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G.A.R. Thomas and Johnson Post

G.A.R. – Thomas and Johnson Post
L201
1880 – 1933
2 mss boxes, 10 volumes

Manuscripts & Rare Books Division
Indiana State Library

Processed by: Philip N. Williams, 1998
Reprocessed by: Sarah Pfundstein, January, 2013

Organizational History:

The G.A.R., The Grand Army of the Republic, was the largest and most influential organization of Union veterans of the Civil War. It was founded at Decatur, Illinois, in April 1866 by Dr. Benjamin F. Stephenson, formerly a surgeon of the 14th Illinois Infantry. Through most of their history, local posts were primarily fraternal organizations whose ritual and procedures had a military flavor. From the start, the Grand Army was an oath-bound society, dedicated to the principles of “fraternity, charity, and loyalty.” The George H. Thomas Post was the Indianapolis chapter of the G.A.R.

During the first couple of years, many local posts, notably in Indiana, were little more than radical Republican campaign clubs; but, in 1869, the national encampment (convention) adopted a regulation (never significantly altered) that forbade the use of the organization for partisan purposes. In 1949, six of the sixteen surviving veterans of the organization met in Indianapolis for the 83rd and last national encampment.

Source:

Information Found within Collection

Scope and Content:

The collection contains mostly documents from the George H. Thomas post #17 in Indianapolis. These include meeting minutes, ledger, muster, account, dues, receipts, ritual and ceremonial books. Also included are correspondence, pamphlets, an organizational plate, a souvenir of Decoration Day, and other organizational paperwork. Also included in the collection are photocopies of the meetings minutes from the Johnson post #368 in Montpelier (1884-1894).

Photocopy Policy:

Manuscript material CANNOT be photocopied or digitized in its entirety. Photocopies and/or digital reproductions (i.e. scans, digital photographs) cannot exceed 25% of a COLLECTION or FOLDER within a collection. In some cases, photocopying may not be permitted due to the condition of the item. Please check with the Manuscript Librarian for possible alternatives.

Collection Inventory

Box and Folder Listing:

Box 1.  Grand Army of the Republic, Thomas and Johnson Post 1880-1932, n.d.

Folder 
1. Post #368 Montpelier; Minutes 1884-1888
2. Post #368 Montpelier; Minutes Aug.1888- Aug. 2. 1890
3. Post #368 Montpelier; Minutes Aug. 16, 1890 – May 1893
4. Post #368 Montpelier;  Minutes May 27, 1893- June 1894
5. Muster Book 1880-1888
6. Register Book 1926-1932
7. Ritual Books
8. Ledger Book
9. Ceremonial Books

Box 2.  Grand Army of the Republic, Thomas and Johnson Post 1928-1933, n.d.

Folder 
1. Misc. papers
2. Receipt Books (1928, 1931-1933)
3. Organizational Plate
4. Misc. papers

Volumes. 

Folder 
V201-1 Account Book 1900-1909
V201-2 Ledger 1893
V201-3 Receipt and payment book 1895-1899
V201-4 Ledger Book
V201-5 Minutes of Meetings 1899-1908
V201-6 Minutes
V201-7 Minutes April 1880-1886
V201-8 Minutes of Meetings 1887-1893
V201-9 Ledger 1921-1932
V201-10 Dues Book 1900-1904

Collection Information:

Size of Collection: 2 mss boxes, 13 folders, 10 volumes.
Collection Dates: 1880 – 1933
Provenance:  Joseph A. Wright, date unknown
Access: The Collection is Open for Research Use
Restrictions:  None
Reproduction Rights: Permission to reproduce, exhibit, or publish material in this collection must be obtained from the Manuscript and Rare Books Division, Indiana State Library.
Language: Materials are entirely in: English
Alternate Formats: 
Related Holdings: 
Collection Notes: 

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