Tuesday, May 14, 2019

Military Related Manuscripts Available at the National Archives

As a follow up to the Sturmpanzer post which mentioned manuscripts available at the National Archives I decided to use the browse manuscripts feature at the Archives's e-Services portal to gauge the availability of documents of interest to military historians, gamers, etc.

Notes on what I found:


  • I stopped browsing after 2000 line items (browse 100 line items at a time). Not sure how large the database is.
  • I scanned through the entries so probably missed a lot of relevant topics.
  • Any entry starting with a "*" is either a publication or record group that on the surface is not related to military history.  Example are consular reports from Chinese cities or State Department records of internal affairs.  Sometimes the asterix symbol is a note to self, such as references to FBI case files.
  • I added Consular Reports from Chinese cities are there is bound to be information on military operations during the age of colonial outposts in China along with warlords and civil strife in the countryside.
  • I did not include letters to the service academy's superintendents, war criminal trials, and others but mention them here to give an idea of the broad range of record group titles available. 

The list on the next page is not meant to be a resource, just a visual tool to give the reader an idea of the extent of the archives.  It is best to use the links at top to find specific subjects.






Publication Number 

Publication Title 

Record Group Number(s) 

Record Group Title 

Number of Rolls/Fiche/Disks 

Digital Availability

A3697 Reports of the General Board, United States Forces, European Theater (USFET). 1945-1946. 319 Records of the Army Staff 7
A3698 Situation Maps of the European Theater of Operations for U.S. Army Air Forces and Ground Forces, September 1943-June 1945 319 Records of the Army Staff 3
A3700 Annual Historical Summaries of Department of the Army Agencies, 1950-1964 319 Records of the Army Staff 50
A3701 Orders Relating to the Activation, Transfer, Redesignation, and Disbandment of U.S. Army units, 1942-1964 319 Records of the Army Staff 53
C201 U.S. Army Surveillance of Dissidents, 1965-1972, Records of the U.S. Army's ACSI Task Force 319 Records of the Army Staff 18
M1013 Final Reports of the U.S. Strategic Bombing Survey, 1945-1947. 243 Records of the U.S. Strategic Bombing Survey 25

M1035A Guide to Foreign Military Studies, 1945-54. (Fiche 1-192) 338 Records of U.S. Army Operational, Tactical, and Support Organizations (World War II and Thereafter) 200
M1035B Guide to Foreign Military Studies, 1945-54. (Fiche 193-384) 338 Records of U.S. Army Operational, Tactical, and Support Organizations (World War II and Thereafter) 200
M1035C Guide to Foreign Military Studies, 1945-54. (Fiche #385-575) 338 Records of U.S. Army Operational, Tactical, and Support Organizations (World War II and Thereafter) 200
M1035D Guide to Foreign Military Studies, 1945-54. (Fiche #576-770) 338 Records of U.S. Army Operational, Tactical, and Support Organizations (World War II and Thereafter) 200
M1035E Guide to Foreign Military Studies, 1945-54. (Fiche #771-959B) 338 Records of U.S. Army Operational, Tactical, and Support Organizations (World War II and Thereafter) 201
M1035F Guide to Foreign Military Studies, 1945-54. (Fiche #960-1119B) 338 Records of U.S. Army Operational, Tactical, and Support Organizations (World War II and Thereafter) 201
M1035G Guide to Foreign Military Studies, 1945-54. (Fiche #1120-1315) 338 Records of U.S. Army Operational, Tactical, and Support Organizations (World War II and Thereafter) 200
M1035H Guide to Foreign Military Studies, 1945-54. (Fiche #1316-1464) 338 Records of U.S. Army Operational, Tactical, and Support Organizations (World War II and Thereafter) 200
M1035I Guide to Foreign Military Studies, 1945-54. (Fiche #1465-1589) 338 Records of U.S. Army Operational, Tactical, and Support Organizations (World War II and Thereafter) 201
M1035J Guide to Foreign Military Studies, 1945-54. (Fiche #1590-1694F) 338 Records of U.S. Army Operational, Tactical, and Support Organizations (World War II and Thereafter) 199
M1035K Guide to Foreign Military Studies, 1945-54. (Fiche #1695-1723C) 338 Records of U.S. Army Operational, Tactical, and Support Organizations (World War II and Thereafter) 92

M1036 Military Operations of the Civil War: A Guide Index to the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume 1, 1861-1865.     1

*M104 Despatches from U.S. Consuls in Chunking, China, 1896-1906. 59 General Records of the Department of State 1
*M105 Despatches from U.S. Consuls in Foochow, China, 1849-1906. 59 General Records of the Department of State

