[Research Guidance: Philippines - Research Outline] Research Guidance Version Of Data : 6/9/2001

Table of Contents
Introduction
Helps For Using This Research Outline
     References To The Family History Library Catalog
     References To Other Family History Library Publications
     Map Of The Philippines
Records At The Family History Library
The Family History Library Catalog
Archives And Libraries
     Libraries In The Philippines
     Foreign Libraries
     Computer Networks And Bulletin Boards
Biography
Cemeteries
     Locating Cemeteries And Cemetery Records
Census
     Searching Census Records
Church Records
Civil Registration
Court Records
     The Court System
Emigration And Immigration
     Spanish Emigration Records
     Foreign Travel And Foreign Service Records
     Filipino Immigration To The United States
Gazetteers
     Modern Place-names
     Historical Place-names
     County Origins And Boundary Changes
Genealogy
     Major Collections And Databases
     Family Histories
     Printed Compilations
     Manuscript Collections
History
     Philippine History
     Local Histories
Land And Property
Language And Languages
Maps
     Finding The Town On A Map
     Atlases
Military Records
     Spanish Colonization Period Military Records
     Modern Records
Minorities
     Chinese
     Spaniards
     Americans
     Muslims
     Native Minorities
Names, Personal
     Given Names
Notarial Records
Probate Records
Other Records
For Further Reading
     Basic Research Strategies
     Important References
     Bibliographies
Comments And Suggestions

MAPS

Maps help you find the places where your ancestors lived. They identify political boundaries, names of places, geographical features, cemeteries, churches, and migration routes. Historical maps are useful for finding communities that no longer exist or that have been incorporated into surrounding urban areas.

In Philippine research, some maps may not clearly indicate political boundaries or give the historical information you need. Often there are several places with the same name. Today, for example, five localities in the Philippines have the name Viga. Make sure you have the correct locality before proceeding with your research.

Finding the Town on a Map

For successful research, you need to know the town where your ancestor lived. Because many towns have the same name, you may need some information about the town. Before using a map, you may search gazetteers, histories, family records, and other sources to learn all you can about:

The province your ancestor’s town was in.

The province your ancestor came from.

The name of the parish where your ancestor was baptized or married.

The towns where other relatives and ancestors lived.

Your ancestor’s occupation (this may indicate the size or industries of the town).

Nearby localities, such as large cities.

Nearby features, such as rivers and mountains.

Industries in the area.

Other names the town was known by.

Gazetteers, maps, and information about the place (such as the size of nearby features and cities) can often enable you to identify the political district or county your ancestors came from. See also the “Gazetteers” section of this outline

The Philippine Bureau of Coast and Geodetic Survey has an excellent collection and is the nation’s primary producer of maps. Its publications are indexed in:

Philippines (Republic). Bureau of Coast and Geodetic Survey. Topographical Maps, Nautical and Aeronautical Charts and Technical Publications. Manila: N.p.

The Philippine National Library has a good collection of historical and modern maps. These are indexed in:

Maloles, Leticia R., ed. A Guide to the Map Collection of the Filipiniana Division. Manila: Bibliography Division, National Library, 1971. TNL Research Guide Series no. 1.

The U.S. Library of Congress also has a sizeable collection of historical Philippine maps, which is analyzed in:

Phillips, Lee P. “A List of Maps, Charts, and Views of the Philippine Islands in the Library of Congress,” Bibliography of the Philippine Islands. Washington D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1903, published as Senate Doc. no. 74.

Excellent up-to-date maps are available at the U.S. Army Topographical Command. The following sources describe maps:

Map Deposit Catalog. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Army Topographic Command, 1970 edition.

Foreign Maps. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of the Army, 1963. IV. The Philippines: pp 146–149 TM5–248.

Atlases

An atlas is a bound collection of maps. It may contain historical information for provinces or municipalities. Most public and university libraries and many historical societies have good maps and atlases, such as:

Hendry, Robert S., ed. Atlas of the Philippines. Manila: Phil-Asian Publishers, c1945. (FHL book 959.9 E7a; computer number 0344269.) Atlas of the Philippine Islands. (Original title: Atlas de Filipinas, colección de 30 mapas.) Photocopy of the original published: Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1900. (FHL book 959.9 E7ap; film 0599778 item 3; fiche 6072407; computer number 0345882.)

Some maps showing political, historical, and administrative divisions in the Philippines can be found on the Internet at:

www.geocities.com/Heartland/Ranch/9121/maps.html

The Family History Library also has a small collection of loose maps. See the Family History Library, Locality section, under:

PHILIPPINES - MAPS

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Version of Data: 6/9/2001]