A Map of North America Denoting the Boundaries of the Yearly Meetings of Friends and the Locations of the Various Indian Tribes, created by James Bowden in 1844 and issued in London by the Aborigines’ Committee of the Meeting for Sufferings, marries advocacy with cartographic clarity. Prepared to accompany the Quaker volume Some Account of the Conduct of the Religious Society of Friends…to the Year 1843, it arranges the continent into lucid, color-coded fields: the territorial reach of Quaker Yearly Meetings interlaced with the marked locations of Native nations. Rivers, mountain chains, and coastlines are carefully traced, so that moral argument is grounded in geography. The result is not merely a reference but a carefully argued map, one that shows where communities of conscience and communities under duress coexisted—and collided—across a rapidly changing North America.

Bowden, a committed English Friend, devised a map that reflects the practical, documentary temper of Quaker reform. The Meeting for Sufferings—the London Yearly Meeting’s standing committee—tasked its Aborigines’ Committee with gathering evidence and raising awareness of injustices facing Indigenous peoples. Bowden’s solution is cartographic synthesis: a “moral topography” that overlays ecclesiastical administration and human displacement. The calibrated tints delineating Yearly Meetings speak to Quaker organization and pastoral reach, while the precise labeling of tribal territories supplies a sobering ledger of consequence. Issued in London, the sheet let transatlantic readers situate reports from the field—letters, minutes, and itinerant journals—against the hard facts of mountains crossed, rivers forded, and frontiers pushed.

Nowhere is the map’s evidence more eloquent than in its legend, which enumerates the demographic scars of removal: just 26,796 Native people remaining east of the Mississippi against 77,447 driven westward, including 15,000 Cherokees. That stark arithmetic compresses a decade of federal policy into a single glance, visualizing the aftermath of forced marches and coerced treaties. East of the river, names thin out; westward, they concentrate along the corridor that would soon be known as Indian Territory. By treating population as a cartographic layer, Bowden transforms the page into a ledger of accountability, illuminating how expansionist lines on a surveyor’s map translated into ruptured homelands and reconstituted nations along new, often arid, frontiers.

Geographically, the map is an education in the continent’s structure. The Mississippi cleaves the page, fed by the Ohio and Missouri, while the Appalachians and the Rockies rise as long, stippled spines guiding climate, settlement, and commerce. The Great Lakes, the St. Lawrence, and the Gulf littoral fix trade routes that powered the ascent of cities clearly marked: Philadelphia and New York, Quaker strongholds and mercantile giants; Washington and Richmond, political fulcrums; Charleston, a key Atlantic port; Cincinnati, gateway of the Ohio Valley; St. Louis, keystone of the Mississippi-Missouri confluence; Chicago, the emergent hinge of lake and prairie; and New Orleans, the river’s unrivaled terminus. Across the West, wide spaces then described as scarcely settled are set against a dense eastern seaboard, underscoring the velocity—and imbalance—of nineteenth-century growth.

Equally distinctive is the map’s ecclesiastical geography: boundaries of Yearly Meetings—Philadelphia, New York, Baltimore, Ohio, Indiana, North Carolina, among others—traced in contrasting hues. These lines reveal a lattice of oversight, worship, and witness, mapping the routes along which ministers traveled, committees corresponded, and relief was organized. In Bowden’s hands, the jurisdictional outlines of Friends become wayfinding for conscience, placing Quaker communities in proximity to Native nations they sought to support and defend. The synthesis endures as a rare mid-century visual record—at once administrative chart, historical testimony, and humanitarian brief—capturing the entwined stories of faith, expansion, and endurance inscribed upon the rivers, plains, and cities of North America.

Cities and towns on this map

• Philadelphia, PA (most populous, historical Quaker center)
• New York, NY (second most populous)
• Chicago, IL
• Cincinnati, OH
• New Orleans, LA
• St. Louis, MO
• Charleston, SC
• Richmond, VA
• Washington, D.C.

Notable Features & Landmarks

• Yearly Meeting Boundaries: Differentiated by color-coded lines, outlining the various regional Quaker meetings.
• Native American Tribe Locations: Clearly marked, showing displacement due to forced migrations.
• Legend: Quantifies the populations and numbers of tribes present on the map.
• Topography: Includes detailed terrain features such as mountains and rivers, enhancing geographical understanding.
• Geographical Details: Another layer of information provided through notable landmarks and unexplored territories.

Historical and design context

• Mapmaker/Publisher: Created by James Bowden in 1844; issued in London by the Aborigines’ Committee of the Meeting for Sufferings.
• Purpose: Accompanied the Quaker volume "Some Account of the Conduct of the Religious Society of Friends…to the Year 1843."
• Historical Context: Reflects the widespread displacement of Native American tribes, including the stark contrast between populations east and west of the Mississippi River.
• Quantification: The legend lists 26,796 Native Americans remaining east of the river compared to 77,447 moved westward, including 15,000 Cherokees.
• Design and Style: Uses color-coded boundaries for various Yearly Meetings and tribal territories, enhancing visual differentiation.
• Significance: A significant mid-19th-century visual record highlighting the impact of European-American expansion and Quaker efforts in the context of social justice.

Please double check the images to make sure that a specific town or place is shown on this map. You can also get in touch and ask us to check the map for you.

This map looks great at every size, but I always recommend going for a larger size if you have space. That way you can easily make out all of the details.

This map looks amazing at sizes all the way up to 50in (125cm). If you are looking for a larger map, please get in touch.

The model in the listing images is holding the 16x20in (40x50cm) version of this map.

The fifth listing image shows an example of my map personalisation service.

If you’re looking for something slightly different, check out my collection of the best old maps to see if something else catches your eye.

Please contact me to check if a certain location, landmark or feature is shown on this map.

