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
- Finding Aid for Los Angeles Sanborn Fire Insurance MapsThis link leads to a visual, interactive guide to the UCLA Library's Sanborn Atlas holdings.
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
- UCLA Library Sanborn Map User GuideDescription of UCLA holdings of Sanborn maps.
- Fire Insurance Maps Online (FIMO) This link opens in a new windowSubscription coverage for Los Angeles County only! -- Provides digital access to historical color fire insurance maps, real estate atlases, and similar land use maps for North America. Also includes all California Sanborn maps. High definition, color and gray-scale images display important historical details not visible on black and white map scans. Includes map research tools and search tips to make finding maps for a specific location.
Holdings at Other Libraries
- California State University Northridge Map LibraryThe largest print collection of local Sanborn maps, holdings are catalogued in Rees, Gary W. A catalogue of Sanborn atlases at California State University, Northridge. [Santa Cruz, Calif.]:Western Association of Map Libraries, [1973]; located in the YRL Reference Collection, Call Number Z6028 .R259c
- Los Angeles Central Public LibraryMicrofilm copies of the Library of Congress holdings for the state of California (see catalog listed below), plus digital Sanborn maps from 1867-1970 for the state of California (LAPL library card required).
- Center for Research Libraries (CRL) Online Catalog This link opens in a new windowCRL holds the complete microfilm set for all 50 states and the District of Columbia which includes approximately 10,000 cities and towns. UCLA faculty, students, and staff may obtain microfilm copies of these maps by requesting them through the Library’s Interlibrary Loan service. Search the CRL Catalog for holdings information to make an ILL request.
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.
- Ichnography of CharlestonFire Insurance Map of Charleston, SC, surveyed in 1788 by Edmund Petrie. Believed to be the oldest fire insurance map in existence.
- Maps of the city of New York / surveyed under directions of insurance companies of said city.Published between 1852 and 1855 by William Perris, a seven volume set of insurance maps.
- Insurance Map of BostonFirst fire insurance atlas of D. A. Sanborn, 1867.
Guides and Checklists
- Fire insurance maps in the Library of Congress a checklistLibrary of Congress, Geography and Map Division, Reference and Bibliography Section. Print copy in YRL Reference Z6026.I7 U54 1981