Grand Army of the Republic Montana Department records, 1881-1941 Overview of the Collection Creator Grand Army of the Republic. Department of Montana Title Grand Army of the Republic Montana Department records Dates 1881-1941 (inclusive) 1881 1941 Quantity 5 linear feet of shelf space Collection Number MC 205 Summary This collection consists of records of the Montana Department of the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) and of the Woman's Relief Corps. Records include correspondence, financial records, organizational materials, rosters, minutes, and miscellany for locals in Anaconda, Butte, Boulder Valley, Columbia Falls, Deer Lodge, Fort Custer, Great Falls, Hamilton, Helena, and Missoula. Repository Montana Historical Society, Research Center Archives Montana Historical Society Research Center Archives 225 North Roberts PO Box 201201 Helena MT 59620-1201 Telephone: 406-444-2681 Fax: 406-444-5297 mhslibrary@mt.gov Languages English Sponsor Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities. Historical Note The Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.) was the national organization of Union Army veterans of the Civil War. The first G.A.R. post in Montana was the John Buford Post, No. 15, Department of the Mountains, established at Fort Custer on August 20, 1881. In October 1883 the Department of Utah was organized, and Montana became part of this new department. On March 10, 1885, the Department of Montana was formed. Posts from the Department of the Mountains and the Department of Utah were re-numbered as posts within the Department of Montana. Montana eventually had 26 posts, although not all were active at the same time. The National Woman's Relief Corps, auxiliary to the Grand Army of the Republic, was organized in Denver, Colorado, on July 25, 1883. The Montana division, added on May 3, 1888, originally was under the jurisdiction of the Department of North Dakota, but after six corps were formed in Montana, making the state eligible for a department of its own, the Department of Montana was created on April 15, 1893. Starting with a membership of 215 in 1893, the Woman's Relief Corps Department of Montana, grew to 850 members in 1922. The organization's primary duty was to care for veterans of the Grand Army of the Republic, and in Montana it was partially responsible for the passage, in 1895, of a bill to establish and maintain a solders' home at Columbia Falls. The http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv44464 1
Corps was also involved in relief work and fundraising of a general nature, raising money for famine and flood victims throughout the world. Content Description This collection is arranged in four subgroups. The first subgroup contains Department of Montana records of the Grand Army of the Republic, the Woman's Relief Corps, and the Ladies of the G.A.R., including general correspondence (1893-1934, ); outgoing correspondence (1885-1936), including general and special orders, and circulars; financial records (1887-1918); organizational materials (1903, 1933, ); miscellany, including encampment programs and minutes, index to records of local posts, histories, membership information, and roster books, etc.; a scrapbook (1939-1965); and clippings (1920-1921, ). A second subgroup contains the records of Local Posts, including John Buford Post #1, Fort Custer; Lincoln Post #2, Butte; Wadsworth Post #3, Helena; George H. Thomas Post #4, Deer Lodge; Custer Post #5, Soldiers' Home, Columbia Falls; William English Post #10, Bozeman; Frederick Winthrop Post #11, Missoula; James B. McPherson Post #13, Boulder Valley; George G. Meade Post #16, Anaconda; Sheridan Post #18, Great Falls; John C. Fremont Post #21, Hamilton; and George B. McClelland Post #24, Columbia Falls. Records included are correspondence, minutes, descriptive books of members, rosters, and ledgers. Not all posts include all these records. The third subgroup in the collection contains records of Woman's Relief Corps local posts including Wadsworth Post #1, Helena and Lincoln Post #6, Butte. Records include ledger books for Helena, and correspondence, minutes, and reports for Butte. The fourth subgroup consists of records of the Ladies of the G.A.R. local post at Butte, entitled the John F. Reynolds Circle #14. Records include correspondence, financial records, minutes, and reports. Administrative Information Arrangement Arranged by series and subgroup. Some material housed in Archives Map Case and Manuscript Volumes, see inventory below for more information. Location of Collection 12:3-7 Location of Collection 146:1-2 (volumes 1-3) Preservation Note Fragile material copied on MF 429. See inventory below for specific items. Acquisition Information Acquisition Information available upon request Separated Materials http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv44464 2
