Maps Research Guide

Research Guide

Library & Information Resources Home > Subject & Course Research Guides Home >

Maps

Maps in MHC Library

5-College Map Resources

Reference Sources

Atlases

Topographic Maps

Other Specialized Maps

GIS and Map Images

WWW Sites

Introduction: Maps in our Library

There are many, varied sources of maps within the Mount Holyoke Library collection. We do not have a "map library" as such. But this webpage should help guide you to some of the available map resources. Some are in atlases, some are in pockets at the back of books, some are cataloged and bound separately, some are at the Reference Desk, and so forth. Beyond our collection, there are many Five College and Internet resources. Please ask Reference librarians (x2212 or libref@mtholyoke.edu) for help if you do not find the maps you are seeking.

Five-College Map Resources

The University of Massachusetts, Amherst, has a significant Map Collection on 26th floor of W. E. B. Du Bois Library. Non-circulating. UMass is a U.S.Geological Survey Depository site and thus maintains and makes available all the USGS products received on the Depository contract. Sheet maps (e.g., U.S. topographic maps) are kept in flat cases in this main Map Collection, while folded maps are kept in the Integrated Sciences and Engineering Library, A273, Lederle Graduate Research Center. Additional maps are in the Government Documents section, 6th floor of the Du Bois Library. See also Maps and Atlases in Special Collections and Archives.

Amherst College has historical maps, both in the Frost Map Room and in the Archives and Special Collections. Atlases and CIA Maps are in Reference. You may call Reference (542-2319) to inquire what is where, or check the online catalog (since most of AC's maps are cataloged). U.S. Topographical Maps (all states; latest only) are in the Frost Map Room. A selection of other map series from the USGS Depository Library Program are kept in the AC/Science Library.

Smith College has a large Map Room within the Young Science Library, on the lower floor.

Hampshire College has a small map collection. Each map is cataloged and available for circulation. In addition, HC has a CD-ROM version of the topographic maps of Massachusetts.

Reference Sources (finding aids, etc.)

Index to maps in books and periodicals (Amer. Geographical Soc. of New York. Map Dept.)
GA 192 A72 1968 Folio v. 1-10 and supplements
Index to maps of the American Revolution in books and periodicals: illustrating the Revolutionary War and other events of the period 1763-1789.
Z1238 .C55 Ref.
Dictionary of Abbreviations and Acronyms in Geographic Information Sytems, Cartography, and Remote Systems
U.S. Gazetteer search for place names in US (TIGER Map Server)
Stanford's Map webpage
USGS map catalogs and indexes (available in most libraries that have USGS maps):
USGS Geographic Names Information System (GNIS)

Atlases

Atlases, because of their large sizes, are typically shelved in special areas. Here are some locations of atlases in our library:

Reference Room Atlas Case: This is our main collection of current atlases. Located outside Room 419 as walking from main Reference Room toward Williston Level 4 stacks.
Reference Room in G call number range: smaller atlases that fit on regular shelving.
LC X-Folio shelving: older atlases no longer needed in the Reference collection. Browse the G call number range. Located on Level 2 1/2.
Cutter X-Folio shelving: even older atlases that pre-date our 1966 switch from Cutter to the LC Classification. Browse the GZ call number range. Located on Level 2 1/2.
Special Collections: some rare atlases. Ask librarians.

Some atlases are available via the Internet:

National Atlas of the United States (USGS and partners)
MapMachine, an interactive National Geographic Atlas.
Digital Atlas of the United States Demographic information from the 1990 Census for the U.S., California, New York City, Washington, D.C., and Boston, MA.

Topographic Maps

For a good description of topographic maps, see the Stanford map webpage.

Mount Holyoke's collection of USGS topographic maps belongs to the Department of Earth and Environment. (Ask at the Dept Office, 3rd floor, Clapp Lab. The maps are stored in a locked space in another building; retrieval must be done by a faculty member with appropriate key.). This collection is distinctive in that it is a historic collection containing older editions of many of the same maps, making possible a comparison over time. Another way to view historic topos is online: Historic USGS Maps of New England (Univ of NH).

The University of Massachusetts-Amherst and Amherst College each maintain a current collection of US Topographic maps. Hampshire College Library has a CD-ROM version of the Massachusetts topos. You can also view current topos online at http://www.topozone.com/.

Scanned images of USGS topos are available via the Internet:

USGS Digitized Raster Graphics homepage and links to some free DRGs online
New Jersey (Rutgers Geography Dept)
New York (New York State GIS Clearinghouse)
Terraserver (Microsoft) USGS DRG's and Digital Orthophoto Quadrangles (aerial photos), with advanced search capability.
MapServer (Maptech) free, interactive MapServer that displays USGS topo
maps (digitally enhanced from original USGS maps), NOAA nautical charts
(digitally enhanced from original NOAA mylars), NOAA aeronautical charts and
high altitude photos of the US.

Other Specialized Maps

Environmental maps

Ecological Regions of North America clickable map by CEC

EnviroMapper EPA

Online Vegetation and Plant Distribution Maps

Geoscience maps

The Dept of Earth and Environment has a collection of geologic maps (formerly in file cabinets and maps cases in the library basement, but now stored elsewhere; get key from the Dept office, Clapp 3rd floor). One of the file cabinets has a small set of indexes in the top drawer. These indexes help you locate geologic maps in books, journals, and in the series filed in the cabinets.

Current Earthquake Maps USGS

Digital Tectonic Activity Map

Sanborn maps

Sanborn maps Detailed historic maps of cities and towns by Sanborn Insurance company, 1867-1970. MHC's subscription provides access to the Massachusetts maps.

GIS and Map Images

A geographic information system (GIS) is a computer system capable of assembling, storing, manipulating, and displaying geographically referenced information (i.e. spatial data).

Mount Holyoke has a GeoProcessing Lab in Clapp Laboratory. It is maintained by the Earth and Environment department.
GIS and Map Images (excellent UMass website with links to map images and GIS data)
Massachusetts GIS
GeoData Information Sources (U of Iowa Center for Global & Regional Environmental Research)
GIS Data Depot (from geoCommunity, a commercial website that also lists many free GIS resources)
GISnet - Geospatial data (Bill Thoen)
Data from Geography Network
GEODE (GEO-Data Explorer) USGS

Maps on the Internet (major Map websites)

Bodleian Library Map Room (award-winning map site with many useful links)
Maps and References Univ. of Iowa. Large website for displayable maps.
Univ of Connecticut Map and Geographic Information Center
UC Berkeley Map Library and links to other map sites
Perry-Castaneda Library Map Collection (Univ. of Texas at Austin) Over 2000 maps, mostly CIA, not copyrighted.
Historical Map Web Sites (compiled by Univ of Texas at Austin)
David Rumsey Collection (historic maps, esp 18th and 19th century No. and So. American)
Odden's Bookmarks (over 10,000 cartographic links)
MapQuest and MapsOnUs Excellent sites for locating U.S. addresses and viewing detailed maps (and how-to-get-there routes).
Russia and the Former Soviet Republics - MAPS
Mappa Mundi fascinating website with maps of how the data flows (maps OF the Internet!) and articles about mappi.
Here there be Data: mapping the landscape of science (NSF press release about April 6, 2004 PNAS supplement on Mapping Knowledge Domains.