Archives West Finding Aid

Series I consists of maps depicting the full state of Oregon on one sheet. The maps provide information on transportation systems, state and county boundaries, and locations of cities and towns. The series includes several topical maps depicting Oregon flora, historical sites and trails, postal service routes, and gem and mineral locations. The majority of the maps also denote the state capitol, county seats, public land boundaries, and key landmarks across Oregon. Many of the items in the series are pictorial maps; several maps depicting physiography of the state are also included. The series includes several wall maps that were produced for classroom use. Wall maps have been removed from dowels and flattened; fragile items have been encapsulated. The items are arranged chronologically within this series.

Series II consists of maps depicting the geology, soils, hydrology, and geophysics of Oregon. The bulk of the geologic maps were prepared in the 1940s-1970s during the years preceding, during, and immediately following the development of the scientific theory of plate tectonics. Most of the maps were published by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) or the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI). Some of the maps are for the full state; others are for counties, regions, or quandrangles. Most of the geology and soil maps are published in color with color-coded descriptions of the geologic units or soils. Some include narrative descriptions of the geologic history or soils of the depicted area. The USGS maps were published in several different series including Miscellaneous Geologic Investigation Maps (I- series); Miscellaneous Field Studies Maps (MF- series); Oil and Gas Investigations Maps (OM- series); Geological Quadrangle Maps (GQ- series); and the Hydrologic Investigations Atlas (HA- series). The soils maps were prepared by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (Soil Conservation Service and Bureau of Soils) in cooperation with the Oregon Agricultural Experiment Station. The series includes several maps by George W. Walker, Francis G. Wells, Ewart M. Baldwin, T.P. Thayer, Ray C. Treasher, Edwin T. Hodge, and James H. Robinson.

Series III consists of maps documenting agriculture in Oregon, primarily grazing and irrigation. Maps of the full state as well as maps of of regions and counties are included. The maps depict grazing movements and capabilities, land classification for agriculture projects, range types, irrigated lands, and range water improvement projects. Most of the detailed maps are for central and eastern Oregon. The bulk of the maps in the series were prepared in the 1930s and 1940s. Maps were created by the Office of Grazing in Portland, Oregon; the U.S. Bureau of Agricultural Economics; the Oregon Experiment Station, the U.S. Soil Conservation Service, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, and U.S. Resettlement Administration. One map in the series includes northeast Oregon and southeast Washington.

Series IV consists of maps of recreational facilities and opportunities throughout Oregon. The series includes boating guide maps, trail maps, hunting guide maps, fishing maps, and park maps. These maps include information on roads and their conditions, trails, landmarks, historical sites, and park ranger lookouts. Many of the maps include narrative descriptions and photographs of recreation sites, parks, and Oregon landmarks. The series includes maps prepared by the U.S. Forest Service, Oregon State Highway Department, and county parks departments.

Series V consists of Oregon county maps. All Oregon counties are represented in the series. Maps of Benton County are held in other maps collections. The maps in this series were created by a variety of organizations, including Fire Patrol Associations for several counties. Maps of Lincoln (1895) and Umatilla (1893) Counties depict the extent of the Siletz and Umatilla Indian Reservations, respectively. Also of the note in the series are an 1882 map of Polk County and a 1932 map of Tillamook County depicting lands with delinquent property taxes. In general the maps in this series depict primary and secondary roads, historic and natural landmarks, and inhabited areas. The series also includes Metsker maps for all the Oregon counties.

Series VI consists of maps of cities and towns in Oregon, primarily street maps. About half of the maps in this series are of Portland or the Portland metropolitan area. Pictorial maps, campus guides, and tourist maps are also part of the series. Most of the maps were created in the 1920s-1970s. Several original maps prepared in the 1890s-1910s are included, however, some of the earliest maps are reproductions produced by the Oregon Historical Society in the 1960s-1970s. Most of the street maps include indexes and prominent sites such as parks, schools, public buildings, and shops. Descriptive information about the landmarks and history of the communities, as well as advertisements, are included on some maps. The series includes campus guides for the University of Oregon in Eugene and the University of Oregon Medical School (now Oregon Health Sciences University) in Portland. The city maps were prepared and published by city and county governments, local chambers of commerce, individuals, and map companies. The maps are arranged alphabetically by city and there-under chronologically. Maps of Corvallis are in a separate collection of maps of Corvallis and Benton County.

Series VII is composed of various maps of Oregon including maps of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dams and reservoirs, traffic flow maps, highway design plans, USGS orthoquadrangles, physiographic and landform maps of Oregon, land use maps, topographic maps, and maps of timberlands. Of special note is a map of the Beaver Hill Coal Mine in Coos County where African-American miners worked in the 1890s.