Past Newsletter Articles

By The National Map Corps

The National Map Corps releases quarterly newsletters as a fun way to interact with volunteers while informing them about recent developments.

Articles cover a wide range of topics including tips and tricks on the editing process, fun facts about unusual structures, and volunteer recognition, among others. Newsletters are published bimonthly and distributed in PDF format via email.

If you'd like to receive our newsletters automatically via email, please sign up for an editor account; or contact us at nationalmapcorps@usgs.gov.

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2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014

2023 Newsletters

2022 Newsletters

2021 Newsletters

OCTOBER 2021
- Notice of Move to Quarterly Newsletter
- Mapping Challenges Updates
- Another City Halls Milestone
- Overview of Cemetery Addresses
- Cemetery Resources
- Super Editor Bios
- TNMCorps Puzzle: Scavenger Hunt
- Recognition
JULY 2021
- Unedited Data Dilemma
- Pandemic Point Progress
- Yellow Points with no Edit History???
- Mapping Challenges Updates
- Cemetery Guidance Update
- TNMCorps Puzzle: Word Search
- New Recognition Category Members
MAY 2021
- Mapping Challenges Updates
- Misspellings in Road Signs: What to Do
- Neat Find: Post Office on an Interstate
- 3000 Historical Cemeteries in Rhode Island. Really???
- Geography-Inspired Volunteer Art
- Recognition Shout-Out: Tuscon Ken
- Overview of the National Structures Dataset
- TNMCorps Team Corner: Structures Team
- Recognition
MARCH 2021
- Status of City/Town Halls Nationwide
- Mapping Challenges Updates
- History Meets Geography: The 100th Meridian
- The Hunt for Van Meter Cemetery
- TNMCorps Puzzle: Cryptogram
- Recognition Shout-Out: genovt
- Recognition
JANUARY 2021
- Mapping Challenges Updates
- A Closer Look at Status Maps: Before and After
- Cemeteries with Multiple Names: Which One to Use?
- detour's Fun Find
- TNMCorps Team Corner: Taylor
- TNMCorps Puzzle: Fallen Phrases
- Recognition

2020 Newsletters

NOVEMBER 2020
- Mapping Challenges Updates
- School Icon Review
- Blast from the Past Part 3: Past Newsletter Articles
- Volunteer Bio: HGeisler
- TNMCorps Puzzle: Word Scramble
- Recognition
SEPTEMBER 2020
- Mapping Challenges Updates
- Mapping Challenges: Volunteer Milestones
- Blast from the Past Part 2: Past Newsletter Articles
- Revisiting the Structure Finder
- TNMCorps Puzzle: Newsletter Scavenger Hunt
- Recognition
JULY 2020
- City/Town Hall Collection Milestone
- Mapping Challenges Updates
- Overview of the Comment Field
- Social Media as an Authoritative Source
- UNAVCO/TNMCorps Team Up to Host Summer Interns
- Intern Bios: Sean and Celeste
- Volunteer Bio: claraapt246
- Recognition
MAY 2020
- Welcome to The National Map Corps!
- Mapping Challenges Updates
- (P)awesome Volunteer Update: Stella!
- (P)awesome Coworkers
- Volunteer Bio: SaltyHiker
- TNMCorps Puzzle: Fallen Phrases
- Recognition
MARCH 2020
- Citizen Science Month is Coming Up!
- City and Town Hall Collection Project Milestone
- Mapping Challenges Updates
- Volunteer Bios: Buz Hopper and trmosher
- TNMCorps Puzzle: Scavenger Hunt
- Recognition
JANUARY 2020
- Happy New Year!
- TNMCorps has a New Project Page!
- Review of Common Editing Error Messages
- Colorful City Halls in Puerto Rico
- TNMCorps Puzzle
- Recognition

2019 Newsletters

NOVEMBER 2019
- Mapping Challenge Updates
- New Interactive Challenge Map
- Middle of Nowhere, Center of Everywhere?
- Blast from the Past: Past Newsletter Articles
- American Fact Finder Tutorial
- Happy Holidays!
- Recognition
SEPTEMBER 2019
- Mapping Challenge Updates
- Volunteer Structures Suggestions
- Volunteer Submissions
- Cemetery Research and Guidance
- Cities vs. Towns vs. Villages
- (P)awesome TNMCorps Members
- TNMCorps Puzzle
- Recognition
JULY 2019
- What Structures would you like to see on The National Map?
- Mapping Challenge Shout-out!
- "Lots" of Zeros
- Ensuring Data Completeness
- Closer Look at the Layers List
- Other USGS Citizen Science Projects
- TNMCorps Puzzle: Word Search
- May Puzzle Correction
- Recognition
MAY 2019
- A Detailed Opportunity
- New Mapping Challenge
- Neat Find: Zero for a Street Number
- Authoritative Sources: Clues vs. Cues
- Proper Use of the Address 2 Field
- LTPZ's Son Places in Top 10 in Illinois GeoBee!
- Aerial Photo Interpretation Part 10: Colleges / Universities
- TNMCorps Puzzle
- Recognition
MARCH 2019
- We're Back!
- Mapping Challenge Updates
- New Editor Updates!
- To Copy and Paste is to Err?
- Volunteer Collaboration: RISailor and Cgibson
- Aerial Photo Interpretation Part 9: Schools
- Rare Find: 4 High Schools in One
- TNMCorps Team Corner
- Recognition

