Georgia World War II, Draft Registration Cards - FamilySearch Historical Records

Record Description
The collection consists of Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, for the state of Georgia. The index cards are located at the NARA - Southeast Regional facility. The collection covers all counties and is alphabetical. This collection includes records from 1897 to 1942.

While the cards were created on April 27, 1942, they pertain to men born on or between 1897 and 1929. The draft registration cards are preprinted forms with information recorded on the front and back and is arranged alphabetically by surname. The collection is part of Record Group 147: Records of the Selective Service System and was acquired from the National Archives Southeast Region in Morrow, Georgia.

Record Content
Draft registration cards usually contain the following details:


 * Name and Serial No.
 * Place of residence and telephone number
 * Date and place of birth
 * Age
 * Name of person who will always know your permanent address
 * Employer's name and address
 * Name of business of employer
 * Race
 * Physical description (height, weight, color of hair and eyes)

How to Use the Record
To begin your search it is helpful to know:


 * Name
 * Identifying information such as age or date of birth

Search the Collection
To search the collection by name fill in your ancestor’s name in the initial search page. This search will return a list of possible matches. Compare the information about those in the list to what you already know about your own ancestors to determine if this is the correct family or person.

If you did not find the person you were looking for, you may need to search the collection by image. ⇒Select the "Browse" link in the initial search page ⇒Select the "Surname Range" category which takes you to the images

Look at each image comparing the information with what you already know about your ancestors to determine if the image relates to them. You may need to look at several images and compare the information about the individuals listed in those images to your ancestors to make this determination.

With either search keep in mind:


 * There may be more than one person in the records with the same name.
 * You may not be sure of your own ancestor’s name.
 * Your ancestor may have used different names or variations of their name throughout their life.

For tips about searching on-line collections see the on-line article [FamilySearch Tips and Tricks].

Using the Information
When you have located your ancestor’s record, carefully evaluate each piece of information given. These pieces of information may give you new biographical details that can lead you to other records about your ancestors. Add this new information to your records of each family. This information will often lead you to other records. For example:


 * Use the birth date or along with the residence or place of birth to locate a birth certificate and other records such as church, school, and land records.
 * The person to notify in case of emergency is usually a close relative such as a parent or spouse.
 * Use the birth date and birth place or residence to search for census records.

Tips to Keep in Mind

 * Compile the entries for other individuals who have the same surname. This is especially helpful in rural areas or if the surname is unusual.
 * Continue to search the records to identify children, siblings, parents, and other relatives who may have been also belonged to the National Guard.
 * When looking for a person who had a common name, look at all the entries for the name before deciding which is correct.

Unable to Find Your Ancestor?

 * Look for variant spellings of the names. You should also look for alias names, nicknames and abbreviated names.
 * Look for an index. Local genealogical and historical societies often have indexes to local records.
 * Search the indexes and records of nearby counties.
 * Try alternative search methods such as only filling in the surname search box (or the given name search box) on the landing page leaving the other box empty and then click on search. This should return a list of everyone with that particular name. You could then browse the list for individuals that may be your ancestor.

General Information About These Records
After the United States entered World War II, a new Selective Service Act required that all men between the ages of 18 and 64 register for the draft. The draft registration covered males ages 45 to 64. The local draft board of the Selective Service System conducted the registration. The original registration cards were later sent to the regional branch of the National Archives responsible for receiving records from that state.

This draft registration, called the Fourth Registration, or Old Man’s Registration, was held on April 27, 1942. The purpose of this registration was to collect information on industrial capacity and skills of men who were born between April 27, 1877 and February 16, 1897 (ages 45 to 64). This draft registration was not intended to be used for military service but to provide a complete inventory of manpower resources in the United States that could be utilized for national service during World War II.

Information on the cards was supplied by the individual but recorded by a registrar. While there was a chance of a recording error, each individual signed his card to attest that the information was correct.

Related Websites

 * World War II in Georgia
 * NARA Catalog Description

Related Wiki Articles

 * Georgia Military Records
 * United States World War II Draft Records

Citations for This Collection
When you copy information from a record, you should list where you found the information; that is, cite your sources. This will help people find the record again and evaluate the reliability of the source. It is also good to keep track of records where you did not find information, including the names of the people you looked for in the records. Citations are available for the collection as a whole and each record or image individually.

Collection Citation:

Record Citation (or citation for the index entry):

Image Citation: