(Map courtesy of Washington State Library)

Since it’s National Military Appreciation Month, our second “contestant” in the May edition of State Library jewels gives a historic nod to the significant military presence in Washington: a detailed section of the online map of what was then called Camp Lewis in 1917. Found in the State Library’s Rare Map Collection, the map shows a portion of what is modern-day Joint Base Lewis-McChord, south of Tacoma. It displays roads and barrack locations of the different units in the 91st Division and auxiliary troops.

The first candidate in this month’s Library jewels is Ranald MacDonald, a former Hudson’s Bay Company employee who later lived and taught English in then-isolationist Japan during the 1800s.

After we post our third and final State Library jewel candidate later this week, you’ll have a chance to choose your favorite.