{"id":121386,"date":"2026-02-03T19:05:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-04T00:05:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.theonering.net\/torwp\/?p=121386"},"modified":"2026-02-01T23:51:27","modified_gmt":"2026-02-02T04:51:27","slug":"wisconsin-local-who-mapped-middle-earth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.theonering.net\/torwp\/2026\/02\/03\/121386-wisconsin-local-who-mapped-middle-earth\/","title":{"rendered":"Wisconsin local who mapped Middle-earth"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" class=\"intro\">Public Radio profiles Karen Wynn Fonstad author of Atlas of Middle-earth and the effort to digitize her vast cartography collection..<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Missed this several months ago, but NPR local affiliate WPR <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wpr.org\/news\/wisconsin-cartographer-karen-wynn-fonstad-mapped-tolkien-fantasy-world-oshkosh\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">did a deep dive story<\/a> on Oshkosh native Fonstad. That legacy is now being digitized by her son. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mark Fonstad grew up with his mom\u2019s maps of Middle-earth and other fantasy settings. Mark is now an associate professor of geography at the University of Oregon. He spent spring break this year in Wisconsin, at the University of Wisconsin-Madison\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/geography.wisc.edu\/maplibrary\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Robinson Map Library<\/a>. For a week, he covered the library in fantasy maps as he worked to scan and digitize the collection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-envira-envira-gallery\"><div id=\"envira-gallery-wrap-121392\" class=\"envira-gallery-wrap envira-gallery-theme-base envira-lightbox-theme-base\" itemscope itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageGallery\"><div data-row-height=\"\" data-gallery-theme=\"\" id=\"envira-gallery-121392\" class=\"envira-gallery-public  envira-gallery-3-columns envira-clear enviratope envira-gallery-css-animations\" data-envira-columns=\"3\"><div id=\"envira-gallery-item-121387\" class=\"envira-gallery-item enviratope-item envira-gallery-item-1 envira-lazy-load\" style=\"padding-left: 5px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-right: 5px;\"  itemscope itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\"><div class=\"envira-gallery-item-inner\"><div class=\"envira-gallery-position-overlay  envira-gallery-top-left\"><\/div><div class=\"envira-gallery-position-overlay  envira-gallery-top-right\"><\/div><div class=\"envira-gallery-position-overlay  envira-gallery-bottom-left\"><\/div><div class=\"envira-gallery-position-overlay  envira-gallery-bottom-right\"><\/div><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theonering.net\/torwp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/250328_FONSTAD06-scaled-1-1024x683.jpeg\" class=\"envira-gallery-121392 envira-gallery-link no-lazyload\" rel=\"enviragallery121392\" title=\"250328_FONSTAD06-scaled-1-1024x683\" data-envira-caption=\"250328_FONSTAD06-scaled-1-1024x683\" data-envira-retina=\"\" data-thumbnail=\"\"  itemprop=\"contentUrl\"><div class=\"envira-lazy\" data-test-width=\"640\" data-test-height=\"480\" style=\"padding-bottom:75%;\"><img decoding=\"async\" id=\"envira-gallery-image-121387\" class=\"envira-gallery-image envira-gallery-image-1 no-lazyload\" data-envira-index=\"1\" src=\"https:\/\/www.theonering.net\/torwp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/250328_FONSTAD06-scaled-1-1024x683.jpeg\" data-envira-src=\"https:\/\/www.theonering.net\/torwp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/250328_FONSTAD06-scaled-1-1024x683.jpeg\" data-envira-gallery-id=\"121392\" data-envira-item-id=\"121387\" data-envira-caption=\"250328_FONSTAD06-scaled-1-1024x683\" alt=\"\" title=\"250328_FONSTAD06-scaled-1-1024x683\"  itemprop=\"thumbnailUrl\" data-envira-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.theonering.net\/torwp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/250328_FONSTAD06-scaled-1-1024x683.jpeg 400w,https:\/\/www.theonering.net\/torwp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/250328_FONSTAD06-scaled-1-1024x683.jpeg 2x\" srcset=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAP\/\/\/\/\/\/\/yH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" \/><\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div><div id=\"envira-gallery-item-121388\" class=\"envira-gallery-item enviratope-item envira-gallery-item-2 envira-lazy-load\" style=\"padding-left: 5px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-right: 5px;\"  itemscope itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\"><div class=\"envira-gallery-item-inner\"><div class=\"envira-gallery-position-overlay  envira-gallery-top-left\"><\/div><div class=\"envira-gallery-position-overlay  envira-gallery-top-right\"><\/div><div class=\"envira-gallery-position-overlay  envira-gallery-bottom-left\"><\/div><div class=\"envira-gallery-position-overlay  envira-gallery-bottom-right\"><\/div><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theonering.net\/torwp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/basemap2-scaled-e1744230007424-1024x739.jpeg\" class=\"envira-gallery-121392 envira-gallery-link no-lazyload\" rel=\"enviragallery121392\" title=\"basemap2-scaled-e1744230007424-1024x739\" data-envira-caption=\"basemap2-scaled-e1744230007424-1024x739\" data-envira-retina=\"\" data-thumbnail=\"\"  itemprop=\"contentUrl\"><div class=\"envira-lazy\" data-test-width=\"640\" data-test-height=\"480\" style=\"padding-bottom:75%;\"><img decoding=\"async\" id=\"envira-gallery-image-121388\" class=\"envira-gallery-image envira-gallery-image-2 no-lazyload\" data-envira-index=\"2\" src=\"https:\/\/www.theonering.net\/torwp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/basemap2-scaled-e1744230007424-1024x739.jpeg\" data-envira-src=\"https:\/\/www.theonering.net\/torwp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/basemap2-scaled-e1744230007424-1024x739.jpeg\" data-envira-gallery-id=\"121392\" data-envira-item-id=\"121388\" data-envira-caption=\"basemap2-scaled-e1744230007424-1024x739\" alt=\"\" title=\"basemap2-scaled-e1744230007424-1024x739\"  