This page provides links to (almost) everything that you might want to know about road maps, and how to start collecting them. It also shows some of the benefits of becoming a Member of the RMCA, which includes access to a large number of detailed members-only pages listed at the bottom of this page.
Public Pages
Public pages are visible to everyone, and provide an introduction to the map collecting hobby.
The Types of Maps People Collect. Links to an article from Legend #45 (the club’s newsletter) that looks at some of the types of maps collected: oil company issues, official state issues, auto club maps, those published in a single year, maps with scenic covers, maps for special events… 
Links From Our Members. Some of our members have their own websites, either as map dealers/traders, or simply to showcase favorite maps from their collection. This page links to the best of them.
Useful Map Sites do not belong to members.
North American Major Oil Companies’ Map Master Lists. If you’re just starting to collect oil company maps, or if you have a map that you are looking to sell on eBay and are not sure if it’s rare, this page list the main oil companies, most of whose maps are quite commonly found.
Dating Rand McNally and Gousha Maps. Dating maps from the big cartographers is remarkably easy – once you know the codes! This page explains how they work, and should be checked by all vendors before trying to sell a map (please!)
Maps by the Decade Examples of road maps from the 1900s-1960s
Maps by the Decade Part 2 More road maps, from the 1970s-2000s
For travelers looking for current road maps, the following pages may be helpful:
State Transportation Department Map Links
State Tourism Department Map Links
Libraries with map collections
More about the RMCA
Our newsletter – the Legend – is generally published four times a year and is sent to all members. We are currently adding an archive of past issues that only members will be able to access, but to see what you might be missing, here’s a sample issue that everyone can download:
Legend Newsletter Sample
We also have an annual meet, generally in the summer or early fall, often in Indiana or Texas (although our West Coast members occasionally get together in California). Here’s a link to the most recent Expo 2012 Photos (with Video and AP Story).
Members Only Pages
The following pages are for paid up Members only and contain detailed information about certain types of maps, including identification codes and tables showing years and states for which certain maps were issued.
The Legend
Members can download (as PDF files) issues 1 to 18 and 36 to 49 of the club’s quarterly magazine, The Legend. As well as providing links to each of these issues, the Legend download page provides a summary of contents of all issues, which is useful if you are trying to find a specific article in one of the printed magazines.
Oil Company, Officials and Other Commercial maps
Comprehensive List of American Oil Companies that Issued Road Maps
Master Comprehensive List of Canadian Petroleum Companies
The Petroleum Map Catalog Containing more detailed information than the American Oil Company Lists (above), this section of the Members’ website will eventually list all known issues by brand, section and year, identifying the cartographer for each map. Currently it is restricted to North American issues.
Official Maps Master List This contains a separate page for each US state or Canadian Province, listing all known issues, including variations and map codes.
Commemorative Event Maps – a pictorial overview. Shows maps from the two New York World’s Fairs, plus other fairs such as the Great Lakes Exposition, the Golden Gate Exposition, Chicago’s Century of Progress and Hemisfair.
ACSC Map Codes As of 10-29-2012 - Developed by Brian Hatcher and Curtis Carrroll. They have spent many hours working to compose this list so a BIG thank you. Even though it still has some holes to fill, updates to the list will come as new data is obtained.
More information about specific cartographers
Interpreting Rand Codes There’s a lot more detail than just the date that can be found from a Rand McNally map code, and this page explains how it can be deciphered.
Master List Maps of J. Foster Ashburn & the Ashburn Map Co.
Master Automobile Club of Southern California
A page of zoomable 1919 maps showing routes to Stockton (where we held the 2012 West Coast RMCA swap meet) taken from a 1919 ACSC set of strip maps.
RMCA Club Information
