Our records are broken down into Record Groups, Entries and Subject Series of various topic. Click the various links to navigate to a specified topic.

What is a Record Group?  A record group, the basic unit of archival control, is a body of organizationally related records designated by a number and the name of the federal agency, bureau, or activity that created or received them. Some of our Record Groups include: Chief of Ordnance, Chief at Arms, United States Marine Corps, etc.

What is a Entry? An entry is a specified topic within a designated Record Group. For example, within the Record Group United States Marine Corps, you will find Entries for the Quartermaster Records and the Commandant of the United States Marine Corps.

What are Subject Series? Subject series are very specific topics within Record Groups and Entry locations. For Example, using the USMC Record Group and Quartermaster Files as an example. There are presently, 2 subject series within that Record Group and Entry locations. They are Quartermaster files on Rifles and Purchase of Land – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – Quartermaster’s Depot.

See below for a list of our Record Group Holdings

• Record Groups

  • Alien Property Custodian

    • • The Office of Alien Property Custodian was an office within the government of the United States during World War I and again during World War II, serving as a custodian to property that belonged to US enemies. The office was created in 1917 by Executive Order 2729-A under the Trading with the Enemy Act of 1917 (TWEA) in order to “assume control and dispose of enemy-owned property in the United States and its possessions.”

  • American Expeditionary Forces

    • • The American Expeditionary Forces (A. E. F.) was a formation of the United States Army on the Western Front of World War I. The A. E. F. was established on July 5, 1917, in France under the command of General John J. Pershing. It fought alongside French Army, British Army, Canadian Army, New Zealand Army and Australian Army units against the Imperial German Army. A small number of A. E. F. troops also fought alongside Italian Army units in that same year against the Austro-Hungarian Army. The A. E. F. helped the French Army on the Western Front during the Aisne Offensive (at the Battle of Château-Thierry and Battle of Belleau Wood) in the summer of 1918, and fought its major actions in the Battle of Saint-Mihiel and the Meuse-Argonne Offensive in the latter part of 1918.

  • Army Ground Forces (1916-1954)

    • • Established: In the War Department, effective March 9, 1942, by Circular 59, War Department, March 2, 1942, pursuant to EO 9082, February 28, 1942.
      • Functions: Organized, trained, and equipped ground force units for combat operations. Developed and tested weapons and other equipment for each of the combat arms. In collaboration with the Army Air Forces, developed ground-air support doctrine and training methods. Exercised, June 1946-March 1948, command over the six armies within continental United States.

  • Chief at Arms

    • • Chief of Artillery established as the ranking line officer of the Artillery Corps, consisting of both field and coast artillery, by General Order 9, War Department, February 6, 1901, pursuant to the Army Reorganization Act (31 Stat. 748), February 2, 1901. Redesignated Chief of Coast Artillery, effective July 1, 1908, by General Order 24, War Department, February 2, 1907, pursuant to an act of January 25, 1907 (34 Stat. 861), providing for the separation of the field artillery from the Artillery Corps. Abolished, with functions transferred to Commanding General, Army Ground Forces, effective March 9, 1942, by Circular 59, War Department, March 2, 1942, implementing the reorganization of the army mandated by EO 9082, February 28, 1942.

  • Chief of Ordnance

    • • The Chief of Ordnance of the United States Army is a general officer who is responsible for the Army Ordnance Corps and serves as the Commandant of the U.S. Army Ordnance School at Fort Lee, Virginia. The Chief of Ordnance is primarily focused on the doctrine, training, and professional development of Ordnance officers and soldiers. The position was created simultaneously with the establishment of the Army Ordnance Department on May 14, 1812.

  • United States Marine Corps

    • • The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines, is the maritime land force service branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for conducting expeditionary and amphibious operations through combined arms, implementing its own infantry, artillery, aerial, and special operations forces. The U.S. Marine Corps is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. The Marine Corps has been part of the U.S. Department of the Navy since 30 June 1834 with its sister service, the United States Navy. The USMC operates installations on land and aboard sea-going amphibious warfare ships around the world. Additionally, several of the Marines’ tactical aviation squadrons, primarily Marine Fighter Attack squadrons, are also embedded in Navy carrier air wings and operate from the aircraft carriers.