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Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission
Bureau of Archives and History
Pennsylvania
State Archives
Miscellaneous Registers, Rosters and Lists,
1841-1844, 1859-1872.
(31 volumes, 4 boxes)
{series #19.46} [Holdings]
Series consists of the following subseries:
Roll books, registers
and rosters of Pennsylvanians who served during the time of the Civil War.
Alphabetical Roll of Men mustered into the Pennsylvania Reserve Volunteer
Corps, 1861 (1 volume). A record of men mustered into military service by the
Commonwealth under the Act of May 15, 1861. Entries are arranged by regiment and
company and thereunder alphabetically by surname. Among the information frequently
found in these are the soldiers' names, numbers, ages, ranks, residences and previous
occupations, and the places and dates mustered in. Incidental remarks regarding
discharges, refusals to take the oath of United States service, promotions and
the like also regularly appear.
Muster Roll Book, 1863-1865. A record
of commissioned officers kept by the Adjutant General's Office. Entries normally
show the officer's name and rank, date of joining, the bounty received, the date
when the bounty was claimed, the commencement time, the date and place of enlistment,
and the name of the person who enlisted him. The amount of pay received by the
officer and particulars concerning dismissals, promotions, or the mustering-in
process are also periodically noted. The volume is arranged according to regiment
and thereunder by company.
The Roster of Commissioned Officers of Pennsylvania
Volunteers, 1861-1865, is arranged alphabetically by officers' surnames. Information
usually found includes the person's name, rank, company, and regiment.
Volunteer Register of Captain S. G. Simmons, United States, Mustering Officer
for Three Month Troops, 1861, is arranged by company and regiment, and thereunder
alphabetically by soldiers' surnames. The amount of information provided varies
with each entry. While some listings only mention the person's name, rank, regiment,
and company, others also indicate his age, occupation, and residence.
Volunteer Register of Men Mustered into United States Service for three years
or Duration of War, 1861. A record of men joining the 26th to 29th regiments of
Pennsylvania Volunteers of Philadelphia County from May 27 to July 9, 1861. The
names of the soldiers are arranged alphabetically by company and regiment. Normally
entries record the volunteers' names, ranks, ages, companies and regiments; the
dates, and places of recruitment.
Muster Roll Book,
1863-1865.
(1 volume)
{series #19.192} [Holdings]
Grouped chronologically by regiment..
A ledger listing officers
by regiment for the 180th through the 215th, as well as officers of select companies
of the 49th, 61st, 67th, 74th, 77th, 78th, 83rd, 87th, 95th, 101st, 103rd, 104th,
and 110th regiments. Entries normally show the officer's name and rank, date of
joining, the bounty received, the date when the bounty was claimed, the commencement
time, the date and place of enlistment, and the name of the person who enlisted
him. The amount of pay received by the officer and particulars concerning dismissals,
promotions, or the mustering-in process are also periodically noted. The volume
is arranged according to regiment and thereunder by company.
Oaths
of Commissioners of the Draft,
1862.
(1 folder)
{series #19.47}
[Holdings]
Grouped by county.
The Oaths of the Commissioners of the Draft for 1862 are inscribed with the
names of selected draft commissioners for each county, dates of the commissions,
and are signed by county magistrates. The file also contains letters addressed
to the governor recommending particular individuals as Commissioners of the Draft.
Order Books,
1839-1849, 1861-1868, 1885-1887,
1892, 1904-1992.
(94 cartons, 2 volumes, 3 boxes)
{series #19.48}
[Holdings]
Arranged chronologically
by date of issue and thereunder by order number.
A record of orders issued
by the Adjutant General to the Pennsylvania National Guard and its antecedents.
The series also contains annual reports to the Governor, newspaper clippings,
printed circulars and bulletins, general orders, special orders, permanent orders
and letter orders from a variety of headquarters.
Orders,
28th Division,
1917-1919.
(2 cartons, 1 box)
{series #19.244}
[Holdings]
Arranged chronologically
by date of issue and thereunder by order number.
Booklets with packets
of General Orders, Special Orders, Memoranda, and Telegrams of the 28th Division
in the United States and France during and after World War I.
Pass Book of the Reserve Volunteer Corps,
1861.
(1 volume)
{series #19.49} [Holdings]
Entries
arranged chronologically by date the pass was issued.
This small notebook
kept from June 14, 1861 to September 10, 1861 records military passes issued to
men of the Pennsylvania Reserve Volunteer Corps during the first year of the Civil
War. Information found includes the dates the passes were issued, an abbreviation
of the ranks and the last names of the officers to whom issued, from and to where
the pass granted permission to go, the number of persons covered by the pass,
the number passed for special service, recruiting service, or discharges, and
the reasons the passes were issued.
Paymaster's Accounts,
1861-1866.
(1 box)
{series #19.50} [Holdings]
Records are grouped by type.
A record of pay disbursed through
the Office of the Adjutant General to officers and enlisted men. An abstract of
payment, with entries arranged numerically by voucher number, gives names, ranks,
and grades together with the dates of payments, dates of commencement and expiration
of the pay period, amounts of pay, amounts of subsistence, and the total amounts
paid. The series also contains records of accounts current, correspondence, estimates
for funds, receipts, statements for moneys received, expenses and balances, and
certificates of moneys paid. The latter certificates provide the names of the
persons receiving pay, the amounts taxable, the tax rate, and the tax withheld.
Photographs of the American Expeditionary Forces,
28th Division, in France,
1918-1919.
(1 box)
{series #19.51}
[Holdings]
Unarranged.
Photographs taken by the Photographic Unit of the 28th Division of the American
Expeditionary Force in France during the First World War. Photographs are identified
by serial numbers and accompanying typed caption sheets provide some information
about the subject matter. Among the subjects are scenes of damaged buildings,
devastated battlefields and towns, construction details of trenches, military
cemeteries, field hospitals, American and French soldiers and officers, and captured
German prisoners of war.
Population Record Books
of the Pennsylvania Soldiers' and Sailors' Home,
1864-1883.
(5 volumes)
{series #19.52} [Holdings]
Included are the following volumes:
Roster of Admissions, April 12,
1864-May 21, 1872. Arranged by admittance date, entries list the veterans name,
age, place of birth, number, date of admittance, disease and the result of treatment.
Particulars concerning the date that a patient was released or died are frequently
recorded, and from time to time data about operations or amputations performed
on the individual are also noted.
Descriptive List, Soldier's Home,
Philadelphia, June 1, 1866-March 12, 1867.
Arranged according to the dates
that the descriptive list entries were written. The House Register can be used
as an index for this subseries. The listings show the veterans' names, ages, marital
status, nativity, number of children if any, previous occupations, ranks, regiments,
companies, and residences prior to enlistment; the places and dates of enlistment;
the places where they were wounded; the places and dates of military discharge;
the nature of the disabilities suffered; the amounts of pension received; and
the reasons they were unable to support themselves. Additional information contained
in the entries includes the dates that admissions to the home were approved, the
dates and the reasons why persons were discharged from the home, the wards and
bed numbers of each patient, and the names of two vouchers and their postal addresses.
