GAR Gets 2019 Roving Archivist Program Grant

Grand Army of The Republic Recipient of 2019 Roving Archivist Program Grant

LYNN, MA – The Friends of the Grand Army of the Republic, Lynn and the Civil War Roundtable of Lynn are pleased to announce that we are a 2019 recipient of the Roving Archivist Program Grant.

Sponsored by the Massachusetts State Historical Record Advisory Board (SHRAB) through funding from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC), the Roving Archivist Program provides Massachusetts institutions, both public and private, that contain historical records, with access to a professional archivist who lends advice on policies, procedures, arrangement, and description of records, preservation planning and emergency preparedness.

The Grand Army of the Republic Hall & Museum (General Lander Post 5) was built in 1885 with funds raised by local Civil War veterans as a memorial to the Union Army veterans of the Civil War. It soon became one of the largest G.A.R. posts in the country with over 1,800 members. It is certainly one of the most magnificent, with its awe-inspiring Grand Hall boasting walls full to the brim with pictures of the original members. Post 5 held a position of prominence in the City of Lynn, the Commonwealth and the Nation for many years.

“The Special Acts of 1919” and the voters of Lynn accepting the conditions of the acts made the G.A.R. building a permanent Memorial to the Veterans of the Civil War. The City has control of the building and its contents and along with the Trustees have maintained and operated it ever since.

On May 7, 1979 it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

The Civil War Roundtable of Lynn is a proud member of the Civil War Roundtable of Greater Boston. A leader in the education and preservation of the American Civil War, they have been working with the reenacting community, the historical societies of this Commonwealth and with all Veterans and Military organizations in order to promote and preserve our American History.

The Lynn Roundtable has been going out into the Lynn schools for years, bringing our History to its children through innovative programs and storytelling.

The Roundtable hosts the annual ‘History Bee’ with students from the Lynn English and Lynn Classical High Schools, who vie for the prize ‘Bounty’ of $500 to go to the winning schools’ History Department.

About the Massachusetts State Historical Records Advisory Board (MA SHRAB)

The Massachusetts SHRAB provides leadership, advocacy and guidance to help ensure the identification, preservation, and use of the state’s historical resources (public and private). The Massachusetts SHRAB encourages and supports communication and coordination among the historical records communities and the public. It is the state-level review body for grants submitted to the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC).