Chester Library Map Collection
Chester Library Map Collection, 1860-1970
Collection Number:
M1CHS060000US
Finding Aid Publication Date: Published in 2012. Updated in 2017. ©Copyright Chester Public Library
Descriptive Summary
Title: Chester Library Map Collection
Creator: Chester Library
Dates: 1860-1970, bulk 1943-1969
Extent: 11 linear feet, including 1 wall map, 8 maps of varied sizes stored in an adjustable tube, and 6 maps in an oversized box
Abstract:
The Chester Library Map Collection contains a variety of different maps. The collection comprises a small set of local cave maps, topographic maps of the Chester Quadrangle, several zoning maps of the Borough and Township, a Morris County map, and a wall-sized topographical map of New Jersey. Created by the New Jersey Bureau of Geology and Topography, the cave maps span 1959-1969. The Chester Quadrangle maps were produced by the United States Department of Interior Geological Survey, U.S. Department of the Army Corps of Engineers in 1943-1970. The zoning maps, containing local ordinances, were created in the 1950s. The Morris County map is from 1957. The New Jersey map was published in 1860 by H.G. Bond from the Geological Survey of New Jersey.
Language: English
Repository:
Local History Department
Chester Library
250 W. Main Street
Chester, NJ 07930
Phone: (908) 879-7612
Fax: (908) 879-8695
Email: LocalHistory@chesterlib.org
http://www.chesterlib.org/
Administrative Information
Conditions Governing Use:
This collection is open for research.
Physical Access:
The 1860 Topographical Map of the State of New Jersey is located on the wall to the left of Group Study Room A. The other maps are available for research.
Technical Access:
The cave maps and the Chester Quadrangle map have been digitized and are now available via the New Jersey Digital Highway and the Local History search portal (click “Browse by Genre, then select “Maps” to see the collection). The Topographical Map of the State of New Jersey has its own information page with a link to a digital version of the map at this link: NJ Topographical Map.
Conditions Governing Reproduction:
These materials are in the public domain.
All requests to reproduce, publish, quote from, or otherwise use collection materials must be submitted in writing to the Local History Librarian, Chester Public Library, 250 W. Main Street, Chester, NJ 07930.
Preferred Citation:
[Identification of item], Chester Library Map Collection, Chester, New Jersey.
Collection Processed By: Debra Schiff, Local History Librarian in 2011 and in 2017
Finding Aid Author: Debra Schiff, Local History Librarian
Description Control: Description based on DACS.
The Chester Public Library opened its doors on Labor Day, September 4, 1911, in rented space above the J.W. Arrowsmith metal shoe-support factory on the corner of Main and Warren Streets. The Library has been relocated several times over the years. In 1922, it moved from the factory to the former Chester Institute at what is now 125 East Main Street. In 1957, it moved into the rear room of the general store at 107 Main Street (corner of Hillside Avenue). For many years the Chester Post Office was located in the front of this building. In 1964, the library moved again, this time into a Quonset hut adjacent to the Borough Municipal building, where it stayed until the present building was occupied in 1981.
According to former Chester Public Library Director Susan Persak, the 1860 Topographical Map of the State of New Jersey originally hung on a wall in the Chester Public Library when the library was in the Quonset hut. From 1981 until its rediscovery in 2011, it had been in rolled storage. The cave maps and Chester Quadrangle topographical maps had been stored folded in a file drawer, also for many years prior to 2011, before being opened for local reference purposes.
The zoning maps, the Operational Survival Plan map, and the Map of Morris County previously belonged to Margaret J. Robinson and were donated by her estate.
The Chester Library Map Collection comprises a set of 7 black and white cave maps, a topographical map of Chester, and a wall-sized topographical map of New Jersey. Originally published by the New Jersey Bureau of Geology and Topography as an enclosure with Bulletin 70 in 1976, the cave maps span 1959-1969. The cave maps cover the counties of Hunterdon, Morris, Somerset, Sussex, and Warren. Each was drafted by John Kremper.
The Chester Quadrangle topographic map is a color map originally plotted in 1954 and later photorevised in 1970. Produced by the United States Department of Interior Geological Survey, U.S. Department of the Army Corps of Engineers, the map is part of the 7.5 Minute Series. It covers the territory bordered by Budd Lake and Succasunna Plains on the northern ends and Hacklebarney State Park to Pleasant Valley on the southern ends. The Black River Wildlife Management Area is at the center of the map.
The 1860 Topographical Map of New Jersey is hand-painted, with many illustrations of major cities and areas inset in the margins. The area covered also includes the shared coastline with New York, as well as borders with Delaware and Pennsylvania.
The 9 original maps in this collection were collected and used primarily as reference materials. They are all paper-based materials.
In 2017, the collection expanded by 6 maps thanks to a donation by the estate of Margaret J. Robinson. Those maps include two zoning maps of Chester Township (1953-1954), the first edition (1943) of the Chester Quadrangle map, Chester Boro & Township Operational Survival Plan map (1959), Zoning Map of the Borough of Chester (1957), and a Map of Morris County (1957). The zoning maps include local ordinances. The Morris County map names major roads and their distances, county officers, photos, historical data, and more.
This collection is organized into four series according to type of map: 1. Caves, 2. Topographic Maps, 3. Zoning Maps, 4. County and State. The collection is arranged chronologically within each series.
