Soldiers' Records: War of 1812 - World War I
Guidelines for Use:
The service cards and database entries include only the names of men and women who entered military service from the territory or state of Missouri . Service could be in the territorial militia, local militia, state militia, various militia groups organized by specific individuals, Home Guards, or in the military of the United States , including the Army, the Navy, and the Marine Corps.
The original service cards for 19 th century military engagements were created from muster rolls and other military records at various times between 1910 and 1960. Some information was abstracted from files maintained by the United Daughters of the Confederacy (UDC), as well as published sources. The World War I service cards were created during the 1930s and 1940s using war service records maintained by the federal military departments of the Army and Navy. Some of these original records were incomplete and inaccurate, making the resulting service card as well as the database entry incomplete and inaccurate as well; this is especially true of military records related to Confederate troops. In some cases, other information is available, such as payrolls, muster and descriptive rolls, reports, orders, and reparation claims.
In the event that errors and discrepancies occur, Missouri State Archives staff will consult the original service card. If the error or discrepancy is the result of a typographical data entry mistake, the database will be amended to reflect the accurate information. If the error or discrepancy is part of the original service card, though, staff will not amend the database information. That information is abstracted from an original record and cannot be altered.
It is possible that additional information about these soldiers is available through other sources. Archives staff cannot, however, alter the original existing record by introducing additional military information into the database.
A note about additional military records:
The Missouri State Archives does not maintain military service records for wars after World War I. Regrettably, it is not possible to create a database for military personnel after World War I. For information about military personnel in wars following World War I, researchers should contact the National Personnel Records Center , 9700 Page Boulevard , St. Louis MO 65132 . The National Personnel Records Center will not accept requests for military personnel records or information from said records by e-mail at this time.
A fire at the National Personnel Records Center in 1973 destroyed many military records. An estimated 80% of the U.S. Army personnel records created from 1912 to 1963 were destroyed. The fire did not damage U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps personnel files.