Harvard Maps Collection
Digital Collections
Overview
The Harvard Map Collection maintains hundreds of cartographic CD-ROMs, which consist of digital images, electronic atlases, and geospatial data sets. These may be used within the Harvard Map Collection, many on a walk-in basis. Please see a reference librarian for assistance.
A digital cartography specialist is available to answer your research questions and provide computing assistance. For assistance with the more advanced data sets and software, e-mail to schedule an appointment.
All electronic materials are subject to Licensing and Copyright restrictions.
Digital Exhibitions
The Harvard Map Collection has developed a digital exhibition featuring The Mercator Globes.
Digital Images
The Harvard Map Collection has digitized many of its holdings, and these images are available in a variety of formats (TIF, JPG, JP2, etc.). These images can be found online from a variety of sources. Each digitized map has a record in HOLLIS with a link to the image labeled "Internet Link." For a complete listing of categories of digitized maps, please see Harvard Map Collection Digital Maps in HOLLIS (or search HOLLIS using the search term "Harvard Map Collection digital maps" in the title field).
Visual indices have been created to help users search geographically for maps within the following series. Use the links below to view an index map for a series and select a map graphically.
- Index
Map, USGS Historic Quadrangles of Massachusetts, 1:62,500, 1890–1940
USGS Quadrangles listed by town
- Index
Map, Army Map Service Series L500 of China, 1:250,000, c. 1950
AMS L500 Series of China listed by sheet name
For more information on retrieving images from HOLLIS, visit Getting Started at the Map Collection.
Electronic Atlases
An electronic atlas is a digital collection of maps and sometimes data that share a common theme. Many electronic atlases are interactive and incorporate multimedia such as audio, video, and animation. The Harvard Map Collection holds a wide variety of electronic atlases ranging from road atlases to trip planners to historic atlases to state and country tourism guides.
Geospatial Data Sets
Geospatial data are electronic geographic data with real-world coordinates. These data are generally used in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), cartography, and remote sensing software packages. The Map Collection's geospatial holdings include U.S. Census Bureau, Boston metropolitan area, and many worldwide and foreign data sets. While some of our GIS data is available in the Harvard Geospatial Library (HGL), users are encouraged to speak with the digital cartography specialist for assistance.
