George Cram founded his legendary cartographic company in 1867 after a stint with the Union army in the Civil War during which he did maps for Ulysses S. Grant. Located in Chicago, the business was destroyed by the Great Fire of 1871. After rebuilding, he rivaled the then young firm of Rand McNally. Both publishers used a new printing technique known as wax-engraving for their color maps. His maps were always up to date, showing counties, cities, and transportation. His atlases included The Unrivaled Family Atlas (1883), The Illlustrated Atlas (1885), The Universal Atlas (1889), and the Superior World Atlas (1901).
