13 Replies Latest reply on Aug 9, 2018 4:57 AM by Frederick Rudnick

Civil War Pension files in St. Louis?

Jennifer Brodzik Feb 8, 2016 3:41 PM

I requested a Civil War pension file from NARA a few weeks ago. The other day I got a reply in the mail saying that the file is not in the National Archives and that I need to request it from the Department of Veterans' Affairs. The letter also said to write to the National Archives in St. Louis for additional assistance. Are these two different locations? I would like to know why the file I'm looking for is not in Washington. The file number starts with XC--does that have something to do with it? The veteran died in 1923, but his wife remarried (another Civil War veteran) and she lived until 1946. Maybe the year has some significance? I would like to have a better idea of why the file might be in St. Louis and my chances of finding it there. Do I need to fill out another form? Thanks for any help!

Re: Civil War Pension files in St. Louis?

Kelly Osborn Feb 9, 2016 8:41 AM (in response to Jennifer Brodzik)

Hi Jennifer Brodzik, we're getting clarification and will get back with you! Stay tuned.
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Re: Civil War Pension files in St. Louis?

Kelly Osborn Feb 9, 2016 1:49 PM (in response to Jennifer Brodzik)

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!
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- Re: Civil War Pension files in St. Louis?
  
  Jennifer Brodzik Feb 9, 2016 5:44 PM (in response to Kelly Osborn)
  
  Thank you for the information, Kelly. I will try writing to St. Louis first and will let you know what happens!
  
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Re: Civil War Pension files in St. Louis?

darialabinsky Feb 10, 2016 9:13 AM (in response to Jennifer Brodzik)

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
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- Re: Civil War Pension files in St. Louis?
  
  Kelly Osborn Feb 10, 2016 9:43 AM (in response to darialabinsky)
  
  Thanks much, Daria Labinsky!
  
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Re: Civil War Pension files in St. Louis?

Jennifer Brodzik Feb 11, 2016 4:47 PM (in response to Jennifer Brodzik)

Just to update my progress . . . Yesterday I emailed the National Archives in St. Louis with my pension file request (using the address supplied by Ms. Labinsky above). I received a reply almost immediately and was informed that St. Louis does not have the file. However, they were able to tell me by looking at the VA's BRILS system (Beneficiary Identification Records Locator Subsystem) that "an action was taken on that claim file in 2005," meaning that it was accessed for either a benefit or a genealogical search. Since the people associated with this file are long gone, I assume it was genealogy-related. It is very encouraging to learn that this file was in action as recently as 2005. My next step is to send a FOIA request to the VA. Fingers crossed!
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- Re: Civil War Pension files in St. Louis?
  
  Thomas Richardson Feb 12, 2016 6:56 AM (in response to Jennifer Brodzik)
  
  That's great to hear about your progress!
  
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Re: Civil War Pension files in St. Louis?

Jennifer Brodzik Jun 3, 2016 5:55 AM (in response to Jennifer Brodzik)

Well, it has been a few months now and I have not heard anything from the VA. I know it could still be in process, but I wonder if it's time for a follow-up letter? I'm curious if anyone reading this has ever successfully retrieved a Civil War pension file from the VA? If so, how long did it take? Thanks!
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- Re: Civil War Pension files in St. Louis?
  
  Kelly Osborn Jun 6, 2016 9:41 AM (in response to Jennifer Brodzik)
  
  I think FOIA requests take a really long time because of backlog issues. I seem to recall that Michael Pierce successfully got a Civil War pension file. What was your experience, Mikey?
  
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- Re: Civil War Pension files in St. Louis?
  
  darialabinsky Jun 7, 2016 7:50 AM (in response to Jennifer Brodzik)
  
  It may take several years. The VA is not in the genealogy business, it is in the benefits and health care business. Family history requests are not a priority.
  
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Re: Civil War Pension files in St. Louis?

Jennifer Brodzik Jul 20, 2018 12:27 PM (in response to Jennifer Brodzik)

Well, I'm happy to say that this story had a successful outcome. I waited for two years without receiving any kind of reply from the VA, so I started asking around for other suggestions. One person said he had success in the past by writing to his local Congressperson. So that's what I did: earlier this spring I sent a letter to my local U.S. Representative asking him to contact the VA on my behalf. I had an email reply within a couple of days saying they would work on it. About two months later, I received a CD in the mail containing a full-color scan of my 2nd-great grandfather's Civil War pension file! Ironically, my original question was about whether or not the National Archives in St. Louis held any of these pension files. As it turned out, the CD did come from St. Louis after all, but it was the U.S. Department of Veteran Affair's Records Management Center in St. Louis, rather than NARA, who had it! Best of all, I received the CD free of charge.
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- Re: Civil War Pension files in St. Louis?
  
  Kelly Osborn Jul 23, 2018 12:21 PM (in response to Jennifer Brodzik)
  
  Thanks for the update! So glad you were able to get the information you needed.
  
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Re: Civil War Pension files in St. Louis?

Frederick Rudnick Aug 9, 2018 4:57 AM (in response to Jennifer Brodzik)

As a veteran, good luck with a FOIA. It does not matter what era of the vet or background (I come from a large military family on both sides). Be prepared to deal with a DMV like experience especially, if its the Navy since the also have the Marine Corps.
-Fred
USMC
0311
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