I believe that the USGS depository program began under the Superintendent of Documents, ran as a separate program for decades, and was brought back into the FDLP in the late 20th Century, maybe in the 1980s. According to Snapshots of the Federal Depository Library Program
http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/fdlp/history/snapshot.html

"There were two other depository programs that the Superintendent of Documents was responsible for back then. In 1887, over 600 geological depositories received U.S. Geological Survey monographs, bulletins, and folios. Up to two depositories were allowed per Congressional district. That allotment was doubled in 1895. Also in 1895, over 800 patent gazette depositories were created with up to eight permitted in each Congressional district. As far back as 1909, the Superintendent of Documents complained about the waste to the taxpayers. These gazette and geological depositories were discontinued in 1924. "

Paige can address this better later on. Congratulations on your new responsibilities.

John Stevenson

On Fri, Oct 2, 2015 at 8:16 AM, Ken Grabach <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
Melissa,
Do you by any chance mean 1894?  I don't have immediate access to the book Maps for America (all our copies are in remote storage), but I think it would have been some time before the turn of the 20th century.  I think one of the first series was the 15-minute series, at 1 inch to a mile (1:63,360) and later at 1:62,500.

Ken

Ken Grabach
Maps Librarian
BEST Library, 219D
Miami University Libraries
Oxford, OH  45056  USA


On Thu, Oct 1, 2015 at 7:27 PM, Hartley, Melissa <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
Hello. I am new to maps cataloging and to this list, so please pardon my ignorance of the answer to this question.

Does anyone know when federal maps (USGS in particular) began distribution via FDLP depository libraries?  My research points to sometime around 1984.  Does anyone know if this date is correct?

Thanks,

Melissa Hartley

OSU Libraries and Press
Oregon State University
Corvallis, Oregon 97331-4501

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John A. Stevenson
Associate Librarian, Student Multimedia Design Center
University of Delaware Library
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