The Military Mapping Maidens of World War II exhibit is now on display on the first floor of the Kent State University Library through November 15.
Who were the Mapping Maidens?
The exhibit, sponsored by the Department of Geography, highlights the unique military service of Kent State alumna Bea (Shaheen) McPherson and 223 other women. These “Military Mapping Maidens” or “3M Girls” contributed to the war effort by researching, drafting and compiling over 40,000 maps in the Army Map Service (AMS), now known as the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency.
“It is an honor to see the legacy of the Military Mapping Maidens showcased here at Kent State University, where my journey with cartography began,” McPherson said. “This exhibit not only shares the story of our contributions during World War II, but also highlights the incredible achievements of young women who used their skills to support the Allied war effort.”
World War II memorabilia, including aerial photos of Germany, stereoscopes, India ink, contour pens and drafting kits are featured at the exhibit. These tools were essential for the creation of the Mapping Maidens’ countless hand-drawn maps.
The Exhibit at Kent State
McPherson and her children were present on September 27 to kick off the opening of the exhibit, offering students and faculty an opportunity to meet her. The McPherson family hosted a presentation, followed by a colloquium talk from Judith Tyner, Ph.D., Professor Emerita of Geography at California State University, Long Beach.
According to Judith Tyner, the most successful initiative to meet the newfound demand for maps following the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 was implementing cartography courses in universities across the United States, including Kent State. Of the 49 Kent State students who joined the AMS to assist with the war effort, 21 remained after the war, which was the highest retention rate amongst the several universities students came from.
Judith Tyner met McPherson through her research on the history of women in cartography and their role during World War II. Judith Tyner’s son, James Tyner, Ph.D., a geography professor at Kent State, collaborated with his mother on this work and recognized the importance of bringing the exhibit to the university given its historical prominence in relation to women cartographers and the war effort.
“It is important that we understand the contributions these women made to the war effort and also their contributions to the transformation of a profession—cartography—and that Kent State helped make both possible,” James Tyner said.
Sarah Smiley, Ph.D., professor and interim chair of the Department of Geography at Kent State, believes the exhibit provides a look into a notable piece of the university’s past.
“The Military Mapping Maidens program is an important part of the Department of Geography’s history,” Smiley said. “We are proud to have been one of just 22 universities to offer the mapmaking course and are especially proud of our students who played such a key role in the war effort. Bea McPherson’s contributions to cartography and geography are an inspiration to our students and faculty.”
To learn more about Bea McPherson and the Mapping Maidens, visit https://www.kent.edu/geography/news/map-bea-mcpherson-charted-course-women-mapmakers.
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Media Contacts:
Jim Maxwell, 330-672-8028, JMAXWEL2@kent.edu
Sarah Smiley, Ph.D., 330-672-3909, ssmiley8@kent.edu