06 May 2008
I always thought they were Short
It seemed to me that most of my branch of the Trautvetter clan were not very tall. It appears now that I was mistaken. In looking at the Illinois "old men's draft" cards available on FamilySearch Labs, I found my great-grandfather's brother, Henry Trautvetter.The first image here is the front of the card, providing information on his name, place of birth, and employer.
The back side of his card indicates he was 6 foot 4 inches tall---a height I was not expecting. I didn't think any older members of this family were that tall. And his weight was only 140
pounds. Thinking there might be an error and that he was actually 5 foot 4 inches tall, I decided to view his World War I draft card.
pounds. Thinking there might be an error and that he was actually 5 foot 4 inches tall, I decided to view his World War I draft card.Sure enough, that card, while not providing a specific height, indicates he was "tall." The image at the bottom of this post is Uncle Henry's World War I draft card. It is a little difficult to see, but his height is marked in the upper left hand corner of the back of the card (right half of the image) as being tall. So the entry on the World War 2 draft card likely is not an error.
I won't comment on the fact that he only weighed 140 pounds....
Henry is a brother to George Adolph Trautvetter (1869-1934), my great-grandfather.
Labels: draft, trautvetter
12 February 2008
Family Search Labs adds some WW2 draft cards
Family Search Record Search has added some of the WW2 draft cards for the "Old Men's Draft" for those men born between 28 April 1877 and before 16 February 1897.
At the time of this writing, the project is 29% complete, including the states of:
- Delaware
- Illinois
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- New Hampshire
- Pennsylvania
- Puerto Rico
- Rhode Island
- West Virginia
Cards are arranged pretty much alphabetically by state and users have to browse these images--at present there is no "click and get it right away" index. However, this still is an excellent set of records to have available at no cost.
The sample image is from Peter Verikios, my wife's step-grandfather. I've got a whole bunch more to find in the Illinios set of data. I had searched these before, but time never allowed me to search for all the cards I really wanted.
07 September 2007
World War II Draft Registrion from Selective Service
At long last, I received a copy of my maternal grandfather's World War Two Draft Card received from the Selective Service Administration. In addition to his card, I also requested and received his classification record, a summary of which I'll post later. The back of his card provided his height and weight and other physical characteristics.
This is the earliest signature I have for Granddad and interestinly enough it pretty much looks the same here as it did 60 years later. I can't say the same for mine.
10 May 2007
Hindering the World War I Draft-One man at a Time
A neat little find 
on Footnote.com today.
Running a house of "ill fame" was enough in Florida to get you arrested for Violating the Selective Service act in Florida in 1918 as this image shows. Josephine Tinsley alias Josephine Evans was arrested on Key West for running her enterprise within five miles of the Naval Station (probably close enough to walk....how convenient). A neat little commentary on history. I didn't locate this intentionally, it came up when I performed a search on the name Tinsley. Fortunately none of my Tinsley family were ever in Florida (grin).
Note: This image has been reduced to fit on the page---actual images from footnote are much nicer. In a future post, we'll put one up in that fashion.
The online image comes from Footnote.com
and only part of it is reproduced here.
Source information is located below.
Publication Number: M1085
Publication Title: Investigative Case Files of the Bureau of Investigation 1908-1922
Publisher: NARASeries: Old German Files, 1909-21
Case Number: 153114
Case Title: Violation Section 13 of Selective-draft Act
on Footnote.com today.Running a house of "ill fame" was enough in Florida to get you arrested for Violating the Selective Service act in Florida in 1918 as this image shows. Josephine Tinsley alias Josephine Evans was arrested on Key West for running her enterprise within five miles of the Naval Station (probably close enough to walk....how convenient). A neat little commentary on history. I didn't locate this intentionally, it came up when I performed a search on the name Tinsley. Fortunately none of my Tinsley family were ever in Florida (grin).
Note: This image has been reduced to fit on the page---actual images from footnote are much nicer. In a future post, we'll put one up in that fashion.
The online image comes from Footnote.com
Source information is located below.
Publication Number: M1085
Publication Title: Investigative Case Files of the Bureau of Investigation 1908-1922
Publisher: NARASeries: Old German Files, 1909-21
Case Number: 153114
Case Title: Violation Section 13 of Selective-draft Act
27 March 2007
Selective Service Classifications
My Grandfather Neill's WW2 Selective Service Classification Record indicates he was classified as a IIB, a IIIA, and a IVA. Selective Service sent me a list of classifications, but I also found them online.
The IIB meant deferred in war production.
The IIIA meant deferred for dependency reasons (my grandmother and their two children).
The IVA meant deferred by reason of age.
Nothing shocking, but interesting nonetheless.
The IIB meant deferred in war production.
The IIIA meant deferred for dependency reasons (my grandmother and their two children).
The IVA meant deferred by reason of age.
Nothing shocking, but interesting nonetheless.
Labels: draft
20 March 2007
Wig Maker, Wig Maker, Make me a Wig
His name is now associated with a company, but not one that makes wigs.
And if any makeup was spilled on his card, I didn't see it.
Max Factor indicates he is a wigmaker on his World War I Draft Card, as shown in the image included in this post. The founder of the cosmetics firm was a Russian native who was living in California at the time of the registration for the World War I Draft.
This card comes from the World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 database at Ancestry.com where you can search for your own relatives who might have registered---who knows what their occupation might have been?
Cole Porter-World War I Draft Card
Not everyone listed Carnegie Hall as their employer on their World War I Draft Card, but 25 year old Cole Porter did. The Indiana native is living in New York at the time of the registration.This card comes from the World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 database at Ancestry.com where you can search for your own relatives who might have registered.
