The maps were drawn to be used by insurance companies in rating the insurance of buildings, by showing what sort of buildings were there...stone and brick would probably receive a different rating than all frame, two story, a different rating perhaps than one story, etc. These maps are often used when people are trying to determine the age of a house, whether it was added onto at some point, etc. The original maps have color to indicate brick, stone, wood, etc. the microfilm, of course, is in black and white. The earliest maps I have seen in Kansas as I recall are about 1880, and are done every few years. The Kansas maps are available on interlibrary loan through the library at KU and possibly the KSHS, so if you can't find them otherwise you might try the various higher institutions of learning in NE. Our public library purchased the roll of microfilm for our city, and there were other cities near it in the alphabet on the same reel. Usually you will not find small towns in these books, only larger ones. They will NOT give you the names of the people living there, or even the names of the businesses...they are just the drawings of the community. Good luck... gayle1@kansas.net