M1065 Mission and Combat Reports of the 5th Fighter Command, 1942-1945. 18 Records of the Army Air Forces 9

*M107 Despatches from U.S. Consuls in Hankow, China, 1861-1906. 59 General Records of the Department of State 8

M1070 Reports of Inspections of the Field Jurisdictions of the Office of Indian Affairs, 1873-1900. 75 Records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs 60

M1159 Tactical Mission Reports of the 20th and 21st Bomber Commands, 1945. 243 Records of the U.S. Strategic Bombing Survey 6
M1165 Letters Sent by the Department of Texas and the Fifth Military District, 1856-1858, 1865-1870. 393 Records of U.S. Army Continental Commands, 1821-1920 3
M1166 Records of the Northern Superintendency of Indian Affairs, 1851-1876. 75 Records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs 35
M1176 Captured Japanese Ships' Plans and Design Data. 19 Records of the Bureau of Ships 10
M118 History of the Boston Navy Yard, 1797-1874, by Commodore George Henry Preble, U.S.N., 1875. 45 Naval Records Collection of the Office of Naval Records and Library 1
M1188 Correspondence of the Office of Civil Affairs of the District of Texas, the 5th Military District, and the Department of Texas, 1867-1870. 393 Records of U.S. Army Continental Commands, 1821-1920 40
M1189 Headquarters Records of Fort Stockton, Texas, 1867-1886. 393 Records of U.S. Army Continental Commands, 1821-1920 8
M119 Letters Sent by Lt. Col. G.H. Hill, Commander of the Confederate Ordnance Works at Tyler, Texas, 1864-1865. 109 War Department Collection of Confederate Records 1
M1190 Subject File Headings for the Records of the Allied Control Commission (Italy), 1943-1947. 331 Records of Allied Operational and Occupation Headquarters, World War II 5

M1072 Letters Sent by the 9th Military Department, the Department of New Mexico, and the District of New Mexico, 1849-1890. 393 Records of U.S. Army Continental Commands, 1821-1920 7
M1073 Minutes of War Industries Board Meetings, 1917-1918. 61 Records of the War Industries Board 2
M1074 Minutes of Meetings of the Committee on Women's Defense Work, May 2, 1917-Feb. 12, 1919, and Weekly and Monthly Reports of the Committee on Women's Defense Work, May 12, 1917-Oct. 15, 1918. 62 Records of the Council of National Defense 1 Available in Catalog
M1075 Minutes of the Division Staff Meetings of the U.S. Group Council for Germany and the Office of Military Government for Germany, November 1944-August 1949. 260 Records of U.S. Occupation Headquarters, World War II 4
M1076 Headquarters Records of Fort Verde, Arizona, 1866-1891. 393 Records of U.S. Army Continental Commands, 1821-1920 11
M1077 Headquarters Records of Fort Scott, Kansas, 1869-1873. 393 Records of U.S. Army Continental Commands, 1821-1920 2

*M108 Despatches From U.S. Consuls in Hong Kong, 1844-1906. 59 General Records of the Department of State 21
M15 Letters Sent by the Secretary of War Relating to Indian Affairs, 1800-1824. 75 Records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs 6

M1080 Name and Subject Index to the General Correspondence of the War Plans Division, 1921-1942. 165 Records of the War Department General and Special Staffs 18
M1081 Headquarters Records of Fort Cummings, New Mexico, 1863-1873, 1880-1884. 393 Records of U.S. Army Continental Commands, 1821-1920 8

*M1085A Investigative Case Files of the Bureau of Investigation, 1908-1922. Rolls 1-200 65 Records of the Federal Bureau of Investigation 200
*M1085B Investigative Case Files of the Bureau of Investigation, 1908-1922. Rolls 201-400 65 Records of the Federal Bureau of Investigation 200
*M1085C Investigative Case Files of the Bureau of Investigation, 1908-1922. Rolls 401-600 65 Records of the Federal Bureau of Investigation 200
*M1085D Investigative Case Files of the Bureau of Investigation, 1908-1922. Rolls 601-800 65 Records of the Federal Bureau of Investigation 200
*M1085E Investigative Case Files of the Bureau of Investigation, 1908-1922. Rolls801-955 65 Records of the Federal Bureau of Investigation 155

