Finding Aids: Reference Information Paper 90 Part VI

Table of Contents

Part VI: Cartographic Records

[For more information about the records described in Part VI, contact:

Special Media Archives Services Division
Cartographic and Architectural Unit
National Archives at College Park
8601 Adelphi Road
College Park, MD 20740
Telephone: 301-837-3200
Email: carto@nara.gov]

VI.1 The Cartographic and Architectural Branch holds map, chart, and aerial photographic records that pertain to Vietnam as well as other areas of the world. None of these holdings pertain specifically to POW/MIA activities, but the records do show geographical areas to which these activities may relate. These records may be examined at, and copies ordered from the Cartographic and Architectural Branch, National Archives at College Park (Archives II), 8601 Adelphi Road, College Park, MD 20740-6001.

RG 37 Records of the Hydrographic Office

VI.2 The records of the Hydrographic Office include charts of the world's oceans and coastal areas dating from the 1830's to recent times. Charts of areas of Vietnam are included among these records, some dating from the period of the Vietnam War. These records show standard hydrographic information including depth soundings of coastal areas up to one mile inland.

RG 77 Records of the Office of the Chief of Engineers

VI.3 The records of the Office of the Chief of Engineers include a series of maps created by the Army Map Service that covers most parts of the world at different scales. Army Map Service records specifically covering Vietnam include maps at 1:250,000 (L-509) dating between 1950 and 1970 and larger scale maps at 1:50,000 (L-7014) between 1965 and 1970. These are standard topographic maps that also show roads, villages, vegetation, bodies of water, and other geographical features. Each series contains hundreds of maps covering Vietnam. Some include a military mapping grid overprint that can be useful in pinpointing locations of military activities from reports that may have included military grid references for specific site locations. These maps do not show locations of military units, military activities, or sites of POW camps.

RG 373 Records of the Defense Intelligence Agency

VI.4 Records of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) include aerial photographic coverage of various parts of the world. Footage covering Vietnam for the period between 1957 and 1975 is currently being transferred to the National Archives. At the time of this writing the extent and quality of the areas of coverage is not known. Access to footage covering specific locations will require knowledge of the degree square of latitude and longitude. This information is needed to locate a pertinent film roll. Identification of specific imagery will require review of film covering a degree square. There are approximately 125 images on each 100 feet of film.

Note: Compiled by Charles E. Schamel. Published by the National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, DC, 1996.

Web version prepared 1999. Additions and changes incorporated in the Web version are between brackets [] and in italics.