Tom, Thanks for the info. Your story really helped me. I was up at the Archives last friday. After reading your note, I called ahead just to make sure that I understood all that I had to do. The only entrance open to researchers right now is the Pennsylvania Ave. entrance. The other entrances sides of the building are being renovated. When you get there you have to register any cameras, cell phones, and computers. Not sure why, you just have to identify them on a form that you have to turn back in when you leave. They x-ray anything you are carrying and then give you a badge. The next stop is to go order the records as this will take some time. The archives web site (www.nara.gov) explains the pull times pretty well, but to summarize, they only pull hard copy records at specific times during weekdays. The archives are open late a couple of nights a week and on saturday, but they will not pull any records except on weekdays, unless arranged in advance (don't ask me how). The main records that most people are interested in are either Combined Military Service Records for individuals or pension records. Go first to the microfilm records room and ask to be directed to the index for soldiers. Soldiers records are organized by the side they fought on and the State their regiment was from. It really does not take that long to find the right microfilm. The time-consuming part is to find the records you are looking for on the film. The records are in alphabetical order and don't forget that sometimes soldiers did or didn't use their middle initial. There are separate indexes for military and pension records. Requests for pension records are by certificate (or case) number. In my case, my gggf was wounded during the war and received an invalid pension. After he died, his wife applied for a widow's pension. As such, there are two case numbers (invalid and widow's) listed in the file. However, after the soldier's death, both are filed in the same folder. Requests for military records are by name and unit in the same form as on the index. Confederate records, what they have, are all on microfilm. The films are sorted by state, then by regiment, then by name alphabetically on the film. These films are in a vault just off the microfilm reader room. The people there were very helpful. I told them what I was looking for and they showed me right where to look. An additional source of information that may or may not be helpful are the regimental books. These contain the orders and correspondance of the regiment as well as the company morning reports. These books can be ordered from the shelves in Room 410. Just ask for help. The pull schedule for these records is mostly the same as for the pension and individual records, but just be sure you know when they will pull records the next time. After your record orders have been placed, go to the bookstore. I can't remember the room number, but you can't miss it. There you fill out a form requesting research access and provide a brief description of what you are looking for. You must show a photo ID, and then get a card. As of last friday, they are still not taking pictures at the downtown archives facility, but apparently are doing so at the College Park facility. You are also given a folder describing the rules for using the materials. You are not allowed to take anything in with you except for a laptop computer to take notes. They have paper and pencils available for taking notes, but will look them over when you leave to make sure you are not taking any originals out. No ink pens allowed. Just have a quarter with you to use the lockers (you get it back when you leave). You only get one research item (from one form) at a time. You are asked to keep the materials in the original order. If you are going to be selective about copies, ask one of the people there for the proper technique. You are also supposed to show them what you want to copy, before you actually copy it. The current rate is 15 cents a copy for the regular copiers (legal paper only). The book copier makes 11x17 copies at 50 cents a copy. One other note: Also in the microfilm reading room are all the census records on microfilm up through 1920. Jim Willison Teedirk@aol.com wrote: > Now fetching those cards for review was an effort and I should have done some > homework on Archives protocol before I went. My mistake, but then I got > precious little help from several of the staff, they answering only my > questions asked and venturing no additional help or guidance that would have > saved me much time. All but one lady who was most helpful and she is the one > who finally got me on track. > > My time consuming mistakes were as follows: On fourth floor I was directed to > the second floor reading room. There I was not allowed entrance as I had no > picture pass. Where do I get one? Fourth floor. Up I went, got in line and > got my picture taken and then got the card. Back down to two, can't come in > with my papers in hand and my coat on. Directed to put them in the hall way > locker. You get your quarter back. Went in and asked about Civil War > Service Records. You must order them. How? Go up to fourth floor and look > him up on the microfilms. > > Back up stairs to get in line for a reader and asked the location of the > needed microfilms. Was given a reader and went to the proper drawer as > directed. But no, it was the wrong drawer, the wrong location. I really > needed other records to which I was finally directed. Read the film and > copied the numbers as directed. Now what? Fill out this form! Now what? > Put the form in this tray. Now what? The records will appear on two in > about two hours. > > Went back to two in two hours but received only one packet of materials > instead of two. Why? Seems you must use one form for each record wanted. > Thus my error but such were my directions up on four. And I questioned (not > out loud) why the form had multiple lines for use? > > Ordered the other file at that time and sat down to read the one in hand. > But could not manage that file as the day was all but over. So, if you go > there, do your homework before departing and then ask questions on site. > Don't do as I did. > > I did get back next day and the kind lady mentioned above had hung on to my > needed records, bless her. > > Good luck, Tom