Land records · Parcel maps · October 6, 2026
How to Find GLO Survey Field Notes for Land
How to find GLO survey field notes: search the BLM GLO Records site by state, township, and range, or check state land offices and archives for originals.
How to find GLO survey field notes starts with knowing your township, range, and section. The General Land Office surveyors who laid out the Public Land Survey System kept detailed field notes describing each line they ran, the corners they set, distances in chains, bearing trees, soils, timber, and landmarks. Many of these notes have been scanned and are searchable on the Bureau of Land Management’s GLO Records website. In some states, the original notes were transferred to a state land office, archive, or surveyor’s office, which may hold the best copies. This page is general land-records background, not legal advice.
What field notes contain
- Lines surveyed, with bearings and distances in chains and links.
- Descriptions of corners set: posts, stones, mounds, or pits.
- Bearing trees with species, diameter, and distance from the corner.
- Notes on terrain, soils, streams, timber, and settlers.
- Dates and names of the surveyors.
These details help surveyors retrace original corners. See what is a section corner.
Using the BLM GLO Records site
- Choose the survey search option.
- Select the state and enter the township and range, with direction.
- Filter by document type to field notes or plats.
- Open the scanned images for the relevant township.
Field notes are usually organized by township and by survey, such as the original exterior survey, the subdivision survey of sections, and later resurveys. You may need to read several volumes to find a specific section line.
State-held records
In several public-land states, original notes and plats were transferred to state custody. State land offices, archives, secretary of state offices, or county surveyors may hold originals or copies, sometimes with better legibility or additional documents. If the BLM site lacks your area, contact the state.
Reading the notes
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Chain | 66 feet, with 80 chains per mile |
| Link | 1/100 of a chain, 7.92 inches |
| Var. | Magnetic variation used |
| B.T. | Bearing tree |
| Set post | A wooden post set at the corner |
See what is a chain in land measurement and how sections are numbered in a township.
Why they matter today
Original corners control boundaries in the PLSS. When a corner is lost, surveyors use field notes to search for evidence like bearing tree remains, stones, or pits. Landowners researching history or boundary questions can learn a lot from notes, but retracement is a job for a licensed surveyor.
Plats and notes together
The GLO township plat is a drawing compiled from the field notes. Read both: the plat shows the overall layout, and the notes give the details. See what is a GLO plat.
States without GLO surveys
The original 13 colonies, Texas, Kentucky, Tennessee, and some other areas were not surveyed under the PLSS, so GLO field notes do not exist there. Look instead for state or colonial land grant surveys. See what is the public land survey system.
Bottom line
GLO survey field notes describe how original PLSS lines and corners were surveyed. Search the BLM GLO Records site by state, township, and range, and check state land offices or archives where originals were transferred. Use them for research, and rely on a licensed surveyor for boundary retracement. Find county surveyor and records offices via the Platbookmapper map.
How to find glo survey field notes FAQ
Where can I find original GLO survey notes?
On the BLM GLO Records website or from state land offices and archives.
What information do GLO field notes contain?
Line bearings and distances, corner descriptions, bearing trees, and terrain notes.
Do all states have GLO field notes?
No, only public-land states surveyed under the PLSS.
What is a bearing tree?
A tree marked and measured from a corner to help relocate it.
Can I use GLO notes to find my property corner?
They help, but locating corners is a job for a licensed surveyor.