The Virginia Department of Transportation's Hydraulics Division has a  
complete paper set of the 15' series. As a state agency, they might  
be amenable to scanning them for posterity.

Also, www.maptech.com has an incomplete digital set of 15' quads for  
several states on their website. For some inexplicable reason,  
they've produced scans of quadrants of the ones they do have.

Lyle Browning


On Dec 6, 2006, at 8:52 PM, MORGAN A RIEDER wrote:

> Speaking of archival preservation of fragile paper documents, I  
> have some of the first series of USGS maps produced (60').  They  
> were printed on highly acidic paper and and are disintegrating. I  
> don't expect to be able to actually reverse the process and  
> stabilize them.  Does anyone have any information regarding a  
> database/index for these early USGS series of maps and whether  
> there are legible digital/hard legible copies available?  I know  
> the USGS has no records on these maps:  their procedure, from the  
> beginning, was to map the U.S. as thoroughly as possible.  When  
> they produced the 30' maps, you were supposed to discard the 60'  
> maps.  When they produced the 15' maps, you were supposed to  
> discard the 30' maps.  Ditto discarding the 15' maps when they  
> produced the 7.5'.  It wasn't until recently that it was realized  
> that the earlier editions of the maps contained a wealth of  
> historical information.  I use the older maps routinely when  
> planning a CRM survey, when and where I can find them.  But, as I  
> said, the USGS is entirely clueless about this and as far as I know  
> there's no collection of such maps in the National Archives.  Any  
> suggestions?
>
> Morgan Rieder, RPA
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
>   From: Ron May<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
>   To: [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
>   Sent: Saturday, December 02, 2006 2:04 AM
>   Subject: Re: Archival Conservation of Architectural Plans
>
>
>   Brad and I are talking about how to get copies without destroying  
> the
>   80-year old plans. Paul has given me great suggestions as to  
> where to seek help,  as
>   has Roberta S. Greenwood. My primary concern right now is getting  
> the plans
>   flattened out without breaking down the paper, so will be looking  
> into paper
>   conservators. I probably will drive up to Brad's office at North  
> County
>   Blueprint for his opinion. At least a plan is taking shape.
>
>   While finding a cache of Frank O. Wells plans is very exciting,  
> it reminds
>   me of all the field maps I prepared over the years that probably  
> have also
>   turned yellow from contact with acidic paper. All our  
> photographic prints, field
>   maps, field notes, lab drawings, data cards etc. are subject to  
> light-fade,
>   acid  deterioration, insect eating, dust wear, and decay over time.
>   Archaeologists  sometimes laugh that their artifacts are stone  
> and will last forever, but
>   their  catalog numbers, bags, and boxes will not. The artifact  
> becomes just
>   another  rock with all the provenience lost in a century. Cheery  
> thought, I
>   know, but  something we all need to think about.
>
>   And, I am very leery of scanned images surviving long into the  
> future.  There
>   is nothing as good as the original document. We have already  
> discussed the
>   deterioration of CD, tape, video, and microfilm on HISTARCH. What  
> kind of
>   machinery will be around in 100-years that can read an image  
> scanned in  2006?
>
>   Ron May
>   Legacy 106, Inc.
>