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Finding aid created by: MRC
Date: 13 Nov 2015
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13 Feb 2017 | additions, P-15-281 (MRC) |
Overview of the Collection |
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Creator: | Grand Army of the Republic. -- Root Post No. 151 (Syracuse, N.Y.) |
Title: | Grand Army of the Republic, Root Post No. 151 (Syracuse, N.Y.), Records |
Dates: | 1910-1944 |
Quantity: | 3 folders (SC) |
Abstract: | Minutes, correspondence, photographs of the Syracuse, New York chapter. |
Language: | English |
Repository: |
Special Collections Research Center, Syracuse University Libraries 222 Waverly Avenue Syracuse, NY 13244-2010 https://library.syracuse.edu/special-collections-research-center |
In 1866, Union veterans of the Civil War formed a fraternal organization known as the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR), with both social and political goals, and with the stated principles of Fraternity, Charity and Loyalty. The organization was politically powerful; their General Order #11 (1868) established May 30 as "Decoration Day" which later evolved into Memorial Day, and they were active in passing legislation on pensions and retirement homes for veterans. These "Old Soldiers' Homes" eventually led to the current United States Department of Veterans Affairs.
Because membership was open only to those who saw active service in the Union army, the GAR's lifespan was necessarily limited. During 1881 and 1882 the GAR formed the Sons of Veterans, U.S.A. to carry on its traditions; some of the earliest divisions were in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Virginia, and New York (the New York Division was later renamed the New York Department). In 1956, with the death of the last surviving member, the GAR was formally dissolved.
In 1925 the Sons of Veterans changed their name to Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, which is the name it uses at the present day. Membership in the organization is open to anyone who can demonstrate descent from a GAR member (interested parties who are not descendants are admitted as Associate Members). The SUVCW, along with the Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War and three other organizations, comprise the five Allied Orders of the GAR.
The Grand Army of the Republic, Root Post No. 151 (Syracuse, N.Y.), Records consists of a administrative records, correspondence, and photographs.
Administrative records consist of a single bound volume, containing minutes of the group's meetings. A few items of official correspondence have been tipped in. The earliest set of minutes are dated 13 Jan 1910 and the last is dated 27 Nov 1919. One side of the back free end paper has a pencilled list of member deaths, and the other side has notes regarding accounts.
Correspondence is all outgoing, and consists mostly of invitations and letters of thanks or acknowledgement.
Photographs contains a group portrait of the Root Post marching band.
Access Restrictions:
The majority of our archival and manuscript collections are housed offsite and require advanced notice for retrieval. Researchers are encouraged to contact us in advance concerning the collection material they wish to access for their research.
Use Restrictions:
Written permission must be obtained from SCRC and all relevant rights holders before publishing quotations, excerpts or images from any materials in this collection.
See also Grand Army of the Republic, Department of New York, Collection.
Corporate Bodies
Grand Army of the Republic. -- Root Post No. 151 (Syracuse, N.Y.)
Subjects
Fraternal organizations -- United States.
Veterans -- Societies and clubs.
Places
Syracuse (N.Y.) -- Social life and customs.
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Societies and clubs.
Genres and Forms
Correspondence.
Minutes (administrative records)
Photographs.
Preferred Citation
Preferred citation for this material is as follows:
Grand Army of the Republic, Root Post No. 151 (Syracuse, N.Y.), Records,
Special Collections Research Center,
Syracuse University Libraries
Acquisition Information
Purchase, 2015.
Administrative records
Correspondence
Memorabilia
Administrative records | |||||||||||
SC 768 | Minutes 1900-1919 |
Correspondence | |||||||||||
SC 768 | General 1927, 1931-1932, 1936-1937, 1944 |
Memorabilia | |||||||||||
SC 768 | Photographs undated |