Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States, New York Commandery Records
Call Number
Dates
Creator
Extent
Language of Materials
Abstract
The records of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States consists primarily of routine correspondence to and from officers of the Legion. There are also a few interesting papers and artifacts from the Civil War.
Historical note
The Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States is a patriotic veterans organization that was formed in the wake of the assassination of Abraham Lincoln on April 15, 1865.
It was founded in Philadelphia, by three Union officers attending a mass meeting of veterans in that city to plan for participation in the funeral arrangements for the President. These three officers -- Brevet Lt. Col. Samuel Brown Wylie Mitchell, Lt. Col. Thomas Ellwood Zell, and Captain Peter Dirck Keyser -- wanted to form an organization that could help thwart future threats to the national government. Their model was the Society of the Cincinnati, established after the Revolutionary War. The name they chose, the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States (MOLLUS), first appeared in a notice calling a meeting on May 31, 1865 at Independence Hall.
Other states soon formed their own MOLLUS commanderies, including the New York Commandery, which was instituted on January 17, 1866, with headquarters in New York City.
The organization originally consisted of three classes of members. Officers who fought in the US military during and after the American Civil War were known as the "Original Companions of the First Class." The eldest direct male lineal descendants of deceased Original Companions or deceased eligible officers could be admitted as "hereditary Companions of the First Class." Companions of the Second Class consists of descendants of living Original Companions or of living individuals eligible for First class membership. The third class was comprised of civilians who gave faithful and conspicuous service to the Union during the Civil War.
The organization still exists today, but now serves as a hereditary society (male descendants of eligible officers), rather than a functioning military order. Many Companions are nonetheless either military veterans or even on active military duty. Among other activities, Companions organize and participate in commemorative events, provide awards to deserving ROTC cadets, and assist with preservation efforts.
Organizationally, MOLLUS is composed of a National Commandery-in-Chief and individual state Commanderies. In 2016, there were 20 state Commanderies. States without their own Commandery are placed under the jurisdiction of an existing Commandery.
Since its inception, the MOLLUS membership has included nearly 12,000 Civil War officers. At its zenith, the organization counted practically every prominent officer among its ranks. Among them were Generals Ulysses S. Grant, William T. Sherman;Lt. Generals Philip H. Sheridan, Nelson A. Miles and John M. Schofield;Major General Winfield Scott Hancock, George B. McClellan, Rutherford B.Hayes, George Armstrong Custer, David McMurtrie Gregg and Grenville M. Dodge;Admiral David G. Farragut; Rear Admirals Bancroft Gherardi and George W.Melville. In addition to Ulysses S. Grant and Rutherford B. Hayes, Original Companions Chester A. Arthur, Benjamin Harrison and William McKinley served as Presidents of the United States.
Arrangement note
The collection is arranged into the following three series: Series I, Correspondence; Series II, Financial Materials; Series III, Other materials.
Scope and Contents note
The Loyal Legion collection spans the period from 1861 to 1920 and contains correspondence, financial materials, membership records, and a few Civil War artifacts. The majority of the correspondence concerns routine matters such as memberhip, dues, in memoriam notices for deceased members, appointments, speakers, insignia orders, and similar types of internal issues.
Financial materials include account books, check books, and receipt books.
The collection also contains some interesting Civil War memorabilia, including a [blood-stained?] letter that passed across battle lines at Antietam, a piece of fabric from a Confederate spy balloon and a submarine cable used by the Confederates.
Access restrictions
Open to qualified researchers.
Photocopying undertaken by staff only. Limited to ten exposures of stable, unbound material per day. (Researchers may not accrue unused copy amounts from previous days.) Researchers on site may print out unlimited copies from microfilm reader-printer machines at per-exposure rates. See guidelines in Reading Room for details.
Materials are stored offsite and advance notice is required for use. Please contact manuscripts@nyhistory.org prior to your research visit to coordinate access. Keep in mind that it will take between two (2) and five (5) business days for collections to arrive, and you should plan your research accordingly.
Use restrictions
Permission to quote from this collection in a publication must be requested and granted in writing. Send permission requests, citing the name of the collection from which you wish to quote, to
Preferred Citation note
This collection should be cited as the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States, New York Commandery Records, MS 2996, The New York Historical Society.
Location of Materials
About this Guide
Repository
Series I: Correspondence
Scope and Contents note
This series contains correpondence to officers of the Loyal Legion. The majority of the correspondence concerns pedestrian matters such as dues, membership, nominations for office, speaking engagements, and the like. Some members corresponded using their business stationary, so the collections includes some interesting letterheads. There are also a few enclosures, such as programs, invitations, and pamphlets.