Corporate Names/Organizations Subject:
Bond, H.G.
New Jersey. Bureau of Geology and Topography
New Jersey. Bureau of Geology and Topography. Bulletin
New Jersey. Bureau of Geology and Topography. Bulletin, geologic series
New Jersey. New Jersey Geological Survey
Subjects:
Cave mapping
Caves.
Caves–1960-1970.
Caves—Maps
Hunterdon County (N.J.)–Maps.
Map.
Map collections–New Jersey.
Morris County (N.J.)–History.
Morris County (N.J.)–History, Local.
Morris County (N.J.)–Maps.
Somerset County (N.J.)–Maps.
Topgraphic maps.
Topographic maps–1850-1860.
Topographic maps—1860-1870.
Topographic maps–Hand-colored–1860-1870.
Topographic maps–Hand-colored–1860-1880.
Topographical maps–1860-1880.
Topography.
Warren County (N.J.)–Maps.
Zoning maps.
People:
Hopkins, G. Morgan
Kremper, John
Places:
Chester (N.J.)
Hunterdon County (N.J.)
Morris County (N.J.)
New Jersey.
Somerset County (N.J.)
Sussex County (N.J.)
Warren County (N.J.)
Genre Terms:
Cartography.
Cartography–New Jersey.
The set includes a Cave Location Map, which lists 142 caves in the following counties: Hunterdon, Morris, Somerset, Sussex, and Warren; Lake Mohawk Cave Map, surveyed in 1960 by Kittatinny Grotto and Northern New Jersey Grotto; Swimming Pool Cave Map; Fasalo’s Cave Map, surveyed in 1960 by Northern New Jersey Grotto; Devil’s Den Map, surveyed in 1960 by Metropolitan Grotto; Leigh Cave Map, surveyed in 1960 by Kittatinny Grotto and Northern New Jersey Grotto; and Breathing Cave System Map, surveyed in 1959-1960, 1965-1969 by Kittatinny Grotto and Northern New Jersey Grotto.
The 1860 Topographical Map of New Jersey features many illustrations including vignettes representing Camden, Delaware Water Gap, New Brunswick, Newark, Paterson, and Trenton. Along with mapped segments of New Jersey’s borders with New York and Pennsylvania, as well as the coastline, there are street map insets of the following towns and cities: Belvidere, Beverly, Bordentown, Burlington, Camden, Elizabeth, Jersey City/Hoboken, Morristown, Mount Holly, New Brunswick, New Jersey, Newark, Newton, Orange, Paterson, Rahway, Salem, and Trenton. Another inset is a meteorological map of the state. This map within a map shows the average mean temperature and depth of rain across different sections of the state. The overall map also features a Time Dial showing the time in select cities when it is 12:00 in Trenton. The time dial is of particular interest to researchers exploring time measurement prior to the introduction of Standard Time in 1883.
The Chester Quadrangle topographic map is printed in color. The map was originally plotted in 1954 and later photorevised in 1970. It was produced by the United States Department of Interior Geological Survey, U.S. Department of the Army Corps of Engineers, as part of the 7.5 Minute Series. It covers the territory bordered by Budd Lake and Succasunna Plains on the northern ends and Hacklebarney State Park to Pleasant Valley on the southern ends. The Black River Wildlife Management Area is at the center of the map.
The Zoning Maps series contains two maps of Chester Township (1953-1954), one map of Chester Borough (1957), and an Operational Survival Plan (1959) for both municipalities. The plan shows populations in each section of the map. The zoning maps each show local ordinances; in fact, the ordinances comprise the lion’s share of the maps’ content.
The 1957 Map of Morris County contains many black and white photographs of relevant locations, major road names and their distances, county officers, historical data, and more.Table of Contents
Container Lists
Tube 1, Cave Maps and Topographic Maps, 1860, 1954-1970
The cave maps and the Chester Quadrangle map are housed in an inert polyethylene tube. The 1860 New Jersey map is hung, framed, to the left of Group Study Room A.
| Tube | Series | Title | Date |
| 1 | 1 | Cave Location Map, Atlas Sheet Number 40 | Undated |
| 1 | Swimming Pool Cave | Undated | |
| 1 | Fasalo’s Cave | 1960 | |
| 1 | Devil’s Den | 1960 | |
| 1 | Lake Mohawk Cave | 1960 | |
| 1 | Leigh Cave | 1960 | |
| 1 | Breathing Cave System | 1959-1960, 1965-1969 | |
| 2 | Chester Quadrangle | 1954, 1970 | |
| On wall | 2 | Topographical Map of the State of New Jersey | 1860 |
Box 1, Zoning Maps and County Maps, 1943-1959
The cave maps and the Chester Quadrangle map are housed in an inert polyethylene tube. The 1860 New Jersey map is hung, framed, to the left of Group Study Room A.
| Box | Description | Dates |
| 1 | Zoning Map of the Township of Chester | 1953 |
| New Jersey, Chester Quadrangle, Morris County, Grid Zone A | 1943 | |
| Chester Boro & Township Operational Survival Plan | 1959 | |
| Zoning Map of the Township of Chester | 1954 | |
| Zoning Map of the Borough of Chester | 1957 | |
| Map of Morris County | 1957 |
