Map Library Collections
The Map Library is a research-level cartographic collection whose substantial holdings include maps, aerial photography and remote sensed imagery, atlases, digital spatial data, and reference materials. This page provides an overview of our collections as well as links to their finding aids.
For more information about our collections please choose a link below:
- Aerial Photography & Remote Sensed Imagery
- Atlases
- Digital Spatial Data
- Maps
- Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps
- Soviet Military Topographic Map Sets
- U.S. Geological Survey Maps
Aerial Photography and Remote Sensed Imagery
The Map Library maintains the largest collection of aerial photography of the State of Georgia outside of the National Archives. The paper collection consists of over 230,000 photos from the late 1930s through the late 1980s. Aerial photography holdings are not listed in GIL, UGA's online catalog; please visit our Aerial Photography page for complete holdings information.
The Georgia Aerial Photographs database provides online access to approximately 50,000 digitized black and white aerial photographs and indexes of select counties of the State of Georgia from the Map Library's paper collection.
Post-1980s aerial photography and imagery of the State of Georgia can be downloaded for free from the Georgia GIS Clearinghouse, a division of the Georgia Spatial Data Infrastructure (GSDI).
The Map Library also holds a small collection of satellite imagery, including Landsat imagery of Georgia from the 1970s. Imagery mosaics are available for many U.S. states (including Georgia) and foreign countries. Satellite imagery holdings are not listed in GIL, UGA's online catalog; please contact a Map Library staff member for holdings information. Current satellite imagery can be obtained from the U.S. Geological Survey's EROS Data Center.
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Atlases
The Map Library holds over 2000 atlases, including general reference, national, historical and thematic. Atlases are also held in the Main and Science Libraries. Most atlases can be found through GIL, UGA's online catalog. If you cannot find a particular atlas, please contact a Map Library staff member.
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Digital Spatial Data
The Map Library maintains a collection of digital spatial data including federal and commercial databases and digital atlases. Most of these datasets can be found through GIL, UGA's online catalog. If you cannot find a particular dataset, please contact a Map Library staff member.
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Maps
The Map Library's sheet map holdings include current and historical U.S. Geological Survey topographic maps for the entire US and its territories (see U.S. Geological Maps section below for further information); topographic map sets for most countries at various scales; worldwide nautical and aeronautical charts; and select thematic, country and city maps from around the world with an emphasis on the United States and the State of Georgia. Geologic maps are also held in the Science Library. Many maps can be found through GIL, UGA's online catalog. If you cannot find a particular map, please contact a Map Library staff member.
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Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps
The Map Library holds all of the Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps for Georgia cities and towns published from 1880 - 1985 in both print and microfilm formats. Originally designed for fire insurance assessment, these large-scale, color-coded maps of U.S. cities and towns relate the location and use of buildings, as well as the materials employed in their construction. The maps also indicate which city utilities - such as water and fire service - were available.
The Digital Library of Georgia provides online access to the Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps from 1884 - 1922. For more information about the Map Library's holdings please visit our Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps page.
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Soviet Military Topographic Map Sets
The Map Library holds Soviet military topographic map sets for most coutries in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and the former Soviet Union. These paper sets are in Russian with a scale of 1:200,000. For more information about the Map Library's holdings please visit our Soviet Military Topographic Map Sets page.
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U.S. Geological Survey Maps
The Map Library holds current and historical U.S. Geological Survey topographic maps for the entire US and its territories as well as thematic maps published by USGS. For more information about the Map Library's holdings please visit our U.S. Geological Survey Maps page.
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