Correspondence is arranged by recipient. Most letters were received by Legion Recorders A. Noel Blakeman (January 1907- May 1912) and William Cogswell (June 1912- September 1913).
Subseries I: Correspondence Received by the Commander, 1906-1912
Correspondence received by the Commander, 1906-1912
Subseries II: Correspondence received by the Recorder, 1907-1913
Correspondence received by the Recorder, 1892, 1896, 1907 January-February
Correspondence received by the Recorder (Blakeman), 1907 March-April
Correspondence received by the Recorder (Blakeman), 1907 May-June
Correspondence received by the Recorder (Blakeman), 1907 July-August
Correspondence received by the Recorder (Blakeman), 1907 September-October
Correspondence received by the Recorder (Blakeman), 1907 November-December
Correspondence received by the Recorder (Blakeman), 1908 January-August
Correspondence received by the Recorder (Blakeman), 1908 September-October
Correspondence received by the Recorder (Blakeman), 1908 November-December
Correspondence received by the Recorder (Blakeman), 1909 January
Correspondence received by the Recorder (Blakeman), 1909 February-March
Correspondence received by the Recorder (Blakeman), 1909 April-May, September-October, December
Correspondence received by the Recorder (Blakeman), 1910 January
Correspondence received by the Recorder (Blakeman), 1910 February
Correspondence received by the Recorder (Blakeman), 1910 March
Correspondence received by the Recorder (Blakeman), 1910 April
Correspondence received by the Recorder (Blakeman), 1910 May-June
Correspondence received by the Recorder (Blakeman), 1910 July-August
Correspondence received by the Recorder (Blakeman), 1911 January-October
Correspondence received by the Recorder (Blakeman), 1911 November
Correspondence received by the Recorder (Blakeman), 1911 December
Correspondence received by the Recorder (Blakeman), 1912 January
Correspondence received by the Recorder (Blakeman), 1912 February
Correspondence received by the Recorder (Blakeman), 1912 March
Correspondence received by the Recorder (Blakeman), 1912 April-December
Correspondence received by the Recorder (Cogswell), 1912 January-May
Correspondence received by the Recorder (Cogswell), 1912 June-October
Correspondence received by the Recorder (Cogswell), 1912 November-December
Correspondence received by the Recorder (Cogswell), 1913 January-February
Correspondence received by the Recorder (Cogswell), 1913 March-April
Correspondence received by the Recorder (Cogswell), 1913 May-June
Correspondence received by the Recorder (Cogswell), 1913 July-September
Correspondence received by the Recorder (Cogswell), Undated
Subseries III: Correspondence received by the Registrar, 1909
Correspondence received by the Registrar, 1909 March
Subseries IV: Correspondence received by the Treasurer, 1871-1913, undated (bulk 1906-1913)
Correspondence received by the Treasurer, 1871, Undated
Correspondence received by the Treasurer, 1906-1908
Correspondence received by the Treasurer, 1909
Correspondence received by the Treasurer, 1910
Correspondence received by the Treasurer, 1911-1912
Correspondence received by the Treasurer, 1913
Subseries V: Correspondence received by the Chancellor, 1907-1913
Correspondence received by the Chancellor, 1907-1912
Correspondence received by the Chancellor, 1913
Subseries VI: Correspondence received by the Secretary of the Nominating Committee, 1907 February
Correspondence received by the Secretary of the Nominating Committee, 1907 February
Subseries VII: Correspondence received by the Recorder-in-Chief, 1895, 1907-1913
General Note
These letters were received by the Recorder-in-Chief at the Commandery-in-Chief in Philadelphia, Pa. It is not known how these came into possession of the New York Commandery.