House Register, Soldier's Home, Philadelphia, December 13, 1864-March
28, 1872. The entries are grouped alphabetically by patients' surnames. Data appearing
includes the persons' names, wards and bed numbers, the dates of admission and
discharge, and the Descriptive List page number.
Muster Roll of Pennsylvania
Soldiers Admitted to the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, Central
Branch, Dayton, Ohio, November 12, 1880. A record of Pennsylvania soldiers admitted
to the home from 1867 to 1880. Entries list the veterans' names, numbers, companies,
regiments, disabilities, barracks numbers, amounts of pension received per month,
and the dates of death or discharge from the home. The muster roll is arranged
alphabetically by soldiers' surnames.
Record of Pennsylvania
Volunteers in the Spanish-American War,
1898.
(1 microfilm roll)
{series #19.257} [Holdings]
Arranged numerically by unit and thereunder alphabetically by surname of soldier
or sailor.
The record contains the names of all soldiers and sailors
from Pennsylvania who served in the Spanish-American War, as shown by the Muster-In
and Muster-Out Rolls. This is the second edition of a publication compiled by
Thomas J. Stewart, Adjutant General of Pennsylvania. Many of the lists of service
members are prefaced by a brief narrative history of the infantry regiment, cavalry
troop, or naval militia. Enlistee information includes name, rank, company, residence,
enrollment date, muster-in date, and muster-out date. Also includes a List of
Abbreviations, various Lists of Officers and Men from the State of Pennsylvania,
and an Index.
Record Book of Additional Bounty, Arrears
of Pay and Bounty, Certificates Returned for Collection, and Pensions,
1867-1870.
(1 volume)
{series #19.53} [Holdings]
Indexed alphabetically by surname of soldier.
Entries usually
indicate the soldier's name, rank, company, and regiment; the date and place of
death; the claim number; the date of the certificate and of filing; the monetary
amount received; and the applicant's name, postal address, and relationship to
the soldier. Remarks which record the reason why a claim was rejected, such as
that a soldier was drafted or was a substitute for instance, also appear.
Record Book of Hospital Stores and Regimental Flags,
[ca. 1862-1864].
(1 volume)
{series #19.54} [Holdings]
Arranged chronologically by date hospital stores were received.
A record of receipts and shipments of hospital stores received through private
contributions from August 8, 1862 - August 3, 1864 to aid Pennsylvanians held
as prisoners of war. Entries provide the dates the hospital stores were received,
the names and residences of the donors, a brief description of the type and quantity
of the stores, the site where received, and the dates and locations where the
stores were shipped (generally relief organizations in Washington, DC or Baltimore).
Also found is a record of regimental flags with covers turned over to the state
in 1866.
Record Book of Regimental Staff and Company
Officers, Pennsylvania Volunteers,
1861-1863.
(1 volume)
{series #19.55} [Holdings]
Entries
arranged by regiment.
A record of the staff and company officers for
each regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers. Information provided includes the names
of the colonels, lieutenant colonels, and majors commanding each regiment and
the names of any regimental staff officers including the adjutant, quartermasters,
surgeons, chaplains, assistant surgeons, sergeant majors, quartermaster sergeants,
and commissary sergeants. Also found are the names of captains, senior first lieutenants,
junior first lieutenants, and second lieutenants for each company. Notations at
the bottom of the forms sometimes provide information on arms and supplies furnished,
promotions or new staff assignments, and a description of movements of the regiments
through Maryland and Virginia. Includes a loose manuscript entitled "Organization
of the Pennsylvania Reserve Volunteer Corps."
Record
Books of Claims of Arrears for Pay and Bounty,
1864-1869.
(4 volumes)
{series #19.56} [Holdings]
Arranged chronologically by dates claims were received.
A record
of claims of arrears and bounty due to Pennsylvania Volunteers who fought and
died in combat during the Civil War. Entries generally show soldiers' names, ranks,
companies, and regiments; the dates and places of death; the claim numbers; the
dates of the certificates and of filing; the monetary amount received; and the
applicants' names, postal addresses and relationship to the soldier. Remarks which
record why a claim was rejected, for example, because a soldier was drafted or
was a substitute, also appear.
Records of Adjutant
General Thomas R. White,
1955-1968.
(1 carton, 1 box)
{series
#19.57} [Holdings]
Grouped by
topic and thereunder chronologically.
The Records of Adjutant General
Thomas White contain a great variety of daily correspondence, newspaper clippings,
and reports concerning such diverse topics as the Pennsylvania Aeronautics Board
and the expansion of the Harrisburg State Airport, legislation to exempt aviation
fuel from highway taxes, and Secretary of State
Robert MacNamara's plan for
reorganizing the National Guard. Included are records of the Pennsylvania Aeronautics
Commission for 1955 and 1962, Harrisburg International Airport and Olmstead Air
Force Base for 1956-1958, York Airport for 1955-1957, Black 70 Shannon Airport
(sic) for 1956-1959, the Federal Airport Program, Aviation Fuel Tax Receipts,
the Pennsylvania Military Code of Justice for 1964-1967, reorganization and realignment
files for 1963-1968, files on United States Air Force Reserve Units requesting
integration into the National Guard in 1965, and Individual Flight Records of
Army Aviators (DA Form 759s) for 1963-1965.
Records
of Applications for Military Positions, Vacancies, Appointments, Resignations,
and Commissions Issued,
1861-1865.
(7 volumes, 4 boxes)
{series
#19.58} [Holdings]
Grouped by
corps, and arranged thereunder alphabetically by date of application.
A record of resignations and applications filed with the Office of the Adjutant
General to fill vacancies in military positions, appointments, and commissions.
Information usually found on the lists includes the individuals' names, ranks,
companies and regiments. Remarks about whether a soldier was mustered out, resigned,
or died are regularly recorded. At times the individuals' counties of residence
are also given.
Records of Drafted Men and Substitutes,
Including County and Township Draft Lists, Muster and Descriptive Rolls, and Lists
of Deserters and Conscientious Objectors,
[ca. 1862, 1864-1865].
(7
boxes)
{series #19.59} [Holdings]
Arranged by county and thereunder sequentially by date of entry.
Reports of draft commissioners giving number drafted, number of substitutes,
number exempted, number never reported, number volunteered in lieu of draft, number
deserted, aggregate number drafted, etc. by township. Boxes 6 and 7 contain forms
recording names of draftees and substitutes completed by the Provost Marshall's
Office, 1864-1865. Includes draft lists for Adams, Bedford, Chester, Clarion,
Cumberland, Dauphin, Elk, Greene, Lebanon, Lehigh, Lycoming, Monroe, Montgomery,
Tioga, Venango, Washington, and York counties for 1862. The militia draft for
Philadelphia City gives the names, numbers, ages, occupations and residences (street,
city ward, precinct) for drafted individuals.
