# Green Book Atlas (1937-1967) **TL;DR:** **Green Book Atlas** ([greenbookatlas.org](https://greenbookatlas.org)) contains Google Maps overlays, geocoded directory datasets, and page-level OCR transcriptions for all 24 surviving geocoded editions of *The Negro Motorist Green Book* / *Travelers' Green Book* (13,696 unique establishments across 68,330 edition listings, 1,734 OCR page pairs, and direct links to NYPL's 21 CC0 PDF volumes). Restrictively-licensed and non-public datasets are excluded (see [Excluded datasets](#excluded-datasets)). ## Included editions (24 editions, 13,696 unique sites / 68,330 listings) NB: No copy of the 1936 New York prototype edition is known to survive in any public archive, and publication was suspended from 1942 to 1945 during World War II. As such, 1937 is the earliest surviving edition and 1966-67 is the final edition. | Edition | Title | Geocoded sites | NYPL CC0 PDF (external) | OCR pages (`.txt`/`.hocr`) | Web map | KML overlay | GeoJSON | | :--- | :--- | ---: | :--- | ---: | :--- | :--- | :--- | | [`1937/`](1937/README.md) | *The Negro Motorist Green Book: 1937* | 86 | [`1937.pdf`](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/NYPL-publicdomain/greenbooks/master/1937.pdf) (4.6 MB) | 15 / 15 | [`map.html`](1937/map.html) | [`overlay.kml`](1937/overlay.kml) | [`overlay.geojson`](1937/overlay.geojson) | | [`1938/`](1938/README.md) | *The Negro Motorist Green Book: 1938* | 1,013 | [`1938.pdf`](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/NYPL-publicdomain/greenbooks/master/1938.pdf) (6.2 MB) | 36 / 36 | [`map.html`](1938/map.html) | [`overlay.kml`](1938/overlay.kml) | [`overlay.geojson`](1938/overlay.geojson) | | [`1939/`](1939/README.md) | *The Negro Motorist Green Book: 1939* | 2,006 | [`1939.pdf`](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/NYPL-publicdomain/greenbooks/master/1939.pdf) (9.5 MB) | 52 / 52 | [`map.html`](1939/map.html) | [`overlay.kml`](1939/overlay.kml) | [`overlay.geojson`](1939/overlay.geojson) | | [`1940/`](1940/README.md) | *The Negro Motorist Green Book: 1940* | 2,059 | [`1940.pdf`](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/NYPL-publicdomain/greenbooks/master/1940.pdf) (8.5 MB) | 52 / 52 | [`map.html`](1940/map.html) | [`overlay.kml`](1940/overlay.kml) | [`overlay.geojson`](1940/overlay.geojson) | | [`1941/`](1941/README.md) | *The Negro Motorist Green Book: 1941* | 1,990 | [`1941.pdf`](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/NYPL-publicdomain/greenbooks/master/1941.pdf) (9.0 MB) | 52 / 52 | [`map.html`](1941/map.html) | [`overlay.kml`](1941/overlay.kml) | [`overlay.geojson`](1941/overlay.geojson) | | [`1946/`](1946/README.md) | *The Negro Motorist Green Book: 1946* | 3,335 | *(Not in NYPL bulk release)* | - | [`map.html`](1946/map.html) | [`overlay.kml`](1946/overlay.kml) | [`overlay.geojson`](1946/overlay.geojson) | | [`1947/`](1947/README.md) | *The Negro Motorist Green Book: 1947* | 3,649 | [`1947.pdf`](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/NYPL-publicdomain/greenbooks/master/1947.pdf) (21.7 MB) | 84 / 84 | [`map.html`](1947/map.html) | [`overlay.kml`](1947/overlay.kml) | [`overlay.geojson`](1947/overlay.geojson) | | [`1948/`](1948/README.md) | *The Negro Motorist Green Book: 1948* | 3,912 | [`1948.pdf`](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/NYPL-publicdomain/greenbooks/master/1948.pdf) (14.6 MB) | 84 / 84 | [`map.html`](1948/map.html) | [`overlay.kml`](1948/overlay.kml) | [`overlay.geojson`](1948/overlay.geojson) | | [`1949/`](1949/README.md) | *The Negro Motorist Green Book: 1949* | 3,936 | [`1949.pdf`](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/NYPL-publicdomain/greenbooks/master/1949.pdf) (13.3 MB) | 84 / 84 | [`map.html`](1949/map.html) | [`overlay.kml`](1949/overlay.kml) | [`overlay.geojson`](1949/overlay.geojson) | | [`1950/`](1950/README.md) | *The Negro Motorist Green Book: 1950* | 4,315 | [`1950.pdf`](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/NYPL-publicdomain/greenbooks/master/1950.pdf) (17.5 MB) | 92 / 92 | [`map.html`](1950/map.html) | [`overlay.kml`](1950/overlay.kml) | [`overlay.geojson`](1950/overlay.geojson) | | [`1951/`](1951/README.md) | *The Negro Motorist Green Book: 1951* | 4,229 | [`1951.pdf`](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/NYPL-publicdomain/greenbooks/master/1951.pdf) (16.0 MB) | 84 / 84 | [`map.html`](1951/map.html) | [`overlay.kml`](1951/overlay.kml) | [`overlay.geojson`](1951/overlay.geojson) | | [`1952/`](1952/README.md) | *The Negro Travelers' Green Book: 1952* | 4,161 | [`1952.pdf`](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/NYPL-publicdomain/greenbooks/master/1952.pdf) (16.5 MB) | 84 / 84 | [`map.html`](1952/map.html) | [`overlay.kml`](1952/overlay.kml) | [`overlay.geojson`](1952/overlay.geojson) | | [`1953/`](1953/README.md) | *The Negro Travelers' Green Book: 1953* | 3,991 | [`1953.pdf`](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/NYPL-publicdomain/greenbooks/master/1953.pdf) (16.2 MB) | 84 / 84 | [`map.html`](1953/map.html) | [`overlay.kml`](1953/overlay.kml) | [`overlay.geojson`](1953/overlay.geojson) | | [`1954/`](1954/README.md) | *The Negro Travelers' Green Book: 1954* | 4,071 | [`1954.pdf`](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/NYPL-publicdomain/greenbooks/master/1954.pdf) (15.0 MB) | 84 / 84 | [`map.html`](1954/map.html) | [`overlay.kml`](1954/overlay.kml) | [`overlay.geojson`](1954/overlay.geojson) | | [`1955/`](1955/README.md) | *The Negro Travelers' Green Book: 1955* | 3,979 | [`1955.pdf`](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/NYPL-publicdomain/greenbooks/master/1955.pdf) (15.2 MB) | 84 / 84 | [`map.html`](1955/map.html) | [`overlay.kml`](1955/overlay.kml) | [`overlay.geojson`](1955/overlay.geojson) | | [`1956/`](1956/README.md) | *The Negro Travelers' Green Book: 1956* | 1,942 | [`1956.pdf`](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/NYPL-publicdomain/greenbooks/master/1956.pdf) (15.3 MB) | 84 / 84 | [`map.html`](1956/map.html) | [`overlay.kml`](1956/overlay.kml) | [`overlay.geojson`](1956/overlay.geojson) | | [`1957/`](1957/README.md) | *The Negro Travelers' Green Book: 1957* | 2,113 | [`1957.pdf`](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/NYPL-publicdomain/greenbooks/master/1957.pdf) (15.6 MB) | 84 / 84 | [`map.html`](1957/map.html) | [`overlay.kml`](1957/overlay.kml) | [`overlay.geojson`](1957/overlay.geojson) | | [`1958/`](1958/README.md) | *The Negro Travelers' Green Book: 1958* | 2,147 | *(Not in NYPL bulk release)* | - | [`map.html`](1958/map.html) | [`overlay.kml`](1958/overlay.kml) | [`overlay.geojson`](1958/overlay.geojson) | | [`1959/`](1959/README.md) | *The Negro Travelers' Green Book: 1959* | 2,118 | [`1959.pdf`](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/NYPL-publicdomain/greenbooks/master/1959.pdf) (15.6 MB) | 88 / 88 | [`map.html`](1959/map.html) | [`overlay.kml`](1959/overlay.kml) | [`overlay.geojson`](1959/overlay.geojson) | | [`1960/`](1960/README.md) | *Travelers' Green Book: 1960* | 2,205 | [`1960.pdf`](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/NYPL-publicdomain/greenbooks/master/1960.pdf) (22.5 MB) | 132 / 132 | [`map.html`](1960/map.html) | [`overlay.kml`](1960/overlay.kml) | [`overlay.geojson`](1960/overlay.geojson) | | [`1961/`](1961/README.md) | *Travelers' Green Book: 1961* | 2,321 | [`1961.pdf`](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/NYPL-publicdomain/greenbooks/master/1961.pdf) (21.0 MB) | 132 / 132 | [`map.html`](1961/map.html) | [`overlay.kml`](1961/overlay.kml) | [`overlay.geojson`](1961/overlay.geojson) | | [`1962/`](1962/README.md) | *Travelers' Green Book: 1962* | 2,250 | [`1962.pdf`](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/NYPL-publicdomain/greenbooks/master/1962.pdf) (19.1 MB) | 130 / 130 | [`map.html`](1962/map.html) | [`overlay.kml`](1962/overlay.kml) | [`overlay.geojson`](1962/overlay.geojson) | | [`1963-64/`](1963-64/README.md) | *Travelers' Green Book: 1963-64* | 3,202 | [`1963-64.pdf`](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/NYPL-publicdomain/greenbooks/master/1963-64.pdf) (18.3 MB) | 113 / 113 | [`map.html`](1963-64/map.html) | [`overlay.kml`](1963-64/overlay.kml) | [`overlay.geojson`](1963-64/overlay.geojson) | | [`1966-67/`](1966-67/README.md) | *Travelers' Green Book: 1966-67* | 3,300 | *(Excluded; see below)* | - | [`map.html`](1966-67/map.html) | [`overlay.kml`](1966-67/overlay.kml) | [`overlay.geojson`](1966-67/overlay.geojson) | | *Total* | *24 editions (1937-1967)* | *68,330* | *21 linked PDFs* | *1,734 / 1,734* | [`index.html`](index.html) | - | - | ## Frequently-asked questions ### How do I use these overlays with Google Maps? 1. Click **Downloads** in the web viewer (or open `/mymaps/*.kml`) and download the split, Google-compatible KML files for your chosen edition (or `ALL`). 