1944 Rand McNally Pictorial Map of Military Bases Across the United States

Military Bases in the United States during World War II.

This 1944 Rand McNally map of the United States labels all the military installations in the continental United States. It captures part of the complete mobilization of American society to fight a global war.

A Closer Look

Coverage embraces the Untied States. Throughout, the map employs a system of symbols to differentiate between types of military posts.

• Airfields, bases, and stations are illustrated by small airplanes.
• Naval bases are indicated by an anchor inside a circle.
• Army camps, forts, and posts are marked by a square with a dot at its center.

Cities and towns are labeled throughout, and the rail network is illustrated. Several national parks appear, including Yellowstone and the Grand Canyon. The whole is surrounded by a series of military-inspired vignettes, including fighter aircraft, a Sherman tank, an anti-aircraft gun, a soldier with a bazooka, and a B-17 Flying Fortress (one of the most celebrated aircraft of the war) along the top border. In the lower right, illustrations of a battleship, an aircraft carrier, and a PT boat (like the one commanded by President John F. Kennedy) appear. A decorative title cartouche, including the legend, is situated in the lower left.

Verso Content

An alphabetic index of military posts throughout the United States occupies most of the verso. A series of American aircraft silhouettes is also included, along with a list of USO Clubs across the country.

Publication History and Census

This map was created and published by Rand McNally and Company of Chicago in 1944. An example is part of the David Rumsey Map Collection. It is well represented in institutional collections.

Cartographer

Rand, McNally and Co. (fl. 1856 - present) is an American publisher of maps, atlases and globes. The company was founded in 1856 when William H. Rand, a native of Quincy, Massachusetts, opened a print shop in Chicago. Rand hired the recent Irish immigrant Andrew McNally to assist in the shop giving him a wage of 9 USD per week. The duo landed several important contracts, including the Tribune's (later renamed the Chicago Tribune) printing operation. In 1872, Rand McNally produced its first map, a railroad guide, using a new cost effective printing technique known as wax process engraving. As Chicago developed as a railway hub, the Rand firm, now incorporated as Rand McNally, began producing a wide array of railroad maps and guides. Over time, the firm expanded into atlases, globes, educational material, and general literature. By embracing the wax engraving process, Rand McNally was able to dominate the map and atlas market, pushing more traditional American lithographic publishers like Colton, Johnson, and Mitchell out of business. Eventually Rand McNally opened an annex office in New York City headed by Caleb S. Hammond, whose name is today synonymous with maps and atlases, and who later started his own map company, C. S. Hammond & Co. Both firms remain in business.   Further Details...

Condition

Very good. Light wear along original fold lines. Text on verso.

References

Rumsey 6783.003. OCLC 953572862.