My Time at the National Archives

One of the highlights of our trip to DC was the time I spent researching family history in the National Archives. There are National Archives branches spread throughout the US and I have been to branch in San Bruno, CA. So why bother going to the DC location? That's where the original documents for the Civil War pension records are stored. You can request these be copied and sent to you, and I have done so in the past. For $25 staff members will send you "selected" items from the files. You can obtain the entire file for $75 for the first 100 pages and $.65 per additional page. The entire file is pricey, but if you aren't going to DC anytime soon, that's an option. When you chose the $25 package, a staff member will be deciding what to send you. I wanted to go through the files myself, and I wanted to see the actual documents in their real color (not the xerox black and white).

Orientation
This research journey is not for those who don't have the patience to wend their way through a lengthy process. Here's how it went. I arrived about 9:30 am. First stop - security, where I provided my driver's license and filled out an equipment permit for my camera. Next, into the orientation area on the first floor. I reviewed a Powerpoint presentation about the rules and how to handle the records. I was then issued a temporary researcher card, which normally would have included my picture, but the equipment wasn't working and they were waiting for IT to get back to them. (Sound familiar?) From there to the help desk, where I told the worker what I wanted to do. She directed me to a computer and I looked up the pension index numbers using - wait for it - Ancestry.com. Hah! If I had known about this step, I would have done it at home.

Requesting the Files
I completed forms (in duplicate) for four pension files, providing the index numbers from Ancestry.com. I made the 11:00 am deadline (aka "pull time"). Note that you can only request four files during each "pull time." Then I went back and found four more files I wanted, completed four more forms, and submitted them for the 1:00 pull time. It takes at least an hour to get the files and by now I had learned they would hold the files for three days. So I left the archives and spent the afternoon playing tourist with Ray.

Preparing to Enter the Research Room

Next morning, I am back at the archives and ready to enter the fabled Research room where I will be able to look at the files. I store my purse in a locker, and take my camera, cell phone, coin purse, pencil, and one sheet of paper (a list of the files I wanted) into the research room. Notebooks, binders, legal pads, file folders, briefcases, backpacks, purses are not allowed. PCs, scanners, and cameras are allowed. I kept it simple by taking my camera and cell phone. (Note that my entire genealogy database is on my cell phone so I can always check names and dates there if needed.)

Reviewing the Files
I go to the desk in the Research Room and am shown the files I requested. I see a stack of 9 x 15 brown envelopes that are each two or three inches thick. Some of my ancestor's files have multiple envelopes. I am shocked by the amount of material I see and am worried that I have bitten off more than I can chew. Fortunately, a couple of the files, from the War of 1812, have only a very few documents. I am given one file and I start perusing the material. Since I have seen much of this material before (in the form of xeroxes sent to me years ago) I know what I am looking for. There are certain documents - such as a letter my great-great-grandmother wrote - that I want to locate and photograph. And, I am looking for items I haven't seen before, items the staff may have missed. So I actually scan the files pretty quickly, setting aside items I want to photograph. There is a very nice camera stand, but you have to sign up to use it in one-hour increments. The system doesn't really work very well for me. Sometimes I use the camera stand and other times I just take the photos at my desk.

I realized I might not find any new information, but in fact, I did. The files for my great-great-grandfather John Weaver had an affidavit I had never seen before. In this file, he named his father. This is actually highly unusual - you almost never see parents' names in Civil War pension files as the application forms didn't ask for this information. I was thrilled. This wasn't the only piece of new information I found, but it was the most exciting!

The next afternoon, I came back to the Archives to complete my research. I worked my way through the remaining files and took many more photographs. I also made xerox copies of some pages, particularly those which I wanted to make absolutely certain I had a copy of.

Leaving the Archives
When you leave the research room, you take any xerox copies to the desk. The staff member pages through them to make sure you haven't mixed any original documents in with them. The xerox copies are then placed in a canvas bag which is zipped and locked. My first day, I was scolded about that one sheet of paper I brought in with me as I forgot to have it stamped when I entered the room! Fortunately, it was quite clear that it was not from a pension file. I  passed through security in the Research Room (where the camera permit was reviewed). Then I went down to the lockers and retrieved my purse. Last stop was security at the building exit. My camera and the permit were reviewed again, and the canvas bag with my xerox copies was unlocked. Finally, I turned in my badge and left for the day.

I had wondered before our trip if it would be worth the trouble to go to the National Archives. As you might have guessed, my answer is a resounding "yes!"

What Is the National Archives?