New and Noteworthy Collections

The United States Geological Survey has been creating topographical maps of the US since the 1880s. They are invaluable resources for showing the history of the land and its use.

Our map collection contains several dating back to 1893. We recently received one from 1918 that had been used by Cornell Professor Clinton Beaumont Raymond. Professor Raymond, a 1913 graduate of Cornell's College of Agriculture, taught there in the Vegetable Crops Department from 1930 until his retirement in 1954. His career varied from vegetable production to extension work with home gardeners. During World War II he worked closely with urban groups helping to foster the Victory Garden program.

His map is especially interesting for our researchers, since it contains more than the usual USGS map content; it includes carefully hand-drawn boundaries (done, no doubt, by Professor Raymond himself in his work) of state and federal lands in the area.

To examine our collection of USGS maps, or for more information email archives@thehistorycenter.net.