Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1917- [AGO]
(Record Group 407)
1905-81 (bulk 1917-58)
Table of Contents
- 407.1 ADMINISTRATIVE HISTORY
- 407.2 GENERAL RECORDS OF THE AGO
1911-62
- 407.2.1 Decimal correspondence
- 407.2.2 Radio messages
- 407.2.3 Cablegrams
- 407.2.4 Strength returns, station lists, and statistical
tabulations
- 407.2.5 Issuances and publications
- 407.3 REPORTS RELATING TO WORLD WAR II AND KOREAN WAR COMBAT
OPERATIONS AND TO ACTIVITIES IN OCCUPIED AREAS
1940-54
- 407.4 RECORDS RELATING TO ARMY UNITS AND INSTALLATIONS
1916-52
- 407.4.1 Records relating to National Guard units
- 407.4.2 Records relating to recruiting stations, depots, offices,
and companies
- 407.4.3 Records relating to the U.S. Military Academy
- 407.4.4 Records relating to disciplinary and internment
facilities
- 407.5 RECORDS RELATING TO PERSONNEL
1905-73
- 407.5.1 General records
- 407.5.2 Records of the Committee on Classification of Personnel
- 407.5.3 Records relating to former Presidents
- 407.6 RECORDS OF OPERATING UNITS OF THE AGO
1923-76
- 407.6.1 Records of the Army-Air Force Postal Service Headquarters
- 407.6.2 Records of the Special Services Division
- 407.6.3 Records of the Records Administration Branch
- 407.6.4 Records of the Departmental Records Branch
- 407.6.5 Records of the Miscellaneous Division
- 407.6.6 Records of the Legislative and Precedent Branch
- 407.7 RECORDS RELATING TO THE MILITARY SUPPORT OF THE CIVILIAN
CONSERVATION CORPS
1933-43
- 407.8 RECORDS OF FIELD OFFICES WITHIN THE UNITED STATES
1939-75
- 407.9 PHILIPPINE ARCHIVES COLLECTION
1935-78
- 407.10 OTHER RECORDS
1917-26, 1938-46, 1971
- 407.11 CARTOGRAPHIC RECORDS (GENERAL)
1918-19, 1926 and 1942-45
- 407.12 SOUND RECORDINGS (GENERAL)
1941-45
- 407.13 MACHINE-READABLE RECORDS (GENERAL)
1938-46, 1961-81
- 407.14 STILL PICTURES (GENERAL)
1917-46
407.1 ADMINISTRATIVE HISTORY
Established: In the War Department under the direction of the
Chief of Staff, by General Order 46, War Department, March 4,
1907, pursuant to the Army Appropriation Act (34 Stat. 1158),
March 2, 1907.
Predecessor Agencies:
Adjutant and Inspector (1792-1813)
Adjutant General's Department (1813-21)
Adjutant General's Office (1821-1904)
Military Secretary's Office (1904-7)
Transfers: To Services of Supply (SOS), effective March 9, 1942,
by Circular 59, War Department, March 2, 1942, as part of a War
Department reorganization authorized by EO 9082, February 28,
1942; to Army Service Forces (ASF, formerly SOS) by General Order
14, War Department, March 12, 1943; to Director of Personnel and
Administration (DPA), War Department General Staff (WDGS), as an
administrative service, effective June 11, 1946, upon abolishment
of ASF by Circular 138, War Department, May 14, 1946, as part of
a War Department reorganization authorized by EO 9722, May 13,
1946; with WDGS (redesignated Army Staff) to Department of the
Army (DA) by Circular 1, DA, September 18, 1947, implementing
Circular 225, War Department, August 16, 1947, issued pursuant to
a reorganization of the armed services under the National
Security Act of 1947 (61 Stat. 495), July 26, 1947; to Assistant
Chief of Staff, G-1 Personnel (ACS, G-1, formerly DPA), Army
Staff, by Circular 12, DA, February 12, 1950, and implementing
Special Regulations (SR) 10-5-1, DA, April 11, 1950; to Deputy
Chief of Staff for Personnel, superseding ACS, G-1, by Change 13
to SR 10-5-1, December 27, 1955; to newly established Director of
the Army Staff, effective May 20, 1974, in DA reorganization of
March 4, 1974.
Functions: Provided administrative and support services to the
War Department and, after 1947, to the Department of the Army.
