American Geographical Society Library
The American Geographical Society Library (AGSL) was established in 1978 when the research collections of the American Geographical Society (AGS) moved, and ownership was transferred, to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. From the late nineteenth into the mid-twentieth centuries, the AGS led the nation in the collection and distribution of geographic information through involvement in important events in history, from assisting with the United States’ effort to prepare for and participate in the Paris Peace Conference at the end of World War I to leading an effort to map the world at the 1:1,000,000 scale.
By the middle of the twentieth century, the AGS had compiled a cartographic collection that held items such as maps, atlases, globes, a library with an internationally focused monograph and serial collection, and a burgeoning photograph and film negative collection. Following World War II, these collections comprised more than 500,000 items. The collections have thrived at UWM and today, the AGSL consists of nearly 2 million items including maps, atlases, globes, photographs, monographs, serials, and digital geospatial data.
Upcoming events
- One of the American Geographical Society Library’s most cherished holdings, the 1452 mappamundi by Giovanni Leardo, is undergoing multi-spectral imaging this winter. Join us for a series of events, starting with a talk by AGSL curator Marcy Bidney on Wednesday, February 19, followed by a talk by the imaging team on Wednesday, March 12.
Visiting Italy’s Leardo Mappamundi – Join us at 3 pm on Wednesday, February 19 to hear about Marcy’s travels to Italy to see the other Leardo mappamundi.
As part of the multi-spectral imaging team visit, we will be hosting another lecture on Wednesday, March 12, time TBD. This lecture will go more in depth about the Leardo mappamundi and the process of multispectral imaging.
If you would like to help support the AGSL’s preservation efforts, you can donate here. Just choose “other funds” under designations and search or scroll to find the AGSL. - April 24, 2025 – The speakers this year are Ian Spangler, Assistant Curator of Digital and Participatory Geography and Emily Bowe, Assistant Director both of the Norman B. Leventhal Map & Education Center at the Boston Public Library. The title of their talk is “Processing Place: How Computers and Cartographer Redrew our World.” The reception begins at 5:30pm and the lecture begins at 6 pm.
Visit our events page for the latest news!
Follow us on social media
Hours
Mon-Fri: 9am – 4:30pm
Address
UWM Golda Meir Library
Third Floor East Wing
2311 E Hartford Ave.
Milwaukee WI 53211
Contact
(414) 229-6282
agsl@uwm.edu
gisdata@uwm.edu