What do we mean by Map Collections?
Maps come in many different sizes and formats. They can be large, flat sheets; they can be bound into atlases or appear as illustrations in books. They may be large rolled maps once displayed on classroom walls or presented as impressive works of art to royalty. Or they might be folded and small enough to carry in your pocket. Some maps are hand-drawn (manuscript) and some have been printed using wood blocks or copper plates. They might be lavishly hand coloured and decorative, sometimes mounted on linen and folded into a case; others have more practical uses and have been produced for mass consumption.
Map collections at the University of Manchester
The Library’s Map Collection comprises around 150,000 map sheets and can be traced back as far as the 1930s with a donation of maps from two private collectors, Colonel Dudley Mills and Mr R. Booker. The Map Collection developed further within the department of Geography and also includes over 2,000 maps amassed by the Manchester Geographical Society. Even more maps can be found within atlases, books, archives and other Special Collections within the Library.
The Map Collection offers world-wide coverage and represents maps from ancient times to the present day. It includes:
- Antiquarian and manuscript (hand-drawn) maps
- Topographic (general purpose) and thematic mapping
- Ordnance Survey mapping (early 1800s to present day, with focus on Manchester and surrounding area)
- Official national mapping of overseas countries
- County maps and town plans
- Cartographic artworks
- 19th to 21st century ephemera (posters, pamphlets, magazine supplements, etc.)
- Atlases
Using maps in your work
Maps document our developing knowledge of the world, reveal our perceptions and beliefs and show us how places have changed over time. Using maps and other primary sources in your work can be very rewarding and develop your critical thinking and analysis skills. There are some tips below to help get you started.
Series and single sheet maps
The majority of maps in the Library’s Map Collection can be categorised into series mapping and single-sheet maps. An example of series mapping includes official national mapping such as those produced by the Ordnance Survey. The whole country is divided into sections and mapped at a consistent scale, size and style; the series is accompanied by an index and individual sheets are numbered. Typically, these maps are topographic maps; maps which represent the shape of the lands surface and the location of geographical features (both physical and man-made).
Single-sheet maps are characteristically thematic in nature. They might focus upon specific transport networks; provide a detailed plan of a city; plot the route of a colonial expedition; or even make satirical observations on social behaviour.
Atlases
Atlases can be found both in the Printed Book Collections and in the Map Collection. These include rare, early printed atlases as well as national atlases and specialist thematic atlases, such as the ‘Atlas of Remote Islands’ and the ‘Grim Reaper’s Road Atlas’.
Digitised Map Collections
We have digitised over 1,000 maps in our collection and these can be viewed in our Library Digitised Collections. You can browse the map collection or search by keyword.
Manchester Digital Collections is our newest image platform and presents collections by research theme. Mapping Manchester and Japanese Maps are our most recent contributions.
A list of our most popular digitised maps can be found on our online map collection web page.
How to search for maps in our collections
Library Search: This is the best place to search for maps and atlases. The majority of our map collections are listed here and the advanced search function allows you to refine your search to ‘special collections’. You can refine your search further by selecting ‘maps’ in the format menu.
*Map series: sometimes there can be over a hundred maps in a map series, so it may only have been catalogued at series level. You may need to use an index to identify the sheet which you need. Also, searching by place name does not always yield effective results. Imagine how long it would take to list every street name on a map!
You may also find this short video useful: How to find Special Collections in Library Search
Printed catalogues: The maps of Colonel Dudley Mills and Mr R. Booker are not yet visible in Library Search. However they are listed in printed catalogue here: Catalogue of Historical Maps arranged by Colonel Dudley Mills (Manchester, 1937).
If you need help with your searches email: uml.special-collections@manchester.ac.uk.
Finally, some words of caution when using maps…
Maps are often perceived as objective and accurate records but great care must be taken when using maps. For older maps, there is a significant delay from survey to publication (map production was an expensive and time consuming activity). Sometimes printing plates were sold on to new publishers who added new information to an old printing plate, leading to inaccuracies. Two places which appear side by side on a map may never have co-existed on the ground. Even more modern mapping may include only partial, major revisions such as a new road or housing estate.
It is also worth remembering that the creator of the map has had to make decisions about what to include in the map; which features to emphasise and what to leave out entirely. What we are in fact seeing is someone else’s representation of the world!
Come and find us
The Map Room is located in the purple ground area of the Main Library, where we support students and researchers from many different disciplines including those studying history, digital humanities, art history, archaeology, planning, architecture, post colonial studies and environmental science.
If you are interested in using any material from our map collections please get in contact with our Reading Room staff : uml.special-collections@manchester.ac.uk.
For more information about the collection visit our map collection web pages
Additional resources
Catalogue of Historical Maps arranged by Colonel Dudley Mills (Manchester, 1937).
· The Growth of the Industrial City: Mapping Manchester’s Industrial Past
· Mapping Public Health in Victorian Manchester
Sherman, D, 2017. A northern powerhouse: maps and atlases in the University of Manchester Special Collections. IMCoS Spring 2017: no 148 pp.11–16.
Sherman D., 2015. Envisioning space: maps and atlases. In Riches of the Rylands pp.125–145. Manchester: Manchester University Press.
Special Collections
Introducing Special Collections
How do I find out more about Special Collections?
How to find Special Collections in Library Search
Introduction to the Ahmed Iqbal Ullah RACE Centre
Digital Collections
Images reproduced with the permission of The John Rylands University Librarian and Director of the University of Manchester Library. All images used on this page are licenced via CC-BY-NC-SA, for further information about each image, please follow the link in the description.
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