SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR - COLORADO SOLDIERS RECORDS

Collection

Identifier: WH1434

Staff Only

SCOPE AND CONTENT

The collection consists of payroll vouchers, final statements that include a description of the soldier and settlement of the soldier's pay, correspondence and special orders dating from 1898-1899. Material includes the complete payroll records of the First Regiment of Colorado's Volunteer Infantry Companies A-M and the payroll vouchers of individual soldiers, which contains final statements, discharge letters and special orders.

The vouchers are fragile but in good condition. The final statements contain a physical description, birthplace, birth date, occupation and date of enlistment for the soldiers. The correspondence consists of discharge letters, which in some cases document that the soldier was being discharged in order to take a promotion. The collection also contains special orders and general orders.

The payroll vouchers include pay rates for officers and enlisted men. They also contain information about the death of several soldiers. In addition, the payroll vouchers describe the reason for a soldier's discharge and, in many cases, give a character evaluation. The vouchers include information on expenses for traveling, clothing, equipment and the penalties for bad conduct. Material from the United Spanish war Veterans organization consists of reunion and membership information, information about the General Henry W. Lawton Camp No. 1, group photographs and newspaper clippings about members of the veterans organization.

SERIES 1 PAYROLL RECORDS 1898-1899 BOX 1

The series contains payroll records of the First Regiment of Colorado's Volunteer Infantry Companies A-M. There is one voucher for each company. Each voucher contains a list of every soldier in that company with relevant information such as pay, rank, deductions, enlistment date and reasons for discharge or death.

SERIES 2 FINAL STATEMENTS 1898-1899 BOX 1

The series includes final statements, correspondence, payroll vouchers and special orders. Each voucher reflects pay and deductions of pay for each individual soldier. The correspondence consists of discharge letters. The U.S. Army used final statements to document settlement of the soldier accounts.

Dates

1898-1978

ACCESS:

The collection is open for research.

OWNERSHIP:

The Spanish-American War Colorado Soldiers Records are the physical property of the Denver Public Library.

PUBLICATION RIGHTS:

All requests for permission to publish,reproduce, or quote from material in the collection should be discussed with the appropriate librarian or archivist. Permission for publication may be givenon behalf of the Denver Public Library as the owner of the physical item. It is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which also must be obtained by the customer. The Library does not assume anyresponsibility for infringement of copyright or publication rights of the manuscript held by the writer, heirs, donors, or executors. Reproduction restrictions are decided on a case-by-case basis.

HISTORICAL NOTE

On April 27, 1898, the Colorado Guard was mobilized for service in the Spanish-American War. 1400 men were activated into the First Colorado Volunteer Infantry. On June 14, 1898, after two weeks training at Camp Alva Adams in Denver, the regiment sailed for the Philippines. They participated in numerous battles and played a large role in the capture of Manila. Captain Alexander M. Brooks of Denver, Colorado raised the Stars and Stripes over captured Manila. The war had actually ended the day before the Manila attack. The regiment spent several months on guard duty in the Philippines, and went home exactly a year after its arrival. Twelve men were killed in action and another twenty-three died from disease.

United Spanish War Veterans was a service and support organization for veterans of the Spanish-American War, the Philippine Insurrection and the Chinese Relief Expedition.

Extent

2 Boxes

1 Photo folder

Additional Description

Other Finding Aids

For location information, refer to the Denver Public Library Catalog.

PROVENANCE:

The Denver Public Library purchased the Spanish-American War Colorado Soldiers collection on January 8, 1993. Additional material was donated by Jerome A. Green in 2017.