Veterans Administration Pension Payment Cards, 1907–1933

"Veterans Administration Pension Payment Cards, 1907–1933" is a set of records held by The National Archives and Records Administration in Washington, D.C.

While these records contain few if any genealogically useful information, they contain enough information about a veteran to order his...

= About the Records =

The record set contains reproductions of pension payment cards maintained by the Bureau of Pensions and Veterans Administration for recording payments made from 1907 to 1933 to members of the Regular Military Establishment.

There are approximately two million cards, 5 inches by 8 inches in size, reproduced in this record set.

This record set was originally published by the National Archives as microfilm publication M850 on 2539 rolls of microfilm. The microfilm has since been digitized and published on the Internet.

= Record History =

Until about the middle of 1909, records of pension payments were kept in pension agency payment books. In 1907, the method was changed to a card system and basic information for active pensioners was transferred from the payment books to the payment cards.

A major change in the form of the card occurred in 1923, when the payment was made monthly instead of quarterly. Pensioners whose payments extended beyond this period had their payments recorded on a second card--the monthly payment card. In the few instances where a communication has been attached to a card, the communication has also been reproduced.

= Record Description =

Four different card forms were used for Army invalids, Navy Invalids, Army Widow, and Navy Widow.

The form of the four cards is almost identical. On the front of the cards entitled 'Army Invalid' and 'Navy Invalid' are


 * the name of veteran,
 * his certificate number,
 * his unit or arm of Service,
 * the disability for which pensioned,
 * the law or laws under which pensioned,
 * the class of pension or certificate,
 * the rate of pension,
 * the effective date of pension,
 * the date of the certificate,
 * any fees paid,
 * the name of the pension agency or group transferred from (if applicable),
 * the date of death,
 * the date the Bureau was notified,
 * the former roll number,
 * and 'home.'

On the reverse side of the form appear


 * the name of the veteran,
 * his certificate number,
 * and the rate and record of the individual payments.

On the 'Army Widow' and 'Navy Widow' cards, the widow's name replaces the veteran's, and the veteran's name replaces the information about the disability for which pensioned. A block is available on the 'widow' card for recording payments made to minors.

= Using the Records =

The cards are arranged in alphabetical order by surname of the Army or Navy invalid or widow, except that cards with Indian names have been alphabetized at the beginning of the respective letter of the alphabet.

= Index to Online Images =