The records of the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR), Henry Lincoln Post #364 document its 50-year history as an organization that supported Civil War veterans in Oberlin.  The series contained herein describe the operations of the group, events and meetings held, income and expenses, and the passing of its members.  The collection spans many years and many functions of the group.

The collection is divided into six record series: I. Bylaws and Regulations; II. Journals; III. Membership; IV. Financial Records; V. Historical Records; and VI. Clippings.  Within each series, files are arranged either chronologically or alphabetically.

The first series in the collection holds three copies of the bylaws approved by the Ohio GAR headquarters in September of 1883, documenting the establishment of the Oberlin GAR post.  Two copies are identical published leaflets, and the final copy is handwritten in a bound journal.

The journals (Series II) contain minutes of meetings of the Henry Lincoln Post of the GAR, and provide a consecutive record of the actions of the group from 1883 to 1931.  From this part of the collection, the researcher is able to get a very real sense of the day to day actions of the Post.

The membership series, along with the member lists contained in the journals, is extremely valuable, as it possesses many individual member histories, and could possibly be used for genealogical research.  The papers contained in these folders give information on what becoming a member of the organization entailed, and the extent of the sense of fraternity within the post.

Central to the financial series is the set of five ledgers, which give a comprehensive account of the expenditures and income of the Post.  Also important are the thorough Quartermaster’s reports.  Lastly, the historical records and clippings series contain a wealth of information about how the Henry Lincoln Post and its members influenced the Oberlin community, through planned events and the lives of individuals.

Note: In the fall of 2006, Oberlin student Nick Gliserman did extensive research on this collection.  He found that there were discrepancies within the records, especially concerning individual member histories.  The researcher should be aware that these inconsistencies exist.

Series I. Bylaws and Regulations, c. 1883

This series consists of two published leaflets listing the bylaws of the GAR, and a bound, undated volume with pages of handwritten rules and regulations.  This book also includes a listing of member names.

Series II. Journals, 1883-1931

Filed here are eight (8) bound journals, containing primarily minutes of meetings, but also names of members and officers, financial records, adjutant’s reports, and clippings. 

Series III. Membership, 1882-1934, n.d.

Contained here are many lists of members spanning the history of the organization.  Also included are transfer cards of members, memorial notices and orders, applications for membership, and a “black book” of members rejected from the order.  Lastly, the membership series holds a large bound book of personal war sketches.  This book lists 110 names, and the records associated with them.  Some records are more complete than others.  Anne W. Lincoln, wife of Henry Lincoln, donated the book to the Henry Lincoln Post #364 in 1891.

Series IV. Financial Records, 1883-1910

The financial records series is comprised of five ledgers, outlining the income and expenses of the group.  The expenses included in these volumes provide details of each fund that the organization sponsored, as well as each headstone and plot purchased in Westwood Cemetery (Oberlin, Ohio), and the collected dues from each member.  This series also includes the Quartermaster’s financial reports, check stubs, and receipts.

Series V. Historical Records, 1862-1922

The historical records include printed matter – programs from speeches and other events, catalogues of grave markers, and other leaflets released by the GAR.  Two noteworthy files in this series contain the certificate of appointment of Henry Lincoln to the post of Orderly Sergeant of the Seventh Regiment of the Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and materials relating to the Old Soldier’s Musical Festival of 1888.

Series VI. Clippings, 1895-1932

This series contains newspaper clippings relating to the Henry Lincoln Post of the GAR and its members.  Many of the pieces are obituaries of members or relatives of members.  The bulk of the clippings are photocopies of originals that are found in one of the organization’s bound journals.  Some original newsprint exists (pasted onto paper), with handwritten comments in the side margins.

The records of the Grand Army of the Republic, Henry Lincoln Post #364 (Oberlin, Ohio) were received by the Oberlin College Library in 1930-31 from Mr. George Houghton, the last surviving member of the Post.

The records were transferred to the Oberlin College Archives in 1980 [Accession 1980/33 and 1980/35].

The Elliot F. Grabill Papers (30/43), Henry Harrison Barnard Papers (30/317), Giles Waldow Shurtleff Papers (30/32), and the student file of Henry W. Lincoln.