3 messages: ----------------------------------------------------------------- >Date: Fri, 25 Sep 1998 16:00:15 -0400 (EDT) >From: Cathy Moulder <[log in to unmask]> >Subject: What exactly is a Sanborn map? <fwd> (fwd) Hi Yaives In Canada, these are called "fire insurance plans" and most were created by the Charles Goad company. They are very detailed maps of urban areas, showing each individual property and its material of construction. They were originally done (late 1800s) for the purpose of assessing fire risk. So insurance underwriters would look at these maps and assess the risk of urban fire, not just in their customers building but in all the surrounding buildings as well. Nowadays, they are used for historical research and they are a wonderful source of detailed urban history. Here are two sources where you can find out more about fire insurance plans: Marcel Fortin, Lorraine Dubreuil and Cheryl Woods, "Canadian Fire Insurance Plans in Ontario Collections, 1876-1973" (Association of Canadian Map Libraries and Archives, Occasional Papers #5, 1995) Cathy Moulder, Fire Insurance Plans as a Data Source in Urban Research: An Annotated Bibliography of Examples", Art Reference Service Quarterly vol. 1 #3, 1993 --------------------------- Cathy Moulder, Curator Phone: (905) 525-9140 ext. 24745 Lloyd Reeds Map Collection FAX: (905) 546-0625 McMaster University [log in to unmask] Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4L6 --- Begin Forwarded Message --- >Date: Fri, 25 Sep 1998 06:10:51 -0400 >From: [log in to unmask] >Subject: What exactly is a Sanborn map? >Hello, >I suscribed to this list about one month ago and I read some e-messages >with mention of 'sanborn map'; even one refered to 'fire map'. Nothing >in >current English dictionaries, neither in map library (cartotheque) >here, a >canadian french-speaking university. Is it a kind of map (about >fires?) or >a trade mark of map-maker? I seems so obvious for some US colleagues >of the >list, that maybe there is available documentation, books or websites >about >sanborn maps. >Thank You for instructive details. >Yaives Ferland >Land Law Lab >Centre for Research in Geomatics >Universite Laval, Quebec ------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Jorge Gonzalez <[log in to unmask]> The Sanborn map collection consists of a series of maps dating from 1860's to almost present day that depict the commercial, industrial, and residential section of around 12,000 cities and towns in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. The maps were designed to help fire insurance agents in determing the degree of damage to a property and show the size, shape and constructions of all buildings and dwellings, as well as fire walls, windows, sprinklers systems and roof types. The maps showed street names, property boundaries and house and block numbers. Also water mains, hydrants and alarm boxes. Jorge A. Gonzalez Archivist Science and Map Cataloging ------------------------------------------------------------------------- I received the following information on another list. The book mentioned gives some history of Fire Insurance Maps, including Sanborn maps. I'm just passing on this information, I haven't actually seen the book (we have it on order). "Fire Insurance Maps, Their History and Applications," from Lacewing Press is an informative addition for any library with print or microfilm versions of fire insurance maps. The book has been very well reviewed in the library cartographic community, by the California Map Society and the Midwest Book Review. Order by sending a P.O. for $9.95 per book plus $2.00 shipping (Orders outside the U.S. e-mail for pricing) to Lacewing Press 15889 Woodlake Drive, College Station, TX 77845. (Note: many distributors will order it from the publisher as well). "Fire Insurance Maps, Their History and Applications," by Diane L. Oswald. College Station, TX : Lacewing Press, 1998. ISBN: 0-9659698-0-0 Retail $9.95, Pages 102. ******************************************************************* Doralyn H. Edwards phone: (713)737-5691 GIS/Data Librarian fax: (713)285-5902 Fondren Library work: http://www.rice.edu/Fondren/GDC Rice University, Houston, TX personal: http://is.rice.edu/~doralyn *******************************************************************