Michigan, Census of WWI Veterans with Card Index, 1917-1919 - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
This collection contains a census of World War I Veterans and a Card Index for years 1917-1919. This census was conducted in 1923 by the Daughters of the American Revolution in Michigan in conjunction with county War Preparedness Boards. "Census forms were mailed to the veterans's last known address. Some forms were not returned; some returned forms were filled in more completely than others." (Source: Michigan Genealogy: Sources & Resources, Second Edition by Carol McGinnis, pg. 83; published 2005, Genealogical Publishing Company, Inc., Baltimore.) The census documents contain, on printed forms, name of Veteran; serial number; address; place and date of birth; nationality; color; occupation before and after the war; marriage date; wife's name, birthplace and date; names of children and their birth dates; parents' names and addresses; first camp entered and date; rank, company, and regiment; transfers and promotions; battles engaged in; discharged date and reason, and additional information. The card index is arranged alphabetically by county, then alphabetically by name of the veteran and includes names of the soldiers' parents and addresses. Microfilm of original records at State Library and Archives of Lansing, Michigan.

What Can These Records Tell Me?
These records may contain the following information:


 * Name of Veteran
 * Serial #
 * Address
 * Date & place of birth
 * Nationality
 * Race
 * Occupation before & after war
 * Marriage date
 * Wife's name, birthplace and date
 * Children's names & birthdates
 * Parent's names & addresses

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:


 * The name of your ancestor
 * The birth date of your ancestor
 * The birth place of your ancestor
 * The division of the military in which your ancestor served

How Do I Analyze the Results?
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

What Do I Do Next?
When you have located your ancestor’s record, carefully evaluate each piece of information given. Save a copy of the image or transcribe the information. These pieces of information may give you new biographical details. Add this new information to your records of each family. You should also look for leads to other records about your ancestors.

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

 * Add any new information to your records
 * Use the name, place of residence and birth date to obtain their military file from the National Archives
 * Use the estimated age to calculate a birth date
 * Use the soldier's age and and residence to find his family in census, church, and land records
 * When looking for a person who had a common name, look at all the entries for the name before deciding which is correct
 * Remember that there may be more than one person in the records with the same name as your ancestor and that your ancestor may have used nicknames or different names at different times

I Can’t Find the Person I’m Looking For, What Now?

 * Look for variant spellings of the names. You should also look for alias names, nicknames and abbreviated names
 * Look for an index. Local genealogical and historical societies often have indexes to local records
 * Search the records of nearby localities (or military units, counties, parishes, etc.)
 * Note that the census was conducted in 1923. The veteran may have died or moved out of Michigan before that time, or neglected to return the form.

Research Helps
The following articles will help you in your research for your family in the state of Michigan.


 * US Military Basic Search Strategies
 * Beginning United States World War I Research
 * Michigan Guided Research
 * Research Tips and Strategies
 * Step-by-Step Research
 * Beginning Research in United States Military Records

Related Family History Library Holdings

 * Michigan county war records, 1917-1919 : census of men serving in U.S. forces
 * Army, Navy & Marine dead files, 1917-1919

Related FamilySearch Historical Record Collections

 * United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918
 * United States, Veterans Administration Master Index, 1917-1940
 * United States, World War I American Expeditionary Forces Deaths, 1917-1919

Citing This Collection
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.

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