A genealogical newsletter recently gave addresses for obtaining passport applications of ancestors and I wrote hoping to receive data on a relative .HOWEVER, according to a form letter from the Natl Archives, this is the situation. Although the Dept of State has issued passports since 1789, prior to 1941, American citizens going abroad were not REQUIRED to have passports except for these periods: August 19, 1861-March 17, 1862 during the Civil War December 15, 1915 - formal termination of WWI in 1921. Since June 21, 1941, it has been unlawful for American citizens to travel abroad without a valid passport.