Maintained personnel records, developed data processing systems,
and administered the nonunit reserve components of the U.S. Army.
Oversaw the army personnel statistical and accounting system,
records management program, publications, postal services,
historical activities, and special and heraldic services.
Military personnel management functions transferred to the Deputy
Chief of Staff for Personnel, effective May 20, 1974.
Abolished: By memorandum, U.S. Army Chief of Staff (COS),
November 17, 1986, removing the Adjutant General from the Army
Staff, and assigning title and lineage to the Director of
Personnel Service Support, Military Personnel Center (MILPERCEN).
Successor Agencies: Army records management program policy
direction assigned to the Assistant Chief of Staff for
Information Management (ACSIM), effective September 30, 1985, by
message, Brig. Gen. R.M. Bunker, Director of Management, DTG
132108Z, September 13, 1985; and to Information Management
Support Agency (IMSA), ACSIM, with operational responsibility
vested in the Army Records Management Operations Office (ARMOO),
IMSA, effective February 20, 1986, by ACSIM memorandum DAIM-ZB,
and supporting message, DTG 201334Z, Col. Thomas F. Sikora,
Policies and Strategies Directorate, ACSIM, same date.
Operational responsibility to United States Army Information
Systems Command (USAISC), retroactive to October 1, 1986, by
Permanent Orders 127-1, Headquarters, USAISC, November 14, 1986;
and program policy direction to Director of Information Systems
for Command, Control, Communications, and Computers (DISC4),
retroactive to April 1, 1987, by Headquarters Department of the
Army letter 10-87-4, April 22, 1987, implementing the Goldwater-
Nichols Department of Defense Reorganization Act (100 Stat. 992),
October 1, 1986. The Institute of Heraldry assigned to MILPERCEN
by memorandum, COS, November 17, 1986. Declassification and
historical access assigned to the U.S. Army Center of Military
History by memorandum of agreement between Brig. Gen. William A.
Stofft, Chief of Military History, and Lt. Gen. Thurman D.
Rodgers, DISC4, May 6, 1987.
Finding Aids: Lucille H. Pendell and Elizabeth Bethel, comps.,
Preliminary Inventory of the Records of the Adjutant General's
Office, PI 17 (1949); and Helen L. Bowen, Mary Joe Head, Jessie
T. Midkiff, and Olive K. Liebman, comps., "Preliminary Inventory
of the Records of the Army Staff, 1939- ," NM 3 (1962). Both
include records of the AGO now allocated to RG 407; supplement
describing accessioned microfilm in National Archives microfiche
edition of preliminary inventories.
Security-Classified Records: This record group may include
material that is security-classified.
Related Records: Record copies of publications of the Adjutant
General's Office in RG 287, Publications of the U.S. Government.
Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1780's-1917, RG 94.
407.2 GENERAL RECORDS OF THE AGO
1911-62
History: Administrative functions in the War Department delegated
to an officer known as the Adjutant and Inspector, 1792-1813.
Adjutant General's Department established by an act of March 3,
1813 (2 Stat. 819), under an officer, designated the Adjutant
General, who also served as the Inspector General. An act of
March 2, 1821 (3 Stat. 615), created a separate Adjutant
General's Office to head the Adjutant General's Department. AGO
combined with the Record and Pension Office to form the Military
Secretary's Office by General Order 76, War Department, April 28,
1904, under authority of the Army Appropriation Act (33 Stat.
262), April 23, 1904. AGO restored, 1907. SEE 407.1.
407.2.1 Decimal correspondence
Textual Records: Security-classified, formerly security-
classified, and unclassified combined correspondence of the
Adjutant General, Secretary of War, Secretary of the Army, and
Chief of Staff, 1917-62 (7,805 ft.), arranged according to the
War Department decimal classification scheme. Name and subject
indexes, 1917-47 (5,018 rolls of microfilm), 1948-62.
Microfilm Publications: T822.
407.2.2 Radio messages
Textual Records: Microfilm copies of security-classified radio
messages sent and received by the War Department Classified
Message Center, 1942-46 (667 rolls), with an index (1 roll); by
subordinate elements of the Services of Supply, March-July 1942
(20 rolls); and by the Supply Division (G-4), War Department
General Staff, January-March 1942 (2 rolls).