Artifacts separated to Museum. See inventory below for more information. Related Materials See MF 429 for microfilmed copies of fragile material. Detailed Description of the Collection The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection Department Of Montana Container(s) Description Dates General Correspondence 1 / 1 Chronological (correspondents include Knights of Labor, Anaconda; U.S. Bureau of Pensions; Woman's Relief Corps, Bozeman, Helena; George H. Taylor; C.P.H. Bielenberg; Effie MacRae; Ladies of the Grand Army of the Republic; U.S. General Land Office; Roy C. Minard; Samuel V. Stewart; Benton Halstead) 1893-1934, Outgoing Correspondence 1 / 2 Letterpress book (includes general orders, special orders) 1885-1889, 1896 1 / 3 General orders, special orders, circulars 1886-1923, 1936 1 / 4 General orders, special orders, circulars: Woman's Relief Corps and Ladies of the G.A.R. 1896-1935 Financial Records 1 / 5 Cash book kept by Assistant Quartermaster General 1887-1918 Organizational Records http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv44464 3
1 / 6 Ladies of the G.A.R. bylaws; report from annual convention of Woman's Relief Corps; minutes of meeting; history of Woman's Relief Corps 1903, 1933, Miscellany 1 / 7 Encampment programs and minutes 1886-1947 1 / 8 Index to records of posts 1 / 9 List of artifacts transferred to Museum 1 / 10 List of pensioners; membership reports; list of department commanders 1 / 11 Memorial Day programs, salutes to the flag, pension requirements, forms, etc. 1885-1936 1886-1895, 1926, 1 / 12 Notes on and history of Dept. of Montana and local posts 1 / 13 Pension authorizations, certificates of honorable discharge, certificates of service, etc. 1889-1905 2 / 1 Register of delegates to encampments 1894-1908 Volume Vol. 1 Register of delegates to encampments 1917-1923 2 / 2-3 Roster books (include rosters of officers of Dept. of Montana, local posts, past commanders, etc.) 2 / 4 Rosters of Dept. of Montana and Woman's Relief Corps [scattered dates] 1887-1907 1887-1921 2 / 5 Transfers in from other states 1887-1925 2 / 6 United Veterans Council bylaws and constitution 1933 http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv44464 4
Clippings 2 / 7 Miscellaneous (includes minutes of meetings, obituaries, political commentary) 1895-1930, Volume Vol. 2 Scrapbook (compiled by Mrs. O.E. Selzer and Myra Korlsund: includes news, obituaries, and mementos) 1939-1965 Local Posts Container(s) Description Dates Subject Files 2 / 8 John Buford Post #1, Fort Custer: account ledger 1885-1896, 2 / 9 John Buford Post #1, Fort Custer: minute book [includes John Buford Post #15, Fort Custer, Dept. of the Mountains] 2 / 10 John Buford Post #1, Fort Custer: regulations, bylaws, and rosters [includes John Buford Post #15, Fort Custer, Dept. of the Mountains] 2 / 11 John Buford Post #1, Fort Custer: descriptive book of members [includes John Buford Post #15, Fort Custer, Dept. of the Mountains] [FRAGILE: Use MF 429] 1881-1892 1881-1892 1881-1892 3 / 1 Lincoln Post #2, Butte: correspondence 1887-1929, 3 / 2 Lincoln Post #2, Butte: bills, statements etc. 1886-1927 3 / 3 Lincoln Post #2, Butte: cash book 1908-1920 3 / 4-6 Lincoln Post #2, Butte: ledgers 1884-1935 http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv44464 5
