1950 Brook Pictorial Map of Yale University

This is a 1950 Herbert Brook and Max Revenson pictorial map of Yale University. The map humorously highlights Yale's student life, secret societies, traditions (tap night), and sports. There is also a bit of mystery surrounding it, as while the copyright recognizes Herbert Brook, the map is signed by Maxwell Revenson.

A Closer Look

The map depicts Yale's campus from Chapel Street to the Grove Street Cemetery and Park Street to Temple Street. Specific colleges are identified: Pierson College, Davenport College, Branford College, Saybrook College, Trumbull College, Berkeley College, Silliman College, Timothy Dwight College, and Calhoun College. Each with its coat of arms. Numerous other buildings are illustrated 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, including Wolf's Head, Skull and Bones, Scroll and Key, and Book and Snake, also appear. An air of camaraderie is evident, thanks partly to the many vignettes of student life: attending class, playing sports at Payne Whitney Gym, listening to the Wiffenpoofs (Yale's men's a cappella group), and relaxing. Vignettes along the border illustrate Yale's sports teams.

Census and Publication History

There is a mystery surrounding this map. According to the US copyright record, this map was registered on April 28, 1950, as 'by Herbert Brook' but is signed by Max Revenson (also recorded in the copyright). Why this occurred is unknown. It was published by the College Map Company, which is also elusive. The College Map Company was likely formed exclusively for this map, as it is connected with no other publications. This map is quite rare. We have been unable to locate institutional holdings and know of just 3 in private hands.