How Maps and Map Collecting Helped an Immigrant Find His Place in the World

Born in a Displaced Persons Camp in Germany, Andrew Kapochunas, along with his parents and siblings, was among eight million other European refugees in Lithuania after World War II. During this presentation, illustrated throughout with images of maps from his own collection and from his personal site, LithuanianMaps.com,  Andrew will take attendees on a journey through time, beginning with the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in the 13th Century, and through space, as he discusses his struggle to find his place in the world.

Having finally found his place, Andrew now helps others find their and their ancestors' place, via genealogical sites like JewishGen's LitvakSIG.  Physical maps from the Library’s collection, images of which are on Andrew’s site, will be displayed at his talk.

Andrew Kapochunas, Secretary, Webmaster and a Director of the New York Map Society, retired in 2010 after 13 years in publishing as a writer/editor/publisher, and 27 years as a direct marketing and computer data consultant. Apart from building and maintaining his own map site, LithuanianMaps.com, and that of the New York Map Society, he has, for the past 20 years, written for collector publications on topics related to the philatelic and cartographic history of the Baltic area.

The lecture, sponsored jointly by the New York Map Society and The New York Public Library,  will be held in South Court: Classroom A - at the New York Public Library's Stephen A.  Schwarzman Building on 42nd St. and 5th Ave.