Hi Angie,
The best number I can come up with is about 5752 OSS maps with the following caveats (A reply to Julie’s original question follows after the caveats):
I subtracted 371 map entries from the NARA Request Record that were struck through and noted as “cancelled” along with 23 map entries that were listed as “Non-OSS
maps given OSS Numbers.” Also excluded were 37 maps in with RG226 with map numbers from 9000 and above that have no indication that they were produced by the OSS and look like they were produced by other countries.
Some of the entries are for large and small versions of the same map while some are for map overlays or different color plates for the same map which inflates
the number. Also included with the map entries are graphics such as organizational charts (OSS and foreign governments), railway profiles, and factory floor plans. The number includes the maps that were done for the Board of Economic Warfare and those that
were done by the OSS cartographers after they were transferred to the State Department since they are in RG226. The highest OSS map number that I found in the archives is 8328. This isn’t an indication that many maps were produced since large blocks of
map numbers were assigned to the overseas map producing outposts, such as London, but not used and there are unexplained gaps in the Request Record map numbers.
It is doubtful that anybody will get to see all 5752 OSS maps. There are many entries that only list the title as “Map” and indications that these maps are classified
and they weren’t transferred to the Archives. Inquiries to the CIA to see if they still have the maps have been unsuccessful. A great cryptic note in the Request Record for several maps is “No Copies made and/or original retained by requestor for reason
of operational security.”
On to Julie’s question about how the topics were chosen. The simple answer is that somebody requested them. All of the entries in the Request Record aren’t
complete, but the fully filled out entries have the map number, request date, title, requester, organization, senior cartographer, cartographer, and publication it may be for. There are large blocks of maps requested by the same person for an OSS report as
well as the same requester asking for one map at a time over a period of weeks showing changing information on same area – an example is the status of the front lines on the Russian Front. It doesn’t look like the cartographers were specializing in maps
of specific areas – more like who was available to do the next request. I could be wrong about that.
Feel free to contact me off list if you have any questions.
John M. Anderson
Map Librarian and Director
Cartographic Information Center
Department of Geography & Anthropology
LSU
Baton Rouge, LA 70803
(225) 578-6247
From: Maps-L: Map Librarians, etc. <[log in to unmask]>
On Behalf Of Angela R Cope
Sent: Monday, May 28, 2018 7:24 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: OSS maps question
Hi John and everyone,
Out of curiosity, how many OSS maps were produced? The AGS Library as over 1300 cataloged (a few hundred more not cataloged).
Here is a link to an excel spreadsheet with our titles:
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Angie
Angie Cope
AGS Library, UW Milwaukee Libraries
2311 E. Hartford Avenue
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53211
http://uwm.edu/libraries/agsl/
M-F 8:00am-4:30pm [log in to unmask] (414)229-6282
43°03'8"N 87°57'21"W
From: Maps-L: Map Librarians, etc. <[log in to unmask]> on behalf
of John M Anderson <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, May 28, 2018 7:56 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [MAPS-L] OSS maps question
Hi Julie,
I have been researching OSS maps since finding them in the LSU Cartographic Information Center. I’m working on cartobibliography of the maps. I have photocopies or digital camera
photos of all of the OSS maps in the National Archives flat maps drawers and a photocopies of the Request Record used to access the maps at the Archives. If you have any questions about specific maps, feel free to contact me by e-mail or phone. I’m on Central
time.
John
John M. Anderson
Map Librarian and Director
Cartographic Information Center
Department of Geography & Anthropology
LSU
Baton Rouge, LA 70803
(225) 578-6247
From: Maps-L: Map Librarians, etc. <[log in to unmask]>
On Behalf Of Julie Sweetkind-Singer
Sent: Friday, May 25, 2018 1:59 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: OSS maps question
Hi, all,
I’m researching the history of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) maps in order to learn more about our collections. I’ve been searching for papers on this collection specifically
and have yet to find a good article about the map production themselves – why, how the topics were chosen, etc. Anyone know of work in this area? I’ll keep searching, too, but thought I’d ask the collective mind. Thanks!
Best,
Julie
# # #
Julie Sweetkind-Singer
Assistant Director of Geospatial and Cartographic Services
Head, Branner Earth Sciences Map Library & Map Collections
397 Panama Mall, 2nd floor
Stanford University
Stanford, CA 94305
650-725-1102