The Society of Cartographers (SoC) was an association of cartographers based in the United Kingdom. The Society was founded in 1964 at the University of Glasgow and was originally named the Society of University Cartographers. In 1989, the Society adopted a new title and constitution opening up membership to anyone who regularly makes maps.
The Society of Cartographers was a professional association of cartographers. It was founded in 1964 and aimed to support and encourage all those actively involved in the production of maps, regardless of the method or format of map production.
The Society sought to achieve its aims by providing information and opportunities for its members to contact, meet, and exchange views and techniques. It also hoped to support and encourage those involved in all aspects of mapmaking and to maintain a high standard of cartographic illustration and quality map production.
The Society's membership was drawn from a wide range of sectors, including education, government, local government, public utilities, and the commercial and publishing industries. The majority of members were based in the UK, but there was also a significant worldwide membership.
The SoC was focused on the continual evolution of the mapping industry and how that related to overlapping disciplines (such as GIS; Graphic Design, Web mapping); how maps manifested themselves in today’s society and what that meant to the mapmakers of the day.
Networking
The Society held its annual conference the 'Annual Summer School' in August or September.
The Society published a newsletter and an annual journal, the Bulletin of the Society of Cartographers as well as awarding a prestigious "Wallis Award" for excellence in Cartography by a member.
Legal
The Society of Cartographers (SoC) was a charity registered in England and Wales (No 326285), operating via a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee (No 05940023).
The Society members voted unanimously in 2019 to cease the Society; all members, assets and good will was transferred to their sister society "The British Cartographic Society" in January 2020.