All men between the ages of 18 and 45 were required to register regardless of citizenship status or other factors. The Selective Service Act of 1917 passed by Congress on 18 May 1917 authorized the United States President to increase the armed forces through conscription. The Act directed the Provost Marshal General Office to select eligible men for military service. More than 24 million Americans (nearly 98 percent of the male population under the age of 46) registered for the draft during 1917 and 1918. The GG Archives has curated examples of the World War 1 Draft Registration Cards shown below.
Front Side, World War 1 Draft Registration Card, Christian Gjenvik of Garfield, Minnesota dated 5 June 1917. Gjenvick-Gjønvik Family Archives. GGA Image ID # 18d94ee363
I affirm that I have verified above answers and that they are true.
signature or mark of registrant /s/ Christian Gjønvik
[The following is printed across the lower left-hand triangular corner or the card:]
If person is of African descent, cut off this corner.
The Number in the Upper Left-Hand Corner of the Draft Registration Card (548) is known as the "Red Ink" Serial Number. The draft was a lottery in which numbers written on pieces of paper (in red ink) were pulled from a bowl by the U.S. Secretary of War, Newton D. Baker. Every number represented one registrant from each local board who would be called in for examination and if accepted, would be inducted into service. The Order No. (5) was the order of registration, in this case, the fifth person to register. On the bottom left, the 21 CA marking indicated a white male, age 21, who was an alien at the time of registration.
Back Side, World War 1 Draft Registration Card, Christian Gjenvik of Garfield, Minnesota dated 5 June 1917. Gjenvick-Gjønvik Family Archives. GGA Image ID # 18d953a6f4
12 Questions - Side 2, Additional Information
Signature of Registrar
Precinct, Garfield
city or county, Lac Qui Parl
State Minn
Date of registration June 5, 1917
On the back of the card it has stamped 22.1.11.A. These numbers and letters are codes for the following
WWI Draft Registration Cards at
National Archives and Records Administration, Southeast Region
The original cards, in excess of 24 million, were received at our facility a number of years ago. Upon their receipt, they were boxed and arranged by NARA employees. The original arrangement was by state, there under by county or draft board, and there under alphabetically by the registrant's last name. The cause for arrangement by draft board instead of county is due to the size of certain cities. For example, New York City had in excess of 180 boards, Chicago had over 80. As a result, we require a street address when searching for cards in most large cities.
The cards were later microfilmed by representatives of the Genealogical Society of Utah in the exact order they were originally arranged; each NARA regional facility has a copy of the microfilm for the states in the region that it serves. Any patron wishing to use microfilm will find the cards arranged exactly as they are in the box. The arrangement of the cards has never been changed.
Copy of World War I Draft Registration Card for Ralph Daniel Secor of Momitawville NY. The card information has been transcribed with responses by registrant.
Front Side, World War 1 Draft Registration Card, Ralph Daniel Secor of Momitawville, NY dated 5 June 1917. GGA Image ID # 18d963c0c0
signature or mark of registrant /s/ R. D. Secor
[The following is printed across the lower left-hand triangular corner or the card:]
If person is of African descent, cut off this corner.
Back Side, World War 1 Draft Registration Card, Ralph Daniel Secor of Momitawville, NY dated 5 June 1917. GGA Image ID # 18d9bb6803
12 Questions - Side 2, Additional Information
I certify that my answers are true, that the person registered has read his own answers, that I have witnessed his signature, and that all of his answers of which I have knowledge are true, except as follows:
Age 1 yr younger than shown by date of birth as given
Signature of Registrar
Precinct, 3 city or county, Orange state NY
Date of registration June 5, 1917
WWI Draft Registration Cards at
National Archives and Records Administration, Southeast Region
The original cards, in excess of 24 million, were received at our facility a number of years ago. Upon their receipt, they were boxed and arranged by NARA employees. The original arrangement was by state, there under by county or draft board, and there under alphabetically by the registrant's last name. The cause for arrangement by draft board instead of county is due to the size of certain cities. For example, New York City had in excess of 180 boards, Chicago had over 80. As a result, we require a street address when searching for cards in most large cities.
The cards were later microfilmed by representatives of the Genealogical Society of Utah in the exact order they were originally arranged; each NARA regional facility has a copy of the microfilm for the states in the region that it serves. Any patron wishing to use microfilm will find the cards arranged exactly as they are in the box. The arrangement of the cards has never been changed.
LeRoy Amos Newville, Faribault, Minnesota
Front Side, World War 1 Draft Registration Card, LeRoy Amos Newville of Winnebago, Minnesota dated 12 September 1918. This was for the Third Draft Registration held on 12 September 1918 for men age 18 through 45. GGA Image ID # 18d9df00b9
I AFFIRM THAT I HAVE VERIFIED THE ABOVE ANSWERS AND THAT THEY ARE TRUE
signature or mark of registrant /s/ LeRoy Amos Newville
P.M.G.O. Form No. 1. (Red) C3-6171 (OVER)
Back Side, World War 1 Draft Registration Card, LeRoy Amos Newville of Winnebago, Minnesota dated 12 September 1918. This was for the Third Draft Registration held on 12 September 1918 for men age 18 through 45. GGA Image ID # 18d9f9e616
Reverse Side: DESCRIPTION OF REGISTRANT
Signature of Registrar
Date of registration Sept. 12, 1918
Local Board for the County of Faribault, State of Minnesota, Blue Earth, Minnesota
(The stamp of the Local Board having jurisdiction of the area in which the registrant has his permanent home shall be placed in this boz.) c3-6171 (OVER)
WWI Draft Registration Cards at National Archives and Records Administration, Southeast Region
The original cards, in excess of 24 million, were received at our facility a number of years ago. Upon their receipt, they were boxed and arranged by NARA employees. The original arrangement was by state, there under by county or draft board, and there under alphabetically by the registrant's last name. The cause for arrangement by draft board instead of county is due to the size of certain cities. For example, New York City had in excess of 180 boards, Chicago had over 80. As a result, we require a street address when searching for cards in most large cities.
The cards were later microfilmed by representatives of the Genealogical Society of Utah in the exact order they were originally arranged; each NARA regional facility has a copy of the microfilm for the states in the region that it serves. Any patron wishing to use microfilm will find the cards arranged exactly as they are in the box. The arrangement of the cards has never been changed.
M1509, World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917–1918
