I emailed Gopher Records after finding a question about whether an ancestor was a soldier for the Union in the Civil War. A reply came very quickly that he was and I ordered his pension file. The file came quickly and provided information about the soldier's service as well as family names and residences. Well worth the money to me!

Gopher staff is knowledgeable, dependable and prompt. I've been more than satisfied every time I've called upon them for help. I'm happy to recommend them to military researchers.

Gopher Records has helped me obtain service records for genealogical research on multiple occasions. This service is invaluable. Fees are lower that NARA and the turnaround speed is light years ahead of NARA. Moreover, Gopher Records has taken the additional step of informing me when they come across additional records (such as court martial or medical records) that I was not aware existed. The Gopher Records website has a lot of additional information about the types of records that are available and what we can learn from them. Outstanding service all the way around.

I got my pension records so quickly, I was thrilled. I have ordered records from the National Archives previously and waited months. They were also twice the cost. I have told all my research friends about Gopher and will continue to share my experience with others.

Gopher records is fantastic. Bob was able to get National Archive records for me , pretty much the day after the government reopened. Great communication, service and energy. Very reasonable prices!

Got some new info...response was quick & affordable!! Would definitely use again!

Working with Gopher Records has been a fantastic experience every time. He is knowledgeable, efficient, and consistently responsive, and he treats his clients with genuine respect. I’ve relied on him multiple times for U.S. Civil War military records—service records, pension files, and medical documentation—and his work has directly helped resolve complex genealogical questions. If you’re dealing with challenging research problems or need high-quality military records, Gopher Records is an excellent choice.

I found Gopher Records on a list of independent researchers available for hire to retrieve records at the National Archives. Bob Velke was very responsive and kept me updated as the National Archives gradually re-opened to researcher access during the COVID pandemic. Fortunately, Bob retrieved my ancestor's entire Civil War pension record including his widow's pension application where I found the information I needed to document my ancestor's divorce from a previous wife, my second great-grandmother. The county records were burned in 1864 so I had no other documentation of my second great-grandparents' life event.

I had previously laid out $$ to the National Archives twice--once right before the pandemic, and then again last month, hoping I could get information. After spending $60, I received a letter stating they couldn't help because my 2nd great-grandfather had a common name. I heard about Gopher, and gave it a try. Bob at Gopher responded so quickly, and went over my information, comparing it to the 3 soldiers who had the same name, and were in the same unit. We were able to pinpoint which person it was by process of elimination. Bob [...]

Way faster and way cheaper than ordering directly from NARA. Great service. Pension records are invaluable family history archives. I will be using the service again. Highly recommended.