Post-colonial map collection of the Royal Tropical Institute (KIT)
Scope and Contents
The post-colonial map collection of the Royal Tropical Institute largely consists of modern topographical and thematical maps and town plans of developing countries, i.e. countries in Latin America, Africa and Asia.
The core of the collection is formed by twentieth century topographical map series of Latin American, African and Asian countries, normally on a scale of 1:250,000 but, especially for smaller countries, on larger scales as well. Many of these series don’t cover the complete territory of a country. The map series weren’t always finished at the time they were collected.
Next to these topographical map series are smaller scale series of maps that cover larger regions or (parts of) continents. Apart from general maps and topographical map series, the collection contains various thematical maps and map series, among which geological, hydrographical, agricultural, meteorological, demographical, ethnological, linguisitcal, infrastructural and touristical maps, as well as town plans, national atlases and world maps.
Geographically, about 35% of the collection concerns maps of countries in Africa, 35% Asia and 20% Latin America. The other 10% of the collection contain maps of the world, Europe, Australia, Oceania, the oceans, seas, poles and heavens.
Dates
- 1793-2005
- Bulk 1950-2000
Creator
- Koninklijk Instituut voor de Tropen (Organization)
Conditions Governing Access
Because the collection largely contains modern cartographic material, most maps are not free of copyrights. Therefore, digital images are not made available in Digital Collections.
Conditions Governing Use
Regulations that apply for the use of these materials can be found on the website of Leiden University Library.
Biographical / Historical
The Royal Tropical Institute (KIT) in Amsterdam is an independent center of knowledge and expertise in the areas of international and intercultural cooperation. The history of the collection dates back to 1864 with the foundation in Haarlem of the Colonial Museum. Parts of the collection can be traced back to the Hollandsche Maatschappij van Wetenschappen (Dutch Society of Sciences), in particular to the department Koophandel en Colonies (Trade and Colonies), founded in 1777. In 1913 the collection was transferred to the Colonial Institute, founded in 1910 in Amsterdam. After the 1949 transfer of sovereignty to Indonesia the mission of the Royal Institute was altered and the name changed to Royal Tropical Institute. Since then, its library collected material relating to all tropical regions.
Extent
16,750 items (circa)
Language of Materials
No linguistic content; Not applicable
Abstract
De collectie post-koloniale kaarten van het Koninklijk Instituut voor de Tropen bevat grotendeels moderne topografische en thematische kaarten en stadsplattegronden van ontwikkelingslanden, dat wil zeggen landen in Latijns Amerika, Afrika en Azië.
Abstract
The post-colonial map collection of the Royal Tropical Institute largely consists of modern topographical and thematical maps and town plans of developing countries, i.e. countries in Latin America, Africa and Asia.
Physical Location
Leiden University Library, Special Collections
Immediate Source of Acquisition
After the library of the Royal Tropical Institute was closed down in 2013, its colonial heritage collection was housed at Leiden University Libraries, as a state loan. The modern post-colonial map collection, however, was transferred to Leiden University Libraries as a gift by the Royal Tropical Institute.
Accruals
No future additions are to be expected.
Bibliography
- Levi, P., 'Kaartencollecties in Nederland. Koninklijk Instituut voor de Tropen (KIT) in Amsterdam', in: Caert-Thresoor 31 (2012), 3: pp. 93-94.
- Storms, M., 'UB Leiden zet Azië op de kaart', in: Geo-Info 11 (2014), 2, pp. 34-37.
General
The collection is accessible via the online catalogue. It can be consulted in the Special Collections Reading Room.
Processing Information
The material kept its original shelfmark.
- Africa Subject Source: Tgn
- Asia Subject Source: Tgn
- Atlases Subject Source: Fast
- Atlases Subject Source: Aat
- Cartography Subject Source: Fast
- Maps Subject Source: Fast
- South America Subject Source: Tgn
- Topographic maps Subject Source: Fast
Source
- Koninklijk Instituut voor de Tropen (Organization)
Creator
- Koninklijk Instituut voor de Tropen (Organization)
- Title
- Collection guide of the post-colonial map collection of the Royal Tropical Institute (KIT) (1793-2005)
- Subtitle
- Collectie post-koloniale Kaarten van het Koninklijk Instituut voor de Tropen (KIT)
- Author
- Martijn Storms
- Date
- 2020
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Leiden University Libraries Archives & Collections Repository
Witte Singel 27
Leiden 2311 BG Netherlands
+31 71 527 2857
specialcollections@library.leidenuniv.nl