itemprop=\"thumbnailUrl\" data-envira-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.theonering.net\/torwp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/basemap2-scaled-e1744230007424-1024x739.jpeg 400w,https:\/\/www.theonering.net\/torwp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/basemap2-scaled-e1744230007424-1024x739.jpeg 2x\" srcset=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAP\/\/\/\/\/\/\/yH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" \/><\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div><div id=\"envira-gallery-item-121389\" class=\"envira-gallery-item enviratope-item envira-gallery-item-3 envira-lazy-load\" style=\"padding-left: 5px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-right: 5px;\"  itemscope itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\"><div class=\"envira-gallery-item-inner\"><div class=\"envira-gallery-position-overlay  envira-gallery-top-left\"><\/div><div class=\"envira-gallery-position-overlay  envira-gallery-top-right\"><\/div><div class=\"envira-gallery-position-overlay  envira-gallery-bottom-left\"><\/div><div class=\"envira-gallery-position-overlay  envira-gallery-bottom-right\"><\/div><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theonering.net\/torwp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/250328_FONSTAD07-scaled-1-1024x683.jpeg\" class=\"envira-gallery-121392 envira-gallery-link no-lazyload\" rel=\"enviragallery121392\" title=\"250328_FONSTAD07-scaled-1-1024x683\" data-envira-caption=\"250328_FONSTAD07-scaled-1-1024x683\" data-envira-retina=\"\" data-thumbnail=\"\"  itemprop=\"contentUrl\"><div class=\"envira-lazy\" data-test-width=\"640\" data-test-height=\"480\" style=\"padding-bottom:75%;\"><img decoding=\"async\" id=\"envira-gallery-image-121389\" class=\"envira-gallery-image envira-gallery-image-3 no-lazyload\" data-envira-index=\"3\" src=\"https:\/\/www.theonering.net\/torwp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/250328_FONSTAD07-scaled-1-1024x683.jpeg\" data-envira-src=\"https:\/\/www.theonering.net\/torwp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/250328_FONSTAD07-scaled-1-1024x683.jpeg\" data-envira-gallery-id=\"121392\" data-envira-item-id=\"121389\" data-envira-caption=\"250328_FONSTAD07-scaled-1-1024x683\" alt=\"\" title=\"250328_FONSTAD07-scaled-1-1024x683\"  itemprop=\"thumbnailUrl\" data-envira-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.theonering.net\/torwp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/250328_FONSTAD07-scaled-1-1024x683.jpeg 400w,https:\/\/www.theonering.net\/torwp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/250328_FONSTAD07-scaled-1-1024x683.jpeg 2x\" srcset=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAP\/\/\/\/\/\/\/yH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" \/><\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.theonering.net\/torwp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/250328_FONSTAD06-scaled-1.jpeg\" alt=\"\" \/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.theonering.net\/torwp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/basemap2-scaled-e1744230007424.jpeg\" alt=\"\" \/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.theonering.net\/torwp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/250328_FONSTAD07-scaled-1.jpeg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/noscript><\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">From the article: <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One of Karen\u2019s first steps in creating the atlas of maps is now one of the largest items on display in Mark\u2019s sprawling setup at the map library: the base map that was such a challenge to scan.&nbsp;<br><br>The base map took center stage on the floor of the Fonstads\u2019 home.<br><br>\u201cShe started building this huge base map on the floor of the kitchen, using kitchen tiles as [a] scale,\u201d Mark said. \u201cShe would then add information that she had read in the books.\u201d<br><br>From there, she moved on to the more detailed and localized maps. When she was done, there were 172 maps, along with her extensive commentary on the geography of Middle-earth.<br><br>This was before computer graphics were an option. Karen drew all of those maps by hand.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Now that federal funding for NPR has been eliminated, please consider supporting <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wpr.org\/news\/wisconsin-cartographer-karen-wynn-fonstad-mapped-tolkien-fantasy-world-oshkosh\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">WPR<\/a> for wonderful stories how small town fans can impact the broader world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Public Radio profiles Karen Wynn Fonstad author of Atlas of Middle-earth and the effort to digitize her vast&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":112,"featured_media":121390,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1362,3654,149],"tags":[4409,4410,3204,4411],"class_list":["post-121386","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-books","category-interview","category-lotr","tag-atlas","tag-karen","tag-karen-wynn-fonstad","tag-maps"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t<!-- All in One SEO Pro 4.9.8 - aioseo.com -->\n\t<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Public Radio profiles Karen Wynn Fonstad author of Atlas of Middle-earth and the effort to digitize her vast cartography collection.. Missed this several months ago, but NPR local affiliate WPR did a deep dive story on Oshkosh native Fonstad. That legacy is now being digitized by her son. Mark Fonstad grew up with his mom\u2019s\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"max-image-preview:large\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Justin Sewell\"\/>\n\t<meta name=\"keywords\" content=\"atlas,karen,karen wynn fonstad,maps,books,interview,the lord of the rings\" \/>\n\t<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theonering.net\/torwp\/2026\/02\/03\/121386-wisconsin-local-who-mapped-middle-earth\/\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"generator\" content=\"All in One SEO Pro (AIOSEO) 4.9.8\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Lord of the Rings &amp; Tolkien News - TheOneRing.net Fan Community, since 1999 | Forged by and for fans of J.R.R. 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