Minnesota, World War I Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in the Collection?
The collection consists of digital images of three collections related to World War I from the the Minnesota Historical Society for the years 1918 to 1941. The collections include service records, 1918-1920, card applications for soldiers' bonus,1919-1943 and bonus files, 1916-1943. It also includes the Gold Star Honor Roll, which lists Minnesota men and women who died as a result of war service, and records of resident aliens in Minnesota (primarily German immigrants) who were required to register during the war.

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The records usually include:
 * Name
 * Birth date and place
 * Age
 * Residence
 * Military service dates
 * Death date and place if they died while in the service
 * May include names of nearest family member

How Do I Search the 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 residence of your ancestor
 * The military division in which your ancestor served

View the Images
View images in this collection by visiting the 
 * 1) Select the Record
 * 2) Select the Record Type, Volume, and Year Range to view the images.

Look at each image comparing the information with what you already know about your ancestors to determine if the image relates to them. You may need to look at several images and compare the information about the individuals listed in those images to your ancestors to make this determination. 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.
 * Your ancestor may have used different names or variations of their name throughout their life.

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?

 * 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.)

Research Helps
The following articles will help you in your research for your family in the state of Minnesota.
 * US Military Basic Search Strategies
 * Minnesota Guided Research
 * Minnesota Record Finder
 * Research Tips and Strategies
 * Step-by-Step Research

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.