Grand Army of the Republic. Eagle Post No. 52 (Eau Claire, Wis.) Records, 1886-1944
Content Description
The richest sources of documentation in these records are the membership records. They provide directory and biographical information about each member, including details of Civil War military service. Membership applications include applications of both accepted and denied members. Some members submitted detailed autobiographies for retention in the Eagle Post’s archives. The encampment journals and programs provide information about the annual meetings held by the GAR Wisconsin Department. Photographs, ephemera, and fragmentary correspondence and reports round out the collection.
Dates
- Creation: 1886-1944 (bulk 1920-1944)
Creator
Access Restrictions
Collection is open to the public.
Use Restrictions
Researchers are responsible for using in accordance with 17 U.S.C. Copyright owned by the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire.
Biographical/Historical Note
The Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) was the largest Civil War veteran organization. Founded in 1866, the GAR was open to veterans of all ranks who had served in the Union Army. The GAR was both a political and fraternal organization, active in lobbying for veterans’ pension, promoting goodwill among veterans, and assisting disabled veterans. It reached its peak membership in 1890, counting 409,000 members nationwide.
The GAR was organized into departments at the state level, and posts at the local level. The Wisconsin Department reached its highest membership in 1899, with 164 posts and nearly 14,000 members. The Eau Claire post was founded on November 8, 1882 with 23 members. It counted 438 members among its ranks between 1882 and 1926.
Extent
1.2 Linear Feet (3 archives boxes and 1 oversize folder)
Language of Materials
English
Summary
Membership records, encampment journals and programs, and photographs of the Eau Claire chapter of the nation’s largest Civil War veterans’ organization, The Grand Army of the Republic.
Acquisition Information
Donated to the Special Collections & Archives, University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire prior to March 2006.
Accession Number
06-125
Reference Code
UHC285
Processing Note
Processed by Colleen McFarland and Jolene Arnold in May 2006.
Subject
Genre / Form
Topical
- Status
- Published
- Author
- Alexis Casares
- Date
- December 5, 2023
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections and Archives, McIntyre Library, UW-Eau Claire Repository
Special Collections and Archives, McIntyre Library
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
103 Garfield Avenue
Eau Claire WI 54701 United States
715-836-2739
library.archives@uwec.edu