Reflections on GIS

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Reflections on GIS Early Philadelphia
Historyor Why Benjamin Franklin Loved GIS
History Shmistry (GIS SchmIS!)
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Benjamin Franklin 1706-1790 First American Hero
There never was a good war or a bad peace --Ben
Franklin
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Arrives in Philadelphia (1723)
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Thus I went up Market-street as far as
Fourth-street, passing by the door of Mr. Read,
my future wife's father when she, standing at
the door, saw me, and thought I made, as I
certainly did, a most awkward, ridiculous
appearance.
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Scenes Along Franklins Walk
Slaves
London Coffee House
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Scenes Along Franklins Walk
Court House
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Butchers Shambles and Market Stalls
Food Market
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Prison
City Prison
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GIS Historical Issues

• What the Hell do Historians Want to Know?
• Every Damned Thing about Life!

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Taverns in Philadelphia 1735
Tavern
Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to
prosper --Ben Franklin
Taverns in Philadelphia 1780
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GIS Historical IssuesCharacteristics Changes
over Time

• Economic Commercial Patterns
• Markets
• stores
• Shipbuilders
• Coopers
• Tailors
• Cultural Patterns
• Hospitals
• Churches
• Schools
• Libraries

Pennsylvania Hospital
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GIS Historical Issues(New Orleans Prelude)

• Disease Patterns
• Yellow Fever
• Cholera

1793
Poor People
Dock
Yellow Fever
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GIS Historical IssuesCharacteristics Changes
over Time

• Architectural Patterns
• Demographic Patterns
• Household Size composition
• Daily Life
• Water Supply
• Sewers Toilets

Workers House
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GIS Historical IssuesCharacteristics Changes
over Time

• Residential Patterns
• Ethnicity
• Gender
• Occupations
• Class
• Race

God plays with GIS
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Philadelphia Athens of America1790 - 1800
Sources City Directories (entire decade) U.S.
Census (1790, 1800) City Tax Lists (entire
decade) Federal Tax List 1798 Fire Insurance
Policies Inventories of Estate Pennsylvania
Gazette
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Philadelphia City Directory 1791 Sorted by Street
Thomas Morgan, grocer
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Philadelphia City Directory 1801 By Street
Thomas Pecan, grocer
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Census 1800
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Philadelphia Tax List 1789
Moses Nathan, Merchant Dwelling Lot 855 40
oz. Plate 16 1 Negro 50
David Lapsley, Shopkeeper 13 oz. Plate 5 1
bound servant 15 Personal 75
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Federal Tax 1798
John Harper, foundry 1 story, brick wood, 12 x
18 Value 425
John Harper
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Location of William Birch Engravings of
Philadelphia 1800
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Comparative Historical Views
1960
1800
2000
View from Market Street along North Second
(towards Christ Church)
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Fire Insurance Policies
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Household Items Inventories of Estate
Laborer, Philadelphia
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Household Items from Inventories of Estate (St.
Marys County, Maryland)
of Households
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Richard Allen
Absalom Jones
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Walnut Street Jail
1793
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Ben Franklin GIS is Made for History
"They that can give up essential liberty to
obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither
liberty nor safety"