The series consists of ca. 2000 individual map sheets acquired by the Provincial Archives from various sources over time. They include both Federal and Provincial topographic maps, all created using the National Topographic System of Canada.
A topographic map is a two-dimensional representation of the Earth's three-dimensional landscape and is a detailed and accurate illustration of fabricated and natural features on the ground; including roads, railways, power transmission lines, contours, elevations, rivers, lakes and geographical names. The map legends have a listing of all features and their corresponding symbols. The map border will generally provide information about the map scale, year and edition of a map, as well as the land district and map sheet area numbers.
The NTS system, first used in 1926, divides all of Canada into a series of areas, defined by a combination of numbers and letters. On a key map, the first area is identified with a dark grey number. Within that number, the area is divided into 16 smaller areas defined by lighter grey lines. Each of these 16 areas is labelled with a light grey letter from A to P and represents the second element in an NTS map number for a 1:250 000 scale map.
Each lighter grey extent is further sub-divided into 16 areas defined by fine black lines, each labelled from 1 to 16. This is the final element in an NTS map number for a 1:50 000 scale map.
This series of NTS maps were individually registered by sheet and then each was given a call number that combined the scale with the NTS number element. The cardinal points and dates of publications may also form part of the call number. The range is as follows:
Scale 1:25 000 : CM/H1 92 B/5a to CM/H1 103 G/4f
Scale 1:50 000 : CM/H2 82 E/1 to CM/H2 116 C/10
Scale 1:100 000 : CM/H3 82 E/NE to CM/H3 103 P/SW
Scale 1:126 720 : CM/H4 82 E/NE to CM/H4 94 A/SW
Scale 1:250 000 : CM/H5 82 E to CM/H5 117 D
Scale 1:506 880 : CM/H6 74 NE to CM/H6 116 SW
To locate a particular map, use the index map attached to this record and the map card catalogue in the reference room.