George Cram

George Franklin Cram (1842–1928) was a leading American map publisher whose work helped bring affordable atlases into homes across the United States. Born in 1842, he served in the Union Army during the Civil War, rising to first sergeant in Company F of the 105th Illinois Volunteer Infantry before mustering out in 1865. That same year he married Martha A. Hiatt, with whom he had three daughters. In 1867 Cram joined the map business of his uncle, Rufus Blanchard, in Evanston, Illinois, and by 1869 he had taken full ownership, renaming it the George F. Cram Company. His firm quickly became one of the most recognized American map publishers, issuing The Standard Atlas of the United States, later retitled the Unrivaled Family Atlas, which went through many editions over several decades. His was also one of the first firms in the country to publish a world atlas.

Cram’s company was instrumental in developing the use of cerography, or wax engraving, a process that allowed durable electroplated plates to be made from wax models, dramatically lowering the cost of producing maps. This innovation made high-quality maps widely available to the American public at a time when demand for geographic knowledge was growing. He remained active in publishing until the early twentieth century, producing atlases that reflected both the expansion of U.S. territory and the broader democratization of map ownership. George F. Cram died in Spokane, Washington, on May 24, 1928, leaving a lasting legacy in American cartography.