U.S. Coast Guard Muster Rolls, 1833–1949
U.S. Coast Guard muster rolls list the vessel or station’s officers and crew members. These lists can be helpful in documenting that a Guardsman was aboard a vessel or stationed at a location on a specific date.
The National Archives Building in Washington, DC (Archives 1), houses Coast Guard muster rolls covering the years 1833 to 1949. These records are found in multiple series in Record Group 26 (Records of the U.S. Coast Guard):
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"Muster Rolls, 1848–1910" (Entry NC-31 188; National Archives Identifier 2125037)
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"Muster Rolls, 1833–1932" (Entry NC-31 189; National Archives Identifier 2194510)
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"Muster Rolls of Coast Guard Ships and Shore Establishments, 1941–1949" (Entry A1-108A; National Archives Identifier 594984)
Archives 1 does not have a muster roll for every vessel or station for every year. Additional muster rolls are located at National Archives regional facilities based on the state where the station or home port of the vessel was located.
Muster Rolls, 1848–1910
The records in this series (National Archives Identifier 2125037) provide the Guardsman’s first name or initials, surname, rank or rate, number of days present, citizenship, date of enlistment, and years of service, as well as related remarks.
These records are arranged by vessel/station name and thereunder by year. To find records of a particular individual, researchers need to know the name of the vessel on which the individual served and the approximate year(s) in which the individual served.
Muster Rolls, 1833–1932
The volumes in this series (National Archives Identifier 2194510) vary in format and the way in which entries were recorded. However, each volume contains names of Guardsmen, their rank or rate, and remarks. Many of these volumes also include pay information and reasons for pay deductions.
These records are arranged by vessel/station name and thereunder by year. To find records of a particular individual, researchers need to know the name of the vessel on which the individual served and the approximate year(s) in which the individual served.
Muster Rolls of Coast Guard Ships and Shore Establishments, 1941–1949
The records in this series (National Archives Identifier 594984) list the Guardsman’s name, service number, rank or rate, time outside of the United States, and time in the United States, as well as related remarks.
This series is arranged by year and thereunder by District and station. Please note that the District under which the records are filed is the District for that time period (1941–1949). Some Districts may have changed slightly.
Post-1949 Muster Rolls
U.S. Coast Guard muster rolls from 1950 to the present remain in the custody of the Coast Guard.
Please see the Coast Guard’s website for more information about requesting these records.