Veterans' and Lineage Society Records

United States Military Records

Records of veterans’ organizations and lineage societies may be found at their national headquarters or at state archives, historical societies, and public libraries. Some societies require members to submit applications documenting their ancestry back to a soldier. The applications typically provide birth, marriage, and death information, as well as establish relationship through multiple generations from the applicant to the qualifying ancestor. They may publish membership lists and other records. For eligibility requirements, write to the society’s national headquarters. This article gives addresses of some organizations that have significant material of use for family history research. Additional veteran and patriotic organizations can be located in:


 * Maurer, Christine and Tara E. Sheets, editors. Encyclopedia of Associations. 33rd edition. Volume 1, part 2. Annual. Detroit, Michigan: Gale, 1998. Section 12. (FHL book 973 E4gr.) Provides addresses and phone numbers as well as a description of the organizations, their publications, and references to any library or research materials they maintain.

Lineage societies for the Revolutionary War membership requirements often require extensive documentation. Published lineages can be a good source of information about ancestors. Older submissions for membership may not have passed as stringent requirements. Usually the more recent the submission the more carefully the lineage is documented.