Maps Collection

The Map Collection is housed in the Special Collections, Genealogy and Maps Centre on the 4th floor of the Toronto Reference Library. Here you'll find :

Current and historical maps, atlases and gazetteers

• Cartography books and periodicals
• Catalogues of antiquarian map dealers
• Catalogues of map collections in other libraries

The Map Collection is international in scope

Smyth, John. Map of Upper Canada shewing the proposed routes of railroads..1837.

The World

• Current world atlases, maps and gazetteers
• Notable early atlases and maps of the world in reprint editions
• Atlases focusing on world and military history, genealogy and archaeology
• Current and historical atlases and gazetteers of countries and regions
• Road and administrative maps of countries
• Street maps of major cities
• Uniform topographic coverage of the world at 1:1,000,000 scale
• More detailed topographic coverage of the United States, Mexico, Central America and West Indies, parts of South America, Western Europe and major islands of the world
• Current and historic ordnance survey coverage of the British Isles
• Joint Operations Graphic (Air) Series
• General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans

Canada

• National Topographic Series (coverage complete as published, all scales)
• Retrospective large scale topographic map coverage for Ontario and major cities across Canada
• Maps of Canada from the 17th century to the present
• Current and retrospective editions of provincial road maps
• Nautical charts of the Great Lakes region
• Reprint editions of the 19th century Ontario county atlases
• Current and retrospective street maps of Canadian cities
• Fire insurance plans of major cities across Canada and early plans for many Ontario and Quebec towns

Toronto

• Maps of Toronto from 1788 to the present
• A comprehensive collection of Toronto fire insurance plans in photostat or microfiche format
• Goad atlases in photostat or microfiche format
• Current and retrospective topographic and photomap coverage of the Toronto area

Manuscript Maps:

• Maps of Toronto from 1788 to 1913, many with annotations and inscriptions; available in Historicity.
• Survey maps of Upper Canada showing the development and the settlement of lands and roads, consisting of Canada Company maps from 1820-1853 and Charles Rankin maps from 1820-1874.
  

The Map Collection covers many topics, including:

• Location of places
• Latitudes and longitudes
• Place name changes
• Distances by road, air or sea
• Elevations
• Sea depths and features
• Map projections
• Dictionaries of cartographic terms
• Map libraries and map librarianship
• History of cartography and early map makers
• Bibliographies of maps
• Map collecting as a hobby and investment
• Antique map prices and dealers
• How to select an atlas
• How to interpret or read maps

Cane, James. Topographical plan of the City of Toronto and liberties. 1842. T1842/4mlrg

York Harbour

For Your Research

You can search for many atlases, gazetteers, periodicals and books on cartography online, while access to sheet maps is by card catalogue or with print indexes.
The Urban Affairs Library has detailed urban plans, transit and cycling maps for major world cities, with an emphasis on the Toronto area.

Facilities

The Map Collection of the Special Collections Centre provides:

• Two light tables
• Microfiche readers
• Magnifying glasses
• A photocopier for enlarging and reducing

Photocopying of large atlases and original early maps is prohibited, however, reproductions may be ordered through Photographic and Digital Reproduction Services.