A map locates places, routes and territories at a particular time. It informs archival research but alone cannot prove a family occupied a house or plot.
The method, step by step
- Copy the exact recorded place name and search variants. Distinguish village, hamlet, parish and municipality; check namesakes before selecting a map.
- Read title, survey date, publication date, scale and key. A reprint may show an earlier situation; preserve those dates rather than substituting download date.
- Compare a register, address or property record. Street and plot numbers may change; document concordances instead of equating numbers directly.
- Save the catalogue description, reference and sheet location with the full-image link. State accuracy limits when marking a modern map.
Record in your research log
- Map
- author
- date
- scale
- identified place
- interpretive limits.
Frequently asked questions
Does an old map prove ownership?
It locates a plot or building according to its content. Link it to a property record, date and identified person; numbers may have changed.
Sources & references
- National Archives — maps for genealogists ↗
- Gallica — Bibliothèque nationale de France ↗ (Resource review date : )
- Archives Portal Europe ↗ (Resource review date : )