M1086 Compiled Service Records of Volunteer Soldiers who Served in Organizations From the State of Florida During the Florida Indian Wars, 1835-1858. 94 Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1780's-1917 63 Available by Partners
M1087 Compiled Service Records of Volunteer Soldiers who Served in the Florida Infantry During the War With Spain. 94 Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1780's-1917 13 Available by Partners
M1088 Letters Received by Headquarters, District of New Mexico, Sept. 1865 - Aug. 1890. 393 Records of U.S. Army Continental Commands, 1821-1920 65

M1091 Subject File of the Confederate States Navy, 1861-1865. 45 Naval Records Collection of the Office of Naval Records and Library 61 Available by Partners

M1218 Records of the Department of State Relating to Internal Affairs of Czechoslovakia, 1910-1944. 59 General Records of the Department of State 32
M1219 Records of the Department of State Relating to Internal Affairs of Afghanistan, 1930-1944. 59 General Records of the Department of State 7
M1220 Records of the Department of State Relating to Internal Affairs of the Balkan States, 1940-1944. 59 General Records of the Department of State 1
M1221 Intelligence Reports, 1941-1961. 59 General Records of the Department of State 9000

M1380A Missing Air Crew Reports (MACRs) of the U.S. Army Air Forces, 1942-1947. (Fiche 1-196 contain MACR #1 to MACR 596) 92 Records of the Office of the Quartermaster General 200 (note there is a depressingly long list of 29 more line enteries for this subject).

M1381 Headquarters Records of the District of the Pecos, 1878-1881. 393 Records of U.S. Army Continental Commands, 1821-1920 5

M1419 "Eyes Alone" Correspondence of General Joseph W. Stilwell, January 1942-October 1944. 332 Records of U.S. Theaters of War, World War II 5

M1442 Records of the Department of State Relating to Internal Affairs of France, 1930-1939. 59 General Records of the Department of State 89 Available by Partners
M1443 Correspondence of the Military Intelligence Division Relating to General, Political, Economic, and Military Conditions in Russia and the Soviet Union, 1918-1941. 165 Records of the War Department General and Special Staffs 23
M1444 Correspondence of the Military Intelligence Division Relating to General, Political, Economic, and Military Conditions in China, 1918-1941. 165 Records of the War Department General and Special Staffs 19
M1445 Correspondence of the Military Intelligence Division Relating to General, Political, Economic, and Military Conditions in Spain, 1918-1941. 165 Records of the War Department General and Special Staffs 12
M1446 Correspondence and Record Cards of the Military Intelligence Division Relating to General, Political, Economic, and Military Conditions in Italy, 1918-1941. 165 Records of the War Department General and Special Staffs 26
M1466 Headquarters Records of Fort Gibson, Indian Territory, 1830-1857. 393 Records of U.S. Army Continental Commands, 1821-1920 6

M1495 'Special Files' of Headquarters, Division of the Missouri, Relating to Military Operations and Administration, 1863-1885. 393 Records of U.S. Army Continental Commands, 1821-1920 16
M1505 Compiled Military Service Records of Michigan and Illinois Volunteers who Served During the Winnebago Indian Disturbances of 1827. 94 Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1780's-1917 3
M1506 The Stars and Stripes: Newspaper of the U.S. Armed Forces in Europe, the Mediterranean, and North Africa, 1942-1964. 287 Publications of the U.S. Government 138 Available by Partners
M1512 Headquarters Records of Fort Sumner, New Mexico, 1862-1869. 393 Records of U.S. Army Continental Commands, 1821-1920 5
M1513 Records of the Military Intelligence Division Regional File Relating to China, 1922-1944. 165 Records of the War Department General and Special Staffs 58
M1651 U.S. Strategic Bombing Survey (Pacific): 20th Air Force Damage Assessment Cards, 1945. 243 Records of the U.S. Strategic Bombing Survey 1
M1652 US Strategic Bombing Survey (Pacific): Intelligence Library, 1932-1947 243 Records of the U.S. Strategic Bombing Survey 116
M1654 Interrogation of Japanese Leaders and Responses to Questionnaires, 1945-1946. 243 Records of the U.S. Strategic Bombing Survey 9
M1655A U.S. Strategic Bombing Survey (Pacific): Reports and Other Records, 1928-1947. Rolls 1-200 243 Records of the U.S. Strategic Bombing Survey 200
M1655B U.S. Strategic Bombing Survey (Pacific): Reports and Other Records, 1928-1947. Rolls 201-345 243 Records of the U.S. Strategic Bombing Survey 177
M1752A U.S. Submarine War Patrol Reports, 1941-1945. Fiche # 1-200 38 Records of the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations 200
M1752B U.S. Submarine War Patrol Reports, 1941-1945. Fiche #201-400 38 Records of the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations 200
M1752C U.S. Submarine War Patrol Reports, 1941-1945. Fiche #401-600 38 Records of the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations 200
M1752D U.S. Submarine War Patrol Reports, 1941-1945. Fiche #601-800 38 Records of the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations 200
M1752E U.S. Submarine War Patrol Reports, 1941-1945. Fice #801-1000 38 Records of the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations 200
M1752F U.S. Submarine War Patrol Reports, 1941-1945. Fiche #1001-1155 38 Records of the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations 155
M1815 Military Operations of the Civil War: AGuide-Index to the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volumes II-V, 1860-1865.     18
M1816 Compiled Service Records of Volunteer Union Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the State of Oregon. 94 Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1780's-1917 34 Available by Partners
M1817 Compiled Military Service Records of Volunteer Union Soldiers who Served with the United States Colored Troops: 1st through 5th United States Colored Cavalry, 5th Massachusetts Cavalry (Colored), 6th United States Colored Cavalry 94 Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1780's-1917 107 Available by Partners
M1818A Compiled Military Service Records Of Volunteer Union Soldiers Who Served With The United States Colored Troops: Artillery Organizations 94 Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1780's-1917 299
M1818B Compiled Military Service Records Of Volunteer Union Soldiers Who Served With The United States Colored Troops: Artillery Organizations 94 Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1780's-1917 299
M1819 Compiled Military Service Records of Volunteer Union Soldiers Who Served With the United States Colored Troops: 1st U.S. Colored Infantry, 1st South Carolina Volunteers (Colored) Company A, 1st U.S. Colored Infantry (1 Year) 94 Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1780's-1917
M183 Despatches From U.S. Consuls in Veracruz, Mexico, 1822-1906. 59 General Records of the Department of State 18
M1830 Compiled Military Service Records of Maj. McIntosh's Company of Creek Indians in the War of 1812 94 Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1780's-1917 1 Available by Partners
M1858 Historical Register and Dictionary of the United States Army (Compiled by F.S. Heitman.), 1789-1903.     1

***M2020 World War II Historical Studies Made by the Bureau of the Budget, 1943 - 1946. 51 Records of the Office of Management and Budget 1

M1946B Records Concerning the Central Collecting Points ("Ardelia Hall Collection"): Munich Central Collecting Point, 1945-1951 (Rolls 201-334) 260 Records of U.S. Occupation Headquarters, World War II 134
M1947 Records Concerning the Central Collecting Points ("Ardelia Hall Collection"): Wiesbaden Central Collecting Point, 1945-1952. 260 Records of U.S. Occupation Headquarters, World War II 117 Available by Partners
M1948 Records Concerning the Central Collecting Points ("Ardelia Hall Collection"): Marburg Central Collecting Point, 1945-1949. 260 Records of U.S. Occupation Headquarters, World War II 28 Available by Partners
M253A Consolidated Index to Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers. Rolls 1-200 109 War Department Collection of Confederate Records 200
M253B Consolidated Index to Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers. Rolls 201-400 109 War Department Collection of Confederate Records 200
M253C Consolidated Index to Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers. Rolls 401-535 109 War Department Collection of Confederate Records 135
M254A Philippine Insurgent Records, 1896-1901, With Associated Records of the U.S. War Department, 1900-1906. Rolls 1-200 350 Records of the Bureau of Insular Affairs 200
M254B Philippine Insurgent Records, 1896-1901, With Associated Records of the U.S. War Department, 1900-1906. Rolls 201-400 350 Records of the Bureau of Insular Affairs 200
M254C Philippine Insurgent Records, 1896-1901, With Associated Records of the U.S. War Department, 1900-1906. Rolls 401-600 350 Records of the Bureau of Insular Affairs 200
M254D Philippine Insurgent Records, 1896-1901, With Associated Records of the U.S. War Department, 1900-1906. Rolls 601-643 350 Records of the Bureau of Insular Affairs 43
M256 Index to Compiled Service Records of Volunteer Soldiers Who Served During the Cherokee Disturbances and Removal in Organizations From the State of North Carolina. 94 Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1780's-1917 1 Available by Partners
M257 Index to Compiled Service Records of Volunteer Soldiers Who Served During the Revolutionary War in Organizations From the State of North Carolina. 93 War Department Collection of Revolutionary War Records 2
M258 Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organizations Raised Directly by the Confederate Government. 109 War Department Collection of Confederate Records 123 Available by Partners
M324A Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organizations From the State of Virginia. Rolls 1-200 109 War Department Collection of Confederate Records 200

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