Grand Army of the Republic
Scope and Content
This collection contains a reasonably complete view of the Chamberlain Post No. 1, after its resurgence in 1880. It contains minute, ledgers, and secret ritual and service books, which show the form and working of internal GAR meetings. Additional materials, including clippings, burial records, rosters, and photographs, provide information about Vermont Civil War veterans, especially from the Northeast Kingdom region.
Dates
- 1865-1941
Language of Materials
English
Access:
Collection is open for research.
Publication Rights:
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the St. Johnsbury Athenaeum Archives.
Background Note
The Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) was a national organization of former Union veterans founded in Decatur, Illinois on April 6th, 1866. Because membership in the GAR was limited strictly to "veterans of the late unpleasantness" numbers naturally declined with the passage of years. The Grand Army of the Republic held its final encampment in Indianapolis, Indiana, in 1949. The last GAR member, Albert Woodson died in 1956 at the age of 109.
This GAR post, the George Chamberlain Post No. 1 of St. Johnsbury, Vermont, was first founded in 1868 with 11 charter members and with Captain P.D. Blodgett as original Commander. The post is named for Lieut. Col. George Chamberlain of the 11th Vermont Regiment who died of wounds he received in battle at Charlestown, Virginia on August 21, 1864. The post reached its greatest membership of 208 members in 1889.
The last recorded meeting of the Chamberlain Post was on June 8, 1940. At that time, there appear to have been five remaining Civil War veterans in Vermont, three of whom were members of the Chamberlain Post.
Extent
7.25 Linear Feet (6 boxes)
Abstract
This collection contains a reasonably complete view of the Chamberlain Post No. 1, after its resurgence in 1880. It contains governing documents, minutes, ledgers, and secret ritual and service books, which show the form and working of internal GAR meetings.
Physical Location
For current information on the location of these materials, please contact the St. Johnsbury Athenaeum Archives.
- Title
- Guide to the Grand Army of the Republic, Vt. Dept., Chamberlain Post No. 1 records, 1865-1941 (bulk 1880-1941)
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Processor: Selene Colburn, Tony Pare ,and Peter Yarusewicz.
- Date
- 2002
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- English
Repository Details
Part of the The St. Johnsbury Athenaeum Archives Repository
