Grand Army of the Republic, Department of Washington and Alaska records, 1861-1924

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Grand Army of the Republic. Department of Alaska and Washington
Title
Grand Army of the Republic, Department of Washington and Alaska records
Dates
1861-1924 (inclusive)
Quantity
0.23 cubic feet (1 box)
Collection Number
6151 (Accession No. 6151-001)
Summary
Certificates, correspondence, completed reports, blank reports, bulletins and circulars, records and receipts, general orders from headquarters, and ephemera from the Grand Army of the Republic, Department of Washington and Alaska. The Grand Army of the Republic was formed by veterans who had fought during the Civil War
Repository
University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu
Access Restrictions

No restrictions on access.

Languages
English

Historical NoteReturn to Top

After the Civil War, veterans who had fought for the Union formed the Grand Army of the Republic. The G. A. R., as it became known, and its auxiliary Women's Relief Corps provided support for veterans, including organization of soldier reunions, political clout for federal and state Soldiers Homes for invalids, and advocacy for a Memorial Day. Civil War veterans became a powerful force in Seattle and the rest of Washington, often dominating businesses, government offices, and political races, with nearly 100 organized "posts" in the state.

One of the largest and most prestigious posts was Stevens Post #1 in Seattle, which was established in 1878. The following year it created the first Memorial Day celebration in Seattle. Information about these posts, which disappeared as veterans died, is often scarce. Descendants' groups, such as the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, carry on some of the responsibilities of the old posts, but relatively little is known about the veterans who started it all.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Records of the Grand Army of the Republic, Department of Washington and Alaska. Includes certificates, correspondence, completed reports, blank reports, bulletins and circulars, records and receipts, general orders from headquarters, and ephemera.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

Creator's copyrights are in the public domain.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

 

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1/1 Certificates (Alonzo B. Noyes, Joseph Merritt Fish, John Rhoads) 1861-1864
1/2 Correspondence (Willis Richardson, H. J. Bangs, W.G. King, M. Churchill, J. M. Williams) 1908-1921
1/3 Quartermaster's Reports (Completed) 1912-1917
1/4 Reports (Blank) undated
1/5 Bulletins and Circulars 1912-1921
1/6 Records and Receipts 1912-1924
1/7 General Orders from Headquarters 1917-1921
1/8 Ephemera 1917-1921

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Families of military personnel--Alaska
  • Families of military personnel--Washington (State)
  • Memorial Day
  • Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)
  • Veterans--Alaska
  • Veterans--Alaska--Societies, etc
  • Veterans--Washington (State)
  • Veterans--Washington (State)--Societies, etc

Corporate Names

  • Grand Army of the Republic. Department of Alaska and Washington--Archives