Arts Listings

Items on Display at Berkeley Main Library 

The Berkeley Historical Society recently opened a sealed chest found in the Veterans Memorial Building, which was placed there in 1939 for safekeeping by the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) Post 88.  

Post 88 was established in Berkeley on Nov. 14, 1885. After the war between the states ended, the veterans returned to their homes or established new homes throughout the U.S. Civil War veterans groups that were established all over the country, including 102 of them in California alone.  

The chapters or “posts” held regular meetings, collected dues, and went to “encampments,” a sort of campout-convention-get-together, where they exchanged stories and ideas. Quite a few were held in the Bay Area. Each post selected a name for their group in addition to the number and region in which it was located. Many of them chose the name of a famous battlefield or important location in the war. Berkeley chose Lookout Mountain in honor of the battle that took place there in Tennessee.  

The Lookout Mountain Post first met in the Odd Fellows Hall in Berkeley and later in the Veterans Memorial Building when it was completed in 1928. Post 88 had 221 members, who served in many Northern troop branches, including the U.S. Navy, Calvary, Infantry, Sharpshooters and Artillery. The post existed for 54 years. Many of the veterans were buried in Sunset Cemetery in El Cerrito or Mountain View Cemetery in Oakland.  

The last two members were Thomas H. Gilbert and Erie A. May, who both died at age 92. When the last member in a post died, the records of the group were packaged and entrusted to a civic group or location. The Berkeley records were packed in a handmade chest and placed in the Veterans Memorial Building for safekeeping.  

A note inside says, “This chest was prepared and disposal of contents placed by Erie A. May, the last Commander of the post, May, 1939.” The contents included: a framed charter dated 1885, assorted banners and flags, a photo of Lookout Mountain, a photograph of the group signed by Julia Dent Grant, Tent No. 32 (Daughter of General Grant), several veterans’ discharge papers, membership records, dues account books, rules and bylaws, copies of official rituals, day books, and printed reports of many encampments.  

The final encampment of the GAR in the United States was held in Indianapolis, Ind., in 1949. It was decided that the installed officers remaining would stay in office for the life of each organization. The last GAR member was Albert Woolson, who died in 1956 at the age of 109. The spirit of the GAR is carried on in many California chapters of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War.  

Berkeleyans are urged to visit the Berkeley Public Library Main Branch showcases to see the records of these veterans who served in the battle between the states. The display will run through March 3. 

John Aronovici is co-president of the Berkeley Historical Society.