Welcome to the Iowa Division Sons of Confederate Veterans home page.
The citizen-soldiers who fought for the Confederacy personified the best qualities of America. The preservation of liberty and freedom was the motivating factor in the South's decision to fight the Second American Revolution. The tenacity with which Confederate soldiers fought underscored their belief in the rights guaranteed by the Constitution. These attributes are the underpinning of our democratic society and represent the foundation on which this nation was built.
Today, the Sons of Confederate Veterans is preserving the history and legacy of these heroes, so future generations can understand the motives that animated the Southern Cause.
The SCV is the direct heir of the United Confederate Veterans, and the oldest hereditary organization for male descendents of Confederate soldiers. Organized at Richmond, Virginia in 1896, the SCV continues to serve as a historical, patriotic, and non-political organization dedicated to ensuring that a true history of the 1861-1865 period is preserved.
The SCV works in conjunction with other historical groups to preserve Confederate history. However, it is not affiliated with any other group. The SCV rejects any group whose actions tarnish or distort the image of the Confederate soldier or his reasons for fighting. If you are interested in perpetuating the ideals that motivated your Confederate ancestor, the SCV needs you. The memory and reputation of the Confederate soldier, as well as the motives for his suffering and sacrifice, are being consciously distorted by some in an attempt to alter history. Unless the descendants of Southern soldiers resist those efforts, a unique part of our nations’ cultural heritage will cease to exist.
Membership in the Sons of Confederate Veterans is open to all male descendants of any veteran who served honorably in the Confederate Armed Services. Membership can be obtained through either direct or collateral family lines and kinship to a veteran must be documented genealogically. The minimum age for full membership is 12, but there is no minimum for Cadet membership. Applicants should submit an application form, along with a detailed genealogy describing your relationship to the veteran, and proof of his service. To obtain proof of his service, contact the archives of the state from which the soldier fought and obtain a copy of the veteran’s military service record. All Southern state’s archives have microfilm records of the soldiers who fought from that state, and a copy of the information can be obtained for a nominal fee. In addition, 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. The SCV has a network of genealogists to assist you in tracing you ancestor’s Confederate service.
The SCV has ongoing programs at the local, state, and national levels which offer members a wide range of activities. Preservation work, marking Confederate soldier’s graves, historical re-enactments, scholarly publications, and regular meetings to discuss the military and political history of the War Between the States are only a few of the activities sponsored by local units, called camps. All state organizations, known as Divisions, hold annual conventions, and many publish regular newsletters to the membership dealing with statewide issues. Each Division has a corps of officers elected by the membership who coordinate the work of camps and the national organization. Nationally, the SCV is governed by its members acting through delegates to the annual convention. The General Executive Council, composed of elected and appointed officers, conducts the organization’s business between conventions. The administrative work of the SCV is conducted at the national headquarters, ‘Elm Springs,’ a restored antebellum home at Columbia, Tennessee.
In addition to the privilege of belonging to an organization devoted exclusively to commemorating and honoring Confederate soldiers, every member receives The Confederate Veteran, the bi-monthly national magazine which contains in-depth articles on the war along with news affecting Southern heritage.
The Iowa Division was chartered on June 19th 2001. The Division has experienced continued growth since its beginning. This is the result of an active group of members and their support.
If you live in the Iowa area and are interested in becoming a member or supporting the camp in some other way, please contact us. You don't have to be a member to attend camp meetings and functions so don't hesitate to drop us a line....we'd love to hear from you.
Thank You for visiting the Iowa Division Sons of Confederate Veterans. While you're here, enjoy our southern hospitality and look around. You can start by clicking on the link below for a video about the Sons of Confederate Veterans. then go to our About Us page which will provide you with a list of our division and camp officers and a place to contact us with questions, comments and more information about joining us. Our News and Events page will keep you up to date on division activities and events and the Honoring Our Veterans/Confederate Graves Registry page will allow you to search for your confederate ancestors as well as give you a quick look at past events as we continue to honor our veterans. Iowa's Southern Influences will provide you with an in depth history of Iowa's deeply Southern roots or visit our Reading Room to read past issues of the Confederate Veterans magazine and more. And finally, click on the Facebook button below to join us on Facebook for more photos, videos, and event details.