US Military Basic Search Strategies: Difference between revisions
(Changed "Rating" to "Content".) |
|||
| (One intermediate revision by one other user not shown) | |||
| Line 72: | Line 72: | ||
== Step 4. Find and Search the Record == | == Step 4. Find and Search the Record == | ||
===Online Records== | ===Online Military Records=== | ||
Many United States military records are online and should be searched first. The [[United States Online Genealogy Records]] page lists online indexes and images for most wars and military service in the United States before 1950. | Many United States military records are online and should be searched first. The [[United States Online Genealogy Records]] page lists online indexes and images for most wars and military service in the United States before 1950. | ||
*[[United States Online Genealogy Records]] | *'''[[United States Online Genealogy Records]]''' | ||
===Original Records at Repositories=== | ===Original Records at Repositories=== | ||
| Line 97: | Line 97: | ||
The [[National Archives and Records Administration|National Archives]] does not perform research for patrons. When exact identifying information is given, the Archives can furnish photocopies of records for a fee. You can order photocopies of compiled service records, pension application files, and bounty land warrant application files from the National Archives at [http://www.archives.gov/forms Order Copies of Veteran Records]. The address is: | The [[National Archives and Records Administration|National Archives]] does not perform research for patrons. When exact identifying information is given, the Archives can furnish photocopies of records for a fee. You can order photocopies of compiled service records, pension application files, and bounty land warrant application files from the National Archives at [http://www.archives.gov/forms Order Copies of Veteran Records]. The address is: | ||
{{Block indent|[http://www.nara.gov General Reference Branch (NNRG)] <br> }} | |||
{{Block indent|National Archives and Records Administration <br> }} | |||
{{Block indent|8th and Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. <br> }} | |||
{{Block indent|Washington, D.C. 20408 <br> }} | |||
{{Block indent|Telephone: 202-501-5400}} | |||
The archives staff will copy only selected documents unless you request copies of all the documents in the file. | The archives staff will copy only selected documents unless you request copies of all the documents in the file. | ||
| Line 115: | Line 115: | ||
'''''U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center''''' | '''''U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center''''' | ||
{{Block indent|[https://ahec.armywarcollege.edu/ U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center]}} | |||
{{Block indent|950 Soldiers Drive}} | |||
{{Block indent|Carlisle, PA 17013-5021}} | |||
{{Block indent|USAHEC Information Desk: 717-245-3972}} | |||
{{Block indent|Research Assistance: 717-245-3949 / 3660<br>}} | |||
<br> | <br> | ||
{{Block indent|The U.S. Army War College Library is a part of the U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center:}} | |||
{{Block indent|122 Forbes Avenue}} | |||
{{Block indent|Carlisle, PA 17013-5220}} | |||
{{Block indent|[https://ahec.armywarcollege.edu/visit.cfm Visiting and contact information]}} | |||
<br><br> | <br><br> | ||
'''''National Personnel Records Center.''''' Federal military records for twentieth century service that are not available at the National Archives may be located at the National Personnel Records Center. The address is: | '''''National Personnel Records Center.''''' Federal military records for twentieth century service that are not available at the National Archives may be located at the National Personnel Records Center. The address is: | ||
{{Block indent|[http://www.archives.gov/st-louis/ National Personnel Records Center] (Military Personnel Records) <br> }} | |||
{{Block indent|9700 Page Boulevard <br> }} | |||
{{Block indent|St. Louis, MO 63132}} | |||
{{Block indent|Army Reference Branch <br> }} | |||
{{Block indent|Telephone: 314-538-4261 <br>Air Force Reference Branch <br>Telephone: 314-538-4243}} | |||
{{Block indent|Navy Reference Branch (includes Marine Corps and Coast Guard) <br> }} | |||
{{Block indent|Telephone: 314-538-4141}} | |||
'''Index to Records'''<br> | '''Index to Records'''<br> | ||
| Line 153: | Line 153: | ||
In 1973, a fire destroyed about 80 percent of the records for Army officers and enlisted men discharged from 1912 to 1959. About 75 percent of the records of the Air Force from 1947 to 1963 (surnames Hubbard through Z) were destroyed. For more information on the available records contact: | In 1973, a fire destroyed about 80 percent of the records for Army officers and enlisted men discharged from 1912 to 1959. About 75 percent of the records of the Air Force from 1947 to 1963 (surnames Hubbard through Z) were destroyed. For more information on the available records contact: | ||
{{Block indent|Records Reconstruction Branch <br> }} | |||
{{Block indent|Telephone: 314-538-4261}} | |||
'''''State and Local Archives.''''' State archives, state adjutant general’s offices, historical societies, courthouses, and libraries may have records of citizens who served in militia and National Guard units. See the '''Archives and Libraries''' state Wiki pages for more information. The following book contains addresses of state adjutant general offices: | '''''State and Local Archives.''''' State archives, state adjutant general’s offices, historical societies, courthouses, and libraries may have records of citizens who served in militia and National Guard units. See the '''Archives and Libraries''' state Wiki pages for more information. The following book contains addresses of state adjutant general offices: | ||
Latest revision as of 09:56, 20 August 2025
Step 1. Identify an Ancestor You Wish to Find in Military Records[edit | edit source]See also Basic US Military Records in the FamilySearch Learning Center. Begin your research with family and home sources. You may already know of ancestors who were in the military. You may find evidence that an ancestor served in the military from family traditions, census records, naturalization records, biographies, cemetery records, or records of veterans organizations. You may find an ancestor in a federal military record if he:
If you do not know if your ancestor served in the military, the year of birth may indicate the possibility. Most people who were in the military were between 18 and 30 years of age. Use the war chronology below to see if your ancestor could have served during wartime. The major wars of the colonial period are:
The major wars of the national period are:
| |
People who did not serve during a war may have served during peacetime. During the colonial period, most able-bodied men between the ages of 16 and 60 were expected to participate in a local militia unit. These units were organized either by town, county, or province. The militia’s main role was local defense.
