Committee on a National Atlas of the United States

Summary

This paper reports on the establishment of the Committee on a National Atlas under the Earth Sciences Division of the Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences, formally announced on December 17, 1954. The purpose was to create a dedicated body tasked with investigating the feasibility and methodology for producing a comprehensive national atlas of the United States, drawing inspiration from similar atlases in France and the forthcoming atlas of Canada. The committee comprised representatives from key federal agencies and geographical societies, including the Agricultural Research Service, Army Map Service, Bureau of the Census, Forest Service, Archives, Library of Congress, American Geographical Society, Soil Conservation Service, Air Force Aeronautical Chart and Information Service, Office of Naval Research, Geological Survey, and Weather Bureau. This interdisciplinary membership was designed to integrate diverse geographic, cartographic, and statistical expertise. The committee's work built upon earlier investigations by committees of the Association of American Geographers and the American Geographical Society, which had already examined the problem and concluded that a loose-leaf atlas format represented the only viable approach at the time, given the dynamic nature of geographic data and the need for periodic updates. The establishment of this committee signifies a coordinated national effort to advance geographic knowledge and cartographic representation of the United States. Key findings underscored the necessity of cross-agency collaboration and the adoption of a flexible, updatable atlas structure. The conclusion highlights the strategic importance of such an atlas for government, research, and public use, setting the stage for future developments in national mapping initiatives.