DRAFT Cartographic Records Orientation Guide Table of Contents Section 1 - Overview Section 2 - Research Approaches Section 3 - Locating the Map: Administrative Control Systems Section 4 - Reference Notes Compiled by Map Room Staff ******************************* Section 1 - Overview 1.1 Introduction The purpose of this guide is to help researchers identify, access, and copy maps and plans in the B.C. Archives Map Collection. The terms "map" and "plan" will be used throughout to refer to all types of cartographic items, architectural plans, and engineering drawings. The term "fiche" as used here refers to either the diazo fiche reference copy, or the 105mm reprographic negative from which the reference fiche copy is made. Most maps and plans have been filmed and fiche copies are available on a self-serve basis in the reference room. They are filed in two cabinets next to the map viewing tables. Clients are expected to consult the reference fiche copy first, to ascertain whether the map is useful to their research, before requesting an original map. Clients wishing to view originals must submit call slips showing map call numbers. 1.2 Catalogues and Finding Aids Card catalogues and other finding aids in the map reference area provide call numbers for the fiche. 1.2.1. Catalogues Two card catalogues in one cabinet list maps and plans. The "old" map catalogue is divided into separate sections for author, title and subject cards. In the "new" catalogue, author, title and subject cards are interfiled. Other card files in the same cabinet list maps chronologically by date of publication, and by National Topographic Series (NTS) number. The upper left corner of each card contains a call number. Call numbers in the old catalogue are obsolete and must be converted to the correct number by using the Call Number Conversion List filed on top of the cabinet. This Conversion List is not available on the Remote Access System. In the map fiche cabinet the fiche are filed by numbers prefixed with "CM" (e.g. CM/B1247). Cite the call number when ordering copies of maps. 1.2.2 Finding Aids On top of the map microfiche cabinets are other finding aids. Using these is often quicker and more convenient than card catalogues if the type of map you are searching for happens to be part of a series. For example, if you are looking for a map of a particular region within British Columbia, try the finding aid CM/CL1: B.C. Government Lithographed Regional Map Series. Review the index maps in the back for map numbers of the area you are researching, and the Contents (page 5 of the finding aid) to see which time periods are covered by each series. 1.2.3 Index Maps Index maps, located in the top drawer of the map cabinet, can be used with related finding aids to locate British Admiralty charts (CM/ES 1), B.C. government Departmental Reference Maps (e.g., CM/E118 - Forest Branch Atlas), and National Topographic Series (NTS) maps. 1.3 Requesting and Viewing Cartographic Records Original maps, including NTS sheets, must be requested by call slip at the Retrieval Desk. Onsite originals will be delivered to the map reference area at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. daily. Original maps stored offsite will normally be delivered by 2:30 p.m. the following day. Use the same Records Retrieval/Return Sign-off form and procedures as are used to call in textual records. Boxes are delivered to the Reference Room. View the fiche on any large-screen fiche reader. In most cases, the image will fill the screen; with usually only a portion of a map visible at one time. 1.3.1. Offsite items in nonstandard containers. Occasionally cartographic records accepted into B.C. Archives custody are left in the existing containers, rather than being reboxed into standard map boxes. (These existing containers may be metal cabinets which afford better protection than standard boxes.) Therefore, standard retrieval procedures do not apply and special retrieval arrangements must be made. 1.4 Ordering Reproductions If you require copies of part or all of any map, please ask a reference staff member to explain the reprographic options. One possibility is making your own copies, on a microfilm printer, of any portion of a map. Prices are $.35 for an 8 1/2" by 11" printout, or $.50 for an 11" by 17" printout. To obtain a copy of a whole map on one sheet requires offsite reproduction; completion time is normally two to three weeks. The cost is $33 per square metre of finished print. Another type of copy is a diazo fiche copy. This is a duplicate fiche, and costs $1.50. Allow