After the Revolutionary War, each state retained some form of militia, though in the years before the Civil War, many of these organizations fell into disuse. These volunteer units were the forerunners of today’s National Guard.
Write down what you already know, including the following:
- War. It is important to know when an ancestor served in the military. First determine the war or time period in which he may have served. Remember that during the Revolutionary and Civil Wars, Americans served on opposite sides of the conflicts.
- State. Your ancestor may have served in a local, state, or federal unit. You can best search military records if you know at least the state where he was living when he was of age to serve in the military.
- Branch of service and rank. It is helpful to know the branch of service (Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard) he may have served in and whether he was an officer or an enlisted man.
- Regiment. Many service records are arranged by the military unit, such as regiment. Regiments and companies were often composed of people from the same community or county. Knowing the regiment can sometimes help you determine where an individual was from.
In most cases, you can learn the unit from sources at the FamilySearch Library, such as service and pension indexes, regimental or unit histories, county histories, or tombstone inscriptions. Home sources, such as photographs, discharge papers, pension records, or records of membership in a veteran organization, may also provide clues.
Step 2. Decide What You Want to Learn[edit | edit source]
Decide what information you want to know about your ancestor, such as his or her birth date and place, service record, spouse, marriage date, or burial place.
Step 3. Select a Record to Search[edit | edit source]
Several factors can affect your choice of which records to search. These Wiki pages can help you evaluate which specific military record would be most helpful. If you know the unit, it is usually best to begin with pension files, since they usually have the most information on the soldier’s family. If you do not know your ancestor’s military unit, you may need to first identify the ancestor in service records.
See Types of Military Records to learn about the various military records used for family history research. The Record Finder can also help you decide which records to search.
See also Finding a World War II (1939-1945) Veteran's Records for an example of various records that might be available about military veterans.
Step 4. Find and Search the Record[edit | edit source]
Online Military Records[edit | edit source]
Many United States military records are online and should be searched first. The United States Online Genealogy Records page lists online indexes and images for most wars and military service in the United States before 1950.
Original Records at Repositories[edit | edit source]
This step describes the major archives that have U.S. military records. When one of these institutions is referred to elsewhere in this set of Wiki pages, return to this step for the address.
If you plan to visit one of these archives, contact them and ask for information about their collections, restrictions, hours, services, and fees.
National Archives. The National Archives has the following pre-World War I federal service, pension, bounty land, and draft records:
- Volunteer military service, 1775 to 1902
- U.S. Army enlisted personnel, 1789 to 31 October 1912, and officers, 1789 to 30 June 1917
- U.S. Navy enlisted personnel, 1798 to 1885, and officers, 1798 to 1902
- U.S. Marine Corps enlisted personnel, 1789 to 1904, and some officers, 1789 to 1895
- U.S. Coast Guard predecessor agencies, 1791 to 1919 (Revenue Cutter Service, Life-Saving Service, and Lighthouse Service)
- See also Debbie Mieszala.Courage on the Seas: Records of the United States Life-Saving Service. NGS Magazine 34 #2 (April-June 2008): 23-27.
- Confederate (Civil War) service records and other records relating to Confederate armed forces, 1861 to 1865
- Veterans’ pension files and claims, 1775 to 1916 (except for Confederates), and bounty land files, 1775 to 1855
Many of the records discussed in this set of Wiki pages are from the National Archives. Several major indexes and some collections are on microfilm and available for use at the National Archives regional centers and at other research libraries. Those available on microfilm are referred to by their title and publication number (“M” or “T” series number). Most of the original military records have not been microfilmed, however, and are available only at the National Archives. Those not on film are sometimes referred to in this set of Wiki pages by the record group number in which they are located. Record groups contain the records of a bureau, agency, or department of the federal government.
