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

What Is In This Collection?
The collection consists of a name index and images of draft registration cards of men who registered during World War II with the exception of the Fourth Registration (see General Information below). It covers the years 1940 to 1945 and includes information of young men aged 18-44. The event place is the home of the registrant. This collection is part of the National Archives Records Administration’s (NARA) [https://www.archives.gov/research/guide-fed-records/groups/147.html Records of the Selective Service System. 1940– Record Group 147]: Records of the Selective Service located at the National Archives at St. Louis. Images are courtesy of Ancestry.com($). The Selective Service Act of 1940 required that men between the ages of 21–36 register for the draft. This was the United States' first peacetime draft. The draft was run like a lottery with those chosen required to serve for 12 months. During the summer of 1941, the draft was extended for all men who had reached their 18th birthday up to those who had not yet reached the 45th birthday—up until the day before their 45th birthday. The length of service was also extended to 18 months, but could be extended further if national security required.

In December of 1941, after the United States had entered World War II, the draft was again extended. All men ages 22–44 became responsible for service in the military and all men ages 18–64 were required to register for the draft. Time of service was extended to six months after the war ended. 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. Draft registration cards were filled out at the registrant’s home and then mailed to the Selective Service Board.


 * United States World War II Draft Registration Records - Coverage Table

World War II Registration Dates

 * First Registration October 16, 1940: males ages 21 to 35 "within the continental United States"
 * Second Registration July 1, 1941: males "who had reached 21 sine the first registration"
 * Third Registration February 16, 1942: between the ages of 20 and 45 "who had not previously registered"
 * Fourth Registration April 27, 1942: between the ages of 45 and 65 "not eligible for military service"] This registration is not included in this collection.
 * Fifth Registration June 30, 1942: between the ages of 18 and 20
 * Sixth Registration December 10-31, 1942: "those who reached the age of 18 after November 12, 1942"
 * Additional Registration between November 16 and December 31, 1943: "citizens living abroad between the ages of 18 and 45"

What Can These Records Tell Me?
These records may contain the following information:


 * Name, Serial Number, and Order Number
 * Address
 * Telephone
 * Age and date of birth
 * Place of birth
 * Country of citizenship


 * Name of person who will always know the address
 * Relationship of that person
 * Address of that person
 * Employer’s name
 * Place of employment or business
 * Race


 * Height, weight, and complexion
 * Obvious identifying physical characteristics

How Do I Search the Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * The name of the individual
 * Approximate age or birth date

How Do I Analyze the Results?
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a Research Log.

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

 * Add any new information to your records
 * Whenever possible, view the original records to verify the information and to find additional information that might not be reported. These pieces of information can lead you to additional records and family members
 * Use the person's name and place of birth to find a birth certificate which should list the names of the parents
 * Use the country of citizenship to lead you to immigration or naturalization records
 * Use the person’s age and residence to find family in census, church, and land records
 * Use the marital information to find marriage records. Witnesses were often family members
 * When looking for a person who had a common name, look at all the entries for the name before deciding which is correct
 * Continue to search the index and records to identify siblings and other relatives who may also have registered for the draft
 * Census, military service, military pension, immigration, naturalization, and land records can be very useful
 * Use employment information to lead you to trade, business, land, property, or education records

I Can't Find the Person I'm Looking For, What Now?

 * Look for variant spellings of the names. Pay special attention to how the name should have been pronounced and try variations on the pronunciation
 * Remember that sometimes individuals went by nicknames or alternated between using first and middle names
 * Immigrant first names may be in their native language
 * Look at the 1930 and 1940 censuses to identify names and ages of additional family members

Research Helps
The following articles will help you research your family in the state of Alabama.
 * Alabama Guided Research
 * Alabama Record Finder
 * Alabama Research Tips and Strategies
 * Step-by-Step Alabama Research, 1880-Present
 * Beginning Research in United States Military Records
 * US Military Basic Search Strategies
 * United States, National Archives, Military Records, 1885-2004

Other FamilySearch Collections
These collections may have additional materials to help you with your research.

FamilySearch Catalog

 * Jonathan Gawne. Finding your father's war : a practical guide to researching and understanding service in the World War II US Army. Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania : Casemate, c2006 FS Library 973 M27g
 * Debra Johnson Knox. World War II military records : a family historian's guide. Spartanburg, South Carolina : MIE Publishing, c2003 FS Library 973 M27kw - Chapter 3 - WWII Draft Records, pp. 47-58
 * George Forty, US Army handbook, 1939-1945 2nd ed. New York, New York : Barnes & Noble, c1995 FS Library 973 M27f
 * compiled by Timothy P. Mulligan ; edited by Rebecca L. Collier with Judith Koucky and Patrick Osborn, World War II : guide to records relating to U.S. military participation 2 volumes. Washington, D.C. : National Archives Trust Fund Board, 2008 FS Library 973 J53mt
 * Alabama, World War II draft registration cards, 1940-1945
 * Alabama Genealogical Society magazine Birmingham, Alabama : Alabama Genealogical Society, 1967- FS Library 976.1 B2ag

FamilySearch Digital Library

 * Richard G. Wood, comp., Records of the Selective Service System, 1940-47. Washington : The National Archives, 1951
 * compiled and revised 1946, Casualty Section, Office of Public Information, Navy Department. Combat connected naval casualties, World War II, by states : U. S. Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard. 2 volumes. Washington, D.C. : GPO, 1946

Citing this Collection
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.