Pox Americana. SmallPox Epidemic (1775-1782). Search Tool. http://usg.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=2c94e981a6c6485ab0e26bb680e0b063. Created by Elizabeth Fenn at the University of Georgia, https://ehistory.org/. Reviewed Feb. 3, 2019.

Beginning in 1775, North America experienced a smallpox epidemic. It was the “single experience that most Americans shared,” regardless of where they lived. Pox Americana was designed by Elizabeth Fenn as a tool to help her visualize the progress of smallpox across North America, while writing her book titled, Pox Americana: The Great Smallpox Epidemic of 1775-82. She input data gathered during her research into a Geographic Information System (GIS) called ArcGIS . The program allowed Fenn to visually see where and how the disease moved across space and time. This led to further questions and ultimately a better understanding how people moved and interacted across the continent during this period.