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Meany's historical map of Washington (1857)
Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries

Maps & Geographical Information Resources for Genealogy Research:
A Presentation for the Eastside Genealogical Society

June 8, 2006
Bellevue Regional Library, KCLS

prepared by:
Carla Rickerson, Head Special Collections
Anne Zald, Head Map Collection

PAGE GUIDE:
| Pacific Northwest Historic Maps | Beyond Washington: Maps | Nitty Gritty |

Pacific Northwest Historic Maps, Charts, & Research Materials

Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries
This gateway provides access to a wide variety of historical resources about the Pacific Northwest, including plat atlases, city directories, cemetery indexes, the Pacific Northwest Regional Index, and Digital Collections.

Pacific Northwest Regional Newspaper & Periodicals Index
This database contains close to 100,000 citations from hundreds of newspapers and periodicals as well as monographs, theses, dissertations, scrapbooks, pamphlets, and other ephemera dealing with all aspects of life in Seattle, Washington state, and the Pacific Northwest from the mid-19th century to the present. Please note that Special Collections is currently converting the Regional Index from card files; the bulk of the Regional Index remains in a card file housed in the Special Collections Reading Room.

Early Washington Maps: A Digital Collection
Digital images of maps from WSU, UW, and Tacoma Public Library. Search by keyword, place name, format (bird's eye views, topographic maps, etc.).

Cadastral Survey Field Notes and Plats for Oregon & Washington
Where:
Maps Media, G4281.B5 1927 W27 (CD-ROMs contain maps only)
Microforms Newspapers Division, Microfiche M-3066 (maps and field notes)
Where:
The Bureau of Land Management hosts survey plats and digitized field notes for WA and OR . These are the same as the materials available on CD-ROM in the UW Libraries described above.
What: A cadaster is a public record, survey, or map of the value, extent, and ownership of land as a basis of taxation. Cadastral surveys began in 1851 for the Washington and Oregon areas. They were done by the General Land Office as part of the Federal Public Land Survey System. The microfiche set contains original plat maps that show legal boundary descriptions, and shows terrain and landmarks, such as trees and cabins. This brochure explains more about the history of the Cadastral Survey.

Historic Nautical Charts for Washington State, 19th & early-20th centuries
Index and listing of coastal charts with location in the Map Collection. NOAA provides a Historical Map & Chart Collection for the entire U.S.

USGS Topographic Maps for Washington State
The 30 minute maps (1:125,000) are the oldest USGS topographic maps of Washington, generally from the 1890s. Includes notation of roads, buildings, trails, the occasional homestead, as well as natural features of the landscape. 15 minute and 7.5 minute topographic minute topographic maps for Washington are also available. This illustration provides a comparison of coverage area for the various USGS topographic map series.

Beyond Washington: Historic Maps, Topographic Maps, Gazetteers, etc.

Paper Maps

The Map Collection & Cartographic Information Services, UW Libraries
The Map Collection collects a wide variety of maps for all regions of the world including base & outline maps; thematic maps, e.g. geologic, demographic, environmental, etc.; topographic maps (often the most detailed for various regions of the world), and more.
Tips for Searching the UW Libraries Catalog for Maps & Cartographic Materials.

Historic Map Images Online (static images)

Library of Congress Geography & Map Division, 1500-2004
This searchable database of selected map images from the 4.5 million item collection at LC focuses upon Americana and Cartographic Treasures.

David Rumsey Historical Map Collection
A private collector, David Rumsey has placed over 13,600 maps online focusing on rare 18th and 19th century North and South America maps, historic maps of the World, Europe, Asia and Africa.

Perry Castaneda Library Map Collection, UT-Austin
Historical map section of this excellent source of public domain map images

National Geographic Historic Map Machine

Cindi's List of Genealogy Sites on the Internet
Maps, Gazetters, & Geographical Information
Historical Maps, Atlases & Gazetters

Gazetteers / Place Name Dictionaries
Online Gazetters for the U.S., Canada, and other world regions.
The Tacoma Public Library provides Washington State Place Names online

Online Interactive Maps

GIS, GPS, and all that
A brief introduction which attempts to distinguish between these interrelated technologies.

Geographic Information Systems for Civil War Battlefield Preservation

Columbia Cemetery, City of Boulder

Lewis & Clark Expedition
In 3-D with fly-through capability.

The Nitty Gritty: Hours, Directions, Campus Maps, etc.

Hours
Special Collections Hours
Map Collection Hours

Directions to UW Seattle, Central Campus
from the North
from the South
from the East

Parking on the UW Seattle Campus
Campus Parking Options for Visitors

UW Seattle Campus Map - Suzzallo/Allen Library circled in red
Click on the "North-Central" link to see a detailed view.

Suzzallo/Allen Library Floor Maps
Special Collections and the Map Collection are located on the basement level of this building.

Tips for Searching the UW Libraries Catalog for Maps & Cartographic Materials
not all maps cataloged but this will give you an idea of what maps are available and whether to start in Special Collections or the Map Collection
Page maintained by: Anne Zald zald@u.washington.edu
Last modified: Monday March 03, 2008