Lines on the map: international boundaries at National Archives

The National Archives holds one of the largest and most important accumulations of these records in the world. The maps document the United Kingdom's involvement in shaping boundaries and in resolving boundary disputes over many centuries, either as a colonial power, neutral observer or independent source of surveying expertise. This talk looks at how the process has been documented, from letters and reports to treaties, drawing on maps and surveys which made lines across sand, snow, water, forests, plains and mountains around the globe.

Rose Mitchell is a map curator at The National Archives. She is co-author of Maps: their untold stories published this autumn, and has run workshops on archival research with the International Boundaries Research Unit of Durham University. She has also written and spoken about a broad range of map-related topics based on the rich holdings at The National Archives including: maps during the colonial period, military maps, sea charts, maps for rights of way research, map cataloguing, cadastral surveys, and architectural drawings.

This event is part of our themed programme. Diplomacy is at the heart of all human interaction. Whether between international states and colonies, monarchs and their ministers, the major players in the theatres of war, kith and kin, or friends and enemies: diplomacy - or lack of it - will play its part. This programme of events aims to reflect the broad spectrum of interpretations of historical diplomacy and the art of peace-making.