2018 Newsletters

NOVEMBER 2018
- Editing over the Holidays!
- Volunteer Spotlight: virgilturner
- Ditch the Digits: New Zip-Code Guidelines
- Can't Find Data to Edit? Check out the Structure Finder!
- Editor Roles and Point Colors
- American Architecture Part 3
- Aerial Photo Interpretation Part 8: City/Town Halls
- TNMCorps Puzzles
- Recognition
SEPTEMBER 2018
- Courthouse Badges are Here!
- Volunteer Q&A: What's Your Favorite Structure to Edit?
- New Structure Feature! Introducing City/Town Halls
- New Mapping Challenge: Texas Law Enforcement
- American Architecture Part 2
- Aerial Interpretation Part 7: Law Enforcement
- TNMCorps Puzzle
- Recognition
JULY 2018
- Courthouse Recognition Program
- TNMCorps Team Q&A: What's Your Favorite Structure to Edit?
- Introducing the TNMCorps Structure Finder
- American Architecture
- Aerial Photo Interpretation Part 6: Ambulance Services
- Reminder: Reach Out!
- TNMCorps Puzzle
- TNMCorps Team Corner
- Recognition
MAY 2018
- Courthouse Pilot Project Update: Yellow Courthouses?
- Taking a Bite out of History: Hinsdale County Courthouse
- CartoPlaytime: Making Maps with our Data
- Volunteer Spotlight: Cgibson
- Aerial Photo Interpretation Part 5: Hospitals
- Newest Top Recognition Member: geo163
- TNMCorps Puzzle
- Recognition
MARCH 2018
- Edited Points without an Edit History
- Behind the Scenes: Feedback Emails
- User Guide Issues with Google Chrome
- Mapping Challenges
- The Longest Place Name in the U.S.
- Aerial Photo Interpretation Part 4: Prisons / Correctional Facilities
- TNMCorps Maze
- Recognition
JANUARY 2018
- 2017: Year in Review
- Fending off the Winter Blues
- Courthouse Pilot Project
- Making the Call
- Resources Review
- More than a Dot on the Map: Ouray County Courthouse
- Aerial Photo Interpretation Part 3: Fire Stations/EMS
- Blast from the Past: Earth Science Corps
- TNMCorps Cryptogram
- Recognition

2017 Newsletters

NOVEMBER 2017
- Order in the Court!
- New Updates to the Editor!
- New Interactive Challenge Map
- Illinois Schools Mapping Challenge Extended
- How to Spot an Authoritative (Re)Source
- Aerial Photo Interpretation Part 2: Post Offices
- TNMCorps Word Scramble
- Recognition
SEPTEMBER 2017
- TNMCorps Map Editor Anniversary!
- Volunteer Spotlight: A Tale of Two Kents
- Collaboration in a Disaster
- More Tips and Tricks
- Aerial Imagery Interpretation Part 1: Cemeteries
- New Mapping Challenge!
- TNMCorps Word Search: Total Eclipse
- Recognition
JULY 2017
- Summer Vacation!
- Volunteer Spotlight: meyerkv
- Tips and Tricks for Editing in Puerto Rico
- Tips and Tricks for Editing in Alaska
- TNMCorps Cryptogram
- Past Puzzle Keys
- Recognition
MAY 2017
- Citizen Science Day!
- Setting up a Display Name
- Technical Community Colleges vs. Trade Schools
- Proper Formatting
- Preschool Update
- Amish Schools
- Finding Unedited Points (They're There!)
- TNMCorps Team Corner
- TNMCorps Crossword
- Recognition
MARCH 2017
- A Brief History of the Cartograsaurus
- Tricky Points and Deep Research
- Displaying One Structure Type
- Moving vs. Deleting Points
- Finding Unedited Data
- Editing Quick Tips and Reminders
- Linking Old and New Accounts
- TNMCorps Word Search
- Recognition
JANUARY 2017
- Happy New Year!
- Database Sync Updated
- Back to Basics: What is an Authoritative (Re)Source?
- Post Offices
- Sheriff's Offices
- Addressing the Issue
- Comment Field
- Conclusion of International Map Year Patch Contest
- Recognition Program Back Online
- Volunteer Spotlight
- Recognition

