Call Number:

SC MS 0356

Repository:

Lehigh University Special Collections

Extent:

0.5 linear feet (1 box, 0.5 linear feet)

Language:

English

Preferred Citation:

[Identification of item] Automobile Road Maps Circa 1920s, SC MS 0356 Special Collections, Linderman Library, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA

Date:

1922-1926 (inclusive)

Form:

Maps

Abstract:

Collection composed primarily of Alphonse Taride maps for regions of France circa 1920s and a few other vintage maps: Brentano's British Isles, Rand McNally's New England: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Canadian Maritime Provinces and Germany's Schwartzwald region. The maps reflect the era of the establishment of the automobile as a cultural symbol of freedom of the road and travel between the two World Wars.

August Brentano started a newsstand in New York in 1853 which eventually became a well-known bookstore selling books, newspapers and maps. Its first branch opened in 1883 in Washington D.C., a second branch in 1884 in Chicago, Paris in 1887 and London in 1889 which were used by expatriots because of the distribution of American newspapers.

Rand McNally began in 1856 by William Rand who opened a printing shop in Chicago, Illinois. In 1858 Andrew McNally takes a job in Rand's printing shop. In 1868 they began a partnership and agree to print railroad timetables for Chicago's booming railroad hub. In 1872 the first ever Rand McNally map appears in December issue of the Railway Guide. In 1873 Rand McNally is incorporated. In 1894 it opened a New York City office headed by Caleb S. Hammond who later started his own map company. In 1904 the first automobile road map was published of New York City and vicinity. 1917 Rand McNally's cartographer John Brink invented a highway numbering system that became a model for the system that becomes the model used today by state and federal governments. In 1920 Rand McNally began publishing road maps for the Gulf Oil Company to be freely distributed at its service stations. In 1924 the Rand McNally Auto Chum debuted which later becomes the Rand McNally Road Atlas. The aviator Charles Lindbergh used Rand McNally road maps for navigation in the mid 1920s. Rand McNally continues to specializes in maps, navigation, road travel, trip planning and publishing.

C. S. Hammond & Company founded by Caleb Stillson Hammond in 1900 in Brooklyn, N.Y. as an American map company. Mr. Hammond previously headed Rand McNally in 1894. His C. S. Hammond & Company was incorporated in 1901 and moved to Manhattan. Its fame developed as the second largest American map company, C.S. Hammond & Company when it moved to New Jersey to be near the Hammond home.

Alphonse Taride (died 1918) began in 1895 printing maps for bicyclists, travel agents, engineers and conductors of bridges and roads. As early as 1852 A. Taride published walking routes, metro maps and school maps and from 1895 with the help of France's Velocipedic Union of France and the Department of Bridges and Roads published black and white maps at 1:250000 scale in a varied format: card, paper, canvas, pouches with constant updates. Taride gave maps to French soldiers during World War I as the maps were universally used by everyone and updated. Taride was a Paris based publisher specializing in maps, tourist guides, histories and pocket plans of France.

August Brentano started a newsstand in New York in 1853 which eventually became a well-known bookstore selling books, newspapers and maps. Its first branch opened in 1883 in Washington D.C., a second branch in 1884 in Chicago, Paris in 1887 and London in 1889 which were used by expatriots because of the distribution of American newspapers.

Rand McNally began in 1856 by William Rand who opened a printing shop in Chicago, Illinois. In 1858 Andrew McNally takes a job in Rand's printing shop. In 1868 they began a partnership and agree to print railroad timetables for Chicago's booming railroad hub. In 1872 the first ever Rand McNally map appears in December issue of the Railway Guide. In 1873 Rand McNally is incorporated. In 1894 it opened a New York City office headed by Caleb S. Hammond who later started his own map company. In 1904 the first automobile road map was published of New York City and vicinity. 1917 Rand McNally's cartographer John Brink invented a highway numbering system that became a model for the system that becomes the model used today by state and federal governments. In 1920 Rand McNally began publishing road maps for the Gulf Oil Company to be freely distributed at its service stations. In 1924 the Rand McNally Auto Chum debuted which later becomes the Rand McNally Road Atlas. The aviator Charles Lindbergh used Rand McNally road maps for navigation in the mid 1920s. Rand McNally continues to specializes in maps, navigation, road travel, trip planning and publishing.

C. S. Hammond & Company founded by Caleb Stillson Hammond in 1900 in Brooklyn, N.Y. as an American map company. Mr. Hammond previously headed Rand McNally in 1894. His C. S. Hammond & Company was incorporated in 1901 and moved to Manhattan. Its fame developed as the second largest American map company, C.S. Hammond & Company when it moved to New Jersey to be near the Hammond home.

Alphonse Taride (died 1918) began in 1895 printing maps for bicyclists, travel agents, engineers and conductors of bridges and roads. As early as 1852 A. Taride published walking routes, metro maps and school maps and from 1895 with the help of France's Velocipedic Union of France and the Department of Bridges and Roads published black and white maps at 1:250000 scale in a varied format: card, paper, canvas, pouches with constant updates. Taride gave maps to French soldiers during World War I as the maps were universally used by everyone and updated. Taride was a Paris based publisher specializing in maps, tourist guides, histories and pocket plans of France.

Arranged geographically by region then chronologically.