ww1draftcardintro

Approximately 24 million men aged 18 to 45 registered for the draft between June 5, 1917 and September 12, 1918. The World War One Draft Registration Cards provide much of interest to genealogical researchers. The cards currently are available for searching at the National Archives Southeast Region, East Point, Georgia. For those unable to search in person, archives staff will do so for a fee.

The cards are now being microfilmed by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and soon will be available at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah, and at the numerous Family History Centers through out the country. For information about the Family History Center closest to you, call your local LDS (Mormon) church for information or search the Internet at one of the numerous LDS sites.

Not every card contains a full birth date. When the day, month or year is omitted an underline ____ mark is used to show that it was not recorded on the card. When no birth date is given, the age in years has been included.

The numbers at the beginning of the information are self-explanatory, i.e. Card #, Serial #, Order # or in some cases, just a number, depending upon which card was being used. The numbers 1-4-10-with either the letter A, B, C, or D, indicate the state (1) County (4) and the Local Registration board (10). The letter indicates at which registration the card was made. (See card info below.)

World War I Draft Cards - Information Asked At Specific Registrations:	5 Jun 1917 A	Jun & Aug 1918 B	Sep 1918 C & D
Age of men registered	21-31	21 since 5 Jun 1917	18 - 21 (C) 31 - 45 (D)
Birthplace	yes	yes	yes
Present trade, occupation or office	yes	no	yes
Dependents	yes	no	yes
Nearest relative and address	no	yes	yes
If Bald	yes	no	no
Married or Single	yes	no	no
Previous Military Service	yes	no	no
If Exemption claimed, what grounds	yes	no	no
Father's birthplace	no	yes	no