407.2.3 Cablegrams
Textual Records: Cablegrams and radiograms sent and received
relating to the American Expeditionary Forces, the Air Service,
military attaches, and other U.S. representatives in foreign
countries; and to war risk insurance records, 1914-36 (416 ft.).
407.2.4 Strength returns, station lists, and statistical
tabulations
Textual Records: Monthly strength returns, 1917-39 (891 ft.).
Monthly station lists, 1942-53. Statistical tabulations relating
to casualties, prisoners of war, civilian internees, reserve
status, civilian and military strength, and personnel matters,
1940-54 (462 ft.).
407.2.5 Issuances and publications
Textual Records: Issuances of the War Department; the Department
of the Army; and posts, camps, stations, schools, and other
installations, 1911-42 (bulk 1922-39). Minutes of the Army
Publication Board, 1945-53.
Related Records: Record copies of published general and special
orders, 1846-1981 (bulk 1941-81); and record copies of War
Department and Department of the Army publications, including
technical and field manuals, pamphlets, bulletins, regulations,
and orders, 1816-1981 (bulk 1941-81), in RG 287, Publications of
the U.S. Government.
407.3 REPORTS RELATING TO WORLD WAR II AND KOREAN WAR COMBAT
OPERATIONS AND TO ACTIVITIES IN OCCUPIED AREAS
1940-54
Textual Records: Reports and supporting documents detailing
combat operations at all levels (theaters, base commands, corps,
divisions, and individual units), for World War II ("Operations
Reports"), 1940-48 (8,219 ft.), with microfilm copies, 1940-46
(731 rolls), and an index; and for the Korean War ("Command
Reports"), 1949-54, with microfilm copies (170 rolls), and
indexes. Foreign (occupied) area reports relating to economic
matters, education, intelligence work, and natural resources in
the Far East; and to civil affairs and military government in
occupied areas, 1941-54.
Maps (2,222 items): Administrative, strategic, and tactical maps
and aerial photographic mosaics accompanying World War II
operations reports from U.S. Army divisions, corps, and armies,
1941-45. SEE ALSO 407.11.
407.4 RECORDS RELATING TO ARMY UNITS AND INSTALLATIONS 1916-52
407.4.1 Records relating to National Guard units
Textual Records: Records relating to recruits, promotions, and
furloughs, 1916-18 (286 ft.).
407.4.2 Records relating to recruiting stations, depots, offices,
and companies
Textual Records: Records relating to recruiting, transfers,
furloughs, pay allotments, and discharges, 1916-22 (246 ft.).
407.4.3 Records relating to the U.S. Military Academy
Textual Records: Birth and death certificates, accident reports,
cadet ratings, lists of graduates and nominees for regular army
appointments, Post Exchange Council minutes, and correspondence,
1920-52.
Related Records: Records of the U.S. Military Academy, RG 404.
407.4.4 Records relating to disciplinary and internment
facilities
Textual Records: Correspondence, reports, and special court-
martial orders concerning administration of disciplinary barracks
and internment camps at Fort McPherson, GA; Fort Oglethorpe, GA;
Fort Douglas, UT; and Governors Island, NY, 1916-40. Case files
("201 files") of prisoners of war and imprisoned enemy aliens,
1917-19. Returns of general prisoners, 1939-52.
407.5 RECORDS RELATING TO PERSONNEL
1905-73
407.5.1 General records
Textual Records: Correspondence, memorandums, work permits, and
applications relating to employment, claims, and AGO personnel,
1917-40. Reports of field inspections, 1941-47. Publicity
material used in the World War II recruiting and training
program, 1942-50. General records relating to the Women's Army
Corps recruiting program, 1943-45. Personnel evaluation and
training studies, 1944-72. Correspondence, with cross-reference
sheets, 1949-52. Correspondence and other records relating to
general officer promotions, 1914-51. Applications for service
medals and awards, 1905-51. Information cards on officers
commissioned in the regular army, National Guard, and reserves,
ca. 1917-48. Requests for medals and awards for service performed
before World War I, ca. 1905-50.
407.5.2 Records of the Committee on Classification of Personnel
Textual Records: Correspondence, test papers, issuances, and
other records relating to army personnel classification, 1917-19.
407.5.3 Records relating to former Presidents
Textual Records: Military personnel files of Dwight D.
Eisenhower, 1910-73 (in Eisenhower Library), and Harry S. Truman,
1917-65 (in Truman Library).