two weeks for completion. Federal and provincial sales taxes apply to most of the above prices. Section 2 - Finding the Information You Want: Research Approaches 2.1 Identifying the Area Use an atlas and the B.C. Gazetteer (NW/910.3/C289b/1985) if you are unsure of the location. Identify broader or narrower areas that could also be used to provide coverage. Write down the geographic coordinates as this makes locating the area on a map much easier, especially on fiche. Users usually begin by asking for maps of a much broader area than they actually require. By narrowing this down you can more accurately select specific areas to research and potentially print out from fiche. For example, a map showing main roads in Saanich may be found in card catalogues under the subject heading of Saanich peninsula, or under Saanich or Vancouver Island, Southeastern. A principal difference among these maps will be in the scale used. For example, a large scale map shows greater detail within a smaller geographical area. 2.2 Determining the Time Period. 2.2.1 In the card catalogues, check geographic subject headings which are subdivided chronologically. 2.2.2 Chronological card files (drawers 19 - 22) can often provide a quick way of locating maps within a narrow time period, although not all card sets contain a date card. This chronological card file is useful in cases where the exact year of publication may be known, but not the precise author or title of the map that is required. Note: the author of a map is the person or corporate body that is primarily responsible for its informational content. This may be a government department. In the old catalogue, a title entry was often not made if the title is uninformative (e.g., "Map of B.C.") or is the same as a subject entry used (e.g., "British Columbia".) 2.3 Determining a Specific Thematic Content. Map inquiries may be based on a specific thematic content, for example, indian villages and trails, mining claims, or building plans. 2.3.1 Check card catalogues under various subject headings such as Plans, Railroads, headings for types of buildings (e.g., Schools, Courthouses). 2.3.2 Some map series contain a variety of cultural and cadastral (lot boundary and lot number) information which was not the primary purpose of the maps. For example, Water Rights maps and plans include many original manuscript maps. As these are usually produced at a very large scale, they often show details of roads, placement of buildings, etc. This is valuable information which may not be available elsewhere. Departmental Reference maps are also useful in this regard, depicting roads and trails at a medium scale. 2.4 "Ready Reference" folders of maps are available upon request. These folders have been created in response to frequent inquiries in the past. For example, the "Victoria" folder contains a historical series of maps of the greater Victoria area - including street maps - arranged chronologically, and the "Farley" atlas in the reference room contains photocopies of selected early maps of the Northwest and the province. Section 3 - Locating the Map: Administrative Control Systems 3.1 Call numbers There are 3 categories of call numbers: (a) new call numbers, (b) old call numbers, and (c) library call numbers. (a) New call numbers (e.g., CM/A1234, CM/B2145, CM/Y1, etc.) Assigned: 1979 - Present Cover: Catalogued/described maps and plans Characteristics: Begin with "CM/" (cartographic materials), followed by a letter and a number. Call numbers appear on the catalogue cards, finding aids and on the maps and plans themselves. (b) Old call numbers (e.g., S/600pNA/E95n, 0900E25, RR1D7, etc.) Assigned: 1962? - 1979 Cover: Catalogued/described maps and plans Characteristics: In 1979, all the old systems were closed and almost all of the material covered by the old call numbers was assigned new call numbers. A call number conversion list links the old call numbers to the new call numbers. (c) Library call numbers (e.g., Maps NW 910.3 G289b 1985) Assigned: 19-- - Present Cover: Atlases, other bound volumes, and typescripts, pamphlets, etc., stored on book shelves in map room and on atlas shelves on the map mezzanine. Characteristics: These are the NW and NWp numbers used by the Library Unit. Such numbers were used for the atlases as well as for other published bound material about or containing maps. 3.2 - Finding Aids Finding aids which have the same CM number as the catalogue card provide general descriptions and item level lists. 