Maps are navigational tools or sources of information created by cartographers. They provide us with a pictorial representation of a physical place in two dimensions, whether it be the size of a province or simply a coastal village. Used in combination with other information, these maps allow historians to identify migratory routes, the location of residences, and so on.
Some of the maps on this site, like the one of Digby County by H.F. Walling dating from 1871, are considered “primary sources” because they were created at the time of Jerome. Other maps, however, are considered “secondary sources” because they were created for this site by specialists who drew upon information from other sources. One such map is the animated map of the principal locations in the life of Jerome in St. Mary’s Bay. Because these maps are based on sources, we have included them here as “Sources” instead of including them in the “Interpretations” section.
One might suppose that maps are always impartial and trustworthy, but on the contrary, since each map represents the map maker’s conception of a given place, these sources are far from neutral. Cartographers can be wrong or even choose intentionally not to include certain details on a map. As with any other source, historical criticism must be exercised in evaluating and analyzing maps. Many libraries and archives have collections of maps that normally are kept separate from their general collections. And occasionally some rare individual has a private collection of historical maps at home.