Records from the United States War Department

Abstract: The Kansas State Historical Society possesses several microfilmed series from the United States War Department. The majority of the records are letters sent and received, special and general orders, reports of persons hired, scout journals and reports, and returns from military posts for all forts in Kansas. The forts include Fort Dodge, Fort Hays, Fort Atkinson, Fort Leavenworth, Fort Mackay, Fort Larned, Camp Zarah, and Fort Scott. Included are camps Baleman [Bateman], Beecher, Cyler, Davidson, Greirson, Halpin, Hoffman, Sugar Creek, Thompson, and Van Dorn. The World War I Classification Books: State of Kansas and the World War I Draft Registration Cards: State of Kansas, both dated 1917-1918, document enlisted soldiers from Wyandotte and Wilson counties during the first World War. The Court Martial Record, dated 1865, comprises court records documenting the trial of Colonel Charles R. Jennison of the 15th Kansas Volunteer Calvary. The final series is an index to the U.S. War Department records from the American Revolutionary War, dated 1775-1783, in Record Group 93 at the National Archives and Records Administration.

Administrative History: The United States Department of War, also called the War Office, was created in 1789. Henry Knox served as the first Secretary of War. It was initially responsible for the maintenance of both the United States Army and Navy until the creation of the Naval Department in 1798. It was also responsible for land-based air forces, until the creation of the Department of the Air Force in 1947.

On July 26, 1947, President Harry Truman signed the National Security act of 1947, which changed the name of the US Department of War to the Department of the Army. It set up the National Military Establishment (NME) which saw a single secretary overseeing both the Army and Navy, as the Navy was too a part of the NME. On August 10, 1949, the NME was renamed the Department of Defense, giving the Secretary of Defense authority over the Army, Navy, and Air Force.

[Department of Defense. http://www.defenselink.mil/ (accessed July 24, 2009.)]

Holder of originals: National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)