15 minute maps--a treasure trove

[azbackpackr]

When I moved to Hawaii 30 years ago, I left a whole bunch of maps at my brother's apartment in Mission Beach. After that he moved to Boulder, CO, then to Iowa, then back to San Diego, and now he lives in Idaho.

Imagine my amazement to find out that he still had my maps! He sent them to me this week--37 quads in all.

They are all from California. A lot are from San Diego County, (including Anza-Borrego area) and a few from the Sierras, including Mt. Whitney, Lone Pine, Triple Divide Peak, Kern Peak, etc. Also quite a few from the San Bernardino Mtns. The dates of publication range from the 1940's to about 1960. One is Santa Margarita Peak, 1941. When I looked at it very closely I realized it is the Camp Pendleton area, before there was a Camp Pendleton! That map is to be framed and given as a gift to my son, who is a Marine stationed there!

There are several plats that cover the Navy-owned island 50 miles off the coast, San Clemente Island, (not to be confused with Catalina Island nor with the town of San Clemente) where I spent many a weekend helping to round up feral goats from '74 to '77.

Interestingly, there are some 7.5 minute series among the collection. They are mostly of Borrego desert area, and are dated about 1960. I hadn't remembered that 7.5's were available at that time--I had thought that only 15's were available then. However, I don't believe you could get 7.5's for every area back then.

Anyone else enjoy old maps? I'm having fun looking at them and reliving some great hikes and backpacks I did back in the '70's.

[chumley]

That sounds very cool. I love old maps, and as a result, one of my favorite places to waste a few hours (especially on a hot summer day) is at ASUs Noble Science Library where they have a very impressive Map Collection. If you are a map geek like me, you'd enjoy it too. Many maps can be checked out, though many of the older and more unique items are non-circulating.

Here's the full snippet of information from ASUs website:

Map Collection

Noble Science and Engineering Library
Arizona State University Libraries
Phone: (480) 965-3582
E-mail: Map E-reference

Location and Hours
The Map Collection is located on the 3rd floor of the Noble Science and Engineering Library on Tyler Mall on the ASU Tempe Campus. Check the campus map for library locations and visitor parking.

Regular hours:
Monday - Thursday: 8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Friday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday and Sunday: Closed

Hours may vary during holidays and intersessions. Call (480) 965-3582 for more information, or check the on-line schedule.

The Collection
The ASU Libraries' Map Collection contains more than 200,000 maps, 20,000 aerial photographs, 2,800 atlases and reference materials related to maps and cartography, and 500 CD-ROMs. The Map Collection includes cartographic materials on a wide range of geographic areas and subjects. The Collection's emphasis is on contemporary and historical maps related to the Phoenix Metro Area, Arizona, the Southwest and Mexico. The Collection's aerial photography includes current and historical aerial photography primarily of Maricopa County and other Arizona regions.

The Map Collection is a part of the ASU Libraries' Government Documents/Maps Department and receives a large portion of its maps through the U.S. Federal Depository Library Program. Examples of cartographic materials received through the depository program include U.S. Geological Survey topographic maps and geologic maps, U.S. Forest Service maps, nautical and aeronautical charts, Central Intelligence Agency maps, and federal spatial datasets.

The Map Collection recently added approximately 3,000 primarily historical maps of Arizona and the Southwest in a gift of maps and cartographic materials from the Arizona Historical Foundation; the ASU Libraries' Department of Archives and Manuscripts also transferred its map holdings to the Map Collection.

Collection Access
As part of the U.S. Federal Depository Library Program, the ASU Map Collection is open to the ASU community as well as the general public.

Maps in the Collection can be searched using the Map Index, one of the ASU Libraries' specialized databases. The Index contains records on more than 95% of the maps available in the Collection. Each record in the Map Index includes information on the title, author, date, scale, subject and the geographic area covered by each map or map set. Holdings for map sets and series in the Map Collection are available on paper indexes in the Collection. Historical maps, formerly held in the Department of Archives and Manuscripts and the Arizona Historical Foundation, now available in the Map Collection can be searched in the Map Index.

Reference books and atlases can be searched using the Online Catalog.

Circulation and Reproduction
Most maps in the collection circulate for standard loan periods. See the ASU Libraries Loan Policy for more information.

Maps should be checked out at the Circulation Desk, Noble Library. Some of the CD-ROM databases also circulate. Aerial photographs, atlases and other non-circulating materials must be used in the Map Collection.

A 11"x17" scanner is available for use in the Map Collection to scan non-copyrighted materials. Zip disks or CDs are recommended for storage. Collection staff will provide general scanning instruction, but will not scan materials for users.

Copy machines, including an oversized machine capable of copying items 36" wide, are available in the Noble Library Copy Center.

[azbackpackr]

That is really neat! I go to the Valley on average once every two or three years, however. Right now I haven't been there for more than 2 years. (My son has to come visit ME, not the other way around, poor kid.) So, I probably won't get to the map collection, but it's good to know about. I've lived in AZ for 22 years and still haven't been to the Heard Museum!

[Sredfield]

I just "re-discovered" the USGS Historical Map availability, which has increased since my last visit to the site. You can now download what appears to be all the historical maps they have. The Pine, AZ area has them back to 1886, when "J.W. Powell" was the USGS Director.

Just what I need, another time black hole.

[azbackpackr]

Interesting info!

[Nighthiker]

Have a large collection of USGS Maps. 7.5" 15" 1:100,000 and 1:250,000 and a small collection of metric series maps. I also have forest visitors maps from the 60's and wilderness maps as well.

[mazatzal]

Started hiking in AZ many years ago (no GPS or HAZ tracks!). Accumulated about 150 7.5’ and a dozen 15’
I'll probably recycle the paper soon ;)

[JasonCleghorn]

If you were going to throw them out, I would take them...

[azbackpackr]

I still love my maps. Jason called it first, though. I'd take them in a heartbeat. Most people I know who own that many maps place a high value on them.

[JasonCleghorn]

Shh....

[Sredfield]

Another find:
http://azmemory.azlibrary.gov/cdm/singl ... 02/rec/102

Open that 1908 map of Tonto Forest on one screen, and the HAZ maps on another, and explore. The old map has ranch names on it, Cross F was Chilson. Also, note the number of FS Ranger Stations, but remember they weren't much more than a cabin usually.

[CannondaleKid]

I'm sure there are a whole slew of interesting name changes to be found...
The first that caught my eye was 'Sally May Creek' which today is Salome Creek.

Hmmm... could it be an evolution in pronunciation? Something like:
Sally May
Sall'a May
Sall'o May
Sall'ohm ay
Sal ohm
Salome

[Nighthiker]

Some early 1920's ranch's in the Tonto Basin area had the names of Husband and Wife's associated with springs but the names have changed since. I am disappointed that SRP lobbied to have Blue Ridge changed to C. Cragin. Yes Mr. Cragin had a big impact on the development of SRP and at one time Roosevelt Reservoir before being designated Roosevelt it was proposed being named after Mr. Cragin. Enjoyed the link azmemory.