Maine Memory Network

"Sketch with Camera Lucida -- from Hill in front of Tachereaux House."

The Talcott survey, headed by Capt. Andrew Talcott, was sent out to map the northern boundary of Maine after hostilities broke out in 1839 between settlers in the Madawaska region around the St. John River. This scene was likely created around the headwaters of the Connecticut River between the New Hampshire and Canadian border.

"Artists accompanied the survey and used an apparatus called a camera lucida. Suspended over a sheet of drawing paper, the camera lucida, by means of a prism, projected an exact outline of a particular view onto the paper, which could then be traced. Later, the line drawings were embellished with watercolor."- from Barry, William and Geraldine Tidd Scott. "Charting a wilderness. Rare drawings of the trackless North Woods resurface after 150 years." Downeast Magazine, June 1995. p. 59-60.

The original painting is held at the National Archives, Washington, D.C.

Mucalesa Mountain from Mucalesa Pond, Talcott Survey, 1841. The present-day spelling is Mucalsea Mountain. The Talcott survey, headed by Capt. Andrew Talcott, was sent out to map the northern boundary of Maine after hostilities broke out in 1839 between settlers in the Madawaska region around the St. John River.

"Artists accompanied the survey and used an apparatus called a camera lucida. Suspended over a sheet of drawing paper, the camera lucida, by means of a prism, projected an exact outline of a particular view onto the paper, which could then be traced. Later, the line drawings were embellished with watercolor."- from Barry, William and Geraldine Tidd Scott. "Charting a wilderness. Rare drawings of the trackless North Woods resurface after 150 years." Downeast Magazine, June 1995. p. 59-60.

The original painting is held at the National Archives, Washington, D.C.

View from Station 212, Talcott survey, 1841. The Talcott survey, headed by Capt. Andrew Talcott, was sent out to map the northern boundary of Maine after hostilities broke out in 1839 between settlers in the Madawaska region around the St. John River.

"Artists accompanied the survey and used an apparatus called a camera lucida. Suspended over a sheet of drawing paper, the camera lucida, by means of a prism, projected an exact outline of a particular view onto the paper, which could then be traced. Later, the line drawings were embellished with watercolor."- from Barry, William and Geraldine Tidd Scott. "Charting a wilderness. Rare drawings of the trackless North Woods resurface after 150 years." Downeast Magazine, June 1995. p. 59-60.

The original painting is held at the National Archives, Washington, D.C.

The image is entitled, "Co-cum-go-muc Mountains- Bearing from about N 10 degrees W. to North as seen from the Southern end of Co-cum-go-muc-sis Lake, near its outlet into Coo-cum-go-muc Lake (Penobscot waters)."

The Talcott survey, headed by Capt. Andrew Talcott, was sent out to map the northern boundary of Maine after hostilities broke out in 1839 between settlers in the Madawaska region around the St. John River.

Artists who were part of the survey used camera lucida, which used a prism to project an outline of the area onto paper. The artists traced the outline, then completed the drawings.

The original painting is held at the National Archives, Washington, D.C.

Co-cum-go-muc-sis Lake bearing from S. 15 degrees E to South 30 degrees E.- and in the distance Katahdin bearing about S 35 degrees E.-and Spencer Mount S. 5 Degrees W.- the small Lake on right is on the stream connecting Horn Pond with Cocumgomucsis Lake.

The Talcott survey, headed by Capt. Andrew Talcott, mapped the northern boundary of Maine to help settle the border dispute between Canada and the United States.

"Only trappers and Indians had ever beheld Mount Katahdin (at left), when these top-hatted surveyors captured the mountain in all its virgin splendor. The highly accurate image, rendered in 1840 looking southwest out over Caucomgomoc Lake, was achieved by suspending a prismatic device over paper and tracing the outline cast onto the paper. Watercolor was added later."- from Barry, William and Geraldine Tidd Scott. "Charting a wilderness. Rare drawings of the trackless North Woods resurface after 150 years." Downeast Magazine, June 1995. p. 59-60.

The original painting is held at the National Archives, Washington, D.C.

"Co-cum-go-muc Mountains -- bearing from about N 27 W to N 45 W as seen from the Eastern shore of the Eastern part of Cocumgomucsis Lake -- near the inlet from Shallow Lake."

