atlas

This atlas was drawn up in the late 1880s under the supervision of Jesuit Observatory director Fr Joséš Algue, S.J. At a time when no full surveys of the islands existed, the compilers painstakingly worked to collect and verify all available data from residents, travelers, explorers, and the like. Native Philippine draftsmen executed the drawings. When the Philippines was ceded to the U.S. in 1899, the U.S. recognized the project’s value and agreed to publish the work through the U.S.