Posted on November 10, 2021 at 10:39 AM by Bill Sowers
A souvenir publication issued 109 years ago commemorating the Department of Kansas, Grand Army of the Republic Thirty-sixth National Encampment in Washington DC, October 6-11, 1902. A cool little booklet to thumb through virtually found at the State Library of Kansas' KGI Online Library.
The booklet begins with the following statement:
"On December 7th, 1865, the first society of ex-soldiers was organized, then known as the Veteran Brotherhood. A State Camp was held at Topeka in June, 1866, at which there were fifty Camps represented. This organization selected Maj. T. J. Anderson as their representative to attend a meeting held at Indianapolis, where the National organization of the Grand Army of the Republic was permanently established and the Kansas comrades were duly admitted December, 1866, and adopted as members of that organization, and for the past twenty-three years has held her place and reached a membership of over 2o,ooo in 1890."
You can view the booklet here:
G.A.R. 36th Encampment Souvenir