Thursday, June 19, 2014
World War I Draft Registration Cards
In 1917 and 1918, approximately 24 million men living in the United States completed a World War I draft registration card. These cards represent about 98 percent of men under the age of 46. The total U.S. population then was about 100 million so nearly 25 percent of the total population is represented in these records. This database can be an extremely useful resource because it covers a significant portion of the U.S. male population in the early 20th century.
If you had family in the United States at this time, you are likely to find at least one relative’s information within this collection. These records often contain significant genealogical information such as exact date of birth, birthplace, citizenship status, and information on the individual’s nearest relative. Access the cards at Archives.gov.
