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Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission
Bureau of Archives and History
Pennsylvania State Archives
Links to digital copies of the Melish-Whiteside maps are listed below. Based
upon actual county surveys, they were the first official set of county maps
produced for the Commonwealth, and include information such as township lines,
municipality names, geographic features, and roads and distances. Additional
data on some of the maps includes post offices, factories, mills, mines, furnaces,
forges, houses, churches, academies, and taverns. The names of property owners
for certain taverns, dwellings, furnaces, and mills are also present on a number
of the maps.
The maps were the result of the work of John Melish, a geographer, traveler,
and entrepeneur who convinced the Pennsylvania legislature to fund this ambitious
cartographic project. Under enabling legislation passed on March 19, 1816, a
number of deputy surveyors spread out across the Commonwealth. Over the ensuing
years, these surveyors would produce maps for each county, which could then
be assembled into a full and accurate map of the state. The deputy surveyors
handed over their completed maps to the surveyor general, who in turn sent the
maps to Melish for copying and engraving. But before these maps were delivered,
a clerk made an office copy of the original. The first clerk to execute these
copies was named John Whiteside, and since his signature appears on these versions,
they have become known as the “Whiteside Maps” (several copies were
also rendered by a Dan Small). Melish submitted his completed Pennsylvania map
to the legislature in March 1822, which overwhelmingly approved his work, claiming
the map was “an exquisite specimen of graphic skill,” and well worth
the $29,276.75 spent on the project.
The maps, as stated above, provide the researcher with a wealth of information
on early settlements, industries, transportation networks, and dwellings. These
are some of the earliest Pennsylvania county maps in existence, and in addition
to their utility, have been very accurately and attractively rendered.
Please note: The map listed below for Dauphin and Lebanon Counties is actually
housed in Manuscript Group 11, but has been included here because it is part
of the group of maps created by Melish through the March 19, 1816 legislation.
It is NOT a part of Record Group 17.
For easier navigation and zooming/reducing once a map has been opened, follow
these instructions:
Digital copies of the Melish-Whitesides are available for all maps, and incur
a $5.00 per map charge, plus a $10.00 per-order set-up fee. Each order may also
be subject to use
fees. Patrons will receive a locked PDF version of the file (no image manipulation
or printing allowed) unless the use fees form has been completed, in which case
either an unlocked PDF, JPEG, or TIFF file will be provided. To access the form,
follow the preceeding “use fees” link.
For digital file delivery, electronic files under 10mb in size
can be emailed directly to patrons free of charge. Files greater than 10mb in
size may be either shipped on a compact disc (with a shipping/handling
fee based on the total cost of the order included) or placed an a specified
FTP site. All mail orders must be paid by check ONLY, with the check made payable
to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and sent to:
Pennsylvania State Archives
350 North Street
Harrisburg, PA 17120-0090
MELISH-WHITESIDE COUNTY MAPS
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| PA State Archives | Hours, Directions, & Fees | Research Topics | Finding Aids for Collections | Land Records |