Research


Scope and Content Note

This series consists of case files for individuals who applied, and gained admission to, the New York State Veterans' Home in Oxford, formerly known as the New York State Woman's Relief Corps Home. The files are grouped into three chronological periods based on the resident's death or discharge date: prior to circa 1920 (boxes 1-3 and 53-57), circa 1920-1957 (boxes 4-45), or circa 1957-1963 (boxes 46-52); they are arranged alphabetically by last name therein. The bulk of the series consists of case files for residents who died or were discharged in the period between circa 1920-1957.

The records pertaining to each resident are contained within an envelope, on the outside of which is summary information about the resident, which may include the following: case number, name, company, regiment, arm of service, when admitted, when discharged, cause of discharge, and remarks. While the contents of the case files vary, each contains the completed application form for admission into the Home. The format of the application often varies depending on the time period, and whether the applicant was a male veteran; a widow, mother, or daughter of a veteran; or a female nurse. Yet, each usually includes the following sections: statement of the applicant (name, date of birth, birthplace, address, relationship to veteran - for female applicants, nature of disease or disability, amount of real estate owned, total income, pension income, nearest relative, reason for applying to the Home); record of the veteran's service (war served in, rank, company, regiment, date of enlistment, date of discharge, reason for discharge, and places of enlistment/discharge); certificate of identification before a notary public; and surgeon's certificate, where a doctor described and verified the applicant's disability, which would have prevented him or her from earning "subsistence by manual labor."

In addition to the application form, most case files include letters authored by the resident, resident's family members, the Home's superintendent, and/or other parties such as insurance companies and the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR). The correspondence generally concerns the resident's admission to the Home, sometimes elaborating on the reasons why the applicant desired to apply; life while at the Home; and death or discharge from the Home, including the disposition of the resident's belongings. Other items often found in the case files include military documents, such as discharge papers or pension certificates, which were used by the Home to verify requirements for admission; court documents; copies of marriage and death certificates; bills and receipts; and insurance papers.