NARA headaches

[John Winn]

I am currently researching all the CW vets in the cemetery where I volunteer and so have ordered a number of compiled service records and pension application files. Some I received in good order but others were either lost (they said they were "awaiting shipping" for weeks) or I've been notified the records couldn't be located even though I supplied all the needed and correct information. It's frustrating.

Apparently, they will only send a record if it matches exactly what you entered on the form, even if you noted dutifully in the box provided for noting aliases or different spellings that the surname was spelled two different ways. This has happened twice and when I eventually receive the explanation of why they couldn't find the requested record (which, btw, they send by mail only) it says something like:

We couldn't find Joe Smith in Co C 2nd Ill infantry but we did find a record for Joe Smyth in Co C 2nd Ill infantry. If this is the record you want please re-submit your order.

Well, what was the point of providing the different spellings if they apparently just ignore what I submit ?

Also, if a man served in more than one unit you have to submit a separate request - and pay another $30 - for each unit. So much for "compiled" service records.

There's three guys I'm researching who enlisted under aliases (one because he only spoke French and the man who signed him up didn't so his name ended up rather garbled) and then applied for pensions under their correct name, noting their alias (which is right on the pension application). When I noted all that NARA just said they couldn't find the records (as I used the correct name, not the alias even though I noted there was an alias). When I re-submitted using the alias they found the record.

In two cases I've had to re-submit using a mailed paper request form so that I can attach copies of the pension applications (you can't submit attachments when ordering on line). It's taking me months to get the records I want. Really aggravating.

Anybody else have problems with NARA ? Just wondering.

OK, that's my little rant.

 

[Deleted User CS]

In my opinion. The civil war section of the National Archives in Washington, D.C. has gone completely downhill since Mike Musick retired several years ago. Mike was an extremely nice fellow who always was very accommodating to each request. I have had trouble getting materials from them to the point where I have given up on them. They claim they are so understaffed and cannot handle all of the requests coming into their office. My solution to them: HIRE MORE PEOPLE!!! On the other hand, I have seen on their website where one can purchase the complied service records in microfilm form. Have you and your organization thought about that route? You would need a microfilm reader of course. Just a suggestion. David.

 

[Miles Krisman]

If you haven't done so already, you might consider posting the names of the soldiers you're interested in on this message board. I am often amazed at the information message board members are able to provide!

 

[John Winn]

If you haven't done so already, you might consider posting the names of the soldiers you're interested in on this message board. I am often amazed at the information message board members are able to provide!

Well there are 45 of them. Also, if I may say so, I'm a pretty good researcher and think I've found what there is from the standard places. However, your suggestion has caused me to consider asking if anyone has a written unit history that might mention one of the men I'm researching. I'll do that on a different forum.

 

[16thVA]

I forgot what I was especially looking for a few weeks ago which took me to the LDS Family Search website, but their page had a link to a NARA page and some records that had been microfilmed decades ago. So I go to the NARA page which of course doesn't have the records available but instead their link sends me to Fold3, which I highly resented. Good luck, JW.

 

[James N.]

... Apparently, they will only send a record if it matches exactly what you entered on the form, even if you noted dutifully in the box provided for noting aliases or different spellings that the surname was spelled two different ways.

...Anybody else have problems with NARA ? Just wondering...

@1863surgeon tells me he is a collateral relative (not a direct descendant) of Union Maj. Gen. Irvin McDowell but when he sent for records was told there was no such person. (But knowing him, there's no telling how he spelled the name!)

 

[John Winn]

@1863surgeon tells me he is a collateral relative (not a direct descendant) of Union Maj. Gen. Irvin McDowell but when he sent for records was told there was no such person. (But knowing him, there's no telling how he spelled the name!)

I can see the response: "We could not find any record for a General Irwin McDowell but we do have a record for a General Irvin McDowell. If this is the record you want please re-submit your request."

 

[James N.]

I can see the response: "We could not find any record for a General Irwin McDowell but we do have a record for a General Irvin McDowell. If this is the record you want please re-submit your request."

You've got to be kidding; I'm sure that from them he would be lucky to get this reply: "We could not find any record for a General Irwin McDowell"PERIOD.

 

[James Brenner]

It may not always be the archivist who is at fault ...

I was at NARA twice over the past two months and I learned quite a bit about their organization and how things run, or are supposed to run. As background, there are basically three sections: Army, Navy, and Civil (Treasury, State, Interior records, etc.) Depending on what RG you're looking at will decide which archivist you'll work with. In this case, I wanted to look at some Treasury records (RG 217) to see if I could find an 1861 contract between Miles Greenwood and the state of Ohio. I worked with an extremely professional and helpful archivist, Rebecca Sharp, who guided me through the Byzantine maze that are Treasury records. She recommended several documents that I should look at and then helped me fill out the records request slip. She then - get this - went up into the stacks to verify the name of the volumes/records and their locations and found a couple of other records she thought would be useful. It was late in the afternoon when she did this so the records would be the first pull the next morning.

To make this short story even longer, I went to the reading room the next morning and the records weren't there. The note on the request slip said that they were either not on the shelf or could not be located. I went back to Ms. Sharp who then went back up to the stacks and verified that they were there. She came back down and said I should return to the reading room after the next pull. I did and they were there.

When I returned home, I wrote Ms. Sharp's supervisor a note telling her of Ms. Sharp's professionalism, which was the right thing to do.

There are, I think, a lot of factors in play when requesting records from the NARA. Certainly the archivist is one as is the lack of staffing, but I don't know how careful the people are who retrieve and refile the records. Based on this experience, I suspect that a lack of attention to detail during the retrieval process is where many of the problems come from.

 

[John Hartwell]

On the other hand, I have seen on their website where one can purchase the complied service records in microfilm form. Have you and your organization thought about that route? You would need a microfilm reader of course. Just a suggestion. David.

The microfilms are arranged by state and regiment. You would need to buy at least one roll for each regiment/unit you are interested in (often more than one roll to a regiment). If you have several men in the same unit, it might be worth your while. But, you never know when you'll come across a man with 2 or 3 cards just marked "Present" with no further information. Also, with multiple enlistments yiu would have to buy multiple reels.

 

[TomP]

Of course nothing beats going to the Archives in person, and like James Brenner , I have had a number of good experiences with staff in person, on the phone and by email. A good option is to hire a professional researcher who can probably pull your records at a fraction of what you would spend with the purchase of multiple records.

Tom

 

[John Winn]

Of course nothing beats going to the Archives in person, and like James Brenner , I have had a number of good experiences with staff in person, on the phone and by email. A good option is to hire a professional researcher who can probably pull your records at a fraction of what you would spend with the purchase of multiple records.

Tom

Well, I now think that I'd be done if I'd have hired a researcher in the first place but I just thought why do that when I can order the records directly (and have done so successfully in the past). At this point I've only got a few left to get and the orders have all been placed with Archives so I'll just have to wait it out and re-apply by mail if I need to (so I can attach things like the pension application). Should I ever somehow decide to do another project like this - very unlikely - I will hire somebody even if it costs me a bit more as I'm very Type A and don't deal with frustration, delay, and incompetence very well.

 

[Deleted User CS]

The microfilms are arranged by state and regiment. You would need to buy at least one roll for each regiment/unit you are interested in (often more than one roll to a regiment). If you have several men in the same unit, it might be worth your while. But, you never know when you'll come across a man with 2 or 3 cards just marked "Present" with no further information. Also, with multiple enlistments yiu would have to buy multiple reels.

John. Thanks for the information. David.