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Original Applications (as of January 18, 2008) A number of users of this site have asked how they can obtain photocopies of the original pension applications from which the posted transcripts were made. As far as we are aware, there are 4 ways to obtain copies of the applications as follows: 1. For a fee, the National Archives (NA) will copy a pension file. The person requesting the copy must fill out a request form provided by the NA. For specifics on getting a copy of the required form and file from the NA, see its website at http://www.archives.gov/. 2. Many libraries and archives have microfilm versions of the pension applications. There are microfilm readers (equipment with which microfilm is viewed) that can copy the image from the microfilm. 3. HeritageQuest Online (HQ) provides digital images of the 'Selected Records' portion of the pension files at its website. Individuals, however, currently cannot subscribe directly to HQ. Its service is only available through institutions such as universities and public libraries. A large number of public libraries subscribe to HQ and make it available to holders of their library cards. Check your local library to see if it offers access to HQ. Some libraries offer access to HQ online allowing their card holders the convenience of accessing HQ from their home computers. At HQ, the digital images of the 'Selected Records' portion of each pension application can be downloaded from the Internet and printed. The “Selected Records' portion of each pension file is exactly what it sounds like it is, that is: it is only a portion of the entire file selected based on the selector's perception of relevance and interest. It usually contains at least the final application filed by the veteran and/or his widow, executor or heirs. It normally does not include documents such as discharges, commissions or other materials submitted by the claimant in support of the claim. 4. Footnote.com (FN), a private, subscription service, has posted on the Internet digital images of all of the Revolutionary War pension applications. For current subscription information for FN, see its website at http://www.footnote.com/. FN allows subscribers to download digital images of individual pages of pension applications one page at a time. CAUTION: The digital images available at both HQ and FN vary in quality depending on the condition of the original and the quality of the image made of it. Unfortunately, there are some applications which are in such poor condition as to render them totally illegible in both the HQ and FN versions. Some applications have missing pages and/or text. Our experience has been that it is worth looking at both the HQ and FN versions of applications as the methodology of copying the images used by each service varies and results in the images captured by one service being better quality (i.e., easier to read) than the image captured by the other service. NOTE: Please do not request copies of the digital images of the pension applications from this site. Being a volunteer operation which provides access to its site free of charge to its users, we are not equipped to handle such requests. Those interested in obtaining copies of the original pension application of a particular claimant should pursue one of the options listed above. There may be other options, but the ones listed above are the only ones of which we are currently aware. |
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