Grand Army of the Republic Museum and Library scrapbook collection

"The Grand Army of the Republic [GAR] was a fraternal organization founded after the Civil War to provide all veterans of the Union Armed Forces with a forum for social and political activities and as a venue for debate and reminiscence of their service in the Civil War." (Grand Army of the Republic Museum and Library)

"The Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War was a creation of the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) which was formed in 1866. Wanting to pass on its heritage, the GAR in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania created a Corps of Cadets in 1878 which later became the Sons of Veterans of the United States of America (SV)... In 1904, the SV elected to become a patriotic education society and in 1925 changed its name to Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War (SUVCW)... Prior to disbanding and before the death of its last member, the GAR officially designated the SUVCW as its successor and heir to its remaining property. On August 20, 1954, the SUVCW was officially incorporated by an Act of Congress by the passing of Public Law 605 of the second session of the 83rd Congress." (Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War)

Bibliography:

Grand Army of the Republic Museum and Library. "Museum Informational Brochure." Accessed January 18, 2012. http://garmuslib.org/

Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War. "Introduction." August 30, 2010. Accessed January 18, 2012. http://suvcw.org/suv.htm

The bulk of the Grand Army of the Republic Museum and Library scrapbook collection consists of scrapbooks about the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR), although there are also scrapbooks on the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War (SUVCW) and personal scrapbooks on other topics.

There are eight scrapbooks of general orders, half from the National GAR (1866-1879, 1880-1887, 1888-1900, and 1902-1923) and half from the Pennsylvania Department GAR (1867-1877, 1878-1882, 1883-1887, and 1887-1901). There are also six newspaper clippings scrapbooks on the GAR and the SUVCW.

Personal scrapbooks in the collection include scrapbooks created by Caroline E. Moeckel on topics like the Civil War in popular culture (e.g. Gone With the Wind) and Gettysburg, 1939-1947; an unattributed clippings scrapbook on the Boxer Rebellion and the Spanish American War, circa 1898-1901; and a personal newspaper clippings scrapbook, 1862. Another unattributed scrapbook contains death notices, cemetery listings, and letters relating to GAR posts in the state of New York.

This collection also includes a number of scrapbooks and photograph albums created Clarence and Caroline Riddell. Clarence J. Riddell was Commander-in-Chief of the SUVCW from 1975-1976. The scrapbook and three photograph albums relate to SUVCW and the Riddells' vacations to Civil War historic sites in the 1970s.

In the Library of the GAR Museum, there is a series of five volumes on the "History of the GAR Museum and Library through Newspapers and Photographs" put together by Herb Kauffman. These scrapbooks consist mostly of newspaper clippings (many photocopied) with some photographs and scattered correspondence and ephemera, 1900-2000 (bulk 1980s-2000).

Items donated to or collected by the Grand Army of the Republic Museum and Library at various times.

Publisher

Grand Army of the Republic Civil War Museum and Library

Sponsor

This preliminary finding aid was created as part of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania's Hidden Collections Initiative for Pennsylvania Small Archival Repositories. The HCI-PSAR project was made possible by a grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

Finding aids author

Finding aid prepared by Celia Caust-Ellenbogen and Michael Gubicza through the Historical Society of Pennsylvania's Hidden Collections Initiative for Pennsylvania Small Archival Repositories

Creator

Grand Army of the Republic Museum and Library.

Subject

China -- History -- Boxer Rebellion, 1899-1901

Fraternal organizations

Heritage tourism

Spanish-American War, 1898

United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865

Veterans

People

Riddell, Clarence J.

Organization

Grand Army of the Republic.

Place

New York (State)

Pennsylvania

Philadelphia (Pa.)

Language

English