National atlases as indicators of scientific and economic change

Summary

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.