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Maps in Rotch

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Rotch Reference
rotch-ref@mit.edu


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Publication Types

Maps- Urban Studies

Maps in Rotch

Finding Maps in Barton Catalog

  •  do an advanced search by collection type maps
  •  search by subject, typing the place name and then maps:
          ex: United States maps, Massachusetts maps, Boston maps
  • other subject terms to try:
         map collections, maps and mapping, maps, early, cartography
  • maps are often included as plates in books; use a subject search in Barton, then choose the "Full display" option to see whether the book includes maps.
  • for atlases, use a combined keyword search: subject [place name] and keyword [atlas*]
Locating Maps in Rotch Library

  • Most maps: in cases located on Level 1. See a Reference Librarian for access (M-F, 9am-5pm).

  • Atlases: on the 6th floor or in the Indexes Alcove of the reference area (along the back wall of the Library's main floor). Check Barton catalog for location of specific items.

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Sanborns & Bromleys
  • Detailed city maps showing building footprints, lot size, land use
  • Fire insurance maps published by Sanborn Map Company
  • Real estate atlases published by G.W. Bromley & Co.
Electronic Sanborn Maps

Digitized versions of the Chadwyck-Healey Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps of Massachusetts. Years of coverage range from 1867-1970. These maps show:
  • the footprint of every building and record building size, use, address numbers.
  • vulnerability to fire, flood, and earthquakes.
  • industrial uses, dumps, parks, and cemeteries, making them useful for environmental and health assessments.
  • These maps record the social and architectural history of American cities and towns in Massachusetts.

On Microfilm (in file cabinets at rear of Level 1, new building):

new Massachusetts towns, late 19th c.-1990: contents of microfilm [16 reels]  G1230.F57 1991
new Boston Sanborn maps 1867-1982: contents of microfilm [7 reels] G1230.S26 1983

Latest Sanborns on reserve at the Circulation Desk:

Boston 1992/95 revised
Cambridge 1996
Brookline 1957 revised to 1965

Reference area, Indexes Alcove:
Boston 1962, 1974, 1981, 1988
Brookline 1957, revised to 1965
Cambridge 1962, 1975/1976/1981, 1988, 1991
Chelsea 1911 ed. republished 1955, revised to 1966
Everett 1910 ed. republshed 1955, revised to 1966
Somerville 1960/62, 1975, 1981, 1988
Arlington 1973
Winthrop 1906 ed. republished 1954, revised to 1966

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Atlas Folio Stacks (6th floor rear):

Manhattan 1920 G1254.N42.S198 1920  
Manhattan 1921 G1254.N42.B8 1921  
Belmont 1931/1968 G1234.B4.S6 1931  
Savannah 1955 G1314.S28.S26 1955 (by rear stairwell)
Chicago 1906 G1409.C6.S26 1906 (by rear stairwell)
New Orleans 1994 G1364.N5.S26 1994 (by rear stairwell)


Limited Access Collection (available Monday-Friday 10-5):

Note: no photocopying allowed due to fragility of these materials

Boston 1882 G1234.B6.C5 1882 (G.M. Hopkins)
Boston 1883 G1234.B6.A74 1883 v.1 (G.W. Bromley & Co.)*
Boston 1902 G1234.B7.B76x 1902 (G.W. Bromley & Co.)*
Boston 1917 G1234.B6.B868 1917 (G.W. Bromley & Co.)*
Boston 1922 G1234.B6.B868 1922 (G.W. Bromley & Co.)*
Boston 1928 G1234.B6.A75 1928 (G.W. Bromley & Co.)*
Boston 1929 G1234.B6 v. 1-5 (Sanborn)
Cambridge 1900 G1234.C2.S198 v. 2 (Sanborn)
Cambridge 1930 G1234.C3.A74 1930 (G.W. Bromley & Co.)
Manhattan 1970 G1254.N42.B8 1970 (G.W. Bromley & Co.)

*Bromley covers downtown Boston and Back Bay/Fenway/South End only.

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Uncataloged Maps in Rotch
  • transportation and public works (Level One, Map Room)
  • aerial photo maps, various dates - 1938, 1952, 1965, ... (Level One, Map Room)
  • Topographic for a few states (Level 1 map file cases). The Science Library holds a complete set of US topo maps (Stein Club Map Room)
  • Photometric base maps of Boston from the Boston Redevelopment Authority (Level One, Map Room)
  • Travel maps for U.S. and foreign cities (Reference area)
  • Boston zoning maps (on reserve at Circ Desk, with the Boston Zoning Code Notebook)
  • Boston street maps (Level One, Map Room)

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This page was last updated on Tuesday, 13-Nov-2007 15:11:06 EST
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