Connecticut, World War II Draft Registration Cards - FamilySearch Historical Records

United States Connecticut

What is in the Collection?
The collection consists of draft registration cards of men who registered during World War II, with the exception of the fourth registration. Images are through the courtesy of Ancestry.

The draft registration cards are preprinted forms with information recorded on the front and back and is arranged alphabetically by surname. The collection is part of Record Group 147: Records of the Selective Service System and was acquired from the National Archives. General Information about These Records

After the United States entered World War II, a new Selective Service Act required that all men between the ages of 18 and 64 register for the draft. The fourth draft registration covered males ages 45 to 64. 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. Draft registration cards exist for 40 states and for Puerto Rico. For New York, cards exist only for the boroughs of New York City.

What Can This Collection Tell Me?
Draft registration cards usually contain the following details:
 * Serial number
 * Name
 * Residence and telephone number
 * Birth date
 * Birthplace (town or city, county, state or country)
 * Age
 * Mailing address
 * Citizenship
 * Employer's name and address
 * Name of business of employer
 * Name of person who will always know your permanent address
 * Physical description (race, height, weight, color of hair and eyes)

How Do I Search the Collection?
To begin your search it is helpful to know Search by Name by visiting the Collection Page: Fill in your ancestor’s name in the initial search page. This search will return a list of possible matches. Compare the information about those in the list to what you already know about your own ancestors to determine if this is the correct family or person. You may need to compare the information about more than one person to find your ancestor. View images in this collection by visiting the Browse Page: To search the collection you will need to follow this series of links: ⇒Select the "Browse" link in the initial search page ⇒Select the "Surname Range" category which takes you to the images. For tips about searching on-line collections, see the wiki article FamilySearch Search Tips and Tricks.
 * The name
 * Other identifying information such as the birth place, birth date or residence

What Do I Do Next?
When you have located your ancestor’s record, carefully evaluate each piece of information given. Download a copy of the record, or extract the genealogical information needed. Use the information listed to locate your ancestor's draft card. For details about draft cards see the wiki article United States, World War II Draft Registration Cards (FamilySearch Historical Records). When you have located your ancestor’s draft registration card, carefully evaluate each piece of information given. These pieces of information may give you new biographical details that can lead you to other records about your ancestors. Add this new information to your records of each family. This information will often lead you to other records. Keep in mind:
 * There may be more than one person in the records with the same name.
 * You may not be sure of your own ancestor’s name.

I Found Who I was Looking for, What Now?

 * Use the birth date or along with the residence or place of birth to locate a birth certificate and other records such as church, school, and land records.
 * The person to notify in case of emergency is usually a close relative such as a parent or spouse.
 * Use the birth date and birth place or residence to search for census records.
 * Compile the entries for other individuals who have the same surname. This is especially helpful in rural areas or if the surname is unusual.
 * Continue to search the records to identify children, siblings, parents, and other relatives who may have also belonged to the National Guard.
 * When looking for a person who had a common name, look at all the entries for the name before deciding which is correct.

I Can't Find Who 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 indexes and records of nearby locations.
 * Try alternative search methods such as only filling in the surname search box (or the given name search box) on the landing page leaving the other box empty and then click on search. This should return a list of everyone with that particular name. You could then browse the list for individuals that may be your ancestor.
 * Information on the cards was supplied by the individual but recorded by a registrar. While there was a chance of a recording error, each individual signed his card to attest that the information was correct.

Citing This Collection
The following citation refers to the original source of the information published in FamilySearch.org Historical Record collections. Sources include the author, custodian, publisher, and archive for the original records. Record Citation (or citation for the index entry): Image Citation: