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Laura L. Whitlock, "the official mapmaker of Los Angeles County" during the teens and "the only woman map publisher in the country" at that point.

Whitlock was American cartographer, map publisher, and travel professional known for her contributions to the mapping and travel industries in the early 20th century.   Born in Iowa, Laura L. Whitlock relocated with her mother, Phoebe A. Whitlock, from Nebraska to Los Angeles in 1895. Initially trained as a music teacher, she soon transitioned into a career that would establish her as a prominent figure in the cartography and travel sectors.

Whitlock began her professional journey in California as an "excursion agent" and tour guide, organizing and leading trips to notable destinations such as the Colorado River and the Grand Canyon in 1895 and 1896. In 1903, she expanded her endeavors by opening a "travel and hotel bureau" in downtown Los Angeles. By 1907, she had risen to the presidency of the Pacific Coast Travel Club and managed a card catalog registry and information bureau for Shriners attending a national conference in Los Angeles.

Her office was located in the Los Angeles Times building, which was tragically bombed in 1910, damaging some of her work. Undeterred, Whitlock published "The Official Transportation and City Map" for Los Angeles in 1911. This map was notable for its comprehensive coverage, including exclusive data from electric railway officers, making it a unique and valuable resource at the time.

Whitlock faced significant challenges regarding copyright infringement of her maps. She was vigilant in pursuing legal action against those who copied her work without permission. Notably, printer N. Bowditch Blunt was criminally convicted for copying her maps, marking the first criminal conviction for copyright violation in the United States. Whitlock also sued the Los Angeles Map and Address Company and the Security Savings Bank for selling unauthorized copies of her maps. In 1918, she brought a lawsuit against the city engineer of Los Angeles for creating unauthorized copperplates of her maps, which was settled out of court.