Resources for Military History Research

Tips for Everyone
America's History Part 2

I was interviewed by the Mid-Continent Public Library of  the Kansas City area. This of course is the home of the Midwest Genealogy Center.  I will be posting questions and answers from the interview here. As you already know, Military Research is basically the same for all veterans, however this series of questions was posed as a precursor to the presentation Military Service by African Americans. So although the class points out nuances caused by segregated troops, the sources, tips, hints and documents apply to all. Three sessions of this title are being offered by Mid-Continent Pubic Library beginning 11 Feb 2020.  Check the link for the different branches. One session at the Daniel Boone Regional Library of Columbia, MO. on Feb 18;  and one at the Leavenworth Kansas Public Library, 23 Feb 2020.

What are your top three tips for military history research?

1.       Don’t forget the National Archives Records in Washington DC, Archives I for the early wars: Revolutionary War, War of 1812, Civil War and Philippine War. 

For early war research, remember you must also exhaust the militia, which includes State Historical Societies and repositories,.  You will also wish to visit the Civil War records held at the associated Regional Branches of the National Archives.  They hold all the Provost Marshal Records. 

The Philippine War service records are quite challenging to uncover. They should be in the collections held at the Archives I, NARA -Washington, DC, but photos were found in Archives II, College Park Maryland.  Also we most often had to do a FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) request for assistance in locating the Personnel files for these veterans.  Many of them also served in the WWI. If that is the case, you will want to retrieve that full record, if available to get a more complete account of your veterans full military service. 

Read here for additional articles. 

2.      Remember the modern war records (WWI to present day ) are in both National Archives Records in College Park Maryland and in National Personnel Resource Center (NPRC) in St. Louis.  Yes, there was a fire in 1973, but many troop records, and other types of records can be used to reconstruct your ancestor’smilitary service story and provides a working timeline.

The National Personnel Resource Center (NPRC) requires the proper forms for research. Be sure to contact them in advance if you wish to research onsite: microfilms of troop rosters, morning reports, and personnel records, etc. 

Read here to get more ideas on how to reconstruct your WWI veteran. 

•      Military Records Were Destroyed?
•      Military Records Burnt in Fire? Try Morning Reports

3.      Don’t forget the value of the Veteran Administration records.  This may take an additional step of sending out FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) requests, but the time is well worth the effort. Plus, it is possible that the VA holds the original records or duplicates thought to be lost in the fire. A recent FOIA case produced over 400 pages of military records that had been presumed to have been lost in the 1973 fire. Be sure to complete the SF180 form for FOIA requests as well as Modern War records. 

      Where are Veteran Pension Files?

 Be sure to join me at one of the five presentations in February on the topic! Check out the monthly calendar here.

Kathleen Brandt
a3genealogy@gmail.com