WWI Civilian Draft Registrations
See: http://www.ancestry.com/ancestry/search/3172a.htm

Description: In 1917 and 1918, approximately 24 million men, (98% of men
present in America), born between 1873 and 1900 completed draft registration
cards. This civilian registration is often confused with induction into the
military; however, a minority of those civilian men who registered were
actually ever called up for military service. During these two years, three
registration days were held in which the registrants completed a registration
card that generally included, among other information: birth date, birth
location, father's birth location, and the address of next of kin. 

It should be noted that aliens were required to register but were not subject
to induction into the American military. Persons already in the military did
not register. Recent Italian emigrants wrote their last names first, resulting
in some cards being filed under first names. Cards of Hispanics may be filed
under their mother's maiden name surname if the registrant gave both parents'
surnames. Also, men who resided in British territories sometimes listed
themselves simply as British citizens without noting their origin in Canada,
Australia, Ireland, Jamaica, etc. Illiterate men were unable to spell their
names and birth location, so researchers should be quite flexible in searching
for the spelling of names of illiterate men. 

NOTE: This database represents approximately 8.5% of all counties nationwide,
with complete coverage of Alaska, Delaware, Idaho and Nevada, and a good
representation from California, Colorado, Florida, Kansas, Mississippi,
Nebraska, South Dakota, Texas and Utah.

Bibliography: Banks, Ray. World War I Civilian Draft Registrations, Salt Lake
City, UT, 1995

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