The Talcott survey, headed by Capt. Andrew Talcott, was sent out to map the northern boundary of Maine after hostilities broke out in 1839 between settlers in the Madawaska region around the St. John River.

"Artists accompanied the survey and used an apparatus called a camera lucida. Suspended over a sheet of drawing paper, the camera lucida, by means of a prism, projected an exact outline of a particular view onto the paper, which could then be traced. Later, the line drawings were embellished with watercolor."- from Barry, William and Geraldine Tidd Scott. "Charting a wilderness. Rare drawings of the trackless North Woods resurface after 150 years." Down East Magazine, June 1995. p. 59-60.

The original painting is held at the National Archives, Washington, D.C.

"Camera Lucida Sketch -- from Metjarmette Mountain -- the ranges on right are the Highlands between Metjarmette Depot and Lake Etchenin."

The Talcott survey, headed by Capt. Andrew Talcott, was sent out to map the northern boundary of Maine after hostilities broke out in 1839 between settlers in the Madawaska region around the St. John River.

"Artists accompanied the survey and used an apparatus called a camera lucida. Suspended over a sheet of drawing paper, the camera lucida, by means of a prism, projected an exact outline of a particular view onto the paper, which could then be traced. Later, the line drawings were embellished with watercolor."- from Barry, William and Geraldine Tidd Scott. "Charting a wilderness. Rare drawings of the trackless North Woods resurface after 150 years." Downeast Magazine, June 1995. p. 59-60.

The original painting is held at the National Archives, Washington, D.C.

"Sketch taken at Spider Lake -- the horizontal distances and vertical Height are from instrumental measurements."

The Talcott survey, headed by Capt. Andrew Talcott, was sent out to map the northern boundary of Maine after hostilities broke out in 1839 between settlers in the Madawaska region around the St. John River.

"Artists accompanied the survey and used an apparatus called a camera lucida. Suspended over a sheet of drawing paper, the camera lucida, by means of a prism, projected an exact outline of a particular view onto the paper, which could then be traced. Later, the line drawings were embellished with watercolor."- from Barry, William and Geraldine Tidd Scott. "Charting a wilderness. Rare drawings of the trackless North Woods resurface after 150 years." Downeast Magazine, June 1995. p. 59-60.

The original painting is held at the National Archives, Washington, D.C.

The painting is entitled, "Katahdin, bearing about south 30 degrees East and Sohuduahunk, bearing about South 20 degrees East-as seen from the Eastern shore of Lake Chamberlain."

It was made by artists who accompanied Capt. Andrew Talcott in an 1839 survey done to help resolve disagreements over the boundary between Canada and the United States.

Artists used a camera lucida in which a prism projected an outline of the area onto paper. The artists traced the outline, then completed the drawings.

The original painting is held at the National Archives, Washington, D.C.

"Co-cum-go-muc Mountains --ranging from S 35 W to N. 75 or 85 W as seen from Eastern shore of Cocumgomuc Lake - St. John water."

The Talcott survey, headed by Capt. Andrew Talcott, was sent out to map the northern boundary of Maine after hostilities broke out in 1839 between settlers in the Madawaska region around the St. John River.

"Artists accompanied the survey and used an apparatus called a camera lucida. Suspended over a sheet of drawing paper, the camera lucida, by means of a prism, projected an exact outline of a particular view onto the paper, which could then be traced. Later, the line drawings were embellished with watercolor."- from Barry, William and Geraldine Tidd Scott. "Charting a wilderness. Rare drawings of the trackless North Woods resurface after 150 years." Downeast Magazine, June 1995. p. 59-60.

The original painting is held at the National Archives, Washington, D.C.

"Sketch of country toward the St. John River -- taken from Mountain about 3000 ft. high -- S of (Camp 2) Sta XLVIII."

The Talcott survey, headed by Capt. Andrew Talcott, was sent out to map the northern boundary of Maine after hostilities broke out in 1839 between settlers in the Madawaska region around the St. John River.

