Grand Army of the Republic members

This photographic postcard showing surviving members of the Grand Army of the Republic and their families was taken in Columbus, Ohio, in 1915. The Grand Army of the Republic was one of the largest and most influential veterans organizations to be established following the Civil War. It was founded on April 6, 1866, by Benjamin Stephenson, who intended to form an organization that would provide veterans with political influence and opportunities to meet socially. Any veteran who was honorably discharged from the United States Army, Navy, or Marine Corps qualified for membership. National membership in the organization peaked in 1890 at a little over 409,000, and membership in the state of Ohio peaked at 49,011 in that same year. The GAR continued to operate until 1956, when the final member (Albert Woolson) died at the age of 109