2. Open [Google My Maps](https://www.google.com/mymaps), click *Create a new map* $\rightarrow$ *Add layer* $\rightarrow$ *Import*, and upload the file(s) from (1). 3. Open regular Google Maps (under *Saved* $\rightarrow$ *Maps*) and select your newly-created map. Enter your trip in *Directions*, tap any Green Book pin along your route line, and select *Add stop*. Note: Google Maps enforces a cap on features per layer, so some editions are split across multiple KML files. ### Why does the "ALL" tab have 13,696 sites instead of 68,330? The "All" tab is deduplicated. ### Why are 1936, 1942-1945, and 1965 missing? Those editions either do not survive or were never published: - **1936**: No copy of the 1936 New York prototype edition is known to survive in any public archive. - **1942-1945**: Publication was suspended during World War II due to wartime rationing. - **1965**: The final two issues were published as multi-year editions (`1963-64` and `1966-67`). ## Licenses and attributions See [`LICENSE.md`](LICENSE.md) for full legal notices. | Source | Files covered | License | Attribution | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Original *Green Book* volumes (1937-1967) | Historical directory entries across all 24 editions | U.S. Public Domain (1937-1963/64); uncopyrightable factual listings (1966-67) | Victor H. Green & Co. (Victor Hugo Green, Alma Duke Green, Novera C. Dashiell, Langley Waller), Harlem, NY (1936-1967). | | The New York Public Library (Schomburg Center & NYPL Labs) | 1,734 `ocr/*.txt` and `ocr/*.hocr` files, `full_text.txt`, `1947/supplemental/nypl_*`, and linked NYPL CC0 PDFs | [CC0 1.0 Universal](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) | Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, The New York Public Library ([`NYPL-publicdomain/greenbooks`](https://github.com/NYPL-publicdomain/greenbooks) and [`NYPL-publicdomain/greenbook-map`](https://github.com/NYPL-publicdomain/greenbook-map), Brian Foo). | | University of Redlands & Library of Congress | `/listings.csv`, `listings.json`, `overlay.kml`, `overlay.kmz`, `overlay.geojson`, `mymaps/*.kml` (68,330 sites) | Public educational & research release (`access: "public"`, `licenseInfo: "None"`) | Center for Spatial Studies, University of Redlands (*Mapping the Green Books*, `GreenbookLocations1937_1966`, Lisa Benvenuti et al.); Library of Congress ([`loc.gov/item/2016298176/`](https://www.loc.gov/item/2016298176/)). | | University of South Carolina Libraries | `1956/supplemental/uofsc_*`, `1956/supplemental/library_sc_edu_*` | [CC0 1.0 Universal](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) | University of South Carolina Libraries Digital Collections ([*The Negro Travelers' Green Book, Spring 1956*](https://digital.library.sc.edu/collections/the-negro-travelers-green-book-1956/)). | | Claudia Engel / Stanford University | Supplemental tables in 11 editions (`1937`-`1941`, `1946`-`1950`, `1952/supplemental/GreenBook*`) | [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) | Claudia Engel ([`github.com/cengel/GreenBook`](https://github.com/cengel/GreenBook)). Primary `listings.*` and `overlay.*` files do not derive from this source. | | Mapping software & basemaps | `index.html`, `/map.html` | [BSD 2-Clause](https://opensource.org/licenses/BSD-2-Clause) (Leaflet & Leaflet.heat); provider terms | Leaflet © Volodymyr Agafonkin; tiles © Google Maps, © [OpenStreetMap contributors](https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright) (ODbL), © [CARTO](https://carto.com/attributions) (CC BY 3.0). | ## Excluded datasets - The 1938 and 1940 versions available on Internet Archive prohibit derivative works. As such, we use NYPL's public-domain scans instead. - NYPL does not provide 1966-1967 scans because they are still under copyright. We include the non-copyrightable factual directory listings.