3.2.1 Finding Aids: alphabetical list CM/ES3 American Hydrographic Charts. CM/CLl B.C. Government Lithographed Regional Map Series. CM/Wl B.L. Johnson, Walton Company (Canadian Collieries, (Dunsmuir), limited coal mine facilities on Vancouver Island : fire insurance atlas / B.L. Johnson, Walton Co. Ltd.). -- (l95l-l952). CM/ESl British Admiralty Charts. CM/C2060 British Columbia Heritage Trust. ("As found" drawings of British Columbia heritage buildings prepared for the British Columbia Heritage Trust under their Student Employment Program). -- l982 - l986. CM/Dl3l British Columbia Marine Railways Company. 232'-6" steamer /. B.C. Marine Railways Co. Ltd. -- l9ll-l9l3. CM/Ell7 British Columbia. Fish and Wildlife Branch. (Trapline maps of Central and Northern British Columbia). - - l909-(l968?). CM/Ell8 British Columbia. Forest Branch. Forest Branch Atlas. -- l9l5- l94l. CM/Bl575 British Columbia. Water Rights Branch. (Water rights maps: first series / Water Rights Branch). -- 1911 - l924 CM/B99 Bulkley, Thomas Alfred (Esquimalt Graving Dock, Thetis Cove,Esquimalt Harbour : plans / Th. A. Bulkley). -- (l868-l875). CM/Dl29 (Burrard Inlet Environmental Study : Maps / Geographic Division, B.C. Land Inventory (C.L.I.), Dept of Agriculture). -- (l973).CM/ES2 Canadian Hydrographic Charts. CM/B45 Canadian Pacific Railway Company (Railway equipment and buildings: plans) --l907 - l97l. CM/C2008 Cotton, Peter Neve, Collection : Architectural Plans. CM/Bl604 Du Chatelet, B. S.S. Nasookin, Kootenay Lake ferry : proposed alterations to S.S. Nasookin. -- l932. CM/Bl552 Farwell, Arthur Stanhope, l843-l908. (Maps and Plans / drawn and collected by A.S. Farwell). -- (l892) - l903. CM/Dl32 (H.M.S. Sutlej : plans).. -- l859. CM/Al28l H.N.G. K.V.R. / H.N.G. --l9l6 (plans of locomotive parts) CM/Sl Mineral Titles Reference Maps. CM/CL2 Provincial Electoral Maps. CM/Bl876 Rattenbury, Francis Mawson, l867 - l935. (Additions to the Parliament Buildings, Victoria, B.C. / F.M. Rattenbury). -- l9ll - l9l3. CM/C677 Rattenbury, Francis Mawson, l867 - l935. New Parliament Buildings at Victoria, B.C. / F.M. Rattenbury. -- l893 May. CM/B68l Rattenbury, Francis Mawson, l867 - l935. New government buildings at Victoria, B.C. / (F.M.Rattenbury). -- (l89-) CM/ES5 Rayonier Canada Wood Fibre Division, Plans and Maps Series. CM/S2 Trapline Sketches of Central and Northern British Columbia. CM/S3 Water Rights Reference Maps. CM/S4 Water Rights Maps: Second Series CM/S5-S7 Water Rights Plans. CM/ES4 Western Forest Industries Plans and Maps Series. CM/Bl554 Wright & Saunders (Firm) Design for a suburban villa, Victoria, V.I. / Wright & Saunders, archt. - -l86l. 3.2.2. Chronological Periods Covered by Major Map Series Call number From/To Title CM/ES3 1841 - 1971 American Hydrographic Charts CM/ES1 1848 - 1955 British Admiralty Charts CM/S5 - S7 1892 - 1981 Water Rights Plans CM/E117 1909 - 1968 Trapline maps of Central and Northern British Columbia CM/ES2 1909 - 1990 Canadian Hydrographic Charts CM/B1575 1911 - 1924 Water Rights Maps: First Series CM/CL1 Map1911 1990's B.C. Government Lithographed Regional Series CM/E118 1915 - 1941 Forest Branch Atlas CM/S4 1920 - 1978 Water Rights Maps: Second Series no finding aid1938 - 1990's National Topographic Series CM/S1 1942 - 1977 Mineral Titles Reference Maps Section 4 - Reference Notes Compiled by Map Room Staff 4.1 Air photos. Inquiries should be made to: Maps B.C. - Map and Air Photo Sales Unit 3rd Floor, 1802 Douglas St. Victoria, B.C. V8V 1X4 telephone 387 - 1441 The Air Photo Library at the above address allows clients to view a series of historical air photos of any particular piece of land in the province. This is useful in studying changes in land use, river courses, etc. Copies of air photos are available for purchase. 4.2 Building plans - private buildings House plans: If the name of the architect who designed the original residence is known; check for this name under author in the card catalogues. B.C. Archives holds relatively few plans for private residences although there are a few catalogue subject entries for private residences which have been given names, such as Ince cottage and Pentrelew house. A very useful reference book is Victoria; a Primer for Regional History in Architecture (NW/720.9ll/S454). This book includes the dates of construction, and names and brief biographical sketches of the architects of many historically important Victoria buidings. 