Map Collection and Cartographic Information Services Unit

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  Suzzallo Library, Basement
  Box 352900
  University of Washington
  Seattle, WA 98195
  206.543.9392
  maplib@u.washington.edu  

Atlases

Frequently Used Atlases

What Are Atlases?
What Does The Map Collection Have?
How Do I Find Atlases?
Can I Check Atlases Out?
Where Can I Buy Atlases?

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What Are Atlases?

Atlases are a collection of maps in book or loose-leaf form, with a standard design, organized around a coherent theme. Atlases usually contain maps, text, and helpful place name indexes.

What Does The Map Collection Have?

Place: Atlases are collected for all areas of the world and for planetary bodies within our solar system. Time: The Map Collection emphasizes atlases from the current period, as well as currently published atlases that show historic information. Special Collections is responsible for collecting atlases published before 1800.

How Do I Find Atlases?

1. Catalog

All of the atlases in the Map Collection are cataloged. To find atlases in the UW Library Catalog, go to our Tips for Searching the Catalog for Cartographic Materials.

2. Shelf

Once you find what you are looking for, please write down the call number and the location. The catalog shows that atlases can be found in the following Map Collection locations. Consult the floor plan of the Map Collection.

• Maps Atlases (dark purple)
• Maps Atlases Folio (light purple)
• Maps Office (ask staff for assistance)
• Maps Reference (dark blue)

Some atlases also have large, flat maps which accompany them. These texts are marked with the note: "Accompanying map filed flat." An accompanying map will be found in the map cases, under the same call number as its atlas.

3. Other locations

UW Libraries has many atlases which are not in the Map Collection.

• Special Collections has many historic and rare atlases, including the Pacific Northwest collection, and the Kroll and Metsker sets for Washington State.
• The East Asia Library has a number of atlases in Chinese, Japanese, and Korean specific to East Asian studies.
• Other libraries on the UW campus will often have general world atlases, and may also have atlases specific to their subject focus. If you do not find what you are looking for in the UW Map Collections, be sure to check with the library specializing in your subject as well.

Can I Check Atlases Out?

Yes, all Map Collection atlases circulate, except for Reference atlases and some historical atlases. For more information, review our policies under Checking Out and Handling Materials.

Where Can I Buy Atlases?

• Metsker Maps, a wonderful store for maps, antique map reproductions, globes, atlases, and travel books, is located in Seattle's Pike Place Market.
• Amazon.com is a useful resource for atlases and anything else in book form.
• Omni Resources and Eastview Cartographic are map and atlas vendors trusted by libraries.
• Consult our list of Where to Buy Maps for more general resources.

Frequently Used Atlases

World

Times atlas of the world
Maps Atlases Folio G1021.T5644 1999

Times atlas of world history
Maps Reference G1030.T54 1989b

Shepherd's historical atlas (of the world)
Maps Reference G1030.S4 1980

Goodes world atlas
Maps Reference/Maps Atlases G1019.G67

National Geographic atlas of the world
Maps Reference G1021.N38 1999

Encarta Interactive World Atlas
Maps Media G1021.M53
This is a digital, interactive atlas of the world from Microsoft which can only be used on the Map Collections GIS workstations.

Maps/GIS Resource Page (University of Washington Libraries)
This is a collection of websites for cartographic information, organized by geography, which have been selected by UW librarians.

National Atlas of Canada
This website is the sixth edition of Canada's National Atlas, providing interactive maps and data with a wide variety of themes. Also on the site are scanned versions of the previous 5 editions of the atlas, going back to its origins in 1906.

United States

National Atlas of the United States
This is an updated version of the printed atlas which was published in 1970. The online version uses GIS, Shockwave, and other tools to provide interactive maps and data online which can also be downloaded for personal use.
1970 print edition: Maps Reference/Maps Office G1200.U57 1970

Pacific Northwest and Washington State

Metsker's Atlases for the Pacific Northwest
Where: The University of Washington's Special Collections Reference Folio section. Special Collections has a list of the Metsker atlases in its holdings. Please ask Special Collections staff for assistance.
What: "These atlases are the most complete collection of data of the county. Each page is a township map covering approximately 36 square miles. Scales vary from 2" to the mile with most counties and 4" to the mile for others in congested areas (1/4 townships). Most atlases do not show complete county coverage due to government holdings, national forest and parks, wilderness areas etc. Property names are provided for owners of five acres or more plus showing smaller lots and plats as well." (Source: Metsker Maps.)

Cadastral survey field notes and plats for Oregon and Washington
Where:
Maps Media, G4281.B5 1927 W27 (CD-ROMs contain maps only)
Microforms Newspapers Division, Microfiche M-3066 (maps and field notes)
What: A cadaster is a public record, survey, or map of the value, extent, and ownership of land as a basis of taxation. Cadastral surveys began in 1851 for the Washington and Oregon areas. They were done by the General Land Office as part of the Federal Public Land Survey System. The microfiche set contains original plat maps that show legal boundary descriptions, and shows terrain and landmarks, such as trees and cabins. This brochure explains more about the history of the Cadastral Survey.
How to use the microfiche collection:

1. Know the township(s) and range(s) for your area of interest.
   • The Map Collection has maps to help determine the township and range for your area.
2. Fiche are filed by range, then by township. An asterisk (*) marks the final fiche of the township set.
3. The "Rectangular Survey Index" at the beginning of each township set lists all the surveys in the township with:
   • Volume numbers (in large print on fiche)
   • Page numbers
   • Survey areas within the township
   • Survey dates and surveyor(s) name

To use the CD-ROM (scanned maps only), know the township(s) and range(s) for your area of interest. Again, the Map Collection has maps to help determine the township and range for your area.

Historical atlas of the Pacific Northwest : maps of exploration and discovery : British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, Alaska, Yukon / Derek Hayes
Maps Atlases F851.H38 1999

Atlas of the Pacific Northwest / edited by Philip L. Jackson
Maps Atlases/Maps Reference G1466.G3 O7 1993

Thomas Bros. Guides
These are ideal for neighborhood detail in portable form. The most recent edition does not circulate, but earlier versions can be checked out.

1. Pacific Northwest road atlas
   Maps Reference G1466.P2 T4a [year]
2. King/Pierce/Snohomish counties
   Maps Reference G1488.K3 T42 [year]
   Maps Media G1488.K3 T42 [year] disc—electronic version
3. King County street guide
   Maps Reference G1488.K3P2 T46a [year]
4. Snohomish County street guide
   Maps Reference G1488.S6 T4a [year]
5. Pierce County street guide
   Maps Reference G1488.P5 T54 [year]

Washington atlas & gazetteer / Delorme
Maps Reference & Maps Atlases G1485.D4 2002
This topographic atlas is good to use with air photos to find township, range, and section.

Washington environmental atlas / prepared by Environmental Resources Section, Seattle District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, with assistance of the Institute for Environmental Studies, University of Washington
Maps Atlases Folio/Maps Office G1485.U54 1975
Although this atlas is dated now, it is still useful.

Maps/GIS Resource Page (University of Washington Libraries)
This is a collection of websites for cartographic information, organized by geography, which have been selected by UW librarians. See the "Datasets" category for links to sources of geospatial data.

Questions? Comments? Please email us at maplib@u.washington.edu