Historical Maps
There are several types of historical maps, and they can be found in many places in the Libraries. Historical atlases , shelved with the other atlases, are generally our best source for showing conditions as they existed in the past. Also in the atlas section are a number of facsimile editions of early atlases published from the sixteenth to the eighteenth centuries.
Copies of the most heavily used maps for research into local history are filed in the cabinet near the Map Office labeled "Historical Maps" on the map of the map collection . These include the heavily used Coast Survey manuscript maps of Long Island made in the 1830s.
Many old maps of Long Island and New York State are kept in the Special Collections Department. A computerized list of these maps is also available in EndNote format. Copies of the list are available in the Map Office and in the Department of Special Collections.
Maps from the Congressional Serial Set are kept in a locked cabinet near the Map Office. The key to this cabinet is kept in the map office, and access is permitted only when a librarian is present.
A number of maps useful for historical research are filed with the U.S. and foreign topographic maps. These include early editions of U.S.G.S. quadrangle maps and nineteenth century maps of Germany and the Habsburg Empire.
Historical maps on microform include Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps for all of New York State, early topographic maps of New York State, and the Cassini topographic maps of France made at the end of the eighteenth century.
The Map Collection Web site includes many images of New York State historical maps. Click here go to theNew York State Historical Maps Web Page.
A list of the most heavily used maps for research on
Long Island history is available from the Map Librarian. Revised
9/17/02