4.3 Building plans - public buildings B.C. Archives holds a large microfilm collection of plans for buildings constructed or rented and maintained by the Department of Public Works. These plans are on aperture cards filed according to the system described below. To find plans for a public building: Check the Building File Register under place name. Obsolete place and building names are not cross-referenced. For example, the Interurban Campus of Camosun College in Saanich was once known as the B.C. Vocational Institute at Colquitz. Filing system: The Department of Public Works used an Area-Building-Number System. Each area (usually a city or town and its surrounding area) was assigned an Area Number. Areas are listed alphabetically near the front of the Building File Register. Each building was assigned a Building Number, and is listed by area. For example, Victoria is Area 19; the Parliament Buildings are building no. 1. 4.4 Departmental reference maps Departmental reference maps are produced from a single series of base maps. Different provincial government agencies add their own information. The maps can be used as finding aids to other government records. For example, the Forest Branch Atlas includes Lands "O" file numbers relating to specific parcels of land, and timber lease and licence numbers. An index map, kept in the Map Reference Area, shows Departmental reference map numbers. Finding aids exist for the following series: CM/E117 Trapline maps of Central and Northern British Columbia CM/E118 Forest Branch Atlas CM/S1 Mineral Titles Reference Maps 4.5 Historical trails There are catalogue subject entries for some famous trails (Dewdney, Brigade trails, etc.), and trails are often mentioned in other catalogue entries. Try also government maps around the turn of the century, the Farley atlas, and the folder of Royal Engineers maps. CM/C724 (Hope-Princeton sheet, 1939) shows a number of historical trails. Check the card catalogues for subject entries under Telegraph trails, and geographic subject headings for the area desired; various types of trails are often mentioned in notes on the cards. Some of the large scale Pre-emptor's series (see finding aid CM/CL1) show telegraph trails. 4.6 Hydrographic charts, including British Admiralty Charts There are finding aids for British (CM/ES1), Canadian (CM/ES2) and American (CM/ES3) hydrographic chart series. Each finding aid lists charts separately by chart number and by title. Consult an index map to obtain chart numbers. Index maps, kept in the Reference Room map cabinet, are used in conjunction with the finding aids for British and Canadian charts. The atlas of charts resulting from Captain George Vancouver's surveys has been microfilmed. These are filed in the miscellaneous fiche drawer under NW/970P/V223ch. 4.7 Indian reserve maps General: N.T.S. sheets, various B.C. government published maps, and many commercially published maps will show outlines of reserves. Large scale maps of reserves: B.C. Archives does not have many but check subject cards under "Indian reservations", or band/tribe names. Consult also: NW/O16.91271/N277 Indian Lands in British Columbia: Finding aids to maps in Record Groups in the National Map Collection, National Archives of Canada, Ottawa. NW/016.912/C217m/v.1 Maps of Indian Reserves and Settlements in the National Map Collection. Listing is by reserve name or agency name. 4.8 Mines and mineral claims See finding aid CM/S1 - Mineral Titles Reference Maps, 1942 - 1977. Cariboo gold fields - Check author - title file under Bowman, Amos, for early Geological Survey maps, and subject files under Cariboo, Gold Mining, and names of creeks in the area, such as Lightning Creek. 4.9 Geological Survey of Canada (GSC) reports and maps Subject catalogue - place names; gold, mining. Author - title catalogue. GSC maps are listed by title and GSC series numbers. Index sheets to geological maps: NTS grid number/Call number 82 CM/B1566 83 CM/B1567 92 CM/B1568 94 CM/B1569 103 CM/B1570 104 & 114E CM/C1014 4.10 - Ocean Falls (Pacific Mills Ltd.) plans. Accession M867021: There are approximately 25000 plans and they are not microfilmed. Access through an index binder and three cabinets of index cards, housed in the Map Room upstairs or in the reference room?. 4.11 Accession M878045: A.B. Sanderson Company: These are the records of an engineering company which built many major highway and railway bridges. A list of "as-built" drawings in the accession file shows contract/project numbers by name of project. 4.12 Care and handling of originals in the Reference Room: Original maps must be used under supervision. Users must not lean on maps. Users must not allow edges of maps to hang over the table edge. Only pencil may be used for notetaking. Notepaper must not be laid on top of maps. Tracing is not allowed.