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There are two major categories of maps: single maps and set maps, which contain multiple sheets published at a uniform size, and may be accompanied by a graphic index or list of contents. Set maps are largely discoverable in the Library of Congress online catalog. Single maps which have been acquired by the Geography and Map Division since 1968, as well as some acquired earlier, are individually cataloged and can be located by searching the Library of Congress online catalog. Most single maps acquired in or before 1968 are included in the Title Collection.
Pages in this section present selections of maps of Alaska from the cataloged single maps collection, Title Collection, and set maps collection. Wherever possible, entries include a link to the item's bibliographic record in the Library of Congress online catalog. For items which have been scanned, a link to the image in the online map collections is included as well.
The collections of the Geography and Map Division are vast, spanning the entire world (and beyond) and several hundred years of history. Many of our maps have been digitized and are available online; however, the maps in our online collections represent a small portion of our total holdings.
Digitized maps can be accessed from the Library of Congress homepage. Change the menu option at the top right from "Everything" to "Maps," and enter your search term. The online map collections can also be accessed directly at loc.gov/maps. A gallery of selected digitized maps is presented on the following page of this guide.
Digitized maps can be downloaded at no cost via the download menu to the lower left of each image.
The majority of materials in the Geography and Map Division have not been scanned and cannot be viewed online. These materials can be located either through the Library of Congress online catalog, or in the Title Collection.
Atlases, set maps, and many single maps are searchable on the LC online catalog when limits are set by Type of Material to "Map". The LC call number indicates the map's filing location within the Geography and Map Division. Some single maps in the Title Collection require mediated access, so researchers wanting to examine these maps must request them from reference staff. Pages in this section describe these materials in more detail.
Suggested subject headings for locating maps of Alaska include the following.
For general maps:
For maps of specific subjects:
For maps of regions, boroughs, cities or towns:
