Series consists of records accumulated and created by the Topographical Surveys Branch. These records include reports, laboratory records, registry files, photographs, survey reports and maps.
The 153 sectional maps [cartographic material] of Western Canada, six miles to one inch, old style contains base maps which show townships, ranges, trails, post offices, railway stations, etc. Base maps originally published by the Dept. of the Interior, Office of the Surveyor General, for departmental use, at the listed scale of one inch to six miles. The same maps, published at one inch to three miles would have been made available to the public. In 1919 the Dept. of the Interior decided to change the sectional maps series from a cadastral to a topographic series. The manuscript features on each map were used to convert from the old series to the new series by the addition of contours, buildings, roads, etc. The coloured lines indicate the lines of spirit levels that were surveyed ca. 1925. The numbers along the lines probably refer to the field notebooks of the surveyors. These old style maps with manuscript additions would then be reprinted as new style maps with subdued grid lines and with the edition statements removed.
The ca. 3,000 maps and 3 metres of textual map history records for the compilation and production of topographic sheets consist of map dockets which form the primary history record for the compilation and production of topographic sheets within the 1:125,000 and 1:250 000 scales. The map dockets contain a variety of mapping elements including: previous editions, compilation records, editing records, bench mark sheets, field work sheets, contract inspection reports, appraisal work sheets, etc. Map dockets for names manuscripts or toponomy matters for topographic mapping in the 1:25,000 and 1:50,000 scales are filed separately.
There are ca. 3,000 Surveys and Mapping Branch topographical maps compilation items. This material consists of plans, sketches, and information used in the compilation of topographical maps arranged by topographical survey grid number.
RG15M 73/18670 consists of survey information for parts of the Prairie Provinces on pre-printed compilation map sheets of a standard township. Surveyors plotted the information durng the winter from notes taken during the summer. Many maps show the names of surveyors responsible for the surveying of adjoining areas and the dates of these surveys. Some are replacement surveys.
RG15M 60/4195 consists of one volume entitled, "Report, experimental aerial survey of the City of Ottawa", by W.F. Lambart. Report is addressed to the Chairman of the Air Committee, Dept. of the Interior, dated 18 Nov. 1920. It includes reports by Capt. J.A. Glen, R.A.F., and Lieut. E.R. Own of the Air Board relative to the flying and photographic operations. The report is illustrated with sketches of cameras and their mountings. Appended to the report is a triangulation sketch based on a primary geodetic system and five aerial photos of bridges over the Rideau River and of Eastview.