Scope and Content Note
The collection consists of 477 maps from World War I created by American and French forces that show trenches and related military information in France and Belgium. The French generally created the base maps and added military intelligence. American mapmakers typically used existing French base maps and plotted military intelligence. Some sheets are stamped G-2-C, indicating that the U.S. Army printed the map.
The maps are scaled at 1:20,000, and this scale was typically used to coordinate artillery fire. Data taken from aerial photography ("tranchées d'après photos ... ") and observation ("Schématique d'apres renseignements"). Some maps are in color and are sized at 100 x 100 cm or smaller. Relief shown by contours and spot heights. In upper left or right margin of some sheets: Groupe des canevas de tir; Canevas de tir; Plan directeur.
On some sheets "Secret" is stamped and such sheets often show both Allied and German trenches and military information. These maps were considered highly sensitive and were rarely carried in the field. Some sheets include index to adjoining sheets and boundary diagram. Trenches and other military positions are illustrated in red, blue or both.
Some maps were reprinted after the war for the purpose of studying military science.
Some maps are from the Charles Pelot Summerall map collection and are stamped as such.
An index map is stored with the collection. Features that are unique to a map are noted in the contents list.