World War I directly affected the lives of many of our ancestors. In fact, between 1917 and 1918, 24 million men registered for the draft—98% of all men between the ages of 18 and 45. While it was a sad and scary time for our ancestors—more than 15 million people lost their lives—the draft cards left behind are a genealogical legacy for the rest of us.
The Draft
Six weeks after the U.S. entered World War I, on April 6, 1917, the Selective Service Act was passed, requiring every male between 18 and 45 to register for the draft.
In many towns, registering for the draft was an event. Sometimes businesses closed down for the day, or the town held a parade. In other areas, whistles, church bells, or cannons signaled the beginning of registration for that area.
Three main registrations took place.
• First Registration. This registration took place on June 5, 1917. It was for men aged 21 to 31—men born between June 6, 1886 and June 5, 1896.
• Second Registration. This registration took place on June 5, 1918. It was for men who had turned 21 since the previous registration—men born between June 6, 1896 and June 5, 1897. In addition, a supplemental registration on August 24, 1918, was for men who had turned 21 since June 5, 1918.
• Third Registration. The third and final registration took place on September 12, 1918. It was for men aged 18 to 21 and 31 to 45—men born between September 11, 1872 and September 12, 1900.
All men of age were required to register, whether they were U.S. citizens or not.
What You’ll Find
Each registration used a slightly different form, but each contains a wide variety of information on the individual, from name, birth place, occupation, physical description, and information about the individual’s nearest relative. Another interesting element of the WWI draft cards is that they were all signed—so you can get the chance to see your ancestor’s signature.
Take a look at these draft cards for Ty Cobb and Norman Rockwell. (Note: Many of the draft cards have both a front and a back.)
Ty Cobb’s occupation is “Ball Player.” He claimed exemption from the draft (Question 12) because he had dependents.
Norman Rockwell is listed as 23 on this draft card. His occupation is “artist.”
Tips for Searching
• Some immigrants wrote their last names first, resulting in some cards being filed under first names. Also, since Hispanics often have two surnames, one derived from their father and the other from their mother, their cards may be filed under either part of their surname.
• Men who resided in British territories sometimes listed themselves simply as British citizens without noting their origin in Canada, Australia, Ireland, Jamaica, etc.
• Illiterate men may have misspelled their name or birth location.
• If a registrant was not living in his home town, he could register elsewhere and the card would be sent to his home draft board. In some rural counties, it may have been easier to travel to the bordering county to register and request that the registration be sent on to the actual county. Because it’s possible that some registrations were never transferred, an individual’s card may appear in a neighboring county or state.
Find Your Ancestor
Not all men who registered for the draft served in the military. But, regardless, these cards represent a pivotal time in your ancestors’ lives, and in our nation’s history. And each presents a snapshot of the individual’s life in a certain time and place.
Locating a draft card for your ancestors is easy—just search for any males in your family born between 1873 and 1900. Finding, and sharing, your ancestor’s draft card is a great way to teach your children about WWI, learn more about your ancestor’s life, get information that can point you to more records, and honor your ancestor’s legacy on Memorial Day.
To search for your ancestor’s WWI draft card, go here.
