Map Collection

Within the Special Collections, Genealogy and Maps Centre is the comprehensive and well-used Map Collection. Visit the fourth floor of the Toronto Reference Library if you're interested in:

• 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

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
• Globes
  
  

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

Toronto maps online in Historicity: Toronto Then and Now

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
  
  

For Your Research

Atlases, gazetteers, periodicals and books on cartography are available on the library's online catalogue. You can access sheet maps by card catalogue or by indexes at the Special Collections Centre.

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

We can't allow photocopying of large atlases and original early maps. However, Photographic and Digital Reproduction Services could help you.

Updated on: March 15, 2004