Archival Research Catalog (ARC)

Historical Documents Online: Search Hints for Selected Topics

Military: Spanish-American War


Selected Spanish-American War Records in ARC

For information on other Spanish-American War sources at the National Archives, please see:

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  • Documents relating to the Spanish-American War
    15 documents relating to the Spanish-American War and the sinking of the USS Maine were digitized. These documents are maintained in a variety of series held by the Old Military and Civil Records (Washington, DC).

    Search Hint: To retrieve the 15 digitized documents:

    1. Go to http://www.archives.gov/research/arc/.
    2. Press the Yellow search button to go to the Archival Descriptions Search screen.
    3. To search only for archival descriptions that have digital copies, click the Digital Copies search button at the top of the ARC pages.
    4. Enter USS Maine in the Keywords box.
    5. Select the limit results radio button for 100.
    6. Select the box marked Descriptions of Archival Materials linked to digital copies
    7. Press the Go button.
    8. When hits are returned for your search, view the full result of your hit by selecting the Title link.

    From the Collection:

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    ARC Identifier: 300266, Title: "Telegram from Captain Charles S. Sigsbee, Commander of the USS MAINE, to the Secretary of the Navy, 02/15/1898"

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  • Carded Records, Volunteer Organizations: Spanish-American War, 1898
    Compiled military service records for 1,235 Rough Riders, including Teddy Roosevelt have been digitized. The records include individual jackets which give the name, organization, and rank of each soldier. They contain cards on which information from original records relating to the military service of the individual has been copied. Included in the main jacket are carded medical records, other documents which give personal information, and the description of the record from which the information was obtained. These materials are held by the Old Military and Civilian Records (Washington, DC).

    Search Hint: To retrieve the 1,235 digitized documents:

    1. Go to http://www.archives.gov/research/arc/.
    2. Press the Yellow search button to go to the Archival Descriptions Search screen.
    3. To search only for archival descriptions that have digital copies, click the Digital Copies search button at the top of the ARC pages.
    4. Enter Spanish American War and volunteer in the Keywords box. (To search for a specific person, add their first name and last name to the Keywords box. For example, enter Spanish American War and volunteer and Theodore Roosevelt in the Keywords box.)
    5. Select the limit results radio button for 2000.
    6. Press the Go button.
    7. When hits are returned for your search, view the full result of your hit by selecting the Title link.

    From the Collection:

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    ARC Identifier: 301356, Title: "Compiled military service record of Theodore Roosevelt, documenting service in the 1st U. S. Volunteer Cavalry (Rough Riders) during the Spanish American War., 05/01/1898 - 09/30/1898"

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