David Rumsey Map Center at Stanford University

The David Rumsey Map Center is a historical cartographic collection featuring an extensive collection of maps and cartographic artifacts available for public research and global digital access. The collection numbers in the hundreds of thousands of digital and physical objects.

The David Rumsey Map Collection contains more than 200,000 items. The collection focuses on rare 16th through 21st century maps of North and South America, as well as maps of the World, Asia, Africa, Europe, and Oceania. Artifacts range in date from the 16th century to the present. More than 142,000 documents are online.

David Rumsey donated his entire physical map collection to Stanford University in 2009. The Rumsey Collection opened its doors in 2016. David Rumsey continues to make his collection available online at www.davidrumsey.com.

Guidance from the David Rumsey Map Center website:

The David Rumsey Map Center is housed inside the Green Library.  Entry to Green Library requires either a Stanford ID card or visitor registration with a government-issued photo ID, plus having a photo taken at the registration kiosk. Learn more here about Stanford Libraries’ visitor policies. We are located on the fourth floor, with a stairwell entry just off the Munger Rotunda of the Bing Wing, which is located on the second floor. Ask at the library entry desk about special elevator access if you need step-free entry. 

Visitors interested in viewing physical items need to request items through SearchWorks and schedule a material viewing appointment. You may view up to five items at a time. Learn more about access to Stanford's rare and distinctive materials.Because we are home to rare maps, we do not allow food or drinks (including water), and we do not allow any ink writing utensils in the center. Laptop devices are welcome, and pencils and paper are available for note-taking. Photography of materials is permitted for personal use but photography and video recording of library spaces is not. See Stanford University Libraries’ photography policy for more information.

Research support

Map collections and resources guide

• Maps

• Map collections and resources guide

Digital exhibits

• Seeing Cities

• Re-Mapping Sovereignty

• Data Visualization and the Modern Imagination

Hours

Wednesday and Thursday: 1:00-5:00PM

Friday: 9:30AM-5:00PM

Weekday mornings by appointment

Address

Green Library 

557 Escondido Mall 

Stanford, CA 94305-6063

Phone

(650) 498-8698

Email

rumseymapcenter@stanford.edu

Website

David Rumsey Map Center at Stanford