Course Six – Military Records I: The Colonial Era to the Vietnam War

“The course provided more than I expected, records and locations that I was not aware of how to find or existed.”

“This course is a must whether one takes course 2 and 3; for the resources provided about records and what information they provide and where to find them.”

“The knowledge of the instructors and their willingness to share it is a great asset. They answered any and all questions put to them. They were wonderful.”

“Looking forward to the 2nd and 3rd courses in the sequence of military records.”

Course Six – Military Records I: The Colonial Era to the Vietnam War


  • Registration is now open through Monday July 1, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern – register here!
  • Maximum: 35 students
  • Virtual classrooms using Zoom
  • All courses come with a digital syllabus
  • Students will receive a digital certificate upon course completion

Course Coordinator

Michael L. Strauss, AG®

Description

This course is designed to introduce students to military records covering multiple war periods. It is an in-depth assessment of numerous military records used in connection with genealogical research that is intended to offer maximum return over the short term.

Prerequisites, textbooks, and other student information

Course prerequisites:

No prerequisite. This is the beginner course for military research.

Course requirements:

With the understanding this is a beginner to intermediate course, it allows total immersion into the records without crossing over to advanced topic applications. Each of the war periods (and some peacetime periods) in American History will be examined chronologically starting with the Colonial War period through the Vietnam War.

Required books:                                                                                                     

Plante, Trevor K. Military Service Records at the National Archives. Reference Information Paper 109. Washington, DC: National Archives and Records Administration, 2007. Book is available online free at: https://www.archives.gov/files/publications/ref-info-papers/rip109.pdf

Recommended books:

Rose, Christine. Military Bounty Land, 1776-1855. San Jose: CR, 2001.

Neagles, James C. U.S. Military Records: A Guide to Federal & State Sources, Colonial America to the Present. Provo: Ancestry Publishing, 1994.

Course Schedule (All times listed are Eastern Time)

Monday
10:30 – 11:00 Introduction to Military Records I (Strauss)
11:00 – 12:15 Researching Your Colonial War Ancestors (Strauss)
12:15 – 12:45 Break
12:45 – 2:00 Introduction to the Records of the National Archives (Strauss)
2:00 – 3:30 Lunch
3:30 – 4:45 The Road to Independence: The Revolutionary War (Strauss)
4:45 – 5:15 Break
5:15 – 6:30 Free Trade and Sailors Rights: War of 1812 (Strauss)
 
Tuesday
11:00 – 12:15 Manifest Destiny: Mexican War Research (Strauss)
12:15 – 12:45 Break
12:45 – 2:00 Mapping Union Soldiers and Sailors Civil War Journey (Mitchell)
2:00 – 3:30 Lunch
3:30 – 4:45 Mapping Confederate Soldiers and Sailors Civil War Journey (Mitchell)
4:45 – 5:15 Break
5:15 – 6:30 Doing Research at NARA-St. Louis (Miller)
 
Wednesday
11:00 – 12:15 Refugees, Claims, and Pardons: The Reconstruction Era (Strauss)
12:15 – 12:45 Break
12:45 – 2:00 Fighting Along the Frontier: Indian War Research (Strauss)
2:00 – 3:30 Lunch
3:30 – 4:45 Researching Your World War II Veteran at NARA and Various Other Sources (Miller)
4:45 – 5:15 Break
5:15 – 6:30 Honoring Our Korean War Veterans and Telling Their Stories (Miller)
 
Thursday
11:00 – 12:15 Introduction to Government Documents (McDonald)
12:15 – 12:45 Break
12:45 – 2:00 The Great War: Researching World War I (Strauss)
2:00 – 3:30 Lunch
3:30 – 4:45 Finding the Background of Your Vietnam War Veterans (Miller)
4:45 – 5:15 Break
5:15 – 6:30 Introduction to Military Pension Law (Russell)
 
Friday
10:30 – 11:45 Fighting Along the Frontier: Indian Wars (Strauss)
11:45 –12:00 Break
12:00 – 1:15 Reconstructing the Past: Military Record Loss (Strauss)
1:15 – 1:30 Break
1:30 – 2:45 Recap of Military Course – Q&A Session and Certificates (Strauss)

Course Faculty