Military Records connect us to our ancestors and their stories. They are widely available in federal sources and often contain an abundance of genealogical information. Federal records are available for every war that the United States has been involved in since the American Revolution. Most military records are broken down into: miltary service records, compiled military service records, pension records and veterans' claims, draft registration records and bounty land warrants.
The National Archives holds the following records:
Compiled Service Records
Pension Applications and Pension Payment Records
Bounty Land Records
Websites:
The website for the National Archives is an important stop for the military records researcher.
http://www.archives.gov/veterans/
Databases:
The Archival Research Catalog (ARC) (NARA) is the online catalog of NARA's nationwide
holdings in the Washington, DC area, Regional Archives and Presidential Libraries. http://www.archives.gov/research/arc/about-arc.html
The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System (CWSS) is a
database containing information about the men who served in the Union and
Confederate armies during the Civil War. http://www.nps.gov/civilwar/soldiers-and-sailors-database.htm
The Veterans History Project of the Library of Congress
contains primary source material derived from interviews with veterans.http://www.loc.gov/vets/
Example record, Veteran's History Project: http://lcweb2.loc.gov/diglib/vhp/bib/62401
Youtube Video:
Genealogy Introduction—Military Research at the National Archives: Pension
Records
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oT-AgYFhX1k
Subject Headings: Military reference books; Military research; Military research--Bibliography--Periodicals; Military research--History--20th century
The Archival Research Catalog (ARC) (NARA) is the online catalog of NARA's nationwide
holdings in the Washington, DC area, Regional Archives and Presidential Libraries. http://www.archives.gov/research/arc/about-arc.html
The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System (CWSS) is a
database containing information about the men who served in the Union and
Confederate armies during the Civil War. http://www.nps.gov/civilwar/soldiers-and-sailors-database.htm
The Veterans History Project of the Library of Congress
contains primary source material derived from interviews with veterans.http://www.loc.gov/vets/
Example record, Veteran's History Project: http://lcweb2.loc.gov/diglib/vhp/bib/62401
Youtube Video:
Genealogy Introduction—Military Research at the National Archives: Pension
Records
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oT-AgYFhX1k
Subject Headings: Military reference books; Military research; Military research--Bibliography--Periodicals; Military research--History--20th century