The following is from: ROOTSWEB REVIEW: RootsWeb's Genealogy News Vol. 2, No. 34, 25 August 1999, Circulation: 352,504+ (c) 1999 RootsWeb.com, Inc. <http://www.rootsweb.com/> RootsWeb.com, Inc., P.O. Box 6798, Frazier Park, CA 93222-6798 Editors: Julia M. Case and Myra Vanderpool Gormley, CG <[email protected]> * * * WWI DRAFT REGISTRATION CARDS AT NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION, SOUTHEAST REGION (Date Issued: August 23, 1999) The following information is provided by the National Archives and Records Administration, Southeast Region, in response to recent postings on several list serves concerning World War One (WWI) Draft Registration cards maintained at our facility. Unfortunately, the original posting, and subsequent, altered postings provided incorrect information about these holdings and related reference procedures. To better serve the public and the research community, we provide the following information and guidance concerning the WWI Draft Registration cards: 1. 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, thereunder by county or draft board, and thereunder 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. 2. 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. 3. NARA, Southeast Region, has provided a request form for these records for a number of years. The forms can be ordered via e-mail ([email protected]), telephone (404-763-7383), or in writing (NARA, Southeast Region, 1557 St. Joseph Avenue, East Point, GA 30344). 4. At a minimum, the following information is required from the requestor for NARA staff to conduct a search for draft registration cards: o Full name of registrant o Complete home address at the time of registration (to include county) o Name of nearest relative 5. Additional information, if known, which can improve the thoroughness of a search includes: o Birth date o Birthplace o Occupation of registrant 6. In July, 1997 NARA established an updated fee schedule for services provided to the public. The minimum mail-order fee for photocopies for each WWI Draft card was increased from $6.00 to $10.00, a fee which includes both sides of the card. Patrons need not request that both sides of the card be copied, and patrons need not submit a self-addressed stamped envelope (SASE) with their request. Walk-in customers can make self-service photocopies of the original records for $0.10 per side. Please contact individual regions for their policies regarding microfilm copies. These fees are copying fees only; there is no charge for searches when a record is not located. The staff of the NARA, Southeast Region, remains committed to assisting our patrons in anyway possible, including the timely and accurate dissemination of information concerning our holdings and services. The WWI Draft Registration cards represent only one of many significant collections of historical records maintained by the Region that are invaluable for genealogical research. For additional information regarding our holdings and services, visit our home page at <http://www.nara.gov/regional/atlanta.html>. JAMES J. MCSWEENEY, Regional Administrator National Archives and Records Administration, Southeast Region * * * * * -----Original Message----- From: Jan Craven <[email protected]> To: [email protected] <[email protected]> Date: Wednesday, August 25, 1999 6:11 AM Subject: [LA-LGHS-L] [USGENWEB-SW] WW1 Draft Cards - Clarification & Update # 2 >>Resent-Date: Wed, 25 Aug 1999 05:18:19 -0700 (PDT) >>From: "Linda Haas Davenport" <[email protected]> >>Date: Wed, 25 Aug 1999 07:40:17 -0400 >>X-MSMail-Priority: Normal >>X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V4.71.1712.3 >>Subject: [USGENWEB-SW] WW1 Draft Cards - Clarification & Update # 2 >>Resent-Message-ID: <[email protected]> >>To: [email protected] >>Resent-From: [email protected] >>Reply-To: [email protected] >>X-Mailing-List: <[email protected]> archive/latest/251 >>X-Loop: [email protected] >>Resent-Sender: [email protected] >> >>Last week I sent out a notice about the WW1 Draft cards being at the GA NARA >>branch and that the cards are found in state / county / surname order. I >>also said the cost of copies was 50 cents. >> >>I got bombarded with messages saying FALSE, FALSE, UNTRUE. All ranging from >>you "have to have draft board, name, age, etc etc" to "Totally FALSE cost". >>"UNTRUE Post" and "You are Misleading People". Jeez what a mess !! Makes >>me almost wish I had never posted the message. >> >>So let me clarify things here. >> >>1st things 1st. I called the Archives yesterday and spoke with the manager >>of the textural department who is in charge of the WW1 registration / >>application cards. The first thing I asked was: What's the cost of ordering >>the cards via mail? He said the cost is $10.00 per card. Doesn't matter if >>you have 10 people all with the last surname in the same state/county they >>charge by the card. I asked why was I told the cost was 50 cents? After >>much discussion and tracking down the person I spoke with it turned out to >>be a large misunderstanding - the person knew I came to the archives all the >>time and thought I meant the cost to use the copier at the archives. >> >>So OK the cost is not 50 cents it's an outrageous $10.00. I have e-mailed >>one of the officers of the Friends of the Archives to see if they will be >>willing to do the searching and copying for less money. As soon as I get an >>answer I'll let everyone know. >> >>Now the 2nd thing. If you go to the NARA on-line site for GA and request >>the form to order WW1 Draft Cards you will receive a form that says you have >>to furnish all kinds of information. THIS IS A STANDARD NARA FORM TO ORDER >>CARDS FROM THE LDS FILM!!!!! >> >>If you are ordering a look-up from any NARA branch other than the East >>Pointe branch you must give this information because the copy will be made >>from the LDS microfilm which IS in state and then Draft Board order. It is >>not by state and then county. The NARA staff needs the information on the >>form to be able to find the card on the LDS film. >> >>HOWEVER - all you have to do is write a letter to the East Pointe branch and >>request a copy of - here we go - pay attention !!! ORIGINAL DRAFT >>CARD and give them the state, the county and the name and race of the >>individual you want. The only areas where this will not work is for the >>largest cities in the US such as New York, Chicago, LA, etc. then you have >>to have a street or the draft board. These cities have not been sorted into >>surname order yet. And ALL of the states are located at the GA NARA Branch - >>they have not been split and sent anywhere else. >> >>Now I hope that this helps straighten out the information that is flying >>fast and furious around the lists. >> >>If you forwarded my other messages somewhere will you please forward this >>one also? And when you forward this message please leave my name and e-mail >>address included. People need to write to me if they have questions not >>flood the lists with posts about "untruth" and "false information". It only >>causes confusion. >> >>Thanks a lot and hope I have helped clear up this mess. >> >>Linda Haas Davenport >>Home Page: http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~haas/ >>Marion Co AR: http://www.rootsweb.com/~armarion/ >>Washington Co NC, Haas & Hass e-mail list manager >> >> >> >> > > >==== LA-LGHS Mailing List ==== >LGHS: Serving Louisiana Genealogist since 1953. >To submit an article to be considered for publication in The Register, >contact David Howell at <[email protected]> >