-------- Original Message --------
Subject: FW: Examining Our Past: Historical Map Collection Now Online
Date: Tue, 13 Sep 2011 08:53:34 -0700
From: Charles E Robinson <[log in to unmask]>
To: Maps List <[log in to unmask]>,        Geonet listserv
<[log in to unmask]>

I am forwarding this from the GOVDOC-L list.  I thought it would be of
interest to everyone on here.

Chuck Robinson
Map & Document Assistant

University of Nevada Reno
DeLaMare Library/MS 262
1664 N. Virginia Street
Reno, NV 89557-0262
Ph.   (775)682-7383
Fax   (775)784-6949
[log in to unmask]




On 9/13/11 6:46 AM, "Richard L Huffine" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

>Nearly 90,000 high resolution scans of the more than 200,000 historical
>USGS topographic maps, some dating as far back as 1884, are now available
>on-line from the US Geological Survey. The Historical Topographic Map
>Collection includes published U.S. topographic maps of all scales and
>editions, and are offered as a georeferenced digital download or as a
>printed copy from the USGS Store.
>
>"I applaud your continuing effort to digitize the entire set of USGS
>quadrangle maps and we anxiously await the completion of the project.
>This
>effort is of great consequence for the research community" said Dr. John
>R. Hébert Chief, Geography and Map Division, Library of Congress. Not all
>of the historical collection resides in any one location or in any one
>catalog. In a partnership with the Library of Congress and other map
>depositories, the USGS will build a complete master catalog and provide
>access to maps that may be missing from any one collection.
>
>Historical maps are an important national resource as they provide the
>long-term record and documentation of the natural, physical and cultural
>landscape. The history documented by this collection and the analysis of
>distribution and spatial patterns is invaluable throughout the sciences
>and non-science disciplines. Genealogists, historians, anthropologists,
>archeologists and others use this collection for research as well as for
>a
>framework on which a myriad of information can be presented in relation
>to
>the landscape. For more than 130 years, the USGS topographic mapping
>program has accurately portrayed the complex geography of our nation
>through maps using the lithographic printing process. The historical
>collection contains high resolution scanned images from the USGS legacy
>series and other sources.
>
>Historical maps are available to the public at no cost in GeoPDF format
>or
>as a printed copy for $15 plus a $5 handling charge from the USGS Store .
>The electronic maps are georeferenced and can be used in conjunction with
>the new USGS digital topographic map, the US Topo.
>
>The entire historical collection is being loaded into the USGS Store at a
>rapid pace. Check the website for continuous updates:
>http://nationalmap.gov/historical
>
>The project is part of the USGS National Geospatial Program (NGP)
>continuing efforts to support the mapping and location-based data needs
>of
>the Nation.
>
>Richard Huffine, Director
>USGS Libraries Program
>Core Science Systems (MS 807)
>U.S. Geological Survey
>12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston, VA 20192
>Tel 703-648-7182
>Email: [log in to unmask]