MACHIAS, N.Y. — The Cattaraugus County Museum and Research Library will host an opening of its next exhibit on June 8, highlighted by a talk given by cartographer Earl McElfresh of the McElfresh Map Co. LLC.
The exhibit, “Mapmaker: The work of Earl McElfresh and the McElfresh Map Company,” will showcase the artistry and craftsmanship of the Olean native.
As cartographer for McElfresh Map Co., Earl B. McElfresh prepares historical base battlefield maps. He is the author of “Maps and Mapmakers of the Civil War” (Abrams 1999) and contributing editor for the 2007 edition of “Company Commander” by Charles B. McDonald. He has prepared maps for the Library of America’s four volume “Civil War” set and for “Lincoln’s Lieutenants,” by Stephen Sears.
McElfresh has spoken on Civil War mapping at The Smithsonian, The National Archives, The Library of Congress, The New York Public Library, The Boston Public Library, The Newberry Library, The Harvard Map Collection, The Warburg Institute in London, National Geographic and on C-Span Book TV.
A resident of Olean, he is married to Michiko Hart McElfresh and has three adult children, John, Reed and Diana.
The museum will open from noon to 3 p.m. on June 8, with the talk given by McElfresh beginning at 1 p.m. This event is free and open to the public.
The Cattaraugus County Museum is located in the Stone House, 9824 Route 16 in Machias. For more information, call (716) 353-8200 or visit cattco.org/museum.
