Series IV: Government and Military Records

The War of 1812 Collection consists of letters, documents, and other material all of which concerns the War of 1812. Although the bulk of the collection spans the years 1812-1815, there is a wide range of material dating from 1794 to 1960.

The collection reflects both a personal side of the war and a military side. The personal side is revealed by the great number of letters between friends, relatives, and family members concerning their opinions on the war, military activities, and the outlook of the country in general. There are also pages from personal journals, personal statements regarding the war, and certificates of membership in various military associations and clubs.

The military side of the war is reflected in correspondence to and from soldiers and government officials, military records including muster rolls, pay rolls, conscientious objector lists, and commissions, and in other military and government related material such as receipts, logbooks of U.S. vessels, minutes of meetings, and resolutions.

Many of the items in the collection are either typescripts, photostats, or xerox copies.