Link: Using Palladio to Visualize Ads
This project maps the movement of runaway slaves by showing connections between where they escaped from (often their owner’s property) and where they were captured (usually a county jail). Each location is a node, and the movement between them forms edges, revealing common escape routes and the factors that influenced them.
Researchers used Palladio, a mapping tool, to visualize these movements. The map allows users to explore escape paths and compare trends in Texas, Arkansas, and Mississippi. By turning historical records into a visual format, the project makes the data easier to understand and analyze. It also helps identify patterns that might not be obvious from text-based records alone.
However, there were some challenges. Palladio does not allow embedded maps, making it harder to share the interactive version outside the tool. Data collection was time-consuming since researchers had to manually find and enter location details from jailers’ notices. Another issue is that the exact routes taken by fugitives are unknown, so the map only shows confirmed points of escape and capture, not the full journey. This means some important details about how enslaved people traveled and avoided capture remain unclear.
To create this map, researchers recorded escape and capture locations in spreadsheets and uploaded the data into Palladio. Using the “Point to Point” tool, they connected locations to visualize escape patterns. This method combines network analysis (studying connections between places) and spatial analysis (understanding movement across geography). By studying these patterns, historians can learn more about how enslaved people attempted to escape and the challenges they faced.
The project highlights how runaway slaves traveled and how their choices were shaped by geography and other factors. The map helps bring the stories of runaway slaves to life, showing how they resisted oppression. It highlights their bravery, the paths they took, and the larger patterns of escape, offering valuable insight into the fight for freedom and the risks involved. these stories to life, making it easier to see and understand patterns of resistance in history.