407.6 RECORDS OF OPERATING UNITS OF THE AGO
1923-76
407.6.1 Records of the Army-Air Force Postal Service Headquarters
History: Established as the Army Postal Service, 1942. Renamed
the Army-Air Force Postal Service Headquarters, 1949.
Textual Records: Decimal and subject correspondence relating to
postal surveys and inspections, postal carriers and officers, V-
Mail service, and Allied Expeditionary Force messages, 1939-54.
407.6.2 Records of the Special Services Division
Textual Records: Decimal correspondence relating to such
divisional activities as supervising service clubs, administering
funds, providing entertainment to soldiers, and distributing
athletic and recreational supplies and equipment, 1946-50.
Records relating to camp shows, 1941-57.
Related Records: Main body of Special Services Division and
predecessors' records in RG 160, Records of Headquarters Army
Service Forces. Records of the Troop Education and Information
Branch in RG 165, Records of the War Department General and
Special Staffs.
407.6.3 Records of the Records Administration Branch
Textual Records: Correspondence relating to records maintenance
and disposition policies, 1943-53. Drafts of War Department
issuances relating to records administration, with related
correspondence, 1941-45. Correspondence and directives relating
to operation of regional records offices, 1943-48. Records
disposition schedules and related correspondence, 1945-54.
Records relating to approved microfilming projects, 1942-54.
407.6.4 Records of the Departmental Records Branch
Textual Records: Central decimal correspondence, 1943-58.
Archival policy file, 1954-57. Summaries of staff conferences,
1950-58. Journals of significant events, 1949-58, with index,
1950-58.
407.6.5 Records of the Miscellaneous Division
Textual Records: Office file of the division chief, 1923-27.
407.6.6 Records of the Legislative and Precedent Branch
Textual Records: Legislative and policy precedent files, 1943-75,
with name index, 1943-49, subject index, 1943-75, and index to
military boards and committees, 1943-63. Biography file, 1943-76,
with name index, 1943-49.
407.7 RECORDS RELATING TO THE MILITARY SUPPORT OF THE CIVILIAN
CONSERVATION CORPS
1933-43
Textual Records: Correspondence and other records relating to
personnel assignments, the location and strength of camps,
construction, medical facilities, fiscal matters, and disposition
of excess property, 1933-43.
407.8 RECORDS OF FIELD OFFICES WITHIN THE UNITED STATES
1939-75
Textual Records: Records of the Adjutant General depot and
regional office, Atlanta, GA, 1945-48 (in Atlanta). Records
of the Adjutant General's regional office, Chicago, IL, 1946
(in Chicago). Records of the Adjutant General depot and
regional office, Columbus, OH, ca. 1942-48 (in Chicago).
Records of the Kansas City Records Center, 1950 (in Washington
area). Records of the Adjutant General's Publication Center,
St. Louis, MO, 1948 (in Kansas City). Records of the St. Louis
Records Center, n.d. (in Washington area); and other records
of the St. Louis Records Center, consisting of security
investigation files created by Chicago Chemical Warfare
Procurement District, 1942-43; contract files created by
Chemical Warfare Service in Pittsburgh, PA, and San Francisco,
CA, 1943-45; and contract files created by the Signal Corps in
Monmouth, NJ, and Philadelphia, PA, 1944-45 (in Kansas City). Records of the
San Antonio regional office, 1960-75 (in Fort Worth). Records
of the Adjutant General depot and regional office, New York
City, NY, 1939-48; including records of Recruiting Publicity
Bureau, Governors Island, NY, 1939-48 (in New York). Records
of the San Francisco Adjutant General Records Office, Oakland
Army Base, Oakland, CA, 1946-48 (in San Francisco). Records of
the Adjutant General Publications Depot, Westfield, MA, 1951-53
(in Boston and in Washington area ). Records of the
Organizational Records Branch, 1944-50 (in Washington area).
407.9 PHILIPPINE ARCHIVES COLLECTION
1935-78
History: Collection consists of records created and compiled by
the army's Recovered Personnel Division and its successors (1945-
68), responsible for the recovery, repatriation, and restitution
of U.S. and Philippine military personnel and civilians interned
by the Japanese during World War II.