Records
of the Reserve Brigade of the First Division of the Pennsylvania Militia During
the Schuylkill County Riots,
1862.
(1 folder)
{series #19.60}
[Holdings]
Entries are arranged
by rank or grade.
Included in these records is a certified copy of the
act approved on May 6, 1864 to pay troops of the Reserve Brigade of the 1st Division
of the Pennsylvania Militia who quelled draft riots in Schyulkill County during
May of 1862. Also found is a complete list of the names of the officers who served
and the amount of pay each received, as well as a detailed record of the compensation
disbursed to each enlisted man according to his rank or grade.
Records
of the State Arsenal,
1861-1873, 1883-1906.
(6 volumes, 4 folders)
{series #19.61} [Holdings]
Arranged chronologically.
Records of the issue of arms from the state
arsenal as well as an inventory of ordnance stores in 1863, and arms and ammunition
reports. In addition, the Time Books provide a record of the days and hours each
employee was present each month, the amount of pay per day, and the balances paid
to each employee. The Payroll of the State Arsenal provides a record of additional
amounts of pay provided for miscellaneous work performed beyond the regular pay
accrued.
Register of Applications for Pensions,
[ca. 1864-1868].
(1 volume)
{series #19.62} [Holdings]
Indexed by first letter of surname.
Ledger recording over 1,000
applicants for Civil War pensions between 1864 and 1868. Each entry provides the
name of the applicant, name of the soldier, rank, company, and regiments, the
date when and place where wounded or killed, the relationship of the applicant
to the soldier, the postal addresses of the applicant, and the date that the certificate
was filed. Remarks appear that indicate the dates on which payments were to commence.
Register of Militia and Volunteers,
1841-1844.
(1 volume)
{series #19.63} [Holdings]
Grouped by regiments and companies.
Registers of Pennsylvania
Militia and Volunteer Officers who served under Adjutant General Adam Diller during
the Mexican War. Listed by division and brigade, the volunteer companies and officers
are grouped by regiments and companies. Most are identified only with their rank
and name, though counties and post offices are given for some. The number of companies
are listed for each regiment. Also found are returns for re-numbering regiments
under a general order dated June 11, 1844.
Register
of Sick and Wounded Soldiers,
[ca. 1861-1865].
(1 volume)
{series #19.64} [Holdings]
Arranged
alphabetically by surname of soldier.
Ledger providing a record of sick
and wounded soldiers in Pennsylvania during 1862. Entries usually list the soldiers'
names, residences, companies and regiments; terms of service; places and names
of persons mustering them in; the diseases or impairments suffered; and the hospital
administering treatment. Written remarks regarding promotions, desertions, deaths,
and discharges are also frequently found as well.
Registers
of Pennsylvania Volunteers,
1861-1865.
(16 volumes)
{series
#19.65} [Holdings] [Images]
Arranged by rank, and then alphabetically by surname.
A record
of Pennsylvania Volunteers who served during the Civil War. Information normally
recorded includes the soldier's name, age, rank, regiment and company; the term
of his service; and the date, place, and name of the person who mustered in and
enrolled him. Written remarks regarding the promotion, desertion, death, or discharge
of the volunteer are frequently entered as well.
Registers
of Visitors at the Depository of State Battle Flags,
1876-1893.
(5
volumes)
{series #19.66} [Holdings]
Arranged chronologically by date of visit.
Provides the names,
dates, and places of residence in their own handwriting by visitors to the Depository
of State Battle Flags between 1876 and 1893.
Report
on the History of the Indiantown Gap Military Reservation,
1939.
(1
volume)
{series #19.241} [Holdings]
Arranged chronologically and thereunder by topic.
A report by
Brigadier General Edward Martin, Adjutant General of Pennsylvania, consisting
of a brief history of the development of Ft. Indiantown Gap, Annville, Pa., from
1931-1938. The report was submitted to the Military Reservation Commission and
is augmented by tables showing numbers of troops employed, land purchases, and
construction costs.
Report of the Total Strength of
the Ninety Day Militia,
1863.
(1 folder)
{series #19.67}
[Holdings]
Arranged numerically
by regiment.
Report covering each regiment giving the names of the commanding
officers and the communities from which each regiment was organized in response
to the Governor's Proclamation of June 26, 1863 to defend the Commonwealth against
invasion. There is also a list of unattached companies. The total strength was
23,907 enlisted men and 1,135 officers.
Requisition
and Army Record Book,
1840-1844.
(1 volume)
{series #19.68}
[Holdings]
Arranged chronologically
by date of entry.
Indexed by brigade and division.
A record
of the arms, military stores, and armories of Pennsylvania brigades who served
during the Mexican War. Entries identify the name of the commanding officer, the
number and kind of arms, and the township in which each armory was located. This
information is referenced by page number to the list of arms and militia stores
disbursed to each company. The individual companies are listed by their name along
with the date of issue and a breakdown of items issued as follows: field pieces
(6" or 4" pounders in either brass or iron), harnesses, muskets, bayonets, cartridge
boxes, bayonet scabbards and belts, rifles, powder horns, pouches, pistols, holsters,
cavalry swords and belts, artillery swords, carbines, tents and magazines, knapsacks,
haversacks, colours, drums, fifes, bugles, "cooper discipline," company armory,
camp kettles, and waist belts. Marginal notations sometimes describe the condition
of the arms or record other comments.
Requisition
Papers,
1850-1852, 1857-1861.
(1 box)
{series #19.69} [Holdings]
Arranged chronologically by date of requisition.
Original requisition
order forms recording requests for ordnance, cavalry arms, infantry arms, and
light infantry or rifle arms. In addition to identifying the items requisitioned,
information found includes the name of the officer to whom the requisition was
directed together with his brigade, division and company and the town, and county
to which the supplies were to be sent. Occasional handwritten requests for other
types of supplies are scattered through the files. The folder covering the year
1861 contains a large number of handwritten requisitions for clothing together
with the names of the captains to which it was sent.
Salary
Ledger,
1824-1843.
(1 volume)
{series #19.70} [Holdings]
Arranged chronologically by salary date.
Indexed by surname
of brigade inspectors.
A record of the amounts of annual salaries paid
to brigade inspectors for their service in the Pennsylvania Militia. The entries
provide both the dates when the salaries were due as well as the periods covered.
Sales Agreements,
1861-1862.
(1 folder)
{series #19.71} [Holdings]
Unarranged.
Articles of agreement between Adjutant General Edward
M. Biddle and various private merchants for the purchase of clothing, supplies,
conversion of muskets, and the National Colors (flags) for the United States Infantry.
Also included among the entries are charges for services such as packaging and
transportation.
Samples of Canvas, Uniforms and Hammocks,
undated
(1 folder)
{series #19.72} [Holdings]
Unarranged.
Samples of several pieces of wool, linen, canvas,
and muslin along with accompanying letters from contractors that were sent for
inspection to Quartermaster General R. C. Hale. The contractors' letters quote
prices for uniforms.
Selective Service Regulations,
Circular Letters and Bulletins,
1917-1919.
(1 carton)
{series
#19.73} [Holdings]
Arranged
chronologically.
Among the items in the series are three bound volumes
containing circular letters, bulletins, and samples of various selective service
forms issued from 1917 through 1919 by the Selective Service Headquarters in Harrisburg
by Major General William G. Murdock, State Draft Executive Officer under Pennsylvania
Adjutant General Frank D. Beary. Also included is Brigadier General Thomas J.
Stewart's bound copy of the Selective Service Regulations prescribed by the President
of the United States under the authority invested in him by the terms of the Selective
Service Law passed by congress on May 16, 1917.
Selective
Service Rosters for Army, Navy, and Marine Corps Inductees,
1917-1918.
(10 volumes)
{series 19.74} [Holdings]
Arranged in alphabetical order by name of county and thereunder in numerical
order by draft board number and draft order number.
A record of men inducted
into the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps by the selective service system in Pennsylvania.
Typed and bound manuscripts compiled by Major William G. Murdock, State Draft
Executive, for Brigadier General Frank D. Beary, Adjutant General of Pennsylvania.
Only Allegheny through Perry counties are covered by the records. Each "Final
Induction Report" includes the draft order number; name of registrant, date of
induction; call number; the post, station or camp; date of acceptance or rejection;
and, if needed, date of discharge for cases in which the applicant was discharged
after having been accepted at camp.
Sketches of Badges
to be Worn by Different Officers and Enlisted Men,
1863.
(1 folder)
{series #19.75} [Holdings]
Letter from Assistant Adjutant General Seth Williams dated March 21, 1863
regarding hat badges that designate corps (1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 11, and 12). Attached
are paper cutouts intended to serve as models for badges to be worn by the various
grades of officers and enlisted men. Each of the cutouts is labeled in ink with
the name of the color which the respective badge was to carry.
Spanish
American War Enrollment Cards,
1898.
(6 cartons)
{series
#19.76} [Holdings]
Arranged
alphabetically by surname of soldier.
These muster-in and muster-out
cards created in 1898 provide one of the earliest surviving records of enrollment
by Pennsylvania veterans who served in the Spanish American War. Information to
be found includes names, ranks, companies to which assigned, towns of residence,
dates enrolled, dates mustered in, and dates mustered out.
Spanish
American War Muster Rolls and Related Records,
1898.
(16 boxes, 12
folders)
{series #19.77} [Holdings]
Arranged by regiment, then by rank of officer. Thereunder entries for
privates are alphabetically by surname.
The records provide the following
type of muster rolls:
The mustered-in rolls provide name, rank, age,
height, weight, complexion, hair and eye color, occupation, residence, marital
status and signature of soldier; town and county and state or kingdom of birth,
when and where enlisted, and the addresses of parents or guardians if single.
Also found are the place mustered-in, period of enlistment, location of the station
of general rendezvous, the number of miles traveled to reach the rendezvous, and
the date of the muster. A remarks column provides information on physical disabilities
and the dates and ranks held when mustered in.
The mustered-out rolls
provide names; ranks; where, where, and by whom enrolled; when, were, and by whom
mustered into service; when last paid and until what date; amounts of subsistence
and forage; clothing amounts to the United States and to the soldier; and the
value of arms, equipment, stores, and equipage due to the United States. Additional
details are frequently provided in the remarks column and there is a final accounting
of pay and balances due. A remarks column provides information concerning physical
disabilities and changes in rank.
Spanish American
War Veterans Card File of United States Volunteers,
undated.
(1 drawer)
{series #19.78} [Holdings]
Arranged alphabetically by surname of soldier.
The card file of veterans
who participated in the Spanish-American War was created by the Office of the
Adjutant General in 1941 from information taken from the official records of the
United States War Department. Information found about each veteran includes name,
race, residence, place and date of birth, date and place of enlistment, military
organization to which attached, rank, and dates serving overseas in either Cuba
or the Philippines. Sometimes extensive comments at the bottom of the cards provide
information on the reasons for, and the type of, discharge as well as a record
of prior military service. Also included in the file are summary lists of the
names of Pennsylvania veterans determined to be eligible to file claims for pensions;
receive awards, medals or badges; or receive replacement discharge certificates
in lieu of a lost or destroyed certificates, in order to provide a record of death
or to receive Pennsylvania Veterans Compensation. Based upon the Veterans Compensation
Act, passed in 1934, it covers those who gave the State of Pennsylvania, or any
place within the Commonwealth, as his or her place of residence and who served
in World War I from 1917-1918, the Spanish-American War in 1898, the China Relief
Expedition, or the occupation of the Philippines or Guam from 1898 to 1902.
Spanish American War Veterans Compensation File,
circa 1934.
(35 cartons)
{series #19.79} [Holdings] [Images]
Arranged alphabetically by surname.
The file was created by the State Adjutant General's Office in 1934. Based upon
the Veterans Compensation Act, passed in 1934, it covers those who gave the
State of Pennsylvania, or any place within the Commonwealth, as his or her place
of residence and who served in World War I from 1917-1918, the Spanish-American
War in 1898, the China Relief Expedition, or the occupation of the Philippines
or Guam from 1898 to 1902. Included in the file are the following documents:
Veterans Compensation Applications normally provide names, races, legal residences on entry, current residences, where and when enlisted, places and dates of birth, names of dependents, organizations to which attached and dates of service, grades or ratings with dates of appointments or promotions, engagements involved in, dates of any wounds or injuries received, dates served overseas, and the dates and places of discharge. Also noted is whether a veteran ever applied for compensation before or ever refused military duty on conscientious, political, or other grounds. The notarized forms are signed by the applicants, the officers administering the oath, and a local notaries public.
Verification of Service and Bonus Payments. Consists of forms that normally give the soldiers' names, ranks, companies and regiments, the dates mustered-in and out, the dates of enrollment, and the application numbers.
Spanish
American War Veterans Compensation File for Soldiers with Disapproved Residence,
1934.
(2 cartons)
{series #19.80} [Holdings]
Arranged alphabetically by surname of veteran.
Consists of Veterans
Compensation Applications for soldiers having disapproved residences. Based upon
the Veterans Compensation Act, passed in 1934, it covers those who gave the State
of Pennsylvania, or any place within the Commonwealth, as his or her place of
residence and who served in World War I from 1917-1918, the Spanish-American War
in 1898, the China Relief Expedition, or the occupation of the Philippines or
Guam from 1898 to 1902.
The notarized applications provide each soldier's name, race, legal residence at the time of induction and current residence; date and location where enlisted, commissioned, or inducted; date and place of birth; names and addresses of dependents; the dates of service in various military organizations, stations, or vessels; grades or ratings achieved together with dates of appointments or promotions; engagements served in; dates of wounds or other injuries; and the date and place where honorably discharged. The forms also provide information as to whether the veteran had received a bonus or veteran's compensation and documents any refusal to perform full military duty on conscientious, political, or other grounds. The forms are signed by the applicants, the officer administering the oath, and the local justice of the peace attesting to the identity of the applicant.
Special
Returns Relating to Enrollment,
1861-1866, & undated.
(1 box)
{series #19.81} [Holdings]
Grouped by type of return.
Among the items in this miscellaneous
group of records are:
Lists of Pennsylvania Regiments, Batteries, and Independent
Companies that provide the name of the original commander, present commander,
and the branch of service (infantry, cavalry, or artillery). Some lists provide,
in addition to the name of the colonel, the brigade to which the company was assigned,
and, where appropriate, the new brigade and/or company officer assignment.
Lists of Persons Liable for Military Duty by County together with occasional
lists the names of military delinquents under the call of 1861.
Lists
of Companies Organized Under the Call of December 19, 1864 provide the names of
officers, counties of residence, and where each was assigned.
Statement
showing the number of men organized and marched to the defense of the border in
September, 1862.
Lists of County Quotas show the number of men in service
and the additional number required or number in excess of the quota.
Alphabetical
roll of the 32nd and 25th U.S.C.T.
Guard reports for miscellaneous locations
for 1863 and 1864 give the names of the prisoners, their companies and regiments,
the dates when they were confined, by whom, the charges, and the status of the
sentences. Also to be found is a list of troop strength for each company, including
casualties, that was compiled in 1898.
Enrollment documents from each county
in Pennsylvania, 1862-1865.
Speeches
of Adjutant General William B. Lynch,
1999-2003.
(11 folders)
{series #19.224} [Holdings]
Grouped
chronologically by year, and thereunder arranged in rough chronological order..
Speeches and remarks
given by Adjutant General William B. Lynch at various conferences, ceremonies,
dedications, parades, and other activities during his tenure. Occasions spoken
at include the 80th Annual VFW State Convention, the 28th Division Memorial Service
Ceremony, the Deed Transfer Ceremony for the Army Heritage Center in Carlisle,
the Pennsylvania American Legion POW/MIA Remembrance Day, the 1999 Pearl Harbor
Memorial Day Service, the 2000 Disabled Veterans of America State Convention,
the 2002 Annville Memorial Day Parade, and the Philadelphia Stand Down program.
Also included are an introduction of Governor Mark Schweiker and statements before
the Senate Appropriations Committee.
Substitutes'
Depositions,
1862.
(2 boxes)
{series #19.82} [Holdings]
Grouped by county.
Depositions of drafted men who were refused
substitutes because they had already been sworn into service, depositions by substitutes
swearing to assume and perform all duties and obligations, and depositions for
substitutes by individuals for whom they substituted. Information appearing includes
the substitutes' names, signatures, townships, and counties; the dates; and the
names of the persons for whom the substitute was acting as surrogate.
Supply
Ledger,
1839-1842.
(1 volume)
{series #19.83} [Holdings]
Arranged chronologically by date of entry.
Indexed by surnames
of the brigade inspectors.
A ledger of returns forwarded by individual
brigade inspectors of the Pennsylvania Militia for military supplies such as cannons,
muskets, rifles, pistols, holsters, cartridge boxes, powder horns, swords, and
colors.
Tables of Quotas for the Militia,
1861.
(1 folder)
{series #19.84} [Holdings]
Two printed quota tables dated April 15 and April 17, 1861. These quotas
for each state were established by Congress in 1861 under the authority established
by a 1795 act empowering Congress to call out the militia to execute the laws
of the Union, suppress insurrections, and repel invasion. The printed forms are
signed by United States Secretary of War Simon Cameron and addressed to Pennsylvania
Governor Andrew G. Curtin. The quotas specify the numbers of each type of officer,
surgeon, musician, and enlisted man to be called up.
Tailoring
Department Cash Books,
1898-1907.
(2 volumes)
{series #19.85}
[Holdings]
Entries are arranged
chronologically.
Contain monthly statements of the receipts and expenditures
of the Tailoring Department commencing on July 25, 1898 and running through 1907.
The dated entries provide the order number and quantity required of blouses, trousers,
overcoats, stripes, or labor; the warrant number for each order; and the cash
amount. Also found are the names of individuals to whom payments were made.
Undelivered Discharge Certificates,
1918-1919.
(1 folder)
{series #19.86} [Holdings]
Arranged alphabetically by surname of soldier.
Consists of
several discharges for soldiers attached to the United States Army during World
War I. Entries on the certificates give the soldiers' names, ranks, serial numbers,
military units, birthplaces, ages (at enlistment), occupations, physical descriptions
(height, complexion, eye and hair color), physical condition, and marital status;
the dates and places where enlisted and discharged; the reasons for discharge;
and the names of the persons processing the discharges. Particulars about wounds
received in service, battles participated in and vocational knowledge possessed
are also noted.
Unit Personnel Orders File,
1925-1975.
(28 cartons, 1 box)
{series #19.87} [Holdings]
Arranged chronologically by date of unit order.
Contains special
orders issued by the Headquarters of the 28th Division of the Pennsylvania National
Guard in Philadelphia to various military units around the state. The contents
generally concern the assignment of unit officers and orders for unit officer
candidates to report for examinations. Personal information frequently found includes
the names and addresses of candidates for promotion, the ranks to which they were
to be promoted, and the name of the unit to which they were to be assigned. From
the 1950s forward the series also contains many general training memoranda.
United States Army Signal Corps Telegrams,
1919.
(1 box)
{series #19.88} [Holdings]
Unarranged.
These telegrams addressed to 28th Division Headquarters
in France frequently request information on the causes of death and the locations
of graves of Pennsylvania soldiers who died in combat. Detailed handwritten notations
on the telegrams often provide very considerable information on the precise location
of graves, when and where a soldier was wounded or killed, and the name of the
chaplain who was present. Such notations also document when soldiers were missing
in action.
United States Service Roster and Index
for National Guard Commissioned Officers,
1898.
(2 volumes)
{series #19.89} [Holdings]
Arranged
by regiment and company.
A separate alphabetical name index accompanies
the roster.
A roster of the commissioned officers of regiments of the
Pennsylvania National Guard mustered into the services of the United States during
the Spanish-American War. The roster provides the officers names, ranks, dates
the ranks were held from, dates of the commissions, and the officers' counties
of residence. Marginal notations provide information on promotions, resignations,
and discharges due to physical or other disabilities.
Veterans
Organization Files,
1950-1994.
(2 cartons, 1 box)
{series
#19.228} [Holdings]
Aranged by veterans orginazation and thereafter arranged chronologically.
