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Web Site Updated 9/16/2011 8:44:00 PM

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Eligibility for Membership in the SCV

Membership in the Sons of Confederate Veterans is open to all male descendants of any veteran who served honorably in the Confederate armed forces. Membership can be obtained through either direct or collateral family lines and kinship to a veteran must be documented genealogically. You will need you ancestor's name, unit, state of service, and information as to his honorable service: discharged, captured, paroled, wounded, killed. The minimum age for membership is 12 years of age.

Proving Ancestry

Proof of kinship to a Confederate soldier can take many forms. The easiest way to obtain copies of your ancestor’s service records is by using Ancestry.com and/or Footnote.com, which is now know as Fold 3. Ancestry.com is particularly helpful in pulling together a genealogical family tree linking you to your ancestor that served in the Confederate armed forces. Fold 3 is an immense database of complete Confederate service records (and various other historical records) that are easily downloadable in electronic format. Each of these web sites charges a fee for their use, but both offer short term subscription options that are considerably cheaper than the longer term subscriptions. However, if you are interested in an annual membership to Fold 3, prospective SCV members receive a substantial 30% discount if you follow the link on the left side of this page.

Another method is to contact the archives of the state for which the soldier fought and obtain a copy of the veteran's military service and/or pension records. All Southern states' archives have microfilm military and pension records of the soldiers who fought for that state, and a copy of the information can be obtained for a nominal fee. The former Confederate States awarded pensions to veterans and their widows. All of these records contain a wealth of information that can be used to document military service.

Assistance with Genealogical Research

In order to assist descendants of Confederate Veterans in locating vital information about their family's heritage, the Sons of Confederate Veterans is pleased to offer the services of the SCV Genealogical Network. A state Genealogist is available for most Confederate states and territories, as well as some others. They may charge a minimal fee for their services, subject to individual arrangement, to search the records of their state. You must provide the name and, if possible, other information such as county of residence, age, etc. In other words, provide as much information as possible to help identify the soldier. The genealogist is not required to copy records, but will provide a brief synopsis of the military records and the address where the copies of the original can be obtained. Again, the nature of the services and fees charged, if any, are based on individual arrangements. The SCV does not have control over any such arrangements. Follow this link to the SCV Genealogy Assistance page or to the Virginia Division Genealogy Assistance page. If you are in Virginia, you can also contact the following individuals:

How to Apply for Membership

Application for membership is best accomplished through a local SCV "camp." If you are interested in joining the Norfolk County Grays Camp #1549, you can contact our Adjutant for further information and a membership application package. The Adjutant will also be able to give you information regarding current National, Division, and Camp dues - in total, they usually run approximately $50 to $70, depending on the time of year your application is submitted and whether the dues are prorated. Applicants should submit the applicable dues, an application form, a detailed genealogy describing your relationship to the veteran, and proof of his service to the Camp Adjutant. Once you contact him via email using the red link above, he will give you further instructions on where to send your information.

For further information see the National Recruiting Web Site:

Below are links to relevant documents:

SCV Membership Application

SCV Cadet Membership Application

National SCV Life Membership Application

Virginia Division SCV Life Membership Application

Sample Lineage Chart

Virginia Division

Recruiting Coordinator

Thomas Blanks

P.O. Box 6

Evington, VA 24550