StLGS Election Results and Three New Books for Sale in Our Store!

Thanks to all of you who voted in the election for two of our 2024–2025 officers. With unanimous votes, Michelle Pearce has been reelected treasurer, and Donna Foelsch will take over as vice president for programs beginning in January. We’d like to say a huge thank you to Kay Weber, who currently holds that position and is ready to step down and hand the reins to Donna. Kay has worked tirelessly during the past few years to ensure the society’s meetings, classes, and special events have been of wide-ranging appeal. She has juggled countless schedules, phone calls, texts, and emails, so our meetings could run as smoothly as possible. Because of her efforts, all of us have greatly benefitted, and we thank her from the bottoms of our hearts for all she has done for StLGS. In addition to her job as vice president for programs, Kay is co-leader of our Irish SIG, and we look forward to her continuing in that position in the future.

And now for some great new books just added to our online store, of special interest to those of you whose ancestors may have served in the military fighting for the Union during the Civil War . . .

Dennis Northcott, associate archivist for reference at the Missouri Historical Society Library and Research Center, is the author of three noteworthy volumes featuring Civil War veterans from five states, and St. Louis Genealogical Society is excited to offer these books for the first time to our members at a truly amazing price. The books index the death rolls of the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) organization for Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, and Nebraska. The GAR was founded in 1866 in Illinois, and its membership consisted of veterans of the Union Army, Union Navy, and Union Marines who served in the Civil War. The organization grew quickly with hundreds of posts in the north and west, but it finally dissolved in 1956 with the death of its last remaining member.

Each book is priced at $22.00 for StLGS members and $25.00 for non-members. Remember to log into the website first to get your member discount code!

Grand Army of the Republic Department of Illinois: Transcription of the Death Rolls, 1879–1947 provides an alphabetical listing of deaths of Illinois members of the GAR. These listings also include veterans who served from other Union states but may have lived in Illinois. Each entry provides name, rank, unit, GAR post, death date, and the edition of the GAR Proceedings in which the death notice appeared. Find this volume in our secure online store here. 

Indiana Civil War Veterans: Transcription of the Death Rolls of the Department of Indiana, Grand Army of the Republic, 1882–1948 is taken from the Journals of the Grand Army of the Republic. This exhaustive work contains the names, ranks; company, regiment, or ship; post, age, death date; and journal entry for Union veterans who died in Indiana. You can also find this volume in our store here.

Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska Civil War Veterans: Compilation of the Death Rolls of the Departments of Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska, Grand Army of the Republic, 1883–1948 contains death records of more than 36,000 GAR members, who served in regiments from thirty-seven states and territories. This book in our online store is here.

If you are in the St. Louis area, you are always welcome to visit our office on Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday mornings from 9 a.m. to noon (Central) to purchase books in person. Please check our website before you come, though, to be sure we are not closed for a special event.

(Many thanks to Viki Fagyal for providing the information for this article.)