"Artists accompanied the survey and used an apparatus called a camera lucida. Suspended over a sheet of drawing paper, the camera lucida, by means of a prism, projected an exact outline of a particular view onto the paper, which could then be traced. Later, the line drawings were embellished with watercolor."- from Barry, William and Geraldine Tidd Scott. "Charting a wilderness. Rare drawings of the trackless North Woods resurface after 150 years." Downeast Magazine, June 1995. p. 59-60.

The original painting is held at the National Archives, Washington, D.C.

"Otter Pond -- Du Loup Water Sep. 20, 1841."

The Talcott survey, headed by Capt. Andrew Talcott, was sent out to map the northern boundary of Maine after hostilities broke out in 1839 between settlers in the Madawaska region around the St. John River.

"Artists accompanied the survey and used an apparatus called a camera lucida. Suspended over a sheet of drawing paper, the camera lucida, by means of a prism, projected an exact outline of a particular view onto the paper, which could then be traced. Later, the line drawings were embellished with watercolor."- from Barry, William and Geraldine Tidd Scott. "Charting a wilderness. Rare drawings of the trackless North Woods resurface after 150 years." Downeast Magazine, June 1995. p. 59-60.

The original painting is held at the National Archives, Washington, D.C.

"Snow Pond - St. John water ---October 20th 1841."

The Talcott survey, headed by Capt. Andrew Talcott, was sent out to map the northern boundary of Maine after hostilities broke out in 1839 between settlers in the Madawaska region around the St. John River.

"Artists accompanied the survey and used an apparatus called a camera lucida. Suspended over a sheet of drawing paper, the camera lucida, by means of a prism, projected an exact outline of a particular view onto the paper, which could then be traced. Later, the line drawings were embellished with watercolor."- from Barry, William and Geraldine Tidd Scott. "Charting a wilderness. Rare drawings of the trackless North Woods resurface after 150 years." Downeast Magazine, June 1995. p. 59-60.

The original painting is held at the National Archives, Washington, D.C.

"Falls of the du Loup -- near Teris Conatu (?) Road."

The Talcott survey, headed by Capt. Andrew Talcott, was sent out to map the northern boundary of Maine after hostilities broke out in 1839 between settlers in the Madawaska region around the St. John River.

"Artists accompanied the survey and used an apparatus called a camera lucida. Suspended over a sheet of drawing paper, the camera lucida, by means of a prism, projected an exact outline of a particular view onto the paper, which could then be traced. Later, the line drawings were embellished with watercolor."- from Barry, William and Geraldine Tidd Scott. "Charting a wilderness. Rare drawings of the trackless North Woods resurface after 150 years." Downeast Magazine, June 1995. p. 59-60.

The original painting is held at the National Archives, Washington, D.C.

"Camera Lucida Sketch -- Junction of the Du Loup with the Chaudiere -- near Semples."

The Talcott survey, headed by Capt. Andrew Talcott, was sent out to map the northern boundary of Maine after hostilities broke out in 1839 between settlers in the Madawaska region around the St. John River.

"Artists accompanied the survey and used an apparatus called a camera lucida. Suspended over a sheet of drawing paper, the camera lucida, by means of a prism, projected an exact outline of a particular view onto the paper, which could then be traced. Later, the line drawings were embellished with watercolor."- from Barry, William and Geraldine Tidd Scott. "Charting a wilderness. Rare drawings of the trackless North Woods resurface after 150 years." Downeast Magazine, June 1995. p. 59-60.

The original painting is held at the National Archives, Washington, D.C.

"North Russell Mountain -- as seen from Mucalesa Pond - bearing about N 55 E."

The Talcott survey, headed by Capt. Andrew Talcott, was sent out to map the northern boundary of Maine after hostilities broke out in 1839 between settlers in the Madawaska region around the St. John River.

"Artists accompanied the survey and used an apparatus called a camera lucida. Suspended over a sheet of drawing paper, the camera lucida, by means of a prism, projected an exact outline of a particular view onto the paper, which could then be traced. Later, the line drawings were embellished with watercolor."- from Barry, William and Geraldine Tidd Scott. "Charting a wilderness. Rare drawings of the trackless North Woods resurface after 150 years." Downeast Magazine, June 1995. p. 59-60.

The original painting is held at the National Archives, Washington, D.C.