2016 Newsletters

NOVEMBER 2016
- Thanksgiving Greetings
- Coming Soon to an Editor Near You!
- New Comment Field
- Improved Edit History
- Editor Role Spotlight: Peer Reviewer
- Patch Winner Profiles
- TNMCorps Team Corner
- Have a Story or Photo You'd Like to Share?
- Name That App!
- Recognition
SEPTEMBER 2016
- Welcome Back!
- Data Super Highway
- Tips and Tricks
- Deadline for the Patch Challenge has been Extended
- The Q&A Community
- What's in a Name???
- Have a Story or Photo You'd Like to Share?
- Name That App!
- Map Challenge Updates
JUNE 2016
- Exciting News! Introducing Our New Editor!
- Summer Vacation...For YOU, Not Us!
- What Steps Do I Need to Take Before the Big Move?
- KentRobert Takes Flight with The Squadron of Biplane Spectators - 6000+ Edits
- Mapping Challenge Updates
- Edit Points - Get the Patch!!
- Have a Story or Photo You'd Like to Share?
- Words from the Wise - Mole Trapper
- Stay Tuned...
- TNMCorps Team Corner
- New Recognition Category Members
APRIL 2016
- We did it! 200K Volunteer Contributions!
- The Peer Review Role: Uses, Benefits, and Purpose
- Fun Fact: Cemeteries (or lack thereof) in San Francisco
- "Why I Do What I Do," by queenofthedead
- The National Map Corps Explorer
- Edit Points - Get the Patch!!
- We Want YOU (to take the Mapping Challenge)!
- Recent inductee into the Squadron of Biplane Spectators, HGeisler!
- Have a story or photo you'd like to share?
- Goodbye and Thank You to a Few Wonderful Student Contractors
- TNMCorps Team Corner
- New Recognition Category Members
FEBRUARY 2016
- Let's Go All the Way to 200K!
- The Advanced Editor Role
- Federal Courthouses - Pilot Study
- What do I do with stacked cemetery points?
- Step by Step Editing Tips: Post Offices
- Help us with the latest Mapping Challenge!
- Importance of Good Addressing
- Have a story or photo you'd like to share?
- International Year of the Map - Get the Patch!
- TNMCorps Team Corner
- New Recognition Category Members

2015 Newsletters

DECEMBER 2015
- Volunteering for The National Map Corps: A Glimpse at Citizen Science
- Mapping Challenge Results
- Have You Been Mentioned on USGS Social Media?
- Collect Points - Get the Patch
- The Importance of Data Quality in The Natioanl Map Corps Project
- Step by Step Editing Tips: Schools
- A Note from Volunteer Cartograsaurus, the "Rod Man"
- Have a Story or Photo You'd Like to Share?
- TNMCorps Team Corner
- New Recognition Category Members
OCTOBER 2015
- Just a Reminder: What do the colors around the points mean?
- The Great Central U.S. Shakeout Mapping Challenge!
- VA Law Enforcement Facilities Mapping Challenge FINISHED!
- A Letter from the Past, By Kent W.
- Stories from the "field," by Kim
- Have a Story or Photo You'd Like to Share?
- USGS Historical Topographic Maps
- Congratulations to Volunteer rjerrard!
- TNMCorps Team Corner
- New Recognition Category Members
AUGUST 2015
- Check out Volunteer Contribution Maps!
- A Reminder: Jails, to collect or not?
- NEW Mapping Challenge
- NC Law Enforcement Facilities Mapping Challenge FINISHED
- "What the Park Brochure Doesn't Tell You About Yellowstone NP", by Kent W.
- Have a Story or Photo You'd Like to Share?
- Who's Got Mail??? Contract, Community, and Village Post Offices
- Volunteer crazeyme Visits the USGS
- TNMCorps Team Corner
- New Recognition Category Members
JUNE 2015
- New Post Office Points in Colorado
- Introducing TNMCorps Q&A!
- Updating Email Notification Settings on Q&A
- Clarification on Prison/Correctional Facilities versus Jails
- Making Phone Calls to Verify Structures
- Your Volunteer Hours Can Count Towards a GISP Certification!
- Texas Cemeteries
- Post Office Naming Changes
- Help Us Finish the Latest Mapping Challenge!
- Call for Volunteer Photos and Stories!
- TNMCorps Team Corner
- New Recognition Category Members
MARCH 2015
- Get Recognizied on USGS Social Media!
- Call for Volunteer Photos and Stories
- The Next Big One -- By Volunteer Roger Davis, AKA Cartograsaurus
- Help Us Update Puerto Rico Structures
- The National Map Corps Explorer
- ALERT!! Be on the Lookout for Duplicate Law Enforcement Points and More Info about Law Enforcement Editing
- TNMCorps Tips and Tricks
- New Recognition Category Members
JANUARY 2015
- Over 100K points collected!
- TN Law Enforcement Mapping Challenge Finished
- New Mapping Challenge
- Post Offices Temporarily Unavailable for Editing
- New Imagery Layer
- Cool New Volunteer-Created Web Application
- Where Can I Find Authoritative Lists of Schools?
- What about Alaska Schools?
- Facebook Recognition for Volunteer fconley
- New Recognition Category Members

2014 Newsletters

DECEMBER 2014
- A Time of Thanks
- Help Us Reach 100K Contributions!
- Mapping Challenge Update
- Fun with Fire Stations
- Back to School Basics
- Comments on Points
- Imagery Layer Issues?
- Tips and Tricks
OCTOBER 2014
- New Badges
- Cemetery Blues
- New Map Challenge
- Tips and Tricks