The Chicago Map Society, established in 1976, is the oldest map society in North America. The Society supports and promotes our belief that maps and mapping are fundamental to human communication and social relations, our knowledge of the world around us, our appreciation of global history, and our understanding of the diversity of human culture and cultural expression. In pursuit of this mission, the society encourages and promotes the study, use, preservation, and appreciation of maps, map history, and mapping in all its forms from ancient times to the present day though a variety of activities. Its public and educational programs include a regular monthly series of public lectures and gatherings usually held at Chicago’s Newberry Library and occasional field trips featuring mapmakers, mapmaking, and map collections. The society also fulfills its mission through occasional publication projects and support of organizations and programs dedicated to research, education, and publication in map history, both locally and worldwide. Within this programmatic scope, the society welcomes the discussion of mapping and map history from a broad range of perspectives, provided that they are offered in a spirit of collegiality and with decorum.

Information on our future meetings can be found under Upcoming Events; please visit the Meeting Archives for descriptions of our past meetings. You may learn more about our header image here.