Minutes
and proceedings of various state veterans' organizations, including the American
Legion, the Marine Corps League, Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign
Wars, and the Department of Pennsylvania. Records relating to the state veterans'
homes are also included.
Vietnam
Conflict Naval Logs,
1966-1977.
(1
box)
{series
#19.248} [Holdings] [RESTRICTED]
Arranged
alphabetically by name of vessel.
Naval logs from Pennsylvania seamen
and sailors that were likely used for verification of service for the Pennsylvania
Vietnam Bonus Program. Each log includes name of seaman, address, social security
number, name of vessel served on, dates of entry and seperation from service,
dates of departure and return of vessel, and action taken with regards to the
state bonus. Occasionally, additional notes or information about the vessel's
service in foreign waters is included. Two folders include vessels that had specific
or special assignments, including attack squadrons, fighter squadrons, patrol
squadrons, and clearence units.
Note: These records are currently RESTRICTED due to the presence of social security numbers. Please contact the Pennsylvania State Archives if you have questions about this series.
Vietnam
Conflict Prisoner of War (POW) Compensation Files,
1969-1976.
(2 boxes)
{series #19.245} [Holdings] [RESTRICTED]
Arranged
alphabetically by surname of soldier applicant.
The
Vietnam POW Compensation law signed by Governor Shapp provided compensation to
certain Pennsylvanians who served in the military, naval, or air forces of the
United States during the Vietnam Conflict. It defined a prisoner of war as any
member of the armed forces of the United States who was a prisoner of the North
Vietnamese Army, the Vietcong or their allies during the Vietnam Conflict. The
program was extended to personnel listed as Missing in Action (MIA). An MIA noted
to have died in captivity typically had their status changed from MIA to POW,
even if the United States government never officially noted the change on the
soldier's service record. Compensation for a returning prisoner of war veteran
was $1000. A soldier could apply for both the Vietnam War POW Bonus and the Vietnam
Conflict Veterans Bonus Compensation.
Included in each soldier packet in this series is the application for veterans' compensation, certified mail receipt, and a welcome home letter from Pennsylvania Adjutant General Harold Wells. The information on the application includes the soldier's name and address, branch of service, social security number, selective service number, rank, present military status; name of military orginization or unit; name and address of beneficiaries, parents, spouse and children (if any), dates of military service, and report of casualty. The report of casualty lists the report number; date of preparation of the report, casualty status, and a detailed report of the casualty situation. An accompanying document provides more specific information on the incident that led to the soldier's capture by the enemy forces. Some applicants' files contain additional records, such as correspondence, memos and newspaper clippings detailing the soldier's experiences as a prisoner of war. Other files included among the series are listings of POWs & MIAs.
Note:
Due to the presence of social security numbers, these records are currently RESTRICTED
to Veterans' Agencies and to individual veterans seeking access to their own
records. Please contact the Pennsylvania State Archives if you have questions
about this series. Vietnam Conflict Veterans Compensation Files, Indexed externally, alphabetically
by name of veteran, by {series #19.194}, the
Index to Vietnam Conflict Veterans Compensation File, 1969-1978. (3 cartons
and 2 volumes) Documents filed in this series include the actual
application forms for veterans' compensation, along with service verification
data and related correspondence filed with the Vietnam Conflict Veterans Compensation
Bureau. Vietnam Conflict
Veterans Compensation Files (Pending), Arranged
alphabetically by surname of soldier applicant. This
series contains pending applications, or those place on hold, from servicemen
that applied for the Vietnam Bonus. Reasons applications were placed on hold or
not completed were typically one or more of the following: no DD-214, no statement
of Pennslyvania residency, no verification of service from the National Personnel
Record Center, no notarization of application, or an incomplete application. Many
of these applications were eventually completed and the veteran was granted their
bonus. Their completed application can be found in Vietnam Conflict Veterans
Compensation File (series 19.195). Some applications were placed on hold for
the duartion of the bonus program or rejected after proper documentation was not
submitted.
1969-1978.
(411 cartons)
{series #19.195} [Holdings]
[RESTRICTED]
Grouped numerically by batch number.
Pennsylvanians voted in favor of the Vietnam War Bonus
in a referendum on, November 5, 1968. No constitutional amendment was needed for
the funding of this bonus, due to changes in the Constitution approved in April,
1968. Filing by veterans for this bonus began in September 1969 and the final
date to file was March 28, 1977. $56 million dollars were paid to 193,869 veterans.
Service dates that were eligible for this bonus were July 1, 1958 to March 28,
1973. discharged veterans were paid at the rate of $25 per month of service in
the Vietnam theatre of operation, not to exceed $750. Only time spent in the Vietnam
theatre, or in hospitals outside of the Vietnam theatre due to wounds or diseases
sustained in the Vietnam theatre, was compensated. Prisoners of War (POWs), soldiers
missing in Action (MIAs)s and those veterans who were killed or died in service
or their beneficiaries were entitled to payment of $1000. The Vietnam Veterans'
Compensation Fund was closed and the remaining money transferred to the state's
General Fund on May 25, 1989. The Vietnam bonus program records are the only records
that the State Archives has that still include copies of veterans' final discharge
papers or DD-214s. (DD-214s from Koreas were destroyed by the 1972 Hurricane Agnes
flood, and during the World War II bonus, DD-214's were verified and then mailed
back to the veterans.)
Information provided on the applications includes: present military
status; whether awarded the Vietnam Service Medal; branch of service; legal residence
immediately prior to induction; name of last military organization; selective
service number; veterans administration claim number; gender; name and address;
service serial numbers; number of months of Vietnam service; dates of Vietnam
service; names and addresses of beneficiaries; name, address, and age of minor
children; name and address of living mother and father; and notarized signature
of applicant.
The service verification data, in the majority of cases,
is from an Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge (DD214).
Information provided by Form DD214 includes: name; service number; social security
number; department component and branch or class; grade rate or rank; pay grade;
date of rank; citizenship status; place of birth; selective service local board
number; city, county, state, and zip code; date inducted; type of transfer or
discharge; station or installation at which effected; reason and authority; effective
date; last duty assignment and major command; character of service; type of certificate
issued; district area command to which reservist transferred; reenlistment code;
terminal date of reserve obligations; current active service other than by induction;
term of service; date of entry; prior regular enlistments; grade rate or rank
at time of entry into current active service; place of entry into current active
service; home of record at time of entry into active service; statement of service;
specialty number and title; related civilian occupation; decorations, medals,
badges, commendations and campaign ribbons awarded or authorized; education and
training completed; non-pay periods time lost; days accrued leave paid; and signature
of discharged person and signature of authorizing officer.
Note:
Due to the presence of social security numbers, these records are currently RESTRICTED
to Veterans' Agencies and to individual veterans seeking access to their own
records. Please contact the Pennsylvania State Archives if you have questions
about this series.
1968-1978.
