At the New York Public Library, a number of collections have been acquired or donated to the Lionel Pincus and Princess Firyal Map Division. The cartographic materials from these acquisitions include a wide range of geographic space and topics of potential interest.
As an introduction, please see below for information on selected collection-based highlights that can be useful for your research, as well as information on how to access these collections.
The collections are organized below alphabetically.
The Collection of broadside real estate maps announcing auctions of lots in early 19th century New York City was recently acquired by the division in 2016 and consists of 70 maps on 67 sheets. The collection ranges between the years 1832-1837.
These real estate maps are of research interest as - besides showing city lots - they will sometimes also include existing buildings, names of property owners, and announcements for auctions related to estates of named decedents.
This collection mostly focuses on Manhattan, and is organized according to the following neighborhoods:
You can review items that are part of this collection by viewing its finding aid in NYPL's Archive Portal:
This collection has been fully digitized and is available via NYPL Digital Collections - these items can be found in the section titled Collection of broadside real estate maps announcing auctions of lots in early 19th century New York City
The Collection of property maps of parts of Westchester County, N.Y. : covering mostly Eastchester, Mount Vernon, and Yonkers consists of maps that date from 1850-1951. These maps are manuscripts, copies, or reprints of property maps that were filed with Register Offices in Westchester County.
Geographically, this collection covers mostly Eastchester, Mount Vernon, and Yonkers. The maps either depict individual property, subdivisions, or entire cities, villages, and towns. On these maps, you might also see depictions of lots, existing buildings, and names of property owners.
This collection is geographically organized as follows:
You can review items that are part of this collection by viewing its finding aid in NYPL's Archive Portal:
This collection is currently not digitized.
This collection includes both printed and manuscript maps that are dated from the Civil War. This collection was donated to the library by Mrs. Daniel Butterfield at the turn of the 20th century.
You can review items that are part of this collection by conducting the following keyword search in NYPL's Online Research Catalog:
Portions of this collection have been digitized are are available via NYPL Digital Collections - these items can be found in the section titled Daniel Butterfield Collection of Civil War Maps
Image: Dec. 13th Positions of Humphreys's [sic] Division. [1862]
This collection was assembled by Thomsa Addis Emmit and donated to the library in 1896 by trustee John Stuart Kennedy. This collection consists of drawings, engravings, maps, and manuscripts to the American Revolution and the early history of the United States.
You can review items that are part of this collection by conducting the following keyword search in NYPL's Online Research Catalog:
Portions of this collections have been digitized and are available via NYPL Digital Collections - these items can be found in the section titled Cartographic Materials from the Emmet Collection of Manuscripts etc. relating to American History
Image: A chart of Delaware Bay and River. 1779
The Fink Collection consists of seventeen 1959 community surveys of provincial capitals and villages in Laos.
You can review items that are part of this collection by conducting the following keyword search in NYPL's Online Research Catalog:
This collections have been digitized and are available via NYPL Digital Collections - these items can be found in the section titled Fink Collection
Image: Pencil sketch of part of Vientiane, Laos : showing the location of the Nong-Douang Temple. [1959]
Lawrence H. Slaughter had collected approximately 600 maps, 100 atlases, and 50 books that focus on the history of English mapping of the Middle Atlantic colonies in North America, with an additional selection of Dutch maps, French maps, and cartographic materials covering regions outside the Middle Atlantic colonies.
The Slaughter family donated this collection to the Lionel Pincus and Princess Firyal Map Division in 1998.
You can review items that are part of this collection by conducting the following keyword search in NYPL's Online Research Catalog:
Portions of this collection have been digitized and available via NYPL Digital Collections - these items can be found in the section titled Slaughter Collection.
Lastly, you can locate the finding aid online or via in-person at the reference desk at the Lionel Pincus and Princess Firyal Map Division.
The John H. Levine Collection consists of a range of antique maps for places around the world, between the 16th and early 19th century.
This collection was donated in 1990 by the John H. Levine estate.
You can review items that are part of this collections by conducting the following keyword search in NYPL's Online Research Catalog:
Portions of this collection have been digitized and are available via NYPL Digital Collections - these items can be found in the section titled John H. Levine Collection.
Image: Chart of the N.W. coast of America and the N.E. coast of Asia, explored in the years 1778 and 1779. 1794.