GHPR 525 - Cultural Heritage Research Techniques

Library resources and tips for researching properties and buildings.

Sanborn Insurance Maps in the EMU Library

A limited selection of pre-1923 maps are available from other states, including:

Sanborn Insurance Maps support from the LIbrary of Congress

Sanborn Maps Abbrieviations and Legend (from Environmental Data Resources Inc.)

Tips for searching Sanborn Insurance Maps

The EMU Library's ProQuest subscription is more comprehensive in its coverage than the LOC digitized collection, but appear in black and white only. Color is necessary if you are concerned with the building materials used in construction (e.g., yellow indicates frame construction, red is brick construction, etc.). Consider your needs prior to accessing one or the other.

Cities consist of many volumes. Keep in mind that not all volumes are chronological from Volume 1.

Know the general location of your property within the city and then try to find that location on the "General Index to Volumes." Index map sheets sort to the beginning; textual indices/cover sheets sort to the end. Note that appropriate indices may not always appear in Volume 1, as the maps expanded and were subsequently revised with city expansion.

If you are unable to find the map that you need in the collections available, Berkeley publishes a Union List of Sanborn and other fire insurance maps that will list other holdings in Michigan.

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