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This guide is intended to aid in the navigation of the Sanborn Map Collection held by University of Maryland Libraries and the Digital Sanborn Maps. Email or phone the subject specialist or author of this guide for more information and assistance.
The Sanborn Map Company is an American publisher of historical and current maps of U.S. cities and towns that were initially created to estimate fire insurance liabilities. Founded by D.A. Sanborn in 1867, the company created hand-made and colored lithograph maps of over 12,000 cities and towns across the United States and set the standard for fire insurance maps of the era.
Today, the historic Sanborn Maps provide us with a detailed understanding of the physical make up of these cities and towns, and give us insight into the existing social, political, and economic conditions in specific places and times.
Below is a selection of resources on the topic of Sanborn Fire Insurance maps. Click on a title to view the full catalog record and to request the book.
