Site Provides Exciting Images of the World’s People and Places

Those with a passion for geography and travel can learn more about far off places like Bolivia, Fiji, Kenya, Nepal and Thailand by taking a look at DePaul University’s new Web site at http://www.lib.depaul.edu/GIC/.

The online geographic image collection that will eventually include some 8,000 photographs, currently offers more than 1,000 breathtaking images of architecture, landscapes, culture and people from four continents. Faculty and staff collected the photographs while on foreign study trips.

The digital collection is funded in part by a $35,000 grant from Ameritech. "Ameritech’s support allowed DePaul to construct a unique database of historical slides accessed by a geographical image system’s world map," explained Doris Brown, director of university libraries. "The beauty of this project is that it provides content and experience for anyone, anywhere, since the page is open to anyone with access to the Internet."

"Ameritech is dedicated to providing innovative, industry-leading services that keep educational institutions on the cutting edge of technology," said Douglas Whitley, president of Ameritech Illinois.

The digitally stored archive of images is designed to provide students of all ages greater access to geographical education and to promote collaboration among educators. It offers browsers the rare opportunity to learn more about countries where little photographic record is available, such as Papua New Guinea.

The slides currently in the collection date from the 1940s to the 1970s. The majority of the slides were bequeathed by Betty Leahy, a Chicago teacher who was an avid traveler and a member of the DePaul and Chicago geographical societies. "Without these valuable photos, students of geography often must attempt to visualize landscapes and crops from other regions of the world," said Richard J. Houk, chair of the DePaul Geographical Society. "DePaul is the only university in the state with this kind of image system. It has become one more way that DePaul serves the educational community."

Browsers can move through the site three ways: by clicking the name of country, or a topic, or by using the map navigator. Nearly 75 countries and many major cities are represented in the collection. Several hundred topics are included in the index. The map navigator is a unique feature that allows browsers to click on an area of the world and immediately view images of people, wildlife, plants and architectural structures contained in that region.

Last year, Ameritech contributed more than $26 million to over 3,800 nonprofit organizations, and Ameritech Pioneers – some 46,000 employees and retirees throughout the Midwest – volunteered 419,000 hours of community service in the areas of health and human services, civic and community projects and education and the arts.

Collectors interested in donating images to DePaul’s Geographical Society should contact Richard Houk at 773/325-7871.