How to Use This Site
A guide to everything on Harvard Library GIS Notes
This site is a collection of resources prepared by the Harvard Map Collection for anyone working with maps, spatial data, or geographic information systems (GIS). Whether you’re brand new to mapping or deep into a research project, here’s how to find what you need.
If you’re just getting started
Most GIS work happens in desktop software. The two main options are ArcGIS Pro, which is the industry standard and free for Harvard affiliates, and QGIS, which is free, open-source, and works on any operating system. You don’t need both — pick whichever fits your situation. If you’re not sure which is right for you, we can help you decide. Our guides on getting ArcGIS Pro at Harvard and downloading QGIS will walk you through installation.
Once you have software running, the Tutorials section covers the building blocks: adding data to a map, changing projections, joining tables, georeferencing scanned images, and working with common file formats. These are short, standalone guides — you can jump to whichever one you need without doing the others first. They’re organized by topic under Software Access, ArcGIS + QGIS, and Data Curation.
If you want a guided walkthrough
The Workshops section is different from the tutorials. Each workshop is a complete, multi-step activity designed around a real research scenario. You start at the beginning and work through to the end, building on each step as you go. Topics include finding GIS data for a project, mapping environmental health determinants, and working with historical maps and archival sources.
These workshops are the same ones we teach in person at Harvard. You’re welcome to follow along on your own at any pace. If you’re a faculty member or instructor and would like us to teach one of these in your class, or if you’d like us to bring one of these workshops to your class, reach out to us.
If you’re looking for ideas
The News & Projects section features research stories and applied examples from across Harvard. These show the range of what people are doing with GIS and mapping technology — from environmental fieldwork and biodiversity research, to digital humanities projects with archival collections, to data journalism and spatial analysis. They’re meant to spark ideas and show what’s possible, whether your work is in the sciences, social sciences, or humanities.
If you need help
The Harvard Map Collection offers one-on-one consultations for anything related to GIS, spatial data, cartography, or finding maps in our collections. Whether you need help choosing the right data for a project, troubleshooting a technical problem, or figuring out where to start, we’re here.
Have an idea for a tutorial or guide? We’d love to hear it — let us know.