USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection

By FindingAnyRoots on Sat, 02/03/2024 - 00:10

Forums

Hello again! I've been working on a citation to a map I found at the USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection online and referred to EE 12.67 & 12.68 for guidance. I'm feeling more confident with citations in general but am not quite sure on this one. I followed the URL for the map back to the homepage at https://ngmdb.usgs.gov/ngmdb/ngmdb_home.html and the bottom of that page reads
"U.S. Department of the Interior | U.S. Geological Survey
Supported by the National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program"

In the citation, should I cite both the U.S. Dept. of the Interior and "United States Geological Survey" as the author/creator?

Source List:

United States. Department of the Interior. United States Geological Survey. "Historical Topographic Map Collection." Database with images. The National Geologic Map Database. https://ngmdb.usgs.gov/topoview/viewer : 2024.

Reference note:

U.S. Department of the Interior, Geological Survey Topographic Map: Georgia, Monroe Quadrangle, 1896 ed.; United States Geological Survey. "Historical Topographic Map Collection," database with images, The National Geologic Map Database (https://ngmdb.usgs.gov/topoview/viewer : accessed 2 February 2024) > search for "Monroe, GA," 1896 ed., scale 1:125000, survey year 1894.

 

Short form:

U.S. Dept. of the Interior, Geological Survey Topographic Map: Georgia, Monroe Quadrangle, 1896 ed.

Submitted byEEon Sat, 02/03/2024 - 08:26

FindingAnyRoots, when we cite online interactive map databases we're attempting to skewer a moving target. This one might be approached in other ways, but your citation meets the need to (a) understand what we're using; and (b) locate the information for which you are providing a citation.

As for your specific question: with government agencies that are divisions of other entities—sometimes several layers deep—we often face a quandary as to how many layers of bureaucracy need to be cited. In the case at hand, it would be redundant to say "U.S. Geological Survey, Geological Survey Topographic Map." Citing the larger entity as the author/creator provides additional data in the same amount of space.

 

Submitted byFindingAnyRootson Sat, 02/03/2024 - 15:27

EE, thank you for your guidance! I thought it might be redundant with both but just wasn't sure.

You mentioned that this citation could be approached in other ways and it got me thinking. If I understand correctly (based on my accumulated knowledge so far), to lead with the database rather than the original, the source list entry would stay the same, but the first reference note and short form would be slightly different. I don't believe I need a source-of-source layer, as that would also be redundant. 

Reference note:

U.S. Department of the Interior, "Historical Topographic Map Collection," database with images, The National Geologic Map Database (https://ngmdb.usgs.gov/topoview/viewer : accessed 2 February 2024), search for "Monroe, GA," 1896 ed. quadrangle map.

Short form:

U.S. Dept. of the Interior, "Historical Topographic Map Collection," database with images, "Monroe, GA," 1896 ed. quadrangle map.

I'm not sure how often I'll be using the database but might like this version more than the other. Do you prefer one over the other, or would EE approach in another way I'm missing? Thanks again! As always, I truly value and appreciate your response.

Submitted byFindingAnyRootson Sat, 02/03/2024 - 15:31

Oops, forgot to note that I did take "United States Geological Survey" out of the source list entry:

United States. Department of the Interior. "Historical Topographic Map Collection." Database with images. The National Geologic Map Database. https://ngmdb.usgs.gov/topoview/viewer : 2024.