3 / 7 Lincoln Post #2, Butte: minute book [includes Lincoln Post #1, Butte, Dept. of Utah] 1883-1894 4 / 1-5 Lincoln Post #2, Butte: minute books 1895-1924 5 / 1 Lincoln Post #2, Butte: minute book 1924-1936 5 / 2 Lincoln Post #2, Butte: items removed from minute books 1899-1931 5 / 3 Lincoln Post #2, Butte: minutes of meetings with other patriotic organizations to found camp of Sons of Veterans 1917 5 / 4 Lincoln Post #2, Butte: quarterly reports, committee reports, etc. 1894-1934 5 / 5 Lincoln Post #2, Butte: applications, memorials, resolutions, registrations for headstones, admission requirements 5 / 6-8 Lincoln Post #2, Butte: descriptive books of members [FRAGILE: Use MF 429] 1888-1924 1883-1914 5 / 9 Lincoln Post #2, Butte: programs, etc. 1908-1933 5 / 10 Lincoln Post #2, Butte: rosters [includes Lincoln Woman's Relief Corps #6; Sons of Veterans Camp #5; John F. Reynolds Circle #14, Ladies of the G.A.R.; Wilbur F. Sanders Circle #17, Ladie of the G.A.R.] 1902-1932 5 / 11 Wadsworth Post #3, Helena: correspondence 1902, 5 / 12 Wadsworth Post #3, Helena: rules and regulations and roster [includes Wadsworth Post #8, Helena, Dept. of Utah] 1883-1896 5 / 13 Wadsworth Post #3, Helena: roster 1895 Volume Vol. 3 Wadsworth Post #3, Helena: minutes 1888-1892 5 / 14 Wadsworth Post #3, Helena: minutes 1892-1897 6 / 1 Wadsworth Post #3, Helena: minutes 1903-1915 http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv44464 6
6 / 2-3 Wadsworth Post #3, Helena: descriptive books of members [includes Wadsworth Post #8, Helena, Dept. of Utah] [FRAGILE: Use MF 429] 1883-1904 6 / 4 Wadsworth Post #3, Helena: inventory 6 / 5 Wadsworth Post #3, Helena: rituals 1921 6 / 6 George H. Thomas Post #4, Deer Lodge: minute book [includes George H. Thomas Post #9, Deer Lodge, Dept. of Utah] 7 / 1 George H. Thomas Post #4, Deer Lodge: descriptive book of members [includes George H. Thomas Post #9, Deer Lodge, Dept. of Utah] [FRAGILE: Use MF 429] 1884-1941 1884-1991 7 / 2 Custer Post #5, Columbia Falls: minute book 1911-1930 7 / 3 Custer Post #5, Columbia Falls: descriptive book of members [includes Soldier's Home and George B. McClelland Post #24, Columbia Falls] [FRAGILE: Use MF 429] 1886-1924 7 / 4 William English Post #10, Bozeman: program 1886 7 / 5-7 Frederick Winthrop Post #11, Missoula: minutes [includes Robert C. Winthrop Post #11, Missoula] 1884-1891, 1904-1934 7 / 8 James B. McPherson Post #13, Boulder Valley: ledger book 1885-1892 7 / 9 James B. McPherson Post #13, Boulder Valley: descriptive book of members [FRAGILE: Use MF 429] 1885-1895 8 / 1 George G. Meade Post #16, Anaconda: ledger book 1897-1920 8 / 2-3 George G. Meade Post #16, Anaconda: minute books 1899-1916 8 / 4 George G. Meade Post #16, Anaconda: bylaws and resolutions 8 / 5 George G. Meade Post #16, Anaconda: descriptive books of members [FRAGILE: Use MF 429] 1887-1907 8 / 6 George G. Meade Post #16, Anaconda: post register 1893-1915 http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv44464 7
Oversize Folder MC 199-215 George G. Meade Post #16, Anaconda: membership lists [OVERSIZE: See Archives Map Case folder MC 199-215] 1893-1915 8 / 7 Sheridan Post #18, Great Falls: membership applications 8 / 8 John C. Fremont Post #21, Hamilton: descriptive book of members [FRAGILE: Use MF 429] 1890-1898 Woman's Relief Corps Local Posts Container(s) Description Dates Subject Files 9 / 1-2 Wadsworth Post #1, Helena: ledger books 1888-1913 9 / 3 Lincoln Post #6, Butte: correspondence 1898-1923, 9 / 4 Lincoln Post #6, Butte: minutes 1899-1902, 9 / 5 Lincoln Post #6, Butte: quarterly reports, treasurers' reports, election reports, etc. 1900-1921 Ladies Of The G.A.R. Container(s) Description Dates Membership Records 9 / 6 Phil Sheridan Circle # 4: History 1953 http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv44464 8
Subject Files 9 / 7 John F. Reynolds Circle # 14, Butte: correspondence 1916-1933 9 / 8 John F. Reynolds Circle # 14, Butte: account books 1931-1935 9 / 9 John F. Reynolds Circle # 14, Butte: bills, bank books, receipts, etc. 1901-1933 9 / 10 John F. Reynolds Circle # 14, Butte: minutes 1916-1935, 9 / 11 John F. Reynolds Circle # 14, Butte: convention reports, quarterly reports, committee reports 1920-1939 Miscellany 9 / 12 Phil Sheridan Circle # 4: Encampment brochure, Certificate of Participation for Arline Childs, Star Spangled Banner lyrics 1949, 1975 Clippings 9 / 13 Phil Sheridan Circle # 4 1932-1962 Names and Subjects Subject Terms : Veterans--societies, etc.--montana Women--societies and clubs--montana Corporate Names : Grand Army of the Republic. Department of Montana (creator) Geographical Names : Boulder (Mont.)--social life and customs United States--history--civil war, 1861-1865 Finding aid prepared by MHS staff http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv44464 9
2004 This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Creative Commons Licenses in Archives West: http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/cc-attr.shtml http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv44464 10