Introduction | Agency History | Scope and Content | Series Description | Inventory

Introduction

The Ladies of the G.A.R., Ford Circle collection documents the activities of this Toledo, Ohio organization through membership lists, application files, and a brief written history.

The collection was copied in September 1991 with the cooperation of Joanna Russ. There are no restrictions on the scholarly use of the collection and duplication is permitted. The collection register prepared by Marilyn Levinson, Curator of Manuscripts, in April 2004.

Agency History

Originally organized as an auxiliary society of wives, mothers, sisters and daughters of members of the G.A.R. Dept. of Ohio Ford Post no. 14., the group received its charter as Ladies of the Grand Army of the Republic, Ford Circle no. 28 on July 19, 1894 in Berea, Ohio, with about 60 charter members. Through several generations the society has continued to welcome descendants of Civil War veterans into membership.

Scope and Content

The records of the Ford Circle no. 28 of the Ladies of the Grand Army of the Republic primarily documents membership information, with some additional support data of background history and the organization charter.

The membership lists and especially the membership applications provide information on both the women members, with their names, addresses and relationship, but also the Civil War veteran who was a relative, giving enlistment information of muster dates and regiment. The span of application dates, running from the chartering of the Circle into the late 1980s, demonstrates the involvement and dedication of activity in the organization.

Series Description

PROCEEDINGS

CHARTER
1894
Certificate with signatures of charter members.

MEMBERSHIP LISTS
1894-1919
Typed and handwritten lists of members, giving name and residence of applicant, the name, relationship, and regiment of Civil War relative, and membership status

MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION FORMS
1894-1987
Alphabetically by applicant (not by veteran) name
Forms for membership in the Ford Circle, giving name of applicant, relationship with veteran (including such choices as wife, widow, mother, sister, daughter, grand-daughter, niece, cousin), enlistment information of muster dates and regiment, and applicant's address. Dates may vary by folder.

PRINTED MATERIAL

HISTORIES
1902, 1910
General historical summary of the auxiliary society of G.A.R. Dept. of Ohio Ford Post no.14., which received its charter as Ladies of the Grand Army of the Republic, Ford Circle no. 28 on July 19, 1894, as well as a sketch of the national organization.

Inventory

Box 1

Folder

1. Ford Circle Charter, 1894
2. Membership lists, 1894-1918
3. Application forms (A), 1894-1987
4. Application forms (B), 1894-1987
5. Application forms (C), 1894-1987
6. Application forms (D-E), 1894-1987
7. Application forms (F-G), 1894-1987
8. Application forms (H-J), 1894-1987
9. Application forms (K-L), 1894-1987
10. Application forms (M-O), 1894-1987
11. Application forms (P), 1894-1987
12. Application forms (Q-R), 1894-1987
13. Application forms (S), 1894-1987
14. Application forms (T-V), 1894-1987
15. Application forms (W), 1894-1987
16. Application forms (Y-Z), 1894-1987
17. History of the Ladies of the G.A.R. and Ford Circle, 1902, 1910
18. Annual program booklets, 1915, 1925, 1928, 1929

Manuscripts by Subject | Civil War Collections |  Women's Studies Collections