(2
cartons)
{series
#19.260} [Holdings] [RESTRICTED]
Pennsylvanians voted in
favor of the Vietnam War Bonus in a referendum on, November 5, 1968. No constitutional
amendment was needed for the funding of this bonus, due to changes in the Constitution
approved in April, 1968. Filing by veterans for this bonus began in September
1969 and the final date to file was March 28, 1977. $56 million dollars were paid
to 193,869 veterans. Service dates that were eligible for this bonus were July
1, 1958 to March 28, 1973. discharged veterans were paid at the rate of $25 per
month of service in the Vietnam theatre of operation, not to exceed $750. Only
time spent in the Vietnam theatre, or in hospitals outside of the Vietnam theatre
due to wounds or diseases sustained in the Vietnam theatre, was compensated. Prisoners
of War (POWs), soldiers missing in Action (MIAs)s and those veterans who were
killed or died in service or their beneficiaries were entitled to payment of $1000.
The Vietnam Veterans' Compensation Fund was closed and the remaining money transferred
to the state's General Fund on May 25, 1989. The Vietnam bonus program records
are the only records that the State Archives has that still include copies of
veterans' final discharge papers or DD-214s. (DD-214s from Koreas were destroyed
by the 1972 Hurricane Agnes flood, and during the World War II bonus, DD-214's
were verified and then mailed back to the veterans.)
Types
of documents filed in this series include the actual application forms for veterans'
compensation, along with service verification data and related correspondence
filed with the Vietnam Conflict Veterans Compensation Bureau.
Information
provided on the applications includes: present military status; whether awarded
the Vietnam Service Medal; branch of service; legal residence immediately prior
to induction; name of last military organization; selective service number; veterans
administration claim number; gender; name and address; service serial numbers;
number of months of Vietnam service; dates of Vietnam service; names and addresses
of beneficiaries; name, address, and age of minor children; name and address of
living mother and father; and notarized signature of applicant.
Note:
Due to the presence of social security numbers, these records are currently RESTRICTED
to Veterans' Agencies and to individual veterans seeking access to their own
records. Please contact the Pennsylvania State Archives if you have questions
about this series.
Arranged
alphabetically by surname of soldier applicant.
Pennsylvanians voted in favor
of the Vietnam War Bonus in a referendum on, November 5, 1968. No constitutional
amendment was needed for the funding of this bonus, due to changes in the Constitution
approved in April, 1968. Filing by veterans for this bonus began in September
1969 and the final date to file was March 28, 1977. $56 million dollars were paid
to 193,869 veterans. Service dates that were eligible for this bonus were July
1, 1958 to March 28, 1973. discharged veterans were paid at the rate of $25 per
month of service in the Vietnam theatre of operation, not to exceed $750. Only
time spent in the Vietnam theatre, or in hospitals outside of the Vietnam theatre
due to wounds or diseases sustained in the Vietnam theatre, was compensated. Prisoners
of War (POWs), soldiers missing in Action (MIAs)s and those veterans who were
killed or died in service or their beneficiaries were entitled to payment of $1000.
The Vietnam Veterans' Compensation Fund was closed and the remaining money transferred
to the state's General Fund on May 25, 1989. The Vietnam bonus program records
are the only records that the State Archives has that still include copies of
veterans' final discharge papers or DD-214s. (DD-214s from Koreas were destroyed
by the 1972 Hurricane Agnes flood, and during the World War II bonus, DD-214's
were verified and then mailed back to the veterans.)
This series contains rejected applications from servicemen that applied for the Vietnam Bonus. Reasons for rejection were typically one or more of the following reasons: no active service in the Vietnam Theatre of Operations, less than 15 days of service in the Vietnam Theatre, not awarded the Vietnam Service Medal, discharged under other than honorable conditions, home of record on DD-214 is not Pennsylvania, or time served in Vietnam was after the cutoff date of March 28, 1973.
The applicant files in this series include a letter from the Pennsylvania Bureau for Veterans' Affairs providing an explanation of why the application was rejected, the application for veterans' compensation, the DD-214, and any related correspondence. Some applicant files contain additional military documentation.
Information
provided on the applications includes: present military status; whether awarded
the Vietnam Service Medal; branch of service; legal residence immediately prior
to induction; name of last military organization; selective service number; veterans
administration claim number; gender; name and address; service serial numbers;
number of months of Vietnam service; dates of Vietnam service; names and addresses
of beneficiaries; name, address, and age of minor children; name and address of
living mother and father; and notarized signature of applicant.
Note:
Due to the presence of social security numbers, these records are currently RESTRICTED
to Veterans' Agencies and to individual veterans seeking access to their own
records. Please contact the Pennsylvania State Archives if you have questions
about this series.
World War I Veterans
Military Service Discharge Papers,
circa 1919.
(34 items)
{series #19.90} [Holdings]
Arranged
alphabetically by surname of veteran.
A miscellaneous file of undelivered
and returned discharge certificates. The records generally provide the veterans'
names, ratings earned, dates enlisted, periods of enlistment, training acquired,
and ratings on such matters as sobriety, obedience, and average standing during
the term of enlistment. A description section provides the date and place of birth,
age, height and weight, hair and eye color, complexion, personal distinguishing
characteristics, and the percentage of time on the sick list. Returned certificates
sometimes have the original envelopes attached with the reason for the return
or letters from the veteran requesting information about additional pay or benefits
for which they believed themselves to be eligible.
World
War I Veterans Service and Compensation File,
1917-1919, 1934-1948.
(555 cartons)
{series #19.91}
Arranged by service branch
and thereunder alphabetically by surname of veteran.
The file contains
service records consisting of Service Statement Cards, Compensation Applications
and War Service Record survey questionnaires filled out by World War I veterans
in 1920 for the Pennsylvania War History Commission. An "Out of State" category
also exists for persons who applied to the Commonwealth for a bonus but were unable
to substantiate Pennsylvania residency. Any of the following may be found:
Service Statement Cards. Entries may show the name, rank, serial number,
race, birthplace, age (and sometimes date of birth), and residence of the veteran;
the military organization or unit to which he was attached; the dates of assignments
and transfers; the engagements served in; the date of any wounds received; and
the dates of overseas service and discharge.
Compensation Applications.
Entries normally provide such information as the name, rank, serial number, race,
date and place of birth, legal residence at time of application and enlistment,
places and dates where enrolled and discharged, and the period of service. Data
concerning engagements involved in, wounds suffered, dates of service overseas,
and the names and addresses of dependents are also included. The documents are
signed and dated by the applicant.
War Service Record of Soldiers, Sailors
and Marines consist of survey questionnaires filled out by World War I veterans
in 1920 for the Pennsylvania War History Commission. Normally the questionnaire
gives the name; postal address and county of residence; age and at entry into
service; date of entry into service; and the military unit, regiment, and company
to which attached. Information about the veteran's next of kin, their address,
and relationship; and particulars regarding dates and places of residence since
the beginning of service are also provided.
