Arkansas, Second Registration Draft Cards - FamilySearch Historical Records

Record Description
This Collection will include records from 1948 to 1959.

The collection consists of 4x6 cards (form SSS-1), which are arranged numerically by local board number, then alphabetically by surname of registrant. The cards cover the years 1948-1959 but they list individuals born between 1922 and 1940.

The collection was located at the National Archives and Records Administration Southwest region in Fort Worth Texas. They are now located at the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis, Missouri. For additional information about this collection contact the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis. The cards are part of Record Group 147: Records of the Selective Service System, 1926-1975.

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 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

The purpose of this registration was to collect information on the industrial capacity and skills of men who were born between 1922 and 1940. This draft registration was intended to provide a complete inventory of manpower resources in the United States that could be utilized for national service.

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.

Record Content
Registration cards usually include:


 * Name
 * Birth date
 * Birthplace (lists town or county and state or country
 * Residence
 * Mailing address
 * Name and address of the person who will always know the registrant’s address
 * Occupation
 * Employer’s name and address
 * Marital status
 * Physical description
 * Race

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


 * Name
 * Other identifying information such as birth date and residence

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 appropriate "Local Board Number and Surname" which takes you to the images

Look at each image. Again you will need to compare the information with what you already know about your ancestors to determine which one is your ancestor.

Be aware that with either search you may need to compare the information about more than one person to make this determination. 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.
 * If your ancestor used an alias or a nickname, be sure to check for those alternate names.
 * Even though these indexes are very accurate they may still contain inaccuracies, such as altered spellings, misinterpretations, and optical character recognition errors if the information was scanned.

For tips about searching on-line collections see the on-line video at FamilySearch Search Tips.

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 age along with the residence or place of birth to locate census, church, and land records.
 * Use the occupation to locate business or employment records.
 * Use the race and residence to locate ethnic and specialized records such as Indian censuses and school records.

Tips to Keep in Mind

 * Compiling the entries for every person who has the same surname can be helpful in determining related individuals. This is especially helpful in rural areas or if the surname is unusual.
 * When looking for a person who had a common name, look at all the entries for the name before deciding which is correct.

Related Websites
Arkansas World War I Draft Registration

Related Wiki Articles

 * Arkansas
 * Arkansas Military Records

Citing FamilySearch Historical Collections
When you copy information from a record, you should list where you found the information. This will help you or others to find the record again. 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.

Citation for This Collection
The following citation refers to the original source of the information published in FamilySearch.org Historical Records collections. Sources include the author, custodian, publisher, and archive for the original records.