Guide to Federal Records

Records of the Office of the Chief of Chaplains


(Record Group 247)
1902-75

Overview of Records Locations

Table of Contents

  • 247.1 Administrative History
  • 247.2 Records of the Office of the Chief of Chaplains 1902-75
    • 247.2.1 Records relating to administration and management
    • 247.2.2 Records of the Military Personnel Division

247.1 Administrative History

Established: As an independent bureau in the War Department, effective July 1, 1920, by the National Defense Act of 1920 (41 Stat. 759), June 4, 1920.

Transfers: To Chief of Administrative Services, Services of Supply (SOS), effective March 9, 1942, by Circular 59, War Department, March 2, 1942, as part of a War Department reorganization authorized by EO 9082, February 28, 1942; to Director of Personnel, Army Service Forces (formerly SOS), May 1943; to the War Department as an administrative service, 1946; to Department of the Army as part of the reorganization of the armed services mandated by the National Security Act of 1947 (61 Stat. 495), July 26, 1947; to status as an independent administrative service of the Department of the Army, 1950.

Functions: Provides and supervises religious activities for the army.

Finding Aids: Dale C. Mayer and Olive K. Liebman, comps., "Preliminary Inventory of the Records of the Office of the Chief of Chaplains," NM 42 (1970); supplement in National Archives microfiche edition of preliminary inventories.

Security-Classified Records: This record group may include material that is security-classified.

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247.2 Records of the Office of the Chief of Chaplains
1902-75

History: Before World War I, chaplains were appointed to individual regiments. During World War I, the Chaplain of the American Expeditionary Forces coordinated chaplains' activities in the army. The National Defense Act of 1920 formally established the Office of the Chief of Chaplains. SEE 247.1.

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247.2.1 Records relating to administration and management

Textual Records: General correspondence of the Administrative Office, 1920-75 (504 ft.). Chaplains' personnel records ("201 files") and monthly reports, 1917-50 (1,002 ft.). Index to funerals, 1923-55. Chapel registers, 1902-23, 1939-51. Historical files, 1941-58. Microfilm copy of records documenting marriages and baptisms, 1917-64, and funerals, 1952-64, performed by army chaplains (134 rolls).

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247.2.2 Records of the Military Personnel Division

Textual Records: General correspondence, 1920-23.


Bibliographic note: Web version based on Guide to Federal Records in the National Archives of the United States. Compiled by Robert B. Matchette et al. Washington, DC: National Archives and Records Administration, 1995.
3 volumes, 2428 pages.

Ordering information

This Web version is updated from time to time to include records processed since 1995.


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