World War I Service Medal Application Cards,
circa 1938-1950.
(2 cartons)
{series #19.196} [Holdings] [Images]
Arranged alphabetically by name of veteran.
These cards were originally submitted
by veterans and their survivors who applied for service medals in accordance with
the Act of April 21, 1937, P.L. 331, Sections 1 and 2. Information provided about
each veteran consists of name and serial number, place of residence at time of
entry into service, date and place the veteran entered into service, rank, military
unit to which attached, place and date of honorable discharge, and the sugnature
of the applicant. Also present are the initials of the person by whom the remittance
was received and of the person acting on behalf of the Adjutant General, and each
card is stamped with the date of approval. The reverse side of each card shows
the name of the veteran or survivor applying for the medal, and the residence
to which the medal was to be mailed.
World
War II Fiftieth Anniversary Commemoration Files,
1943-1997.
(1 carton, 2 boxes)
{series #19.225} [Holdings]
Arranged alphabetically by subject.
Press Office files concerning the 50th Anniversary
World War II Commemoration, the 50th Anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge, relevant
battle reenactments, and other related events to the commemoration of the 50th
Anniversary of World War II. These events were held at the state level as well
as at the federal level. Included among the records are newspaper clippings; correspondence;
press releases; minutes of the commemoration committees; photographs; publications
related to World War II and specific battles, such as the Battle of the Bulge,
the Ardennes, D-Day, and the North African campaign; fact sheets on various topics
of World War II put out by the United States Department of Defense; memoranda;
faxes; and fliers and advertisements. Also included are files related to the famed
28th Infantry Division and their role in World War II. Among these files are histories
of the division, photographs, and listings of burial locations of numerous members
of the division. The 28th Infantry Division, primarily a Pennsylvania based unit,
saw heavy fighting during the war and participated in the assault on the beaches
of Normandy.
World War II Veterans Compensation
Applications,
circa 1950.
(3,082 cartons)
{series #19.92}
[Holdings]
Arranged alphabetically
according to surname of veteran.
A record of Pennsylvania veterans who
applied for the World War II bonus provided for by the Act of June 1, 1947 (P.L.
565). Information contained on the applications includes the names, signatures,
residences, birth dates, places of birth, sex and serial numbers of the individuals;
the dates of domestic and foreign service rendered; the branches of the service
enlisted in; the dates and places where the applicants entered and left active
service; the applicants' residences at the time of their enlistment; the names
and locations of the applicants' draft boards; the dates the applications were
received and processed; the amounts of compensation awarded; and the names and
residences of the veteran's beneficiaries, living parents and dependents. The
applications, which are notarized and dated, also record the ages of dependents,
whether the persons were still on active duty in the armed forces, and whether
they had ever received sea duty pay or a bonus before. At times, remarks appear
that indicate why some applications were rejected.
Militia service in Pennsylvania
dates from the first Associators in 1747 which consisted military units formed
by draft or conscription to meet temporary emergencies. In 1818 the Pennsylvania
Legislature brought into existence permanent organized companies of the National
Guard which consisted of volunteers who provided their own uniforms. Following
the Railroad Strike of 1877, General John F. Hartranft reorganized the Pennsylvania
National Guard on a more professional footing with training closely modeled on
that provided to the United States Army. The Pennsylvania National Guard today
constitutes the organized, Federally recognized militia of the Commonwealth of
which the Governor serves as Commander-in-Chief. The Pennsylvania National Guard
provides trained personnel and units organized and equipped to function effectively
in saving lives, protecting property, maintaining law and order, and public safety
when coping with emergencies beyond the capability of civil authorities.
Emergency equipment stored at armories throughout the Commonwealth can be issued
on short notice and transported to any section within a matter of hours. The troop
list of the Pennsylvania National Guard includes infantry, armor, armored cavalry,
field artillery, engineer, ordnance, transportation, signal, chemical, finance,
aviation, public affairs, and medical units.
The Pennsylvania Reserve Militia
and the Pennsylvania State Guard were formed to provide domestic defense for the
Commonwealth when the Pennsylvania National Guard was sent overseas during the
First and Second World Wars respectively. Prior to the Act of Assembly of May
3, 1943 the Pennsylvania State Guard was known as the Pennsylvania Reserve Defense
Corps. Among this record group are also found records of the State Armory Board,
an administrative board within the Department of Military Affairs consisting of
the Adjutant General and five members appointed by the Adjutant General. The board
is responsible for the management, regulation, and operation of armories serving
Pennsylvania's military forces.
Account Book,
1910-1914.
(1 volume)
{series #19.93} [Holdings]
Entries are arranged chronologically by date of account.
Indexed
internally, alphabetically by name of account.
A record of accounts paid
to individuals and businesses in Lebanon, Harrisburg, and Gettysburg for services
and supplies used at encampments of the National Guard of Pennsylvania held at
both Mt. Gretna and Gettysburg. Includes the accounts for the 50th Anniversary
Celebration of the Battle of Gettysburg held in 1913.
Alphabetical
List of Pennsylvania Reserve Militia,
undated.
(1 folder)
{series #19.94} [Holdings]
Arranged
alphabetically by surname of reservist.
A typed list providing the name,
company, and regiment of each person who served as a member of the Pennsylvania
Reserve Militia during World War I.
Bond Books,
1878-1901.
(2 volumes)
{series #19.95} [Holdings]
Arranged chronologically by date bond was issued.
Indexed internally,
alphabetically by surname of bondholder.
Records of bonds for military
property issued to the commanding officers of the regiments of the Pennsylvania
National Guard. Information provided in each bond book includes the names and
regiments of individuals to whom the bonds were issued, the names of all individuals
who served as sureties for the bonds, the towns and counties of residence, and
the value of the bonds (usually $1,000). Appended notations also provide the dates
when bonds were canceled and returned. Also found, is a complete listing of the
articles covered by the bonds such as arms chests, bayonets, blouses and trousers,
caps, cartridge boxes, haversacks, infantry equipment, meat ration cans, scabbards,
rifles, and waist belts. A remark section records when property was transferred
to another commanding officer and regiment. The volume commencing in 1886 is somewhat
more detailed, containing a preprinted grid for the various types of ordnance,
quartermaster, books, and rifles. Entries identify the date, order number, and
individual (generally the Adjutant General) from whom the stores were received.
A separate page accounting for the disposition provides invoice numbers and the
names of the persons to whom the stores were issued.
Company
Record Books,
1890-1916.
(86 volumes, 1 folder)
{series #19.96}
[Holdings]
Arranged by regiment
and company, and thereunder chronologically by date of enlistment.
A
record of the company roll; drills, parades, and marksmanship; types of state
property issued; and of company, regimental, brigade, division, and headquarters
orders; both general and special. The roll books provide the names of each individual
present at each drill and a remark column contains notes recording promotions,
transfers, special duty service, and discharges.
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