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

What is in This Collection?
Index and images of membership records of the Pennsylvania Department Grand Army of the Republic that cover from the years 1865-1936. An organization of Union army and navy veterans of the Civil War. The collection consists of registers, lists, minute, account and descriptive books of local post (chapters) The descriptive books include town of residence, military unit, date of enlistment,date of discharge, age and birthplace. The collection was acquired from the Pennsylvania State Archives.

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

Membership • 2

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * The name of your ancestor
 * The dates of military 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.

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

 * Use the name, enlistment date and organization to find the soldier’s military service or pension records
 * Use the information to find other records such as birth, christening, marriage, census, land and death records
 * Use the information to find additional family members in census records
 * Search for land and probate records

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

 * Collect entries for every person who has the same surname. This list can help you identify possible relatives
 * If you cannot locate your ancestor in the locality in which you believe they lived, then try searching records of a nearby locality
 * Standard spelling of names typically did not exist. Try variations of your ancestor’s name
 * Remember that sometimes individuals went by nicknames or alternated between using first and middle names, or even initials

Research Helps
The following articles will help you in your research for your family in the state of Pennsylvania.
 * US Military Basic Search Strategies
 * Beginning Research in United States Military Records
 * Beginning United States Civil War Research
 * Locating a Union Civil War Soldier (1861-1865)
 * Pennsylvania Guided Research
 * Pennsylvania Research Tips and Strategies
 * Step-by-Step Pennsylvania Research, 1880-Present

Other FamilySearch Collections
These collections may have additional materials to help you with your research.

FamilySearch Catalog

 * Civil War Veterans Card File, 1861-1866.
 * Names of sick and wounded soldiers of the Pennsylvania Volunteers, 1861-1866
 * Grand Army of the Republic Collection, Descriptive Books, 1866-1956

FamilySearch Historical Records

 * United States, General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934
 * United States Veterans Administration Pension Payment Cards, 1907-1933
 * United States, National Homes for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, 1866-1938
 * United States Census of Union Veterans and Widows of the Civil War, 1890
 * Pennsylvania, Register of Military Volunteers, 1861-1865

FamilySearch Digital Library

 * Robert B. Beath. History of the Grand Army of the Republic. New York, New York : Bryan, Taylor & Co., 1889, c1888
 * Rosters Department of Pennsylvania Grand Army of the Republic 1885,1908-1909,1912, 1921
 * Annual Encampment Department of Pennsylvania Grand Army of the Republic 1907

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.