[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 9 (Monday, January 25, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Page S192]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO JAMES WILSON

 Mr. SANDERS. Mr. President, I would like to take a moment 
today to recognize an armchair explorer who never left the Northeast 
but brought the world to the United States. In 1809-1810 in the town of 
Bradford, VT, Mr. James Wilson fashioned the first terrestrial and 
celestial globes made in the United States. In doing so Mr. Wilson gave 
to all Americans an invaluable tool that would be used for centuries to 
come.
  A self-taught and passionate cartographer, James Wilson started the 
first geographic globe factory in Bradford. He achieved such great 
success that soon after he and his sons opened a second factory in 
Albany, NY. Wilson Globes set the standard by which all other globes 
were measured, achieving such perfection that in 1827 he argued to 
Congress there was no longer a need to import them from abroad.
  The accomplishments of James Wilson and his sons are treasured in the 
picturesque town of Bradford. So much so that the Bradford Historical 
Society commissioned the Williamstown Art Conservator to repair the 
historical society's Wilson globe--one of the few remaining in the 
world. Funds for this project were received from across the Nation. 
Understandably, the town takes great pride in this small piece of 
history that they can call their own. Although Mr. Wilson only ever saw 
a few hundred miles of this great country, he was responsible for 
bringing the world to most Americans. We applaud James Wilson for the 
legacy he left us. Furthermore, we applaud the Historical Society and 
town of Bradford for recognizing Mr. Wilson's remarkable gift and their 
dedication to preserving the past for our future.

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