Correspondence received by the Recorder-in-Chief, 1895, 1907-1913
Subseries VIII: General correspondence received, 1895-1913
General correspondence received, 1895-1896
Scope and Contents Note
Includes letter from Francis Pinto enclosing a [blood-stained?] note passed between Confederate and Union lines fighting near the Dunker Church during the Battle of Antietam
General correspondence received, 1906
General correspondence received, 1907
General correspondence received, 1908 March-December
Scope and Contents Note
Includes program for unveiling ceremonies of the statue of General Philip Henry Sheridan in Washington, DC
General correspondence received, 1909
Scope and Contents Note
includes invitation to Queensboro Bridge Celebration on illustrated letterhead
General correspondence received, 1910 January-July
Scope and Contents Note
Includes invitation to opening Reception of the 25th Annual Exhibiton of the Architectural League on illustrated letterhead
General correspondence received, 1911 April-December
General correspondence received, 1912
General correspondence received, 1913-1920, undated
Subseries IX: Correspondence sent (Letter books), 1877-1909, inclusive
Correspondence sent (Letter book), 1877 May 11-1885 February 16
Correspondence sent (Letter book), 1887 April 12-1888 January 12
Correspondence sent (Letter book), 1888 January 18-July 26
Correspondence sent (Letter book), 1888 July 31-1889 October 12
Correspondence sent (Letter book), 1889 December 3-1896 September 1
Correspondence sent (Letter book), 1889 October 4-1890 July 7
Correspondence sent (Letter book), 1890 July 7-1891 June 29
Correspondence sent (Letter book), 1892 October 17-1894 May 3
Correspondence sent (Letter book), 1896 April 16-1897 December 6
Correspondence sent (Letter book), 1898 January 4-1899 November 28
Correspondence sent (Letter book), 1899 November 9-1901 January 6
Correspondence sent (Letter book), 1903 February 24-1904 December 13
Correspondence sent (Letter book), 1904 December 14-1906 October 3
Correspondence sent (Letter book), 1908 May 13-1909 March 28
Series II: Financial Materials, 1890-1905
Scope and Contents note
This series contains account books, vouchers and receipts reflecting expenditures and income of the Loyal Legion.
Subseries I: Account books, 1892-1905
Transactions no. 7-192 (Account book), 1892 April-1905 December
Subseries II: Checkbooks, 1892-1900
Check stubs 1-500 (Checkbook), 1892 January 21-1896 June 10
Check stubs 501-1000 (Checkbook), 1896 June 10-1900 August 14
Subseries III: Receipt books, 1891-1896
Resident dues, receipt stubs 501-996 (Receipt book), 1890 April 23-1891 December 2
Resident dues, receipt stubs 1101-1685 (Receipt book), 1891 Apr. 25-1892 May 12
Miscellaneous, receipt stubs 1100-1600 (Receipt book), 1890 September 11-1891 June 5
Miscellaneous, receipt stubs 1601-2042 (Receipt book), 1891 June-1896 December 22
Subseries IV: Loose receipts and vouchers, 1872-
Vouchers, circa 1872-1879
Access Restrictions
Restricted: These items are damaged and not available to general researchers
Vouchers, circa 1888-1896
Access Restrictions
Restricted: These items are damaged and not available to general researchers
Quarterly returns and vouchers, circa 1888-1889
Access Restrictions
Restricted: These items are damaged and not available to general researchers
Vouchers and quaterly returns (undamaged examples)
Checks, 1913
Membership receipts (for initiation fees, duplicate badges, etc), #'s 78-2893, 1864-1883
Access Restrictions
Restricted: These items are damaged and not available to general researchers
General Note
Incomplete; not all membership receipts present
Membership receipts (for initiation fees, duplicate badges, etc), #'s 2894-3620, 1883-1885
Membership receipts (for initiation fees, duplicate badges, etc), #'s 3621-11860, 1885-1897
Membership receipts (for initiation fees, duplicate badges, etc), #'s 11914-12410, 1897-1898
Membership receipts (for initiation fees, duplicate badges, etc), #'s 12477-13062, 1899-1900
Membership receipts (for initiation fees, duplicate badges, etc), #'s 13268-15219, 1901-1906
Series III: Other materials
Scope and Contents note
This series contains letters, maps, articles and papers that were recieved by the Loyal Legion. Notable items include a paper on the Elmira prison, a piece of fabric from a Rebel spy balloon, and a piece of a submarine cable.
Ballots, Candidates for Membership 1912, 1912
Access Restrictions
Restricted: These items are damaged and not available to general researchers
By-laws and Articles; Report of Meeting (missing first page), 1865, 1897, undated
War Papers read before the Kansas Commandery; Kansas Comandery circulars, 1890's
Scope and Contents Note
Paper topics include personal reminiscences of battles and commanders, the Nicaragua Canal, Lincoln, The Hospital Ship in the War with Spain, the Acting Signal Corps, the Campaign Against Wei-Hai-Hai
Civil war manuscripts and memorabilia, 1860's
Wallet and documents belonging to Major H.G. Lockwood, 1853-1871, undated
Description and photographs of a Confederate cemetery at Elmira, New York, 1906
Assorted evphemera, 1888, 1890, 1913, 1919
Scope and Contents Note
Includes printed material of the Loyal Legion, members' business cards, memorial notice, publication notices, and assorted other items