Community Gathers to View Antarctic Maps in Special Collections

People from around the community packed the Special Collections Department to view UTA Libraries' new collection of historic Antarctic maps and to hear from NBC 5 meteorologist David Finfrock on Tuesday, March 21.  

The 150 maps, along with hundreds more stamps and postal covers of Antarctica, were donated by Finfrock to the university. During the open house event, Finfrock shared his love for maps, Antarctica, his experience visiting the continent, and its history with the crowd. 

Finfrock's interest in Antarctica started first with geography and was cultivated by his father.  

"My father was a geologist, and we had traveled across the country. We had maps that we would color in each state we visited," Finfrock told UTA Libraries in an earlier story. "That really teaches you a love of geography and maps when you can associate a place with something on a sheet of paper or now a digital map."   

Finfrock’s interest in Antarctica grew as he learned about some of the explorers who had made the journey, like Sir Ernest Shackleton who led three British expeditions and even survived a shipwreck.  

As he continued to learn more about Antarctica, he wrote letters to scientists working at the research stations on the continent. At times replies to his letters would take up to a year. This allowed him to collect stamps from the research stations.   

During his talk, Finfrock shared with the audience details about the trip he made to Antarctica for his 50th birthday. Finfrock recalled at one point in the trip, a penguin came right up to him, and he was able to snap a picture up close before it walked away.  

Suzanne Byke, an associate university librarian, stated that it is wonderful to have this type of resource here at the library that everyone can learn from and enjoy.  

"I have always loved maps, and now that we can look at this collection of Antarctic maps is wonderful. It is a treasure not only for our researchers but for the students and the community at large," Byke said. "I think the university community has greatly benefited from David gifting these maps to UTA Libraries." 

Anna-Marie Welch stated she loved Finfrock's talk and the knowledge he shared.  

"As a child, he inspired a love of learning in me," Welch said. "He would teach people about the weather. By the time I was 10, I knew what there was to know about the weather and what it meant because he would take the time to explain it." 

Welch stated it was fascinating to see these historic maps up close and hear about their history.  

Jeanie Browing, a Friends of the Library member, complemented Finfrock's dedication to putting this collection together over the years. She noted that it was very generous to donate the collection to UTA Libraries so that it continues to educate people for years to come.  

The Antarctic collection can be viewed in the Special Collections Department, located on the sixth floor of the UTA Central Library.  

Information about the Special Collections Department can be viewed on the UTA Libraries' website at https://libraries.uta.edu/collections/special-collections.