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American Geographical Society Library

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American Geographical Society Library

The American Geographical Society Library (AGSL), one of the premier collections of its kind in North America, contains over 1.3 million items.

The American Geographical Society Library (AGSL), one of the premier collections of its kind in North America, contains over 1.3 million items supporting instruction, research and outreach at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and around the world. The collection contains maps, atlases, books periodicals, film media and digital data files. Its scope is worldwide with coverage from the 15th cent

ury to the present. Its resources have been used to produce an ongoing series of digital collections, including an award winning website on Afghanistan, a comprehensive site on world transportation and collections featuring unique photographic documentation of such places as Tibet, the Republic of Georgia, Korea and World War II Poland. The AGSL offers scholarly programs for the campus and local community throughout the year and welcomes visiting scholars from across the US and the world.

08/17/2026

New Map(s) Acquisition Alert! 🗺❗
This two-map set, titled The Cold at Inuit Nunangat by renowned cartographer Margaret Pearce depicts Inuit homelands in Canada, with one map, Protecting the Cold, showing the ways that native stewardship preserves the landscape, while the other map, Destroying the Cold depicts ways in which southerners interfere with and endanger Inuit self-determination and protection of the earth. We are so excited to have these maps join our collection - come on by to see them from 12pm-4:30pm Tues.-Friday. or by appoitment 9am-12pm!

08/12/2026

Today is World Elephant Day!🐘
In honor of these beautiful creatures and the people who work to protect them - the AGSL offers you some images from our digital collection that show how historically revered and continually cared for elephants are across the globe. ❤

Photo 1: Rose-Tu throwing sawdust at the Oregon Zoo, Portland, U.S.A, 2011, photograph by Dick Blau.
Photo 2: Elephant statue in Imperial Garden at Forbidden City in Beijing, China, 1973, from the Harrison Forman Collection.
Photo 3: Elephant lifting Western woman in Kandy, Sri Lanka, 1950s, from the Harrison Forman Collection.
Photo 4: Charging elephant, central Africa, from the Harrison Forman Collection.
Photo 5: Woman standing below stone elephant on Spirit Way leading to Ming Tombs, Changping, China, between 1900 and 1940, from the Frederick G. Clapp Collection.
Photo 6: Family elephants at edge of Nile River Uganda, Africa, from the Harrison Forman Collection.
Photo 7: Elephant sculpture at J*p Mandir in Udaipur, India, 1950s, from the Harrison Forman Collection.
Photo 8: Men watching animal trainer with elephant, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Africa, 1957, from the Clarence W. Sorensen Collection
Photo 9: Rama blows at the Oregon Zoo, Portland, U.S.A, 2011, photograph by Dick Blau.
Photo 10: Carved stone elephant in Māmallapuram, India, 1960s, from the Harrison Forman Collection.

🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘

🐘

08/08/2026

Happy International Cat Day from the AGSL!!🐈
In honor of the 24th annual holiday we bring you pictures of cats (and their human companions) from around the world, celebrating these special creatures and the variety of ways we have cared for our feline friends across space and time 😽

Photo 1: Miner sitting at table feeding cat in home in Aberdare, Wales, between 1937 and 1969, from the Clarence W. Sorensen Collection.
Photo 2: Cat sitting on edge of container in shop, J*pan, not after 1965, from the Clarence W. Sorensen Collection.
Photo 3: Young girl feeds a bottle to kittens in a hat, Manilla, Philippines, 1930, from the Robert Larimore Pendelton Collection.
Photo 4: Cat sitting in door window in Arraiolos, Portugal, between 1937 and 1969, from the Eugene V. Harris Collection.
Photo 5: Girl with kitten at Krone Ranch in Augusta, Montana, U.S.A., between 1934 and 1969, from the Clarence W. Sorensen Collection.
Photo 6: Two children on doorstep with cat, Chile, between 1937 and 1969, from the Clarence W. Sorensen Collection.
Photo 7: Cat sitting on lap of statue of Kōbō Daishi, J*pan, ca.1950s from the Harrison Forman Collection.
Photo 8: Girl with kittens in barn in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, U.S.A., between 1934 and 1969, from the Clarence W. Sorensen Collection.
Photo 9: Woman at general store in Tepoztlán, Mexico, between 1937 and 1969, from the Eugene V. Harris Collection.
Photo 10: Girl holding cat on farm in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, U.S.A., between 1934 and 1969, from the Clarence W. Sorensen Collection.

🐱 😻 🐱❤️

07/30/2026

Happy Throwback Thursday from the AGSL! 📖🐾
In anticipation of International Cat Day next week, today we are highlighting what is affectionately referred to as our Catlas: a 1573 world atlas featuring ink footprints from a feline friend from over 450 years ago!

