THURSDAY, 8 October 2026
Location: Zoom, 7:00 PM ET/6:00 PM CT/5:00 PM MT/4:00 PM PT (Organized with the
assistance of the Rocky Mountain Map Society; sponsored in partnership with California,
Chicago, New York, Philip Lee Phillips, Rocky Mountain, and Texas Map Societies)
Title: Mapping Philadelphia
Speaker: Christopher W. Lane, founder and former co-owner of The Philadelphia Print Shop
and Philadelphia Print Shop West (Denver).

Summary: From its earliest days, Philadelphia was one of the leading American cities, growing
from William Penn’s planned haven for religious freedom to one of the greatest urban centers in
the world. It is not surprising, then, that most major publishers issued maps showing the
development of the city over the last three and a half centuries. These maps form a fascinating
series of snapshots of Philadelphia’s evolution from a “green country towne” to a modern
metropolitan center. This talk will look at the changing cartographic picture of the city.

Bio: Christopher W. Lane has been in the print and map business for over four decades, as
founder and co-owner of The Philadelphia Print Shop and then The Philadelphia Print Shop West
in Denver. He is now a private appraiser, consultant, author and lecturer. Chris has curated
museum exhibitions and lectured around the country and overseas. He has written several books
and numerous articles, including “Philadelphia Mapmakers and the Beginnings of Commercial
Mapmaking in America,” in Pennsylvania Legacies.