Description
The map is credited to Oliver Whitwell Wilson, an architect, writer and illustrator then working for the Defense Intelligence Agency, and copyrighted by the publisher, Henrietta Lintner. The credits note that the map was prepared with the aid of aerial photographs from Fairchild Air Views. It is surrounded by a rectangular border with a quote from American architect and urban planner Daniel H. Burnham (1846-1912): “Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men’s blood and probably themselves will not be realized. Make big plans; aim high in hope and work remembering that a noble logical diagram once recorded, will be a living thing asserting itself with ever growing insistency let your watchword be order and your beacon beauty. Daniel H. Burnham MCMX.” In the first decade of the 20th century, Burnham had a major impact on the design of Washington’s urban spaces as a participant in the McMillan Commission, a team of prominent architects charged with re-envisioning the city’s park system and redefining the National Mall and surrounding area. As part of the implementation of the plan, Burnham designed Union Station as a formal gateway to the city (1907).
Oliver Whitwell Wilson, credited with the design and drawing of the map, was born in England and emigrated to the U.S. at age 17. He graduated from Columbia University’s School of Architecture in 1924 and spent the first part of his career as a New York City architect and architecture critic who wrote for the Architectural Record. Whitwell was known for his Gothic style calligraphy and designed some of the Gothic lettering on New York City buildings during the 1920s. From 1946 to 1971 he worked with Defense Intelligence Agency in a civilian capacity. He was a member of the American Society of Military Engineers. Wilson also was a member and past president of the Federal Poets of Washington and wrote more than 950 poems, many published in anthologies. After retiring, he wrote a column on senior citizen affairs for the Arlington (Virginia) News.
Full publication information: Designed & drawn by Oliver Whitwell Wilson Architect N.Y. Retouched 1949. Copyright 1948 Henrietta Lintner. Published by Lintner Maps Inc. 941 N. Highland St. Arlington, Va. — Prepared with the aid of Fairchild Air Views.
Condition: Generally very good, recently professionally cleaned and deacidified, with minor remaining toning, wear, handling. Few short marginal tears professionally restored and soft creases flattened as backed on Japanese paper.
References:
“Daniel Burnham, American Architect.” Encyclopaedia Britannica. 2017. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Daniel-H-Burnham (12 September 2017).
Heller, Steven. “Who Put the Evil in Medieval?” 15 February 2012. Print. http://www.printmag.com/imprint/is-medieval-evil/ (12 September 2017).
“Oliver Wilson, 76, Was Analyst With Defense Intelligence Unit.” Washington Post. 31 March 1978. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1978/03/31/oliver-wilson-76-was-analyst-with-defense-intelligence-unit/ebb2efe1-1372-4f1c-9139-ab5a3dbec0e0/?utm_term=.7f37b376f204 (12 September 2017).
