1950 Brook Pictorial Map of Yale University

A charming and incredibly rare pictorial map of Yale University that even highlights the school's secret societies.

This is a 1950 Herbert Brook pictorial map of Yale University. The map depicts Yale's campus from Sheffield Square and the Grove Street Cemetery and from Park Street to Temple Street. Specific colleges are identified all over campus, including Pierson College, Davenport College, Branford College, Saybrook College, Trumbull College, Berkeley College, Silliman College, Timothy Dwight College, and Calhoun College. Each of these colleges is also illustrated by its coat of arms. Numerous other buildings throughout campus are illustrated in profile and labeled, including Sterling Law School, the Graduate School, Sterling Memorial Library, the Engineering school, and the School of Fine Arts. Halls, chapels, and fraternities are also noted. Yale's mysterious yet famous secret societies also appear, including Wolf's Head, Skull and Bones, Scroll and Key, and Book and Snake. An air of comradery is evident, thanks in part to the many vignettes of students going about their daily lives: attending class, playing sports at Payne Whitney Gym, listening to the Wiffenpoofs, Yale's men's acapella group, and relaxing. Vignettes are placed along the border illustrating Yale's football team playing on Walter Camp Field, Yale's track team, polo team, tennis, golf, ice hockey, crew, and baseball.

Census and Publication History

This map was created by Herbert Brooks but signed by Max Revenson, purportedly of Yale Class of 1951, and published by the College Map Company. This map is quite rare, as we have been unable to locate any other examples in institutional collections or private hands.

Condition

Very good. Even overall toning. Some soiling. Blank on verso.