FIND YOUR WAY TO THIS COLORFUL, COLLECTION OF MAPS

OGDENSBURG, NY July 14, 2011-- If art is in the eye of the beholder, then the 50 historic maps on display in the Ogdensburg Public Library are something to
behold.
The 18th- and early 19th-century maps, collected over 30 years by French and Indian War re-enactor Randy Patten, provide a fascinating look into America’s history as it occurred in New York State.
Patten will meet the public in the Library, Friday, July 22 at 5:30 PM to share his reflections on the historic maps, accoutrements and artefacts from the French and Indian War. There is no charge for Patten’s public lecture which kick-offs Founder’s Day Weekend July 23-24.

"Several maps show the local Northern New York area, as well as all of New York State and parts of Canada and Pennsylvania, plus the waterways that people travelled to establish settlements and forts," Patten said. "I consider these maps to be works of art created by men who were masters at drawing these very important illustrations of America’s land, lakes and rivers."
Running through the month of July, the map exhibition is sponsored by the Fort
La Présentation Association.
"We are pleased to have Mr. Patten’s maps exhibited in conjunction with Founders Day Weekend, where we commemorate Ogdensburg’s French colonial history and the French and Indian War," said Barbara O’Keefe, President of the Fort La Présentation Association. "The map collection relates to war and settlement in the mid-1700s and helps illustrate Fort de la Présentation’s role forwarding soldiers, warriors and supplies to the Great Lakes, Ohio Valley and beyond."
Patten, a retired New York State Trooper, travel to build his collection has included visits to the Library of Congress and Great Britain to obtain color copies of original maps. Some of the hand-drawn maps have come from the collection of King George III.
For information about the Founder's Day Weekend military re-enactment and
colonial trade fair visit www.fort1749.org.
Information about library hours is at www.ogdensburgpubliclibrary.org.

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Media may contact;
Barbara O’Keefe
President
Fort La Présentation Association
312-393-3315