The US World War I Draft Registration Cards is a popular collection for finding male ancestors because it “accounts for approximately 98 percent of men in the U.S. born between 1872 and 1900. The total U.S. population in 1917-1918 was about 100 million individuals, so close to 25 percent of the total population is represented in these records.”*

There were three primary registrations:

• The first registration was on June 5, 1917, for all men ages 21 to 31 (specifically, men born between June 6, 1886 and June 5, 1896)

• The second registration was on June 5, 1918, for all men who turned 21 after June 5, 1917, and a supplemental registration on August 24, 1918, for all men who turned 21 after June 5, 1918.

• The third registration was on September 12, 1918 for all men ages 18 to 45 who had not previously enrolled.**

The US National Archives has some digitized draft registration cards for famous Americans, including this card for composer and jazz musician, Duke Ellington.

It’s important to note that not all men in the United States who served in the First World War registered for the draft. I have a grandfather and great uncle, both born just outside the registration requirement windows, who volunteered and served during World War I but who never registered for the draft. Also, not all men who registered for the draft served during World War I.

If you’re fortunate enough to have ancestors who registered for the draft, there’s good information to be gleaned. “Each registration was slightly different. …However, they generally included the following information:

• Name

• Birth date

• Birthplace

• Draft registration date

• Sometimes, father’s birthplace

• Name of nearest relative

• Age in years

• Sex is implied, since all registrants were males

• Marital status

• List of any dependents

• Address”***

 

FEE SITES

Ancestry.com

• Ancestry.com has the US World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 with a subscription

Archives.com

• Archives.com has the US World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 with a subscription

FindMyPast.com

• FindMyPast has the World War I Draft Registration Cards collection with a subscription, they also link to Lives of the First World War, an Imperial War Museums effort to remember those who served during WWI, uploading photos and adding facts is free, there’s a charge to find the records or connect online with other contributors.

Fold3.com

• Fold3.com has the U.S. World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 with a subscription

MyHeritage.com

• MyHeritage.com has the US World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 with a subscription

US National Archives

• You can order copies of draft registration cards from the US National Archives

 

FREE SITES

FamilySearch.org

• FamilySearch.org has the US World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918, index and images are free

Local Libraries

• Your local library may have access to World War I Draft Registration Cards through online databases including HeritageQuest, ProQuest, JSTOR, and others (free with a library card)

 

Best in your research, whether it’s fee or free!

* “About U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918. U.S.”, World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918. Accessed May 22, 2017. http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=6482.

**”United States World War I Draft Registrations, 1917-1918.” United States World War I Draft Registrations, 1917-1918 – MyHeritage. Accessed May 22, 2017. https://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-10513/united-states-world-war-i-draft-registrations-1917-1918?s=246870911.

***”United States, World War I Draft Registration Cards (FamilySearch Historical Records).” United States, World War I Draft Registration Cards (FamilySearch Historical Records) Genealogy – FamilySearch Wiki. Accessed May 22, 2017. https://familysearch.org/wiki/en/United_States,_World_War_I_Draft_Registration_Cards_(FamilySearch_Historical_Records).