Louisiana, Second Registration Draft Cards - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
The collection consists of draft registration cards arranged numerically by local board number then alphabetically by surname of registrant. The 4x6 cards (SSS-1 forms) cover a special classification of individuals born between 1922 and 1940. The collection was located at the NARA SW region in Forth 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. This collection is being published as images become available. In August of 2013, the National Archives replaced the ARC – Archival Research Catalog - with the OPA – Online Public Access. ARC identifiers will still work to access the collections in OPA.

Note: Local Registration Board number assignments appear to be in the alphabetical order of the Parish in which they reside, from Arcadia Parish (LB#1) through Sabine Parish (LB# 53), with larger parishes occupying several boards; Example: Orleans Parish (LB# 39~45).

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.

What Can These Records Tell Me?
Registration cards usually contain the following Information:
 * 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
 * Any active duty in armed forces
 * Any membership in a reserve unit
 * Name of local board

Sample Image
Click on the image for a larger view.

How Do I Search the Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * The name of the person
 * The name of a relative or date of the event

View the Images
View images in this collection by visiting the :
 * 1) Select  the Local Board Number and Surname Range to view the images.

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?
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.

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

 * 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. Try searching for these names as well
 * Immigrant first names may be in their native language
 * Search the records of nearby localities
 * Look at the 1930 and 1940 censuses to identify names and ages of additional family members

Research Helps
The following articles will help you in your research for your family in the state of Louisiana.
 * Louisiana Guided Research
 * Louisiana Record Finder
 * Research Tips and Strategies
 * Step-by-Step Research

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.

"Louisiana, Second Registration Draft Cards, compiled 1948-1959." Database with Images. FamilySearch. http://FamilySearch.org : accessed 2017. Citing Selective Service System. National Archives and Records Administration, Southwest Region, Fort Worth, Texas.
 * Collection Citation:

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