Field Records | Maps | Photographs

Field Records Collection, Denver

The Field Records Collection in Denver, Colorado, is an archive of field notes, correspondence, manuscripts, maps, analysis reports and other data created or collected by USGS geologists during field studies and other project work. The majority of the collection dates from 1879 and relates to work done in the contiguous United States.

For field records and project archives on Alaska, contact the Alaska Technical Data Unit Field Records Archive under the Mineral Resources Team - Alaska. To contact someone call 907-786-7457 or send an e-mail message to Jill Schneider.

The Field Records Collection is open to USGS employees and the public. For further information, call 303-236-1005.

Map Collections

The Denver, Menlo Park and Reston libraries have broad collections of maps covering domestic and foreign areas. The Flagstaff library concentrates on maps of the Southwestern United States. Staff can provide information or referral on a variety of cartographic topics.

Topographic Map Archive - The Reston Library maintains an archival reference collection of all USGS topographic maps in addition to the working collection of maps described below.

USGS Topographic Maps - These maps date from the early 1880's to the present.

Denver - All states (Current & historical)
Flagstaff - Southwestern United States (Current & historical)
Menlo Park - Western United States (Current only) and California (Current & historical)
Reston - All states (Current & historical)

USGS Series Maps -

Denver, Menlo Park, and Reston - All
Flagstaff - Selected

Non-USGS Maps - All four libraries have extensive collections of maps published by other mapping organizations, both domestic and foreign. The maps deal with subjects represented in the book collection. In general, the USGS Library does not collect detailed topographic maps of areas outside North America.

Related Materials - In addition to maps, the USGS Library collects atlases, gazetteers, map catalogs, indexes, and other materials related to maps and mapping. Contact the library closest to you for more information.

Photographic Collection, Denver

The Photographic Library, located in Denver, Colorado, is an archive of still photographs dating from the 1870's and taken by USGS scientists as part of their field studies. The works of pioneer photographers W.H. Jackson, T.H. O'Sullivan, Carleton Watkins, J.K. Hillers, Thomas Moran, A.J. Russell, E.O. Beaman, and William Bell are represented in the collection. Topics include USGS personnel, earthquakes, volcanoes, geologic hazards and other phenomena, historical mining operations, and earth science photographs.

Digital copies of photographs selected from the collection can be accessed online from the USGS Earth Science Photographic Archive.

Reproductions (prints, transparencies, and negatives) may be ordered from the library at cost. Because the collection consists of more than 500,000 photographs, researchers are welcome to visit in person to make selections. For more information, call 303-236-1010.