This would make a wonderful birthday, Christmas, Father's Day, work leaving, anniversary or housewarming gift for someone from the areas covered by this map.

This map is available as a giclée print on acid free archival matte paper, or you can buy it framed. The frame is a nice, simple black frame that suits most aesthetics. Please get in touch if you'd like a different frame colour or material. My frames are glazed with super-clear museum-grade acrylic (perspex/acrylite), which is significantly less reflective than glass, safer, and will always arrive in perfect condition.

This map is also available as a float framed canvas, sometimes known as a shadow gap framed canvas or canvas floater. The map is printed on artist's cotton canvas and then stretched over a handmade box frame. We then "float" the canvas inside a wooden frame, which is available in a range of colours (black, dark brown, oak, antique gold and white). This is a wonderful way to present a map without glazing in front. See some examples of float framed canvas maps and explore the differences between my different finishes.

For something truly unique, this map is also available in "Unique 3D", our trademarked process that dramatically transforms the map so that it has a wonderful sense of depth. We combine the original map with detailed topography and elevation data, so that mountains and the terrain really "pop". For more info and examples of 3D maps, check my Unique 3D page.

For most orders, delivery time is about 3 working days. Personalised and customised products take longer, as I have to do the personalisation and send it to you for approval, which usually takes 1 or 2 days.

Please note that very large framed orders usually take longer to make and deliver. 

If you need your order to arrive by a certain date, please contact me before you order so that we can find the best way of making sure you get your order in time.

I print and frame maps and artwork in 23 countries around the world. This means your order will be made locally, which cuts down on delivery time and ensures that it won't be damaged during delivery. You'll never pay customs or import duty, and we'll put less CO2 into the air.

All of my maps and art prints are well packaged and sent in a rugged tube if unframed, or surrounded by foam if framed.

I try to send out all orders within 1 or 2 days of receiving your order, though some products (like face masks, mugs and tote bags) can take longer to make.

If you select Express Delivery at checkout your order we will prioritise your order and send it out by 1-day courier (Fedex, DHL, UPS, Parcelforce).

Next Day delivery is also available in some countries (US, UK, Singapore, UAE) but please try to order early in the day so that we can get it sent out on time.

Read my full delivery and local production guide

My standard frame is a gallery style black ash hardwood frame. It is simple and quite modern looking. My standard frame is around 20mm (0.8in) wide.

I use super-clear acrylic (perspex/acrylite) for the frame glass. It's lighter and safer than glass - and it looks better, as the reflectivity is lower.

Six standard frame colours are available for free (black, dark brown, dark grey, oak, white and antique gold). Custom framing and mounting/matting is available if you're looking for something else.

Most maps, art and illustrations are also available as a framed canvas. We use matte (not shiny) cotton canvas, stretch it over a sustainably sourced box wood frame, and then 'float' the piece within a wood frame. The end result is quite beautiful, and there's no glazing to get in the way.

All frames are provided "ready to hang", with either a string or brackets on the back. Very large frames will have heavy duty hanging plates and/or a mounting baton. If you have any questions, please get in touch.

See some examples of my framed maps and framed canvas maps.

Alternatively, I can also supply old maps and artwork on canvas, foam board, cotton rag and other materials.

If you want to frame your map or artwork yourself, please read my size guide first.

My maps are extremely high quality reproductions of original maps.

I source original, rare maps from libraries, auction houses and private collections around the world, restore them at my London workshop, and then use specialist giclée inks and printers to create beautiful maps that look even better than the original.

My maps are printed on acid-free archival matte (not glossy) paper that feels very high quality and almost like card. In technical terms the paper weight/thickness is 10mil/200gsm. It's perfect for framing.

I print with Epson ultrachrome giclée UV fade resistant pigment inks - some of the best inks you can find.

I can also make maps on canvas, cotton rag and other exotic materials.

Learn more about The Unique Maps Co.

Map personalisation

If you're looking for the perfect anniversary or housewarming gift, I can personalise your map to make it truly unique. For example, I can add a short message, or highlight an important location, or add your family's coat of arms.

The options are almost infinite. Please see my map personalisation page for some wonderful examples of what's possible.

To order a personalised map, select "personalise your map" before adding it to your basket.

Get in touch if you're looking for more complex customisations and personalisations.

Map ageing

I have been asked hundreds of times over the years by customers if they could buy a map that looks even older.

Well, now you can, by selecting Aged before you add a map to your basket.

All the product photos you see on this page show the map in its Original form. This is what the map looks like today.

If you select Aged, I will age your map by hand, using a special and unique process developed through years of studying old maps, talking to researchers to understand the chemistry of aging paper, and of course... lots of practice!

If you're unsure, stick to the Original colour of the map. If you want something a bit darker and older looking, go for Aged.

See some amazing examples of Aged maps.

If you are not happy with your order for any reason, contact me and I'll get it fixed ASAP, free of charge. Please see my returns and refund policy for more information.

I am very confident you will like your restored map or art print. I have been doing this since 1984. I'm a 5-star Etsy seller. I have sold tens of thousands of maps and art prints and have over 5,000 real 5-star reviews. My work has been featured in interior design magazines, on the BBC, and on the walls of dozens of 5-star hotels.

I use a unique process to restore maps and artwork that is massively time consuming and labour intensive. Hunting down the original maps and illustrations can take months. I use state of the art and eye-wateringly expensive technology to scan and restore them. As a result, I guarantee my maps and art prints are a cut above the rest. I stand by my products and will always make sure you're 100% happy with what you receive.

Almost all of my maps and art prints look amazing at large sizes (200cm, 6.5ft+) and I can frame and deliver them to you as well, via special oversized courier. Contact me to discuss your specific needs.