Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps

Identifying Microfilm Reels

Look under Detroit, the date range, and - in the case of Detroit - volume number. Volume numbers are repeated within the Detroit reels under the different date ranges, so it is important to note the date range as well as the city and volume number.

Note: The hyphenated dates given represent the date of original edition and the date of hand updates (for instance, vol. 3, 1921-Nov. 1950, would represent a volume first issued in 1921 which has been hand updated through Nov. 1950).

If the years desired are not covered by this set, you may wish to check an external resource, or the second microfilm set (Grad Serials/Microforms Film 30088) listed on the Sanborn Maps on Microfilm page. This set includes Sanborn maps of Detroit covering the years 1966-1992 (reels 3-15). For more details, please see its contents at the beginning of reel 1.

The Notes Column

In the Notes column are the "500" and "000" series numbers that identify volumes acquired from the Bureau of the Census, additional place names cited by the publisher in map titles, and other distinctive features of the map. Variations from the standard size (65 x 55 cm.) are also noted in Notes. Editions issued in atlas format are described as bound.

The following index, which is derived from the Fire Insurance Plans in the Library of Congress: A Checklist, is useful for identifying Sanborn maps of Detroit found in the following microfilm set held by the Hatcher Graduate Library's Serials and Microforms Department