Minnesota, Grand Army of the Republic Membership Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

United States Minnesota

Why should I look at This Collection?
If you have ancestors who served in the Union army or navy during the Civil War they may have joined the Grand Army of the Republic. This collection could be used in conjunction with the United States Civil War soldiers Index and the United States General Index to Pension Files.

What is in the Collection?
The records in this Collection include membership records of the Minnesota Department Grand Army of the Republic, an organization of Union army and navy veterans of the Civil War, from 1869 to 1940. The collection consists of registers, lists, adjutant and quartermaster reports, and descriptive books of local post (chapters). For a brief history on the Grand Army of the Republic see the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War.

What Can this Collection Tell Me?
These records may contain the following information:
 * Member's name
 * Military Unit
 * Town of Residence
 * Birthplace
 * Enlistment date
 * Discharge date
 * Rank
 * Organization served in
 * Remarks

How Do I Search the Collection?
You can search the index or view the images. Before using this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * The soldier’s or sailor’s name
 * The possible location of their Post

Search the Index
Search by name by visiting the Collection Page.
 * 1) Fill in the search boxes on the Collection Page with the information you have
 * 2) Click Search to show possible matches

View the Images
View images in this collection by visiting the Browse Page.
 * 1) Select Record Catagory
 * 2) Select “Post Number Range or Record Type and Date Range” to view the images

How Do I Analyze the Results?
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. For tips about searching on-line collections see the on-line article FamilySearch Search Tips and Tricks.

I Found the Person I Was Looking for, What Now?

 * Add any new information to your records
 * Check the image that the index was taken from to see if there is additional information on the original record
 * Make sure to fully transcribe and cite the record entry for future reference; see the section Citing this Collection for assistance
 * Save or print a copy of the image
 * Use the information to find more information for example name or regiment served in or the age listed in the record to estimate a year of birth, if that is yet undetermined
 * Use the information to locate the soldier or sailor and their families in census, church, or land records
 * Search the index to see if other family members were in the same post

I Can’t Find the Person I’m Looking for, What Now?

 * Check for variants of given names, surnames, and place names
 * It was not uncommon for an individual be listed under a nickname or an abbreviation of their name.
 * Vary the search terms by using only the first or the last name to return broader list of possible candidates which can then be examined for matches
 * Search the records of nearby posts your soldier or sailor may have joined a different post
 * Look at the actual image of the record to verify the information found in the online description when possible (You may also find additional information on the that may lead to other records or ancestors.)

Related Digital Books

 * Annual Encampment Department of Minnesota 1905


 * Minnesota in the Civil and Indian Wars, 1861–1865. Two Volumes. St. Paul, Minnesota: Pioneer Press, 1890–93. (Family History Library book
 * Minnesota in the Civil and Indian Wars, 1861–1865. 2d ed. Two Volumes. St. Paul, Minnesota: Pioneer Press, 1891. (Family History Library .)] Volume 1 includes the history of each regiment and regimental rosters listing soldiers’ names, ages, dates of service, and remarks about their service, including whether transferred, wounded, captured, or killed. Volume 2 consists of correspondence and battle reports, arranged chronologically. Indexes at the end of each volume list only some officers and major events. A more complete index to both volumes is at the Minnesota Historical Society.
 * Minnesota Adjutant General’s Report of 1866. Roseville, Minnesota: Park Genealogical Books, 1997. (Family History Library .) The report lists 26,088 names of men who served during the Civil War period, including citizen soldiers who served in local militias. It gives name, age, state or country of birth, dates of service, and remarks, and is arranged alphabetically. Family history researchers should look at both.

Citing this Collection
Citing your sources makes it easy for others to find and evaluate the records you used. When you copy information from a record, list where you found that information. Here you can find citations already created for the entire collection and for each individual record or image.

Collection Citation:

Record Citation (or citation for the index entry):

Image Citation: Top of Page