Records of World War I Era Persons

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This page maintained by Ray Banks. Links to related web pages listed at bottom
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Most of the cvilian draft registrants were exempted from service and never went into the military.

Copies of the Civilian Draft Registration Cards
If you want to view a copy of the actual draft card and possibly copy it, then my best referral at this time is to contact a local Mormon family history center. The Mormon Church (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints), which has extensive expertise in microfilming, has filmed the draft cards for the National Archives. A loaner copy of the specific reel of draft cards from Salt Lake City can probably be obtained at your local family history center. Postage costs will be collected. The catalogue subject heading is [name of state] - MILITARY RECORDS - WORLD WAR I. Order the reel of the state and county where your card is located. A few late registrations are on separate late registration reels.

I am pasting below a link to a listing of the centers:
Family Hx Ctr Locations
Or if you prefer to type it:
http://www.lds.org/Family_History/Where_is.html

Some draft reels can now be purchased, and these may start showing up at larger libraries in the near future. A special 42X or 65X lens is needed to view the cards. The typical microfilm reader does not have these lenses.

Ordering World War I Service Records
Regretfully, almost all World War I service records were destroyed at a fire in St. Louis several decades ago. But a few did survive. If you know your relative was in the military in World War I, I am pasting below a link to site which has more information for ordering records:

Getting WW I Military Records
or if your prefer to type it:
http://members.aol.com/ForVets/htomr.htm

Alternate Service Records
There are alternate sources for service records, such as veterans' claims records. I am pasting below a link to a site with more information:

Alternate Sources for Burned MIlitary Records
or if you prefer to type it:
http://amf.org/2-42.htm

!! PLEASE, PLEASE do NOT contact me personally for help on researching or further information about these records. I am NOT a good resource, and I do not have the time to answer this type query!! Also, I have no access to any of my transcriptions listed on the Internet -- I am merely the donor. If the Internet site is not functioning correctly, please contact the administrator of that site. Thanks. Ray Banks.

If you need help in starting genealogical research, free help is available at FamilySearch.org on the Internet.

Census
Census microfilms from 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920 are available at larger libraries. The 1890 census burned, and later censuses are still covered by privacy laws. Half of the 1910 census is unindexed, and some of the existing 1910 indexes have a significant index error problem.

Where to Get Birth/Death Certificate Info.
Cyndi's list on the Internet contains information on how to order birth & death certificates. You will need to branch from her main menu to the state menu. Then look for info on ordering vital records.
Cyndi's Main Menu
These are the years states began keeping vital records on a statewide basis.
* indicates some records filmed by the Mormons
[Mormon Catalogue Heading : Name of State - VITAL RECORDS]

1841 - Massachusetts
1848 - New Jersey
1853 - Rhode Island
1867 - Michigan, Ohio
1880 - New York [part of New York City*], Iowa [births]
1881 - Delaware
1883 - New Hampshire
1891 - Iowa [deaths only]
1892 - Maine
1897 - Connecticut
1898 - Maryland
1899 - Florida, Indiana [deaths only]
1903 - Oregon, Texas
1904 - Nebraska
1905 - California, S. Dakota, Utah
1906 - Pennsylvania
1907 - Colorado, Montana, N. Dakota, Washington*, Wisconsin, Indiana [births only]
1908 - Alabama*, Minnesota, Oklahoma
1909 - Arizona, Missouri, Wyoming
1911 - Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Nevada
1912 - Mississippi, Virginia
1913 - Alaska, North Carolina*
1914 - Arkansas, Louisiana, Tennessee
1915 - S. Carolina
1916 - Illinois*
1917, W. Virginia
1919 - Georgia
1920 - New Mexico
There are some indexes available for some of these. And the Mormons may have filmed more than I listed. Early vital record keeping was not thorough, and some persons were missed.

Mississippi
If your Mississippi relative went into the military, his name is likely listed in a roll of Mississippi World War I veterans. This is located at the Dept. of Archives and History at the Old Capitol Bldg. in Jackson, MS (telephone 601-359-6876) . But it has also been filmed by the Mormons and probably can be ordered at a family history center. The reel number is 904445 (List of Mississippi World War I Veterans) This Mississippi site also has death certificates from 1912 to late 1940s on microfiche which the Mormons have NOT filmed.

Other Records
To see other records the Mormon Church has filmed which can be loaned to a local center, link to their on-line catalogue.
FH Library Main Catalogue

Jump to other topics:
Interpreting Draft Card Info
Different Boundaries in 1917
Draft Counties Completed
Famous & Infamous Draft Cards
Draft's Historical Background
Banks Families [Banks Families of the U.S.]

rayhbanks@aol.com [If you write me, please explain you are writing from the WW I Records page and please do NOT ask for help in searching your family. I am not a professional researcher. Ray Banks]