The 15th Biennial Virginia Garrett Lectures on the History of Cartography will be held at the University of Texas at Arlington Libraries’ Special Collections on October 1-2, 2026. This year’s event, Frozen Frontiers: 500 Years of Mapping Antarctica, will explore how the southern continent was imagined, charted, and portrayed on maps from the early modern era to present day.

The two-day program will feature lectures, panel discussions, and special events that explore the cultural, political, and scientific influences that have shaped Antarctic cartography over five centuries. An accompanying exhibit will allow viewers to journey through ice and time by exploring the pivotal maps that defined Antarctica from the cartographic collections at UTA's Special Collections.

This event is open to all. Registration is not required but is recommended. More information about how to register and a detailed schedule of events is coming soon to the UTA Libraries' website at: https://libraries.uta.edu/news-events/annual/virginia-garrett-lectures

The event will be followed by the Texas Map Society’s 2026 fall meeting on Saturday, October 3, 2026, also at the University of Texas at Arlington.

If you have questions regarding the Virginia Garrett Lectures, contact Madeline Lowry (madeline.lowry@uta.edu).

If you have questions regarding the Texas Map Society’s fall meeting, contact Mylynka Cardona (mylynka.cardona@etamu.edu).