The National Archives does not perform research for patrons. When exact identifying information is given, the Archives can furnish photocopies of records for a fee. You can order photocopies of compiled service records, pension application files, and bounty land warrant application files from the National Archives at Order Copies of Veteran Records. The address is:
The archives staff will copy only selected documents unless you request copies of all the documents in the file.
Some helpful guides to National Archives military records are listed below:
- Guide to Genealogical Research in the National Archives. Rev. ed. Washington, D.C.: NARA, 2000. (FS Library book 973 A3usn 1985; fiche 6051414.) Contains specific chapters on federal military records that discuss regular, volunteer, and naval and Marine service records as well as pension and bounty land records.
- Military Service Records: A Select Catalog of National Archives Microfilm Publications. Washington, D.C.: NARA, 1985. (FS Library book 973 A3nms; film 1320868 item 4.) Provides brief descriptions of microfilmed military records and a roll by roll listing of their contents.
- Seeley, Charlotte Palmer, comp. American Women and the U.S. Armed Forces: A Guide to the Records of Military Agencies in the National Archives Relating to American Women. Revised by Virginia C. Purdy and Robert Gruber. National Archives and Records Administration, 1992. (FS Library book 973 M2scp.)
- Trevor K. Plante. Military service records at the National Archives Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2009 (Reference information paper ; 109) FS Library 973 J53r 2009
U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center
National Personnel Records Center. Federal military records for twentieth century service that are not available at the National Archives may be located at the National Personnel Records Center. The address is:
Index to Records
- BIRLS - Beneficiary Identification Records Locator Subsystem at US Dept of Veterans Affairs (VA): National Personnel Records Center – index to veterans with files at the VA; includes vital status, service, and beneficiary status
The website describes facilities and services; upcoming events; and records, including official military personnel files, medical records, morning reports, and unit rosters. It also has blank Standard Form 180, “Request Pertaining to Military Records,” for nongenealogical requests. The center will provide to next of kin or authorized representatives information such as birth date and place, death date and place, and burial place. Most other information, such as age; dates of service; marital status; names, sex, and age of dependents; rank; present and past duty assignments; educational level; decorations and awards; duty status (active, reserve, discharged, retired, deceased); photograph (if available); records of courts-martial; and service number can be made available to anyone under the Freedom of Information Act.
The National Personnel Records Center has records for:
- Army officers discharged after 30 June 1917 and enlisted men discharged after 31 October 1912
- Air Force officers and enlisted men completely discharged after September 1947 (Service prior to 1947 was in the Army Air Corps.)
- Marine Corps officers discharged after 1895 and enlisted men discharged after 1904
- Navy officers completely discharged after 1902 and enlisted men discharged after 1885
- Coast Guard officers discharged after 1928 and enlisted personnel discharged after 1914
In 1973, a fire destroyed about 80 percent of the records for Army officers and enlisted men discharged from 1912 to 1959. About 75 percent of the records of the Air Force from 1947 to 1963 (surnames Hubbard through Z) were destroyed. For more information on the available records contact:
State and Local Archives. State archives, state adjutant general’s offices, historical societies, courthouses, and libraries may have records of citizens who served in militia and National Guard units. See the Archives and Libraries state Wiki pages for more information. The following book contains addresses of state adjutant general offices:
- Johnson, Richard S. How to Locate Anyone Who Is or Has Been in the Military. 8th ed. Ft. Sam Houston, Tex.: Military Information Enterprises, 1999. FS Library book 973 M27j1999 Discusses various methods and addresses to locate and contact present and former members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Reserve.
Step 5. Use the Information [edit | edit source]
When you find a new source it is important to evaluate it to see if it really about the person you seek. If it is, then next step is to begin a preliminary evaluation of its trustworthiness. Compare what you know with what you just found to determine what is most likely true. By correlating all the available sources and using them to corroborate each other you can better evaluate them. If you find contradictions or discrepancies, try to explain what you think accounts for them.
Transfer the new information to your files and keep them up-to-date. Organize and document as you go. Using unit histories you may want to research any action in which an ancestor participated and write a report about your findings.
Eventually it is important to share your findings with others. Certainly share what you find with your family at family reunions and on other occasions. Online databases like Pedigree Resource File, and One World Tree are relatively easy ways to share. You could put up a genealogy Internet site as well. You could also publish a family history book showing what you found. With military records some researchers enjoy participating in re-enactment groups that re-live what life was like for an ancestor or someone in a similar military unit.