Civil War Pension files in St. Louis?

Hi Jennifer Brodzik, we're getting clarification and will get back with you! Stay tuned.

It sounds like the person you were searching for was given treatment at a VA hospital, which is why it's likely the VA holds his pension file. Here's the info I was able to track down for you:

There are some Civil War pensions now held in St. Louis - if we don't have the record here in DC, we tell researchers to try St. Louis and then the VA.  But definitely try St. Louis first, because it's not a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. I don't know if they'll accept email requests, but here's the mailing address:

 

National Archives at St. Louis

P.O.Box 38757

St. Louis, MO 63138

 

For FOIA requests to the VA - you do have to write to the FOIA office. Here's the address:

 

Freedom of Information Act Request

Department of Veterans Affairs

Director, Records Management Service (005E3)

810 Vermont Ave., NW

Washington, DC  20420

It may be helpful to email inquire@nara.gov to find out if you can request a Civil War pension from St. Louis by email, if that's more convenient for you. They'll be able to route it to the correct group.

Colleague Michael Pierce had this additional information:

I had the same situation a few years ago, with a friend who's Federal ancestor died at the VA Hospital at Jefferson Barracks. We used the VA case number microfilm here in St. Louis and then wrote to the VA office here. Turned out his record was still at the hospital! A few weeks later we got a copy, which led us in additional directions.

I hope this helps, and please keep us posted of your progress!

You can also contact us via the email address for the National Archives at St. Louis:  stl.archives@nara.gov.

The correct address for the VA is:

VA Regional Office

Attn: VA/FOIA Privacy Act Officer

Federal Building

31 Hopkins Plaza

Baltimore, MD 21201