Map Libraries and Resources
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.
Official Maps Master List
The Official Maps Master List (OMML) is an effort to catalog all known “official” state and provincial highway maps (maps produced by state or provincial governments) in North America. The OMML contains a separate page for each US state or Canadian Province, listing all known issues, including variations and map codes.
Petroleum Maps Master Catalog
The Petroleum Maps Master Catalog (“PMMC”), a major project of the RMCA, is a comprehensive catalog of all known oil company issued road maps. Maps are organized by brand, location, and year, identifying the cartographer for each map. The PMMC is an ongoing project, with additional map titles added after discovery is confirmed.
ACSC Map Codes
Developed by Brian Hatcher and Curtis Carrol, the list has been substantially updated by Frank Aros.
American Oil Companies that Issued Road Maps
A comprehensive list of all American oil companies and the brands that they sold under, that are known to have issued road maps, setting forth the time span during which each issued road maps. This list was a predecessor to the Master Petroleum Map Catalog, which is also in Map Resources.
Auto Clubs that Issued Road Maps
Many early and/or local automobile clubs issued road maps. Content includes a list of automobile clubs that have been confirmed to have issued road maps. The list is currently limited to clubs based in the United States.
Canadian Oil Companies that Issued Road Maps
A list of all Canadian oil companies and the brands that they sold under, that are known to have issued road maps, specifying the time span during which each issued road maps. This list was a predecessor to the RMCA’s Master Petroleum Map Catalog (MPPC), which can also be found under Map Resources.
Dating Rand McNally and Gousha Maps
A table that displays all date codes used by the two main map producers, Rand McNally and
H.M. Gousha, on their maps throughout the years.
SIGMA Maps of 1967- 1971
List of all maps produced for the Society of Independent Gasoline Marketers of America (SIGMA) and the issuers of each.
General Drafting Map Archives: Maps Produced for Companies Other than Std. of N)
Index of General Drafting’s archives that catalogs all maps it produced for companies other than Standard of NJ (Esso). This index was produced by and obtained from General Drafting prior to its closing.
General Drafting Map Archives: Maps produced for Std of NJ
Index of General Drafting’s archives that catalogs all maps it produced for Standard of NJ (Esso). This index was produced by and obtained from General Drafting prior to its closing.
General Drafting Archives: Touring Service history and data
General Drafting created the touring services of Standard of NJ (Esso) and Standard of New York (Socony) and other related entities, and operated those services for varying periods of time. This document provides the history of those services as well as a record of the travel documents General Drafting published under the oil companies’ names in that capacity. This content was produced by and obtained from General Drafting prior to its closing.
H.M. Gousha Generic Maps
H. M. Gousha did not produce many generic maps. Those that it did produce are relatively scare and highly sought as collectibles. This lists all known instances of these maps, who used them, and when.
Libraries with Map Collections
United States libraries that have extensive holdings of road maps.
Maps with the locations of their issuers noted on them
A series of articles by Tom Svuem detailing the various type of maps on which the locations of the issuers are marked. Types of issuers covered include oil companies, hotels, restaurant, banks, auto and tire dealers, supermarkets, and other retail stores. Types of maps covered include, road maps, location guides, travelaides, turnpike maps, truck stop maps, cruise guides, and aviation maps.
Regal Map Company Maps
The Regal Map Co. was a small mapmaker known primarily for its maps of California cities and counties. Content includes a history of the company as well as a list of all maps it is known to have produced.
Western Map Co. maps
The Western Map Co, founded in the early 1960s, was primarily a producer of maps of cities in California and other western states. Content includes a brief history of the company.
Master List of ACSC maps, Part 2: 1950s through 2000s
The Auto Club of Southern California (ACSC) was one of the most prolific issuers of road maps among auto clubs. The ACSC’s in-house cartography was outstanding and its maps are often sought by collectors. This tab links to a list of all post-1950 maps known to have been issued by ACSC, including their map numbers and dates.
Ashburn Map Co.
Content includes a history of the Ashburn Map Co. (note to us: we will need to add the Legend Article on Ashburn history to this tab) and a list of all maps known to have been produced by J. Foster Ashburn and the Ashburn Map Co.
Mid-West Map Co. Generic Maps
Mid-West Map Co, (MWM) is best known for its advertiser road maps overprinted with the names of hotels and independent oil companies and distributed through them. However, MWM also produced generic and streamline cover maps. This lists all known instances of these maps, who used them, and when.
Rand McNally Archives: Map Codes: 1942-1969
Lists of new map compilations done by Rand McNally in each year from 1942 to 1969. These lists were produced by and obtained from Rand McNally prior to its disposal of its archives.
Rand McNally Generic Maps and their Issuers
Rand McNally issued series of generic-covered maps intended for use by smaller companies that issued maps. Content includes images of all generic covers and charts documenting who used each, and when.
WWII Censorship of Road Maps
An article discussing government censorship of domestic road maps during world War II.
Easy and Easy To Miss Road Map Cover Dates
A list of road maps that had their dates on their covers and where to find those dates.
OPMA Maps
The Ohio Petroleum Marketers Association (OPMA) produced a series of generic Ohio road maps during the late 1920s that were overprinted with the names of its members and distributed by them. These maps are now highly collectable. Content includes a chart documenting all known versions of these maps, the years that they were issued, and who distributed them.