The New-York Historical Society
Library Reading Room
Map Collection

The Map Collection can be searched on a keyword or phrase within specific field across the entire collection.

Your initial query will retrieve a tally of the total number of hits in the Map Collection. You will have the option of viewing all the records or ten records at a time.

You may also go to an advanced search of the collection where you may filter your search by adding criteria, or just explore that collection more intimately.

You may browse on Geographic Location, Title, Creator, Call Number or Inventory Number. If you are not sure what exactly you are looking for, or merely wish to browse, you might start here.

Be aware that searching is not case sensitive.

Keyword phrases may contain as many words as you reasonably expect to find together.

Keywords are by default wildcarded at both ends to allow for a broader return in cases such as prefixed or plural forms. You can use this to advantage by truncating your search term to a point where the wildcard can fill in inflectional or plural endings and so on to cut a wider swath through the database.

In order to winnow out unwanted entries, try adding a space before and/or after your search term; e.g. a space before bridge will winnow out Stonebridge, one after will winnow out Bridgeport. A space on both sides will winnow out both, but it will also preclude a return of a record where the first word is Bridge.

If you wish to search on a date in the date range field you can query either a single year or a range of years; you cannot search on a full date at this time.

The date field is not wildcarded by century or decade. To find a date in the 1860s you will get results only if you give the range 1860-1870 (not 186).

This field is also very generous; if an item (even one with a range of dates itself) contains a date that falls within the two dates you request the query will return that item.

Dimensions are searchable in the Note field, as are additional dates or creators.