MASSACHUSETTS OFFICIAL MAPS

Notes:

It appears that Massachusetts issued two series of maps from the 1940s into the early 1960s (possibly earlier and later as well) - a "Route Map" and a "Tourist Map." These are divided into separate lists below. The Route Maps were issued by the Dept. of Public Works, and appear to have been issued to show road conditions for a given month or other period of time. The Tourist maps were issued by the Development and Industrial Commission (1949 to 1952-53) and the Department of Commerce (1954). Unfortunately, not many maps have been examined as of yet for these lists, so these classifications may change as more examples are discovered.

Official Route Maps from the late 1920s until 1955-56 were first printed with a large blank area at the lower left. These were then overprinted in color at various times during the year (or even the following year in some cases) with road conditions for a certain date or time period. The overprint dates are indicated in the list below by “known versions” under the main dated map listing.

The Department of Commerce also issued a map with the title "Massachusetts - The Historic Vacationland / A Travel Map" from at least 1956 through 1964. These maps are not road maps in the traditional sense, but are included.

The 1957 to 1962-63 maps are in the format of a 16 page booklet, with sections of the state highway map on different pages. The dimensions of the booklet are 7.5 x 11, which then folds in half to the dimensions listed below.

Sponsor(s): none

Last updated: 12/17/07 (cas)

Massachusetts Official Highway & Route Maps:

1922; dtd lgnd; no cvr and printed one side only with fabric backing; unfolded 49.5 x 32

1926; dtd lgnd; no cvr and printed one side only; 33.75 x 21.75

1927; dtd lgnd (Jul 1): no cvr and printed one side only; 34 x 22

1929; reported by PC (dtd cvr; bw txt cvr with st seal)

1930; dtd cvr; bw txt cvr with st seal; 3.75 x 8.5

. [3 known versions: {May 1}, {Jul 1}, {Sep 1}]

1931; dtd cvr; otherwise same as 1930

. [5 known versions: {Apr 1}, {Jun 1}, {Jul 1}, {Oct 1}, {Nov 1}]

1932; dtd cvr (Apr 15); bw photo of State House; 3.75 x 8.5

. [2 known versions: {Apr 15}, {Dec 1 – Snow removal map}]

1933; dtd cvr, map; bw txt cvr with st seal & photo “Public Works Building – Boston”; 3.75 x 8.5

. [2 known versions: {Apr 1}, {Sep 15}]

1934; dtd cvr; bw photo “Public Works Building – Boston”; 3.75 x 8.5

. [2 known versions: {May 1}, {Sep 15}]

1935; dtd cvr; bw photo "Public Works Building - Boston"; 3.75 x 8.5

. [3 known versions: {May 15}, {Jul 1}, {Oct 15}]

1936; dtd cvr; otherwise same as 1935

. [2 known versions: {Sep 15}, {May 15, 1937}]

1937; dtd map title; bw painting “U.S. Frigate Constitution Old Ironsides”; 3.75 x 8.5

. [1 known version: {Aug 2}]

1938; dtd map title; otherwise same as 1937

. [1 known version: {Sep 15}]

1939; dtd cvr; bw photo "The Minute Man - 1775"; 3.75 x 8.5

. [3 known versions: {Apr}, {Jun 1}, {Dec 1}]

1940; dtd cvr; bw painting “Spirit of ‘76”; 3.75 x 8.5

. [1 known version: {Jul 1}]

1941; dtd cvr; bw photo of Native American man on horseback "Appeal to the Great Spirit"; 3.75 x 8.5

. [3 known versions: {May 15}, {Oct}, {condition section blank}]

1945; dtd cvr; bw photo of “Plymouth Rock”; 4.25 x 7.25

. [1 known version: {condition section blank}]

1947; dtd cvr, map (May); clr photo of boats in harbor; 4.25 x 7.25

. [2 known versions: {May}, {Apr. 19 – July 1, 1948}]

1948-49; dtd cvr; clr photo of bridge; 4.25 x 7.25

. [1 known version: {Aug. 15, 1948 – Apr. 1949}]

1949-50; dtd cvr, map (Oct 1949); clr photo of lighthouse; 4.25 x 7.25

. [1 known version: {Aug. – Oct. 1949}]

1950-51; dtd cvr, map (Apr 1951); clr photo of a bridge; 4.25 x 7.25

. [1 known version: {July – Sep 1951}]

