Louisiana, First Registration Draft Cards, 1940-1945

What is in This Collection?

The collection consists of images of 4x6 draft registration cards (SSS–1 forms) for “Louisiana First Registration Draft Cards, 1940–1945.” The cards are part Record Group 147: Records of the Selective System, 1926-1971 NAID 2169763. This collection was originally located at the NARA SW Region in Fort Wort, Texas, and is currently located at the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis, Missouri. While the cards are part of a record group created between 1940 and 1945, they pertain to men born between February 17, 1897 and 1928. After the United States entered World War I, a 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 February 17, 1897 and 1928. This draft registration was intended to provide a complete inventory of manpower resources in the United States that could be utilized for national service. Information on the cards was supplied by the individual, and recorded by a registrar. Additional records and/or images may be added to this collection in the future.

Related National Archives Collections

• Selective Service Louisiana State Headquarters Administrative History Note
• First Registration Classification Lists, 19401-945 NAID 22173101
• Appeals of Classifications Sent to State Appeal Boards from Local Boards, 1940-1947 NAID 5034133
• Appeals Received by State Headquarters for Review, 1940-1947 NAID 5035240
• Alien Registration Forms, 1940–1946 NAID 576614

World War II Registration Dates

• First Registration October 16, 1940: males ages 21 to 35 "within the continental United States"
• Second Registration July 1, 1941: males "who had reached 21 sine the first registration"
• Third Registration February 16, 1942: between the ages of 20 and 45 "who had not previously registered"
• Fourth Registration April 27, 1942: between the ages of 45 and 65 "not eligible for military service" This registration is not included in this collection.
• Fifth Registration June 30, 1942: between the ages of 18 and 20
• Sixth Registration December 10-31, 1942: "those who reached the age of 18 after November 12, 1942"
• Additional Registration between November 16 and December 31, 1943: "citizens living abroad between the ages of 18 and 45"

To Browse This Collection

What Can These Records Tell Me?

Information on the registration cards may include:

Collection Content

Sample Image

• 

  First Registration Draft Card