07/23/2026

Happy Throwback Thursday from the AGSL! 🗺📍
Today we offer you some slides from PowerPoint presentations from 2005 & 2010 made by our Cartographic Materials Cataloging Librarian, Angie Copeland -- enjoy! ✨

07/17/2026

Happy Photo Friday 💃
This week we're highlighting photos from our collection that depict music and dance traditions from around the world- enjoy! ✨

Photo 1: Zulu dancers in Johannesburg, South Africa, from the Harrison Forman Collection.
Photo 2: Costumed dancers performing fan dance, South Korea, not after 1972, from the Harrison Forman Collection.
Photo 3: Iñupiat people performing dance at event in Utqiaġvik, Alaska, 1959, from the Clarence W. Sorensen Collection.
Photo 4: Group singing and dancing the Fandango, Spain, from the Harrison Forman Collection.
Photo 5: Costumed dancers performing in former Yugoslavia, from the Harrison Forman Collection.
Photo 6: Performers and spectators in downtown Marrakesh plaza, Morocco, between 1934 and 1969, from the Clarence W. Sorensen Collection.
Photo 7: People dancing at dance hall, Ireland, 1960s or 1970s, from the Harrison Foreman Collection.
Photo 8: Men and women performing Nyau tribal dance, Zambia, from the Harrison Forman Collection.
Photo 9: Musicians at Pato event, Argentina, 1954, from the Harrison Forman Collection.
Photo 10: Dancers performing Dance of the Moors and Christians, Guatamala, 1972, from the Harrison Forman Collection.

07/10/2026

Happy Photo Friday! 🥳
This week we're highlighting the eight countries who made it to the World Cup Quarter-Finals: Norway, France, Morocco, Spain, England, Belgium, Argentina, and Switzerland! Who are you rooting for?⚽

Photo 1: Waterfront in Bergen, Norway, ca. 1960s or 1970s, from the Harrison Forman Collection.
Photo 2: View of Eiffel Tower towards the École Militaire in Paris, France, between 1957 and 1962, from the Clarence W. Sorensen Collection.
Photo 3: View of Chefchaouen in Rif Mountains, Morocco, 1972, from the Harrison Forman Collection.
Photo 4: Group of men sitting at Tourdoor café reading newspapers in Madrid, Spain, between 1934 and 1969, from the Clarence W. Sorensen Collection.
Photo 5: Oxford Street scene in London, England, 1960, from the Harold Mayer collection.
Photo 6: View of Bruges and tower of Church of Our Lady, Belgium, between 1934 and 1969, from the Clarence W. Sorensen Collection.
Photo 7: Ranchers with large flock of sheep, Argentina, 1960, from the Harrison Forman Collection.
Photo 8: Man with boys resting on hill with view of mountains in Grindelwald, Switzerland, between 1937 and 1969, from the Clarence W. Sorensen Collection.

07/04/2026

Happy semiquincentennial 4th of July! 🎉 In celebration of the USA, enjoy this round up of people working hard and having fun around the country.

1: Man with lasso herding cattle in Alpine, Texas
2: Fishermen working with fish on boat in Gloucester, Massachusetts
3: Woman working in assembly line at gasket factory in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin
4: Shepherd's assistant watching spare horse near pond in Montana
5: Lumberjack moving logs on water in Olympia, Washington
6: Children with canoe on shore in Utqiaġvik, Alaska
7: Boy on tractor in Billings, Montana
8: Farmers harvesting lettuce in Phoenix, Arizona
9: Girls knitting at table during recess in Big Sur, California
10: Woman working with sewing machine at textile plant in Sunbury, Pennsylvania

07/03/2026

Happy (almost) 4th of July Weekend!🎆🎆🎆
In commemoration of the United States Semiquincentennial, the AGSL pop-up exhibit featuring a selection of national and regional maps and atlases depicting the vibrant and complex places and peoples of America is on display from now until the end of the month. Come on by to see it Tuesday-Friday 12pm-4:30pm, or make an appointment to come in 9am-12pm and in the meantime, have a safe holiday weekend! ♥

07/02/2026

We here at the AGSL are delighted to announce that Georgia Brown has been appointed the new head of the American Geographical Society Library! 💐💐💐
Starting her journey as a graduate intern at the AGSL in 2018, Georgia then served as the public services librarian beginning in 2020 and has been the interim head of the AGSL since October 2025. Hailing from Tennessee, where she received an Bachelor's in history, Georgia is a proud panther alum, having received a Master of Library and Information Science, as well as a Master of Arts in History from UWM in 2020.
Georgia brings with her a variety of academic and professional recognitions, an impressive track record of subject matter expertise, exceptional user services, experience with the media, and scholarship and professional service as well as extensive involvement in the cartographic community.
Georgia has been an invaluable part of the AGSL for the past eight years and we are so lucky to have her as the head of our collections and staff. Congratulations Georgia!! 💖

Address

2311 E Hartford Avenue
Milwaukee, WI
53211

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 4:30pm
Tuesday	9am - 4:30pm
Wednesday	9am - 4:30pm
Thursday	9am - 4:30pm
Friday	9am - 4:30pm

Telephone

+14142296282

Website

https://uwm.edu/libraries/AGSL/

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