New York State Adjutant General's Office Muster Rolls of New York National Guard Units That Served in the United States Army…

Arranged by type of unit, then numerical by unit number.

The series consists of bound volumes of bimonthly muster rolls registering officers and enlisted men from New York National Guard units that served in the U.S. Army during World War I. Also included is a very small amount of additional material, primarily memoranda, interspersed within the volumes. Filed in the Adjutant General's Office, these rolls became the records to which reference was made in investigation and settlement of claims or questions affecting officers and enlisted men and their heirs. Regulations stated that the rolls were to be forwarded to the Adjutant General within three days after each bimonthly muster.

The rolls were kept according to the following rule of order, with names listed alphabetically under each grade (except for noncommissioned officers): commissioned officers, by rank; commissioned officers attached to the organization, by rank; noncommissioned officers, by grade and date of warrant; all others, by grade; musicians; and privates.

The rolls are pre-printed sheets in columnar form; the majority of information is entered in typescript, although there are some manuscript entries. One side of the form provides a brief "cover" naming the company, regiment, and inclusive dates of the roll (from the date of the last bimonthly muster). This cover is generally date stamped by the Bureau of Records of the Adjutant General's Office. On the verso a heading repeats the name of unit and inclusive dates and also gives names and ranks of those present and absent; when enlisted or commissioned; checkmarks (if present) or "absent"; and remarks. The remarks may include information on: assignment; date of joining (enlistment or drafted); assignment to or relief from command (transfers, detachment); changes in rank/grade; sentences; absences (of 24 hours or more); and discharge. Very rarely is there information on injuries or wounds, confinement, or medals or certificates of merit.

At the end of the roll there are two certifications. One is signed by the commanding officer attesting that the roll conforms to the requisite instructions. The other is signed by the inspecting and mustering officer verifying that the roll has been examined and the organization inspected, including brief manuscript remarks on its condition (as to military appearance, arms, accountrements and clothing).

The small amount of scattered material includes transfer memoranda from/to the Adjutant General (one signed by Adjutant General Charles H. Sherrill) about specific cases or changes to the rolls, description cards of deserters, and one brief history of the Service Company, 10th Infantry, that was apparently required by the War Department.

Scanned images of muster rolls for the "Harlem Hellfighters" New York unit are available at the New York State Archives.

B0808Series B0808, Abstracts of Service Records, and

13721Series 13721, Abstracts of National Guard Service in World War I, contain additional information on officers and enlisted men from National Guard units.

Volume list is available at the repository.

There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of the material.