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Francis Hall collection of rosters of Grand Rapids and Michigan veterans and grave locations

 Collection
Identifier: Collection 181

Scope and Contents

The bulk of the collection contains rosters of Michigan veterans from the Revolutionary War to World War I. Also included are rosters of Military units formed in Grand Rapids for service in the Mexican War through World War I. Of special interest are the rosters of the four Michigan regiments, by company, that served in the Spanish American War. Also included are unit rosters for medical unit Q, 339th Ambulance Co., and the Polar Bears, of the 85th Infantry for World War I.

For further information on the Polar Bears see collections #23 and #33, and/or 339th Ambulance Co. see collection #108. Hall's list of Kent County men in the Civil War was given to the State Library of Michigan, which returned it in 1979. This list was processed as a manuscript collection #144 Kent County Civil War Men. The Hall collection of obituaries typed and transcribed from various state newspapers has been used as a reference work by the Local Historical Collections staff.

Dates

  • 1754-1939, n.d.

Creator

Biographical / Historical

Francis E. Hall (1886-1939), a life-long resident of Grand Rapids, resided in the family home built in 1857 by his grandfather. Hall, a member of the National Committee for Soldiers grave sites in Michigan, spent several years traveling the state, gathering information. Shortly after his death in 1939, his sister, Mrs. Benjamin Van Raalte, donated the entire collection to the Grand Rapids Public Library.

Extent

1.3 Linear Feet (Three boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

The Francis Hall collection contains lists of graves of veterans of United States wars in various Michigan cemeteries, 1754-1939. These lists are arranged alphabetically by county, then chronologically beginning with the Revolutionary War through World War I.

Also in the collection are rosters of military units formed in Grand Rapids for service in the Mexican War, Civil War, Spanish American War and World War I. The rosters are arranged chronologically. Of special interest are the rosters of the four Michigan regiments, by company, that served in the Spanish American War. Also included are unit rosters for medical unit Q, the 339th Ambulance Co., and Polar Bears, 85th Infantry, for World War I.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Mrs. Benjamin VanRaalte, 1939, accession number 00.000

Title
Finding aid for the Francis Hall collection of rosters of Grand Rapids and Michigan veterans and grave locations
Status
Completed
Author
Michael Hoffman
Date
1993
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script

Repository Details

Part of the Grand Rapids History Center Repository

Contact:
Grand Rapids Public Library
111 Library Street NE
Grand Rapids Michigan 49503 USA
616-988-5497