The years after the Civil War saw the establishment of veteran organizations across the country. The Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) led the way with hundreds of chapters and nearly a half a million members by the late 1800s. Other fraternal groups also were chartered in the years following, ranging from Sons of Union Veterans, Women's Relief Organization, United Spanish War Veterans, American Legion, and many more.
Membership badges for the Grand Army of the Republic. These were numbered on the side of the star.
GAR Post officer's badges, including rank hangers
Very rare ChicagoPost Commander's GAR medal, presented in 1900. It was struck in gold and engraved.
GAR medal and Civil War identity badge to a veteran from Rockford, Illinois. He enlisted as the young drummer in Company G, 74th Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He was wounded in the right shoulder during the Tullahoma Campaign in Tennessee and spent six months recovering in the hospital. Afterwards, he was transferred to the Veterans Reserve Corps for the remainder of the war. He was an officer at his GAR Post and in local reunions.
Model 1872 forage cap with insignia of the Grand Army of the Republic.
GAR ceremonial belt.
Medal and insignia of the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR), a Union Civil War veterans organization. The medal is a souvenir from the 1916 Annual Encampment in Kenosha, WI.
GAR frock coat, identified to a veteran of the 52nd Mass.
Veteran's ladder badge for the 13th Wisconsin Infantry.
Veteran reunion badges from Waukegan, Illinois, from 1914 and 1917.
1900 reunion medal from Chicago. These medals were struck from the metal of captured Confederate cannons!
GAR campaign cap with cord and bullioninsignia of Post #190 (state unknown).
GAR campaign cap with cords and bullion insignia.
A very scarce GAR reunion medal from Minneapolis Encampment in 1906, worn by Union Navy Veterans.
Uniform sack coat with buttons to the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers. This one came from the hospital in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Named veteran's badge for Company I of the 1st Wisconsin Cavalry.
GAR reunion badge for the 1926 Encampment in Racine, WI.
Very scarce GAR badge from the final GAR Encampment, held in Indianapolis in 1949. There were only sixteen Civil War veterans living at the time, and only six were able to attend.
Unit-specific veteran reunion ribbons and badges to Wisconsin Civil War regiments.
1908 Toledo, Ohio GAR Encampment medal and Wisconsin delegate ribbon
Pennsylvania GAR Post ribbon
1913 directory of Wisconsin GAR posts
44th National Encampment medal from 1910, complete with box.
GAR song book, c. 1894