- Title: Map of Houston Compliments of Houston National Bank
- Author: J. Foster Ashburn
- Date: 1947
- Condition: Very Good - Clean and colorful, folded as issued.
- Inches: 27 3/8 x 19 15/16 [Paper]
- Centimeters: 69.53 x 50.64 [Paper]
- Product ID: 308777
Ashburn’s 1947 Houston City Map presents a detailed, color-coded street plan showing neighborhoods, railroads, bayous, parks, and outlying communities, with a border grid keyed to the reverse-side street index. An ornamental title cartouche incorporates an eagle, skyline, and oil derricks, reflecting Houston’s civic and industrial identity.
The verso includes an extensive street index, a brief Houston history, points of interest, a Houston Ship Channel–Galveston Bay map, and a downtown locator plan highlighting Houston National Bank at Main and Franklin. A downtown aerial photograph illustrates the bank-sponsored cover, alongside an advertisement for Sam Houston Airport.
Issued compliments of Houston National Bank, the map features a striking promotional cover with an aerial view of downtown Houston, the bank’s Main and Franklin address, and its Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation membership statement. An adjoining downtown locator plan employs a conspicuous red arrow to direct readers to the bank’s Neoclassical headquarters at 202 Main Street, linking this practical city guide to one of Houston’s distinguished surviving banking landmarks.
Background on Creator
J. Foster Ashburn was a prolific mid-20th-century mapmaker and publisher known for his detailed city and regional maps across the United States. Active primarily in the 1940s and 1950s, Ashburn produced maps for cities such as Houston, Atlanta, Madison, and Knoxville, as well as for entire states like Texas. His work was recognized for its clarity, practical information, and colorful presentation, often serving both as navigational aids and promotional materials. Ashburn operated out of Fort Worth, Texas, and his maps were widely distributed, sometimes in collaboration with local businesses or as complimentary items for hotels and civic organizations. Today, J. Foster Ashburn’s maps are valued by collectors and historians for their detailed depiction of American urban and regional landscapes during a period of rapid growth and change.