James O. Martin collection on Civil War, 1812-1971

This collection is divided into three series: I. military documentation, II. veteran and commemorative medals, pins, badges, III. and artifacts. This collection consists of 15 boxes of material. Although this is primarily a Civil War collection, some materials predate the war and other items are related to veteran organizations. The age of materials contained in the collection range from around 1800 to the 1970s.

Series I: Military Correspondence and Documentation:

The documentation in Series I is organized by state, division, type of documentation, and chronological order. Boxes 1 and 2 contain military documentation relating to the war. Boxes 3 and 4 contain oversized military documentation directly related to the materials from the first two boxes. Box 4 also contains newspapers and a poster that relates to a veteran's organization. Box 5 contains ballads, booklets, veteran materials, and other miscellaneous items. Box 6 contains two bill of sale contracts for the purchase of three slaves.

Much of the military correspondence and documentation are letters of certification. A certificate of vacancy requests replacements for vacancies and often lists how many men are in that particular branch of the division. Certificates of ability are signed by a military surgeon and state the physical and mental abilities of a specific officer. (The use of the term mustering refers to enlisting, re-enlisting, and leaving the military service.)

Series II: Veteran and Commemorative Medals, Badges, Pins, and Other Items:

The items in Series II are organized by state, type, and chronological order. Boxes 7–11 all contain a variety of veteran and commemorative medals, badges, pins, and other items. Most of these items in Series II are related to veteran reunions and similar organizations. Some items in this series commemorate battles and generals, and other items are soldier buttons, pins, and apparel regalia. Box 11 contains oversized items that are directly connected with the materials from boxes 7-10. (Items abbreviated as GAR stand for the Grand Army of the Republic.)

Series III: Miscellaneous Artifacts