Collection of Fire Insurance Plans and Fire Insurance Atlases

at the University of Toronto Libraries

 

Background

 

Fire Insurance plans and atlases are large-scale (high resolution) urban maps which grew out of the need of fire insurance underwriters to understand the physical characteristics of a structure to be insured.  These maps show with detail colour drawings and symbols, the character of the outside and inside construction of buildings, passages, probable fire cut-offs, fire walls, openings in walls, height and occupancy or use of individual buildings or groups of buildings. Street widths, street addresses, property lines, water pipes or mains, fire hydrants and fire alarm boxes are also located on the maps. (See the bibliography below for items with more extensive descriptions of Fire Insurance Plans and Atlases)

 

Example of a 1910 Toronto Fire Insurance Plan:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Indexes                                                                                                               

 

Geographic Indexes to our collection of Fire Insurance Atlases and Plans can be found in the Data, Map, and Government Information Services in the Robarts Library on the 5th floor.

 

Canadian Cities and Towns

mfe 3524 T 61 G475 (1) – 1 1904 – 1952 Volumes 1 – 13

 

London

mfe 3401 G475 1875-1959

 

Toronto

mfe 3524 T 6 G 475 1 (1952-1973) Volumes 1, 4-7, 9-21

 

Winnipeg

mfe 3401 G475 1878-1959