Guide to the Sanborn Map Company, Inc. Maps, 1884-1965

MSS 058, Micro 1

Table of Contents

Summary Information

Historical Note

Scope and Contents

Administrative Information

Controlled Access Headings

OCLC Number

Collection Inventory

Summary Information

Abstract

The Sanborn Map Company, Inc., was formed in 1876, and was primarily concerned with producing maps for the fire insurance industry. Today their maps have developed into a tool with myriad purposes. This set of fire insurance maps on microfilm includes La Crosse, Wisconsin, 1884; La Crosse and Onalaska 1887, 1891, 1906, 1906 edition with additions to 1944 and corrections to 1949, and a 1906 edition republished in 1954. In hard copy are a bound volume of the 1906 edition with additions to 1944 and corrections to 1952 and a disbound set of the 1906 edition, republished in 1954, with amendments dated 1956 and corrections to 1965. A color photocopy was made for use while the original disbound volumes are stored in an archival box. Other Wisconsin cities available on microfilm are Kenosha, 1886-1950; Kewaskum, 1894; Kewaunee, 1885-1933; Kiel, 1900-1925; Kilbourn City, 1885-1925; Knapp, 1925; Manitowoc, 1956; Oshkosh, 1957; Sheboygan, 1955; Superior, 1955; and Wausau, 1954.

Collection Title

Sanborn Map Company, Inc. Maps

Date of Materials

1884-1965

Creator

Sanborn Map Company.

Call Number

MSS 058, Micro 1

Amount

2.0 cubic feet

Physical Description

1 bound volume, 1 flat archives box, 3 reels of 35 mm microfilm

Language of Materials

English

Repository

La Crosse Public Library Archives

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Historical Note

The Sanborn Map Company, Inc., was formed in 1876. The company's purpose in producing finely detailed maps of cities was described in their 1905 Surveyor's Manual for the Exclusive Use and Guidance of Employees, "Our maps are made for the purpose of showing at a glance the character of the fire-insurance risks of all buildings. [Fire insurance functionaries] depend on the accuracy of our publications...incurring large financial risks without making personal examinations of the properties."

From an article in Historic Preservation by Kim Keister (May/June 1993, pp. 42-49; 91-92) many researchers use them, though not for their original purpose of fire insurance. "Simply stated, the Sanborn maps survive as a guide to American urbanization that is unrivaled by other cartography and, for that matter, by few documentary resources of any kind."

The microfilmed maps in this collection are housed by the Library of Congress' Map & Geography Division.

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Scope and Contents

Although the maps were purchased mainly for the information they contain on La Crosse, Wisconsin, cartographic information about other cities in Wisconsin is also available. The maps originally came on two reels, but one was spliced for user ease, thus creating three reels of microfilm.

This set of fire insurance maps on microfilm includes La Crosse, Wisconsin, 1884; La Crosse and Onalaska 1887, 1891, 1906, 1906 edition with additions to 1944 and corrections to 1949, and a 1906 edition republished in 1954. In hard copy are a bound volume of the 1906 edition with additions to 1944 and corrections to 1952 and a disbound set of the 1906 edition, republished in 1954, with amendments dated 1956 and corrections to 1965. A color photocopy was made for use while the original disbound volumes are stored in an archival box.

Other Wisconsin cities available on microfilm are Kenosha, 1886-1950; Kewaskum, 1894; Kewaunee, 1885-1933; Kiel, 1900-1925; Kilbourn City, 1885-1925; Knapp, 1925; Manitowoc, 1956; Oshkosh, 1957; Sheboygan, 1955; Superior, 1955; and Wausau, 1954.

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Administrative Information

Publication Information

La Crosse Public Library Archives 1999 August

Access to Materials

Materials in this collection are available for patron use.

Acquisitions Information

(Accession nos. 1999.022, 2007.048)

Two reels of 35 mm microfilm purchased from Chadwyck-Healey, Inc., filmed from the collections of the Library of Congress. The original bound maps are still held by the Library of Congress. [Chadwyk-Healey numbers La Crosse 9595 reel #9 ( -1950) and #28 (1950-1970).]

A bound set of Sanborn maps owned by the La Crosse Public Library has been added to this collection. This map dates 1906 with corrections to 1952. Another bound set consisting of two volumes was acquired in 2007 from the City Assessor's Office. A color photocopy was made for use and the original volumes disbound and stored in an archival box. This map set is the 1906 edition, republished in 1954, with amendments dated 1956 and corrections to 1965.

Processing Information

Processed by Anita Taylor Doering, August 1999; updated 2009.

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Controlled Access Headings

Geographic Name(s)

• La Crosse (Wis.)--Maps
• Wisconsin--Maps

Subject(s)

• Insurance, Fire--Wisconsin--Maps

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OCLC Number

47635277

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Collection Inventory