1951-52; dtd cvr; clr photo of boats in harbor, outline of Cape Cod and islands; 4.25 x 7.25

. [1 known version: {Apr – Jul 1952}]

1952-53, dtd cvr, map (Apr 1953); clr photo of divided hwy; 4.25 x 7.25

1953-54; dtd cvr; clr photo of Gay Head Cliffs; 4.25 x 7.25

1954-55; dtd cvr; clr photo "View across CT River..."; 4.25 x 7.25

. [1 known version: {Apr – July 1955}]

1955-56; dtd cvr; clr photo of sailboat; 4.25 x 7.25

. [2 known versions: {Mar 1956}, {Jul 1956}]

1957; dtd cvr; bw sketch of river & trees, clr dwg of bridge; 5.5 x 7.5

1958-59; dtd cvr; clr dwg of minutemen, highways, and airships on cvr; 5.5 x 7.5

1959-60; dtd cvr; clr dwg of giant Native American man standing on divided hwy; 5.5 x 7.5

1960-61; dtd cvr; booklet with photo of beach inset over aerial photo of divided hwy; 5.5 x 7.5

1961-62; dtd cvr; booklet with clr dwg of state map behind Native American boy; 5.5 x 7.5

1962-63; dtd cvr; st flag over outline map of Mass.; 5.5 x 7.5

1964; dtd cvr; clr photo of cars rounding hwy curve by fall trees; 4.25 x 8

1965-66; dtd cvr; clr photo of 2 boys playing with toy trucks above divided hwy; 4.25 x 8

1967; dtd cvr; clr photo of bridge over bay & battleship; 4.25 x 8

1968; dtd cvr; clr photo of divided hwy through forests and farms; 4.25 x 8

1969; dtd cvr; 2 clr photos (bridge, fwy) with dwg of state flag; 4.25 x 8

1969-70; dtd cvr; otherwise same as 1969

1970; dtd cvr; clr photo of wide curving divided hwy; 4.25 x 8

1971; dtd cvr; clr photo of fwy interchange through trees; 4.25 x 8

. [2 known versions: { }, {“Issued by Mass. Dept. of Public Works” and address on bk cvr}]

1972; dtd cvr; brown tint transportation theme dwgs with clr photo of fwy interchange inset; 4.25 x 8

1973-74; dtd cvr; clr dwgs of signs and historical images; 4.25 x 8

. [2 known versions: ,{plain back cvr}, {Issued by Mass. Dept. of Public Works on back cvr}]

1975-76; dtd cvr; blue silhouettes of ship, bridge, soldier; 4.25 x 8

1977-78; dtd cvr; 3 clr photos of woman (with man, with man on stairs, alone); 4.25 x 8

1979-80; dtd cvr; 3 clr photos (skyscraper, statue, fishermen); 4.25 x 8

. [2 known versions: {“Issued by…” on bk cvr}, {“Prepared by…” on bk cvr}]

1980-81; dtd cvr; 4 clr photos ("Hyannisport Sightseeing", etc.); 4.25 x 8

1981-82 A; dtd cvr; otherwise same as 1980-81

1981-82 B; dtd cvr; 6 clr photos (Paul Revere statue, lighthouse, etc); 4.25 x 8

1983-84; dtd cvr; clr dwg of Boston skyline; 4.25 x 8

1984-85; dtd cvr; otherwise very similar to 1983-84

1986; dtd cprt; 5 clr photos (statue, church, row house, inside with flags, fluters); 3.75 x 8.5

[c.1987]; no cvr; Dukakis is governor & 1987 date code on Boston map; 5 x 8

1987; reported by PC

1988; dtd cprt; 6 clr photos; 3.75 x 8.5

1991; reported by PC

1992; reported by PC

1994; dtd cvr; clr photo of rd & autumn trees; 3.75 x 8.5

. [3 known versions: { }, {“”We’d love to show you around” replaces cvr date, diff font/color for title},

{"Office of Travel & Tourism" and "Printed on recycled paper" added to cvr}]

1998; dtd back cvr; clr photo of road through fall foliage; 3.75 x 8.5

2001; dtd back cvr; clr photo of buildings and boats; 3.75 x 8.5

2003; dtd back cvr; clr photo of bicycles parked along fence at beach; 3.75 x 8.5

