Maps can be used for a variety of reasons. They can show the distribution of people in an area or learn about the history of events. The WIU Libraries' map collection, on the 4th Floor of Malpass Library, contains maps of the entire United States, Illinois and other areas of the World. Many of the maps showing other areas of the World were made available through the Federal Depository Library Program and other map deposit arrangements. Some were obtained by former map librarians who participated in summer programs at the Library of Congress.
This guide contains bibliographic information about the maps shown in a talk on World War II-era maps in the WIU Libraries' map collection. Some of the items are somewhat unusual. They provide insight into events during the War and how maps were or could have been used. Some of the maps were probably used by people to identify places that they had heard of in the news. For more information about these maps and other maps in the collection, please contact Linda Zellmer.
