How to find Your Ancestor in the Records of the GAR

Shortly after the Civil War, Union soldiers came together to form the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR). Their common bonds of military service, support of veterans and their families, and loyalty to the preservation of the Union which had been established nearly a hundred years previously by their ancestors, resulted in the motto "Fraternity, Charity and Loyalty". That motto is still used today by the SUVCW and allied orders, which are successors of the GAR. The Grand Army of the Republic quickly became a strong economic, political and social force during an era when there were no government sponsored social programs. At it's peak, the GAR claimed a membership of over 400,000. Detailed information about the history of the Grand Army of the Republic and efforts to locate and preserve GAR records can be found on the national website of the Sons of the Union Veterans of the Civil War.

Extant records created by the Grand Army of the Republic - by their local posts and at state and national level encampments, provide excellent clues and information pertaining to the veterans and their families. The scope of information varies by state and post. If you want to gain a more complete understanding of your Union ancestor and the times in which he lived, these records are worth the extra effort to locate.

Information on many of the over 8,600 known posts can be found on the Library of Congress website. A few records of GAR posts have been published. You should also inquire at state and local archives and libraries about the existence of GAR records. Start by searching for microfilms at the Family History Library, which can be borrowed through their Family History Centers. The states available are Alaska, California, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Utah, Washington and West Virginia. The specific film numbers can be located by performing a library catalog keyword search  for your state along with "Grand Army of the Republic" without quotes. The table below contains links to other GAR source material.