Maps!
Maps are an underutilized research resource by many genealogists and family history researchers. There are several ways that historical maps can help us find our ancestors. Some are: location of property for landowners; locations of county seats; changes in county and city boundaries; boundaries of enumeration districts used for census record locating; city and town name changes and other historical information.
Much of the information in old maps can guide the researcher when researching other types of records. Finding the accurate location of land, knowing the accurate name of a county or city/town at the time that the records are being researched; knowing the enumeration district to help find a census record for the intended ancestor - these are all aided by getting historic maps for the dates of interest.
Not only that, but old maps are great fun, and are not limited to boring black and white diagrams. Many are colorful and quite artistic adding a nice flavor to our research.
It is important to a complete research that one attempts to understand the environment that surrounds our ancestors' lives if one wants to truly appreciate where they lived. And maps are an important ingredient for that understanding.
Below is a list of links directly to online map sites, some informational articles that provide guidance as to how to find and analyze old maps, as well as other articles that contain links to individual states and other jurisdictions. Please note that some of the sites are free and some require payment in order to download or obtain a print of these historic maps.
Please note that any article that includes links to free or other map collection sites are accurate at the time of publication. Collection updates may occur (as well as dead links) in the future, both of which are out of my control. It is not the intention of the author (me) to maintain a complete or constantly updated list for all time. In other words, please don't yell at me if this is not 100% complete and/or accurate forever.
Miscellaneous Articles and Sites About the Whys, Where, and Hows of Map Research:
Links to Collections from Around the World:
Much of the information in old maps can guide the researcher when researching other types of records. Finding the accurate location of land, knowing the accurate name of a county or city/town at the time that the records are being researched; knowing the enumeration district to help find a census record for the intended ancestor - these are all aided by getting historic maps for the dates of interest.
Not only that, but old maps are great fun, and are not limited to boring black and white diagrams. Many are colorful and quite artistic adding a nice flavor to our research.
It is important to a complete research that one attempts to understand the environment that surrounds our ancestors' lives if one wants to truly appreciate where they lived. And maps are an important ingredient for that understanding.
Below is a list of links directly to online map sites, some informational articles that provide guidance as to how to find and analyze old maps, as well as other articles that contain links to individual states and other jurisdictions. Please note that some of the sites are free and some require payment in order to download or obtain a print of these historic maps.
Please note that any article that includes links to free or other map collection sites are accurate at the time of publication. Collection updates may occur (as well as dead links) in the future, both of which are out of my control. It is not the intention of the author (me) to maintain a complete or constantly updated list for all time. In other words, please don't yell at me if this is not 100% complete and/or accurate forever.
Miscellaneous Articles and Sites About the Whys, Where, and Hows of Map Research:
Links to Collections from Around the World:
United States
General and Multi-State Sites
State Articles
Special Collections
- American Museum of Natural History
- Digital Public Library of America
- Internet Archive Book Images
- Library of Congress Prints & Photographs Online Catalog
- National Archives - Digital Photograph Collections
- Old Pictures
- Smithsonian Images
State Articles
- Alabama Online Historical Photos Research
- Alaska Online Historical Photos Research
- Arizona Online Historical Photos Research
- Arkansas Online Historical Photos Research
- California Online Historical Photos Research
- Colorado Online Historical Photos Research
- Connecticut Online Historical Photos Research
- Delaware Online Historical Photos Research
- Florida Online Historical Photos Research
- Georgia Online Historical Photos Research
- Hawaii Online Historical Photos Research
- Idaho Online Historical Photos Research
- Illinois Online Historical Photos Research
- Indiana Online Historical Photos Research
- Iowa Online Historical Photos Research
- Kansas Online Historical Photos Research
- Kentucky Online Historical Photos Research
- Louisiana Online Historical Photos Research
- Maine Online Historical Photos Research
- Maryland Online Historical Photos Research
- Massachusetts Online Historical Photos Research
- Michigan Online Historical Photos Research
- Minnesota Online Historical Photos Research
- Mississippi Online Historical Photos Research
- Missouri Online Historical Photos Research
- Montana Online Historical Photos Research
- Nebraska Online Historical Photos Research
- Nevada Online Historical Photos Research
- New Hampshire Online Historical Photos Research
- New Jersey Online Historical Photos Research
- New Mexico Online Historical Photos Research
- New York Online Historical Photos Research
- North Carolina Online Historical Photos Research
- North Dakota Online Historical Photos Research
- Ohio Online Historical Photos Research
- Oklahoma Online Historical Photos Research
- Oregon Online Historical Photos Research
- Pennsylvania Online Historical Photos Research
- Rhode Island Online Historical Photos Research
- South Carolina Online Historical Photos Research
- South Dakota Online Historical Photos Research
- Tennessee Online Historical Photos Research
- Texas Online Historical Photos Research
- Utah Online Historical Photos Research
- Vermont Online Historical Photos Research
- Virginia Online Historical Photos Research
- Washington Online Historical Photos Research
- West Virginia Online Historical Photos Research
- Wisconsin Online Historical Photos Research
- Wyoming Online Historical Photos Research
Special Collections
- Civil Rights Movement Photos
- Civil War in the American South
- Documenting the American South
- Military History Photos
- Civil War Photos
- U.S. Army Center of Military History
- Women's Suffrage Movement Photos