Mapmakers and Cartography
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.
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.
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 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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Gousha Date Codes
The H. M. Gousha Company got its start when Harry Gousha, a sales executive working for Rand McNally, left the company in 1926 to start his own business.
Dating Clason Touring Atlases
In 1923, the Clason Map Company produced its first road atlas of the United States.
Clason Codes
The exact meaning of these codes is still unknown, but a little further analysis does reveal some patterns of interest.