Ernie Woodson was born in Fairplay, Colorado and grew up in both Colorado and Kansas City, Missouri. He earned both bachelor's and master's degrees in geography and a master's degree in library science, at the University of Missouri. Though from a more rural background, he had a passion for seeing the world. Ernie worked for Offshore Oil, traveling to Alaska, Senegal, Gabon, Qatar, and Singapore. Following this, he served for two years with the Peace Corps in Swaziland. All of this experience would serve him well in his next career.

Ernie Woodson arrived at the University at Buffalo in 1974, becoming the Geology and Map Librarian, in the Science & Engineering Library, a position he held until retiring in 2003 as an associate librarian emeritus. His main responsibility was to develop and maintain the University at Buffalo Libraries Map Collection.

During his tenure at UB, Ernie worked with students and faculty providing maps, aerial photographs, and an enthusiasm for cartography and geography. His world travels brought many of our maps to life as Ernie explained not only the places but the features and character of the locations on the maps. He was always very good about helping students to understand not only how to use maps, but also the many things that a map could do.

Ernie was a "neighborhood geographer" who studied how individual neighborhoods in large cities develop their character and definition. With the advent of the World Wide Web, he was able to realize a way to share this study, by creating the City of Buffalo Neighborhoods Map. Ernie walked through the neighborhoods to describe each one and its unique traits. He took photographs, and with the help of fellow Libraries staff, created the popular Buffalo Map, which is a key resource of the collection.

Following this, Ernie tackled his ultimate dream, the City of Manhattan Neighborhoods Map. Again, using first-hand experience, Ernie, along with colleague, David Bertuca, identified the neighborhoods, plotted the index map, and gathered resources on each to describe New York in detail.

The City of Manhattan Neighborhoods Map is a large project, and one that took years of research and collaboration with colleagues. Following his retirement, Ernie was still providing input and references to this online map. This map will take years to complete but Mr. Woodson's vision for it has been the inspiration for this model.

In addition to his work at UB, Ernie was active in NEMO, the North East Map Organization, serving in various positions through the years. He was quite acquainted with the family of geographers and map librarians in this organization and will be missed.

Ernie was enthusiastic about athletics and sports. He enjoyed tennis and running, and even ran in the Boston Marathon and the New York Marathon. He ran in Buffalo with the Nickel City Road Runners and the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra Athletic Club. In addition, he enjoyed baseball and always made a point of visiting favorite stadiums.

Please remember Ernie and his family at this time. Surviving him are two daughters, Christina of New York City and Juliana of Richmond, Va.; his mother, Elsie Harris of Kansas City, Mo.; a brother, John W. of Kansas City, Mo.; and two sisters, Paula Cartwright of Cedarburg, Wis., and Sarah West of Pittsburgh.

The Ernest Woodson Book Fund has been created in memory of Mr. Woodson at the University at Buffalo . Donations may be made to:

University at Buffalo Libraries-Woodson Book Fund
433 Capen Hall
University at Buffalo
Buffalo, NY 14260-1625

Ernie Woodson's obituary appeared in the Buffalo News, March 11,2005.