2006; dtd cvr; otherwise same as 2003

2007; dtd cvr; clr photo of swan boat; 3.75 x 8.5

Massachusetts Tourist Maps:

1947; dtd printing code; green tinted photo of tree and house in valley; 8.5 x 11

1949; dtd printing code; clr photo of woman with bicycle on beach; 4 x 8.25

1950; dtd printing code; otherwise same as 1949

1951; dtd printing code; otherwise same as 1949

1952; dtd printing code; clr photo of many people on beach; 4.25 x 7.5

1952-53; dtd lgnd and code; clr photo of 2 women with flowers on beach; 4.25 x 7.25

1954; dtd printing code; clr photo "Gay Head Cliffs, Martha's Vineyard"; 4.25 x 7.25

1958; dtd printing code; clr photo of country road in autumn; 3.75 x 9.25

1959; dtd printing code; clr photo of road in autumn; 7.5 x 9.25

1970; dtd printing code; clr photo of Old Ironsides; 8.5 x 11

1981; dtd printing code; 4 clr photos (Paul Revere statue, etc.); 4 x 8

1992-93; dtd inside; clrzd photo of rd through flowering trees; 4 x 9

Historic Massachusetts Travel Maps:

1956; dtd printing code; 7 clr dwgs (fisherman, st cptl bldg, etc.); 5.5 x 8.5

1958; dtd printing code: otherwise same as 1956

1960; dtd printing code; otherwise same as 1956

1962; dtd printing code; otherwise same as 1956

1964; dtd printing code; otherwise same as 1956

Massachusetts Route Maps & Official Highway Maps Code List:

1951-52: {Apr 1952, 25M-3-52-906477}

{Jun 1952, 30M-6-52-907396}

1952-53: {Apr 1953}

1953-54: {Nov 1953}, {Jul 1954}

1954-55: bk cvr {100M-Form PWD-1-8-54-912949P}

{April 1955, 35M-3-55-914372}

1955-56: {Mar 1956}, {Jul 1956}

1957: {100M-Form PWD-1}

1958-59: {Form-PWD-1, 125M-6-58-922981}

1959-60: {Form-PWD-1; 125M-8-59-925953}

1960-61: {Form-PWD-1, 125M-9-60-928296}

1961-62: {Form-PWD-1, 125M-6-61-930998}

1962-63:

1964:

1965-66: {Form PWD-1 125M-6-65 940821}

{Rev. 5-66, 25M-5-66-942622}

1967:

1968: {Rev. Jan, 1968, Form PWD 1-25M-8-68-947977}

1969: {Rev. Jan, 1969, Form PWD 1-100M-5-69-949444}

1969-70:

1970: {Rev. Jan, 1970, Form PWD 1 225M-1-70-046173}

1971: {Rev. Jan, 1971, Form PWD 1 225M-3-71-048654}

1972:

1973-74: {Rev. Jan, 1973; PWD 1 1-73-075432}

{Rev. Jan, 1973; CDD 1-73-075433}

{PWD-60M-5-74-091905}

1975-76: {150M-4-75-109721}

{Rev. Jan. 1975; Form PWD-1 150M-4-75-109722},

{Rev. Jan. 1975; 150M-1-76-129719}

{Rev. Jan. 1975; 150M-6-76-128898}

1977-78: {150M-6-78-148432}, {100M-6-78-148433}

1979-80: {200M-4-79-150888}

1980-81: {50M-6-80-152795}]

1981-82 A: {50M-6-80-152795}

1981-82 B: {100M-5-81-160486}

1983-84: {100M-583-170982}, {250M-284-176160}

1984-85: {250M-284-176160}]

Massachusetts Tourist Maps Code List:

1947: {10M-6-47-21402P}

1949: {50M-6-49-26406}

1950: {50M-1-50-900,910}

1951: {50M-4-51}

1952: {75M-12-51-905934}

1952-53: {100M-10-52-908078}

1954: {100m-1-54-911231}

1958: {100M-11-58-924105}

1959: {100M-10-59-926443}

1970: {300M-12-70-048363}

1981: {50M-12-81-164955}

Historic Massachusetts Travel Maps Code List:

1956: {150M-3-56-916997}

1958: {50M-10-58-923932}

1960: {50M-9-60-928745}

1962: {50M-3-62-932811}

1964: {1,000m-4-64-937759}