New York, Records of the State National Guard - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
This collection consists of an index and images of National Guard service cards from the New York State Archives. The images are courtesy of Ancestry.com.

General Information About These Records

The National Guard, the oldest component of the Armed Forces of the United States and one of the nation's longest-enduring institutions. The National Guard traces its history back to the earliest English colonies in North America. Responsible for their own defense, the colonists drew on English military tradition and organized their able-bodied male citizens into militias.

In 1903, important national defense legislation increased the role of the National Guard (as the militia was now called) as a Reserve force for the U.S. Army.

The records are designed to track and preserve the service of the individual guardsmen and to determine eligibility for post-service benefits. These records are very reliable.

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The following information may be found in these records:

National Guard
 * Name
 * Birth date and place
 * Residence
 * Occupation
 * Race
 * Marital status
 * Citizenship
 * Physical description
 * Education
 * Medical information
 * Enlistment date and place
 * Discharge date, place, and reason
 * Military rank or grade
 * Name, relationship, and address of person to notify in case of emergency

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * The full name of the person
 * The approximate dates of service

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. Keep track of your research in a research log.

What Do I Do Next?
When you have located your ancestor’s record, carefully evaluate each piece of information given. These pieces of information may give you new biographical details that can lead you to other records about your ancestors.

I Found the Person I'm Looking For, What Now?

 * Death dates may lead to death certificates, mortuary, or burial records
 * Use the birth date or along with the residence or place of birth to locate church, and land records
 * The person to notify in case of emergency is usually a close relative such as a parent or spouse
 * Compile the entries for other individuals who have the same surname. This is especially helpful in rural areas or if the surname is unusual
 * Continue to search the records to identify children, siblings, parents, and other relatives who may have been also belonged to the National Guard
 * When looking for a person who had a common name, look at all the entries for the name before deciding which is correct
 * If you are having difficulty finding your ancestor, look for variations in the spelling of the name. Military personnel were required to use their first given name and surname. If your ancestor used an alias or a nickname, be sure to check for their given name

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

 * Look for variant spellings of the names. You should also look for alias names, nicknames and abbreviated names
 * Look for an index. There are often indexes at the beginning of each volume. Local genealogical and historical societies often have indexes to local records
 * Search the indexes and records of nearby localities
 * Consult the New York Record Finder to find other records

Research Helps
The following articles will help you in your research for your family in the state of New York.
 * US Military Basic Search Strategies
 * Beginning Research in United States Military Records
 * New York Guided Research
 * Research Tips and Strategies
 * Step-by-Step Research

Citing This Collection
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.