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Maps, Atlases, Aerial Images, and Cartographic Resources

What Is a Sanborn Map?

The purpose of Sanborn maps was to assist fire insurance agents in determining the degree of hazard for a particular property by showing the size, shape, and construction of buildings, windows, doors, sprinkler systems, and roofs; the widths and names of streets, property boundaries, building use, and house and block numbers; and the locations of water mains, fire alarm boxes, and  fire hydrants.

UCLA's Sanborn map collection consists of atlases and microfilm covering limited portions of Los Angeles from 1906 to 1970 (date coverage varies by volume).

For more information, see the Library of Congress' Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps website.

A Visual Guide to UCLA's Sanborn Atlases

UCLA Holdings

  • Large volumes 1906-1962 YRL Reference A-Level Closed Stacks Call Number: G 1529 L8 S31
  • Small volumes 1953-1965 Southern Regional Library Facility (must be paged) Call Number: G 1529 L8 S31
  • Microform reels 11-37 1953-1970 YRL Microform & Media Services Call Number: G 1529 L89 1995 S26
  • Various Cities and Towns 1915-1924 Southern Regional Library Facility (must be paged) Call Number: G3704s.G475 var Sanborn
  • LA County Oil Map 1924 YRL Reference A-Level Closed Stacks (Historical Map Collection) Call NumberG 4363s Los Angeles G475H8 var Sanborn 1924

Holdings at Other Libraries

Key Historical Fire Insurance Maps

Significant contributions to the fire insurance map industry are exemplified in the following maps.  They are listed in chronological order of creation and publication.