by CEGET. It acknowledges the atlas as an impressive reference work, with abundant information, beautiful maps, and precise notices. However, it expresses dissatisfaction: despite claiming to explore the spatial dimension of national reality, the atlas fails to provide a clear synthetic view of Haitian space, its specificity, regional patterns, and dramatic inequalities. The conventional thematic organization divides essential information, separating food-crop systems from rural development and landforms. The author argues that adding maps of economic and political networks, peasant poverty, and control structures—as in Girault's thesis—would demonstrate the value of cartographic analysis for development issues.
From the Physical Collection
Photographs are being prepared for this hall.