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Rasmuson Rare Maps Photograph Collection, ca. 1590-1930

 Collection
Identifier: PCA 216

Scope and Contents

The collection includes maps from Alaska’s pre-discovery era, through the Russian-American era and the American era, including the gold rush. Included are charts of voyages (including a 1741 Chart of Waxell drawn while under command of Vitus Bering), discovery and exploration (northwest coast maps of Russian, English explorers, etc.) and later maps such as the explorations of Lt. H.T. Allen in 1885, to interior Alaska. Various projections of the Northern Hemisphere may be found as well as illustrated maps captioned in various languages.

Dates

  • circa 1590-1930

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is unrestricted.

Conditions Governing Use

Requests for permission to publish material from the collection must be discussed with the Librarian. Photocopying does not constitute permission to publish.

Extent

120 items (9 folders) : Photograph copies of maps

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Acquisition

Photographic prints were made of a selection of 120 rare maps from the Rasmuson’s collection at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, Alaska & Polar Regions Department. No accession number available.

Existence and Location of Originals

The original maps are held at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, Elmer E. Rasmuson Library in their Rare Books & Maps Collection. Some of the maps have been placed on Alaska's Digital Archives. For more information see: https://library.uaf.edu/rare-maps.

Related Materials

Alaskan Maps: A Cartobibliography of Alaska to 1900, produced in 1983 by Marvin W. Falk, Arctic bibliographer at the Rasmuson Library, serves as a more comprehensive guide and historical background to the maps as well as the history of Alaskan cartography.(G4370.F34 1983)

A selection of the Rasmuson map collection may be accessed online through the Library of Congress’ Meeting of Frontiers web site: https://www.loc.gov/collections/meeting-of-frontiers/

Processing Information

The photographs are organized according to the Rasmuson’s Library of Congress classification number, however, folder numbers were designated for filing convenience. The maps have been placed in Mylar, acid free folders, and an Archival box. An item-level inventory is currently available.

Finding Aid & Administrative Information

Title
Finding Aid for the Rasmuson Rare Maps Photograph Collection, ca. 1590-1930
Subtitle
University of Alaska, Fairbanks, Elmer E. Rasmuson Library
Status
In Progress
Author
Processed by: Staff ; Revised by: Staff, Nov. 2002 ; ArchivesSpace Finding Aid by: Jacki Swearingen ; Revised by: Sandy Johnston, Aug. 2021 ; Revised by: Jacki Swearingen, June 2022
Date
2019 August
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

External Documents

Repository Details

Repository Details

Part of the Alaska State Library - Historical Collections Finding Aids Repository

https://library.alaska.gov/hist/
Contact:
PO Box 110571
Juneau AK 99811-0571 US
907-465-2920
907-465-2925
907-465-2151 (Fax)