| Evidence | Date and scope |
|---|---|
| A new and correct plan of the town of Boston | Published 1775; exact survey date not stated. |
| Map of Boston for 1883, Sampson, Davenport & Co. | Published 1883; separate copyright-entry date 1882. |
| Massachusetts Committee on Public Lands report | Dated February 7, 1861; selected passage describes Back Bay work/payment in 1860. |
A publication date tells when an item was issued. It does not automatically date every feature. A copyright entry is another record. A label names something the maker chose to include. Blank paper can have several meanings; use boundaries, labels and context before identifying a feature.
Correct the date reading
A reader says, “The later map is an 1882 snapshot, and the report says filling started and ended in 1861.” Rewrite this as an accurate statement using the source cards and the report meaning in the lessons.
Your response
Correct the map reading
A reader says, “Every blank patch is water; if a label disappears, the place disappeared.” Explain two checks you would make before accepting those claims.
Your response