Textual Records: Correspondence, reports, rosters, medical
records, diaries and historical narratives, postwar claims files,
and other records concerning the recovery, repatriation, and
restitution of U.S. and Philippine prisoners of war and civilian
internees, 1940-66. Correspondence, reports, rosters, recognition
files, and other records concerning Philippine guerrillas and
guerrilla organizations, 1935-78. Records of and relating to U.S.
Army Forces in the Far East (USAFFE) and U.S. Forces in the
Philippines (USFIP), including correspondence containing
information on various commands prior to the Japanese surrender,
1937-60; general and special orders, 1934-51; rosters and lists
of U.S. and Philippine military personnel, arranged by
organization, 1938-52; unit histories, diaries, and historical
data books, 1934-57; casualty and death lists, 1941-45; and
records relating to the liberation of the Philippines, 1944-45.
407.10 OTHER RECORDS
1917-26, 1938-46, 1971
Textual Records: Office file of Secretary of War Newton D. Baker,
1917-19. Command list of officers of and other records concerning
the American Expeditionary Forces, 1917-23. Correspondence and
records of John A. Hillman relating to publication of the
Tactical Operations of the 78th Division, 1923-26. Microfilm copy
of journal of units of the Services of Supply, July-August 1942
(1 roll). Microfilm copy of historical data cards (1776-1970) of
army units, March 1971 (116 rolls). Microfilm copy of army serial
number file, 1938-46 (1,586 rolls).
407.11 CARTOGRAPHIC RECORDS (GENERAL)
1918-19, 1926 and 1942-45
Aerial Photographs (1,200 images): Of areas in the Philippine
Islands, taken by aerial reconnaissance units, ca.1942-45.
Maps: Combined order of battle map ("Pershing Map") maintained at
the American Expeditionary Forces General Headquarters, showing
the location of Allied and Central Powers troops on November 11,
1918 (1 item). List of the political subdivisions of Belgium,
1926 (1 item). Oversized orders, maps, posters, leaflets, and
charts produced by the U.S. Third Army in France, 1919 (276
items).
SEE Maps UNDER 407.3.
407.12 SOUND RECORDINGS (GENERAL)
1941-45
Opening exercises at the Army Administration Officer Training
Schools at North Dakota Agricultural College and Grinnell, IA,
1942 (4 items). Accounts of combat experiences by army and air
force personnel, 1941-45 (22 items).
407.13 MACHINE-READABLE RECORDS (GENERAL)
1938-46, 1961-81
Data on casualties sustained by the U.S. Army ("TAGCEN Casualty
Information System"), with supporting documentation (2 data sets).
Korea War casualty file, n.d. (2 data sets). Army Serial Number
File (records from World War II enlistment punch cards), 1938-46
(1 data set).
407.14 STILL PICTURES (GENERAL)
1917-46
Photographic Prints (32 images): An LCT (Landing Craft, Tank), and stored
supplies, 1942 (LCT, 4 images). U.S. military attaches in France, and the Moroccan War (Riff War),
1925-27 (MW, 28 images)
Panoramic Photographs (11 images): Troops at Camp Sheridan, AL,
1917 (CS, 3 images). U.S. Army units at training camps in VA, NM,
AL, and PA, ca. 1918 (P, 8 images).
Lithographs (6 images): Illustrations of the 628th Tank Destroyer
Battalion in Germany, 1944-45 (TD).
Glass Negatives (701 images): Officers, enlisted personnel,
chaplains, and the secretarial staff of the Paris headquarters of
the American Expeditionary Forces, 1918-19 (EFP).
Paintings (11 images): Watercolors of World War II airplanes and
airfields, by unidentified artists, 1942-45 (AA).
Posters (52 images): Recruitment posters used by the Citizens
Military Training Camps, 1924 (WP, 4 images). Charts used in
instructing troops in the identification of chemicals that could
be used in warfare, 1942 (CW, 46 images). Recruitment posters
used by the Army Recruiting Publicity Bureau featuring aircraft
of the Army Air Forces, 1943-45 (ARP, 2 images).
Scrapbooks (8,000 images): Containing photographic prints,
charts, news clippings, and drawings illustrating the histories
of various units and facilities, 1940-46 (US).
Bibliographic note: Web version based on Guide to Federal Records in the National Archives of the United States. Compiled by Robert B. Matchette et al. Washington, DC: National Archives and Records Administration, 1995.
3 volumes, 2428 pages.
This Web version is updated from time to time to include records processed since 1995.
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