Louisiana First Registration Draft Cards - FamilySearch Historical Records

Record Description
The collection consists of images of draft registration cards for the years 1940 to 1945. The cards are arranged numerically by local board number, then alphabetically by surname of registrant. The 4x6 cards (SSS-1 forms) cover individuals born between 1897 and 1928. The collection was located at the NARA SW Region in Fort Worth Texas. 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 I, a 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

For an alphabetical list of names currently published in this collection, select the Browse.

While the cards are part of a record group created between 1940 and 1945, they pertain to men born between February 17, 1897 and 1928.

The purpose of this registration was to collect information on the industrial capacity and skills of men who were born between February 17, 1897 and 1928. 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
Information on the registration cards includes:


 * Registrant's full name
 * Registrant's age
 * Birth date
 * Birth place
 * Residence
 * Name and address of person who will always know registrant’s address
 * Employer’s name and address
 * Physical description
 * Race

How to Use the Record
To begin your search you will need to know the following:


 * The name of your ancestor
 * The approximate birth date

If you are having difficulty finding your ancestor, look for variations in the spelling of the name. If your ancestor used an alias or a nickname, be sure to check for those alternate names.

Search the Collection
Currently the collection is indexed for surnames beginning with the letters D through M. As more images are indexed they will be added to the current index.

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 the ancestors in the list to what you already know about your ancestors to determine if this is the correct family or person. You may need to compare the information about more than one person to find your ancestor.

As you are searching it is helpful to know such information as your ancestor’s given name and surname, some identifying information such as residence and age, and family relationships. 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.

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

To search the collection image by image ⇒Select "Browse through images" on the initial collection page ⇒Select "Surname Range" which takes you to the images.

Search the collection by image comparing the information with what you already know about your ancestors to determine which one is your ancestor. You may need to compare the information about more than one person to make this determination.

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

 * Compile the entries for every person who has the same surname as the deceased; 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 seeking the pension.
 * When looking for a person who had a common name, look at all the entries for the name before deciding which is correct.

Known Issues with This Collection
For a full list of all known issues associated with this collection see the attached Wiki article. If you encounter additional problems, please email them to [mailto:support@familysearch.org support@familysearch.org]. Please include the full path to the link and a description of the problem in your e-mail. Your assistance will help ensure that future reworks will be considered.

Related Websites
National Archive Military Records

Related Wiki Articles

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

Citing FamilySearch Historical Collections
Citations for individual image records are available for this collection. Browse through images in this collection and click on the "Show Citation" box. Louisiana, First Registration Draft Cards, 1940-1945

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.