Document Type

Article

"A Thoreau Drawn Diagram of Ktaadn:” If It Exists, Where Is It?

Authors

William W. Geller

Publication Date

2019

Abstract/ Summary

With a diagram of Katahdin drawn by Henry David Thoreau and borrowed from the Colby College Miller Library, three Colby professors set off to climb Mount Katahdin on Friday June 28, 1912. The trip account, which accompanies this document, has numerous clues as to what was on the diagram. With the help of librarians and others I’ve tried to find such a drawing, but I am still looking. For those either curious or wanting to join the search or both, this paper reports on where I’ve searched and explores whether or not Thoreau drew such a diagram.

The topic begs a second question that this manuscript also explores. If Thoreau did not draw such a diagram, then whose diagram did the professors borrow from the library? I conclude this journey by postulating the map they borrowed and include a copy of it and three others.

Repository Citation

Geller, William W., ""A Thoreau Drawn Diagram of Ktaadn:” If It Exists, Where Is It?" (2019). Maine History Documents. 298.
https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/mainehistory/298

Version

pre-print (i.e. pre-refereeing)