The Travel Literature Collection is an assembled collection gathered from many sources covering the period from 1826 to the present. The collection is ongoing. One of the major contributors was the American Automobile Association of Michigan. The collection consists of eleven series and is arranged by format in alphabetical order. The Brochures series, 1880-1994 (4.8 cubic ft.), advertises attractions, destinations, or travel related services of interest to tourists. General categories include: attractions; hotels, restaurants and tours; and recreational activities. The Diaries series, 1906-1947 (0.4 cubic ft.), contain an individual's printed or handwritten record of a trip and are arranged by date. The Directories series, 1910-1992 (1.6 cubic ft.), contain lists of resources in specific locations of interest to travelers. While some directories relate to specific geographic areas, others encompass large regions of a country or the world. Subseries include Accommodations & Dining, Automobile Rental, and Campgrounds & Trailer Parks. The Guidebooks series, 1842-1993 (10.8 cubic ft.), provides information for traveling to and/or touring a destination. Guidebooks may also provide accommodations, dining, and other resource listings, as well as small maps of the area. Guidebooks in this collection include tour books such as those published by AAA and other organizations. The Pamphlets series, 1839-1990 (0.8 cubic ft.), like brochures, advertise attractions and give travel related information, but are lengthier than brochures. The Road Maps and Atlases series, 1831-1989 (5.2 cubic ft.), includes maps that show all main streets or roads in a particular city, country, state, district or region. Road atlases are bound collections of road maps. Road maps include route maps, route books, strip maps, AAA Triptiks, photographic route maps and distance maps. The Schedules series, 1826-1993 (0.8 cubic ft.), show air, boat, bus and railroad travel arrival and departure times. The Souvenir series, 1895-1989 (0.4 cubic ft.), includes items collected to commemorate travel experiences. The Souvenir Books series, 1871-1987 (4.2 cubic ft.), includes books that commemorate a visit to an attraction or destination rather than act as a guide during the visit. They may contain only pictorial images or background information with images. The Tickets series, 1875-1990 (0.2 cubic ft.), includes admission, passenger and toll tickets. The Oversize series, 1851-1990 (8 oversize boxes), includes brochures, guidebooks, pamphlets, road atlases, road maps, schedules, souvenirs and souvenir books.
