GIFT1: Jane and Ronald Gibbs Collection at Stanford University
This exhibit was created from the images donated by Jane and Ronald Gibbs to Stanford University in 2024. I've selected a few of the maps which are my favorites.Ron and Jane Gibbs began collecting maps over 40 years ago. It was a natural extension of their love of American history, both having grown up in Philadelphia. They even spent part of their 1966 honeymoon in New England visiting historic sites. Jane bought their first map as a gift for Ron in 1983. At first their focus was on The American Revolution, but as travel expanded, they also became fascinated by the great era of discovery in the 18th Century. Collecting became a passion for them. Ron recalls visiting New York City one month after September 11, 2001 and seeing a copy of the 1767 Ratzer map of New York City at favorite map shop. He was torn about acquiring it because of its slightly worn condition and had the map sent to their home, then in Denver, on approval. For advice, he took it to his map-collecting friend, Wes Brown, who, by the way, is a speaker today. Wes advised, “If you don’t get it, you’ll never forgive yourself!” Jane concurred, and the Ratzer map is a prized part of their collection. Their maps have always been handsomely displayed in their home, sharing space only with photos of the family. Ron has given numerous lectures around the country on cartography and has written cartographic articles in Calafia, Journal of the American Revolution, and International Map Collectors Journal. His two historical novels, published in 2020 and 2024, contain period maps from their collection. In March 2023, they donated to the Rumsey the first part of their collection consisting of 161historic maps and map related books. In their home in San Francisco, they currently have other maps which will make their way to the Rumsey later. Ron and Jane are delighted to have found a perfect home where scholars and the public can access their maps in perpetuity. https://searchworks.stanford.edu/catalog?q=%22Jane+and+Ronald+Gibbs+Collection%22&search_field=subject_terms
