Oregon, World War I, Veteran State Aid Applications - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
Application card index from the World War Veteran's State Aid Commission. The commission was responsible for "loans and bonuses paid to World War I and Spanish-American War veterans." The card index covers for the state of Oregon the years 1921-1938. These records are arranged in alphabetical order and there are 2 cards per record. Card index includes, name, place of enlistment, place, and date of birth, name, and address of nearest relative, date, and place of first enlistment and date and place of discharge, military serial number, aid or bonus desired and dates approved or rejected, address where correspondence should be sent, and other miscellaneous information. The card index and other collections of the commission are located at the Oregon State Archives.

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The records may include:
 * Name
 * Date of Birth
 * Name and address of nearest relative
 * Date of enlistment
 * Date of discharge
 * Military serial number
 * Address to send correspondence
 * Aid of bonus requested

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * The name of your ancestor
 * The birth date of your ancestor
 * The birth place of your ancestor
 * The residence of your ancestor
 * The military division in which your ancestor served

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.

What Do I Do Next?
When you have located your ancestor’s record, carefully evaluate each piece of information given. Save a copy of the image or transcribe the information. These pieces of information may give you new biographical details. Add this new information to your records of each family. You should also look for leads to other records about your ancestors.

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

 * Use the names, age and residence to find census records including the 1910 and 1920 census. The 1930 also identifies World War I veterans.
 * Look for discharge records. Many veterans registered their discharges at the local county courthouse.
 * Look for membership applications at the local American Legion Post.
 * Look for a published military unit history.
 * When looking for a person who had a common name, look at all the entries for the name before deciding which is correct.
 * Remember that there may be more than one person in the records with the same name as your ancestor and that your ancestor may have used nicknames or different names at different times.

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

 * 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 records of nearby localities (or military units, counties, parishes, etc.)

Research Helps
The following articles will help you in your research for your family in the state of Oregon.
 * US Military Basic Search Strategies
 * Beginning Research in United States Military Records
 * Beginning United States World War I Research
 * Oregon Guided Research
 * Research Tips and Strategies
 * Step-by-Step Research: 1850-1903 | 1900-Present

Related Family History Library Holdings

 * World War I veterans who were residents of Oregon FHL 4 rolls
 * Oregon. AGO. Oregon's honor roll : names of officers and enlisted men from Oregon who lost their lives while serving in the armed forces during the World War.Salem, Oregon : State Printing Department, 1922 FHL Digital Images
 * Oregon, World War I, County Military Service Records, 1919-1920
 * Oregon combined military service records index, 1852-1954

Related FamilySearch Historical Record Collections

 * United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918
 * United States, World War I American Expeditionary Forces Deaths, 1917-1919
 * United States, Veterans Administration Master Index, 1917-1940
 * Oregon, World War I, County Military Service Records, 1919-1920

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.