World War I Resources on Ancestry
World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918
On 6 April 1917, the United States declared war on Germany and officially entered World War I. Six weeks
later, on 18 May 1917, the Selective Service Act was passed, which authorized the president to increase the
military of the United States. As a result, every male living within the United States between the ages of
eighteen and forty-five (those born between 1872 and 1899) was required to register for the draft.
There were three separate draft registrations and the cards varied somewhat with each registration. In
general, the registration cards included the following
information.
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Full name
Home address
Date and place of birth
Age, race, and country of citizenship
Occupation and employer
Physical description (hair and eye color, height,
disabilities)
 Additional information such as address of nearest
relative, dependent relatives, marital status,
father’s birthplace, or previous exemption from
service
 Signature
Tip: Because some of the forms
asked for a specific place of birth,
WWI draft records can be a great
way to identify birth places for
immigrants and African Americans
who had relocated as part of the
Great Migration, which was
underway. If your direct ancestor
doesn’t fall within the age
requirement, look for another
family member who does.
Keep in mind that registration
did not necessarily mean that
the registrant served in World
War I. Many were not drafted.
And some men had already
enlisted or were serving in the
military at the time, so they
would not be included in the
draft registration.
Search World War I Draft
Registrations
World War I Draft
Registration for
Rodolfo Guglielmi
(a.k.a., Rudolph
Valentino)
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World War I Resources on Ancestry
U.S., Army Transport Service, Passenger Lists, 1910-1939
The records in this collection consist of passenger lists
created between 1910 and 1939. These lists recorded
details on all persons departing from and arriving at U.S.
ports on Army Transport Service ships. In addition to
troops, passengers could also include nurses and other
support personnel, family members, and any other
passengers who may have been traveling onboard these
ships. In some instances, troops from other countries
traveled on U.S. Army ships. Details recorded in these
passenger lists typically include the following
information.
Men returning to New York City from World War I on
the U.S. transport George Washington (Image from the
Library of Congress Photo Collection)
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Ship name
Arrival date and place
Departure date and place
Service member's name, rank, service number, age, residence, next of kin with relationship, and
the regiment, company, detachment, or other organization that the service member was
attached to
 For non-service members, relation to service member
Outgoing list from U.S., Army Transport
Service, Passenger Lists, 1910-1939 for
328th Infantry, Co. G, including Alvin C.
York
Search U.S., Army Transport Service, Passenger Lists,
1910-1939
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World War I Resources on Ancestry
Stars and Stripes Newspaper, WWI Edition, 1918-1919
The ‘Stars and Stripes’ newspaper was first published during the Civil War. It first appeared in the twentieth
century during World War I, when the paper’s purpose was to boost troop morale and give scattered troops
across the Western Front a sense of unity.
The newspaper was printed specifically for the armed forces and reported on the progress of the war, activities
of the U.S. troops, and news from the home front (including sports, comics, and editorials).
During World War I the weekly paper was published in France and delivered to soldiers via trains, cars, and
motorcycles. Papers were also delivered by mail to military bases and individual subscribers back in the U.S.
Even if you can’t find your ancestor mentioned by name, the stories can give you context and a glimpse into
what life was like for a particular soldier. This article tells the tale of the first American prisoner of war to escape
the Germans. Private Frank Savicki, a Russian-Polish immigrant, tells how he was captured, living conditions as
a prisoner, and how he made his escape. The article also gives personal details about Savicki and his family,
including the fact that he had declared his intent to naturalize shortly before entering the service.
You may find accounts of battles, so if you know a particular battle in which your ancestor fought, search for it
in the keyword field. Use quotes to locate an exact phrase. And take some time to just browse. You never
know what gems you’ll find.
Search or browse Stars and Stripes Newspaper, WWI Edition, 1918-1919
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World War I Resources on Ancestry
U.S. War and Conflict Images, 1765-1970
Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words. The images in this collection show what life looked like for
those who were overseas—in times of battle and in moments in between. We’ll let them speak for themselves.
American troops going forward to the battle
line in the Forest of Argonne, France
September 26, 1918
American snipers of the 166th Infantry (formerly 4th Inf,
Ohio National Guard)
American advance northwest of Verdun. The
ruined church on the crest of the captured
height of Montfaucon.
An old French couple, M. and Mme. Baloux
of Brieulles-sur-Bar, France, under German
occupation for four years, greeting soldiers
of the 308th and 166th Infantries upon their
arrival during the American advance.
148th American Aero Squadron field making
preparations for a daylight raid on German
trenches
1st Army Post Band (Colored), Souilly, France,
1918 Air Service Photographic Section (Army
Air Force)
Search U.S. War and Conflict Images, 1765-1970
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World War I Resources on Ancestry
State-Specific Collections
States often created their own special collections of World War I records. New York, Abstracts of World War I
Military Service, 1917-1919 includes cards listing details abstracted from federal military service records for
Army officers, enlisted men, sailors, Marines, and nurses who enlisted or were drafted in New York. The
majority of the records begin in 1914 and continue through 1919. Below is the record for Edwin Brough Dyer
that lists military engagements he was involved in while in service and the fact that he was “slightly” wounded
in action.
In New Mexico, World War I Records, 1917-1919, you'll find a rich collection of records gathered by the New
Mexico Council of Defense's Historical Service Board. It actively sent out questionnaires on World War I
casualties and requested personal information and photographs from families to commemorate the service of
the state's fallen heroes.
Locating State Collections
To locate military collections on the state level, click
on the Search tab, then scroll down to the map at
the bottom of the page. Select a state and then click
on View all military records. There you’ll find
collections unique to that state.
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