PIERRE – The South Dakota State Historical Society-Archives recently added to its Web site an index listing deceased comrades of the South Dakota Grand Army of the Republic, found within the organization’s annual journals.
Each year during their annual meeting, leaders of the South Dakota GAR, a fraternal organization comprised of Civil War veterans, would list the known deaths of their members. Almost 1,300 Civil War veterans were listed in the annual journals dating from 1884 to 1937.
The list of deceased South Dakota GAR members can be found at http://history.sd.gov/archives/Data/gardeaths/default.aspx.
The indexes are organized by veteran’s last name and post name. Fields found within the database include first and last name, GAR post name, number and town, death date and place, the Civil War veteran’s regiment, rank and company, the journal year and page number in which the entry was found and any special notes or remarks on the deceased.
The South Dakota GAR annual journals have been held in the collections of the State Archives since 1974.
State Historical Society volunteers added the information to the database.
“The State Archives is always thankful for the help our volunteers provide us and the people of South Dakota by making our state’s history accessible to the public,” said state archivist Chelle Somsen.
The State Historical Society-Archives at the Cultural Heritage Center in Pierre is open 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. CST Monday-Friday and the first Saturday of each month. For more information call (605) 773-3804 or visit www.history.sd.gov/archives.
Editor’s Note: A photo of Civil War Veterans and members of the South Dakota Grand Army of the Republic standing at attention at the National G.A.R. Encampment held in Washington, D.C., in 1915, is available upon request. (Photo courtesy South Dakota State Historical Society-Archives)