12 March 2007
Shoeless Joe Jackson Draft Card-WW I
Draft cards and census records can provide unique insight into the personal lives of individuals. The draft card of baseball great "Shoeless" Joe Jackson indicates he supported his wife and a younger sister as shown in the image. The complete card indicates he is a professional baseball player. This card comes from the World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 database at Ancestry.com where you can search for your own relatives who might have registered.
11 March 2007
Draft Card--Robert Frost
The World War I Draft Card for poet Robert Frost has one of the most legible signatures I have seen. He lived in New Hampshire, but was a professor at Amherst College in Massachusetts. If memory serves Frost was actually born in California but moved to New England at a young age.
Search World War I Draft Cards at Ancestry.com--maybe your ancestor had a legible signature as well.
World War I Draft Card--E B White
The World War I Draft Card for E B White contains his complete name of actual name of Elwyn Brooke White. His name is difficult to read, but if you know what it is supposed to be, it certainly makes it easier---just like with a lot of our on relatives' records.
This card comes from the World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 database where you can search for your family member to see how he signed his name on his draft card.
01 March 2007
World War I Draft Card--Norman Rockwell
I'm not certain if it is how he signed his paintings or not, but this is how artist Norman Rockwell signed his World War I Draft registration card. He listed his occupation as freelance artist. This card comes from the World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 database at Ancestry.com. The 23 year old was living in New Rochelle, New York at the time he registered. Search the World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 for your own family member.
28 February 2007
e e was really e e
Ever wonder what e e cummings real name was? Well before he was e e cummings, he was Edward E Cummings. And even if you are into unique ways of writing your name, the draft board is pretty standardized. His signature is shown here as it appears on his World War I Draft Registration Card.
Search the World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 database at Ancestry.com for your ancestors--who probably left it to the census taker to get creative with how their name was written...
Just Making a Little Pot, Sir--no Beer Here
The World War One Draft Board found this well-known American employed as a chemical engineer for a pottery. Of course 1918 was Prohibition and we can't have any beermaking going on, now can we? This well-known member of a brewing family is making pots until the heat dies down and Prohibition is repealed. He's 34 years old at the time of the draft, but during Prohibition, age was not a factor.
Search the World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 database at Ancestry.com for your ancestors--you'll have to use other sources to determine how they felt about Prohibition...
27 February 2007
World War I Draft Card--Ty Cobb
It might not look like Tyrus R. Cobb, but that is what it is meant to be. The 30 year old baseball player was a father of three and was playing for Detroit (that's his employer) at the time of his registration. He listed his address as 2425 Williams, Augusta, Georgia.
This card comes from the World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 database--where you might also be able to find your non-famous relatives.
World War I Draft Card--Casey Stengel
Ball Player for the Brooklyn Base Ball Club is Casey Stengel's occupation when registering for the World War I Draft. The 26 year old was born in Kansas City, where he registered.
His card comes from the World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 database at Ancestry.com.
World War I Draft Card-John D. Rockefeller
His signature is somewhat difficult to read, but it is his handwriting. The complete card shows a residential address on West 54th Street in New York City. Like other draft cards it is somewhat difficult to read, but not impossible.
This card comes from the World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 database where you can search for your less famous relatives.
21 February 2007
Just a little difficult to read
I'm not certain if it qualifies as difficult to read, but this signature comes from the World War I Draft Card of a member of a well-known family. The complete card can be seen here. This card comes from the World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 database at Ancestry.com. Fortunately the registrar wrote the name more legibly than this signature.
20 February 2007
World War I Draft Card--Duke Ellington
I realized we had a "bad image" for Duke Ellington's World War I draft card, so we have re-uploaded it to our site. The 19 year old government messenger is living in Washington, DC and listed his mother as his next of kin.
The World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 are one of the databases at Ancestry.com
18 February 2007
World War I Draft Card--Groucho Marx
The World War I Draft Registration found Groucho Marx living in Chicago, Illinois under his actual name of Julius Marx. He is listed as an actor, but his card is difficult to read. This card comes from the World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 database at Ancestry.com. I didn't know his middle name was Henry ;-)
World War I Draft Card--Irving Berlin
Irving Berlin's World War I Draft Card lists him as living at 30 West 70th Street in New York and self-employed as a composer. The 29 year old indicates a birth place of Mogilov, Russia. Those wishing to see the complete card can do so here. This card is a part of the World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 at Ancestry.com.
Labels: draft
16 February 2007
World War I Draft Card--Louis Armstrong
The handwriting of 18 year old musician Louis Armstrong is easily read on his World War I Draft Registration Card. The future jazz great was still living in Louisiana with his mother who is listed as his nearest relative on this draft card. This card is part of the World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 database at Ancestry.com.
World War I Draft Card--Harry Houdini
Harry Houdini's World War I Draft Registration Card indicates his middle name was "Handcuff." Regardless of whether or not that is true, it does make for an interesting card. Houdini's actual card includes his signature and indicates that he had a weak left hand. The World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 are a part of Ancestry.com's genealogy databases. Houdini's card can be viewed on our site.
12 February 2007
Al Capone World War 1 Draft Card
To the right is the signature of the infamous Al Capone from his World War 1 Draft Registration Card. His occupation is listed as a paper cutter and he lists his mother Theresa as his nearest relative. At the time he was 5 foot 7 inches tall and had no distinguishing marks. An image of the entire card can be viewed here.
05 February 2007
Draft Cards at Family History Library
We've been posting information regarding draft cards and I forgot that we have a page with links to those cards that are available on microfilm at the Family History Library.
http://www.rootdig.com/draft/lds_draft.html
http://www.rootdig.com/draft/lds_draft.html
Labels: draft
World War Two Draft Registrations
WW2 Draft Cards are best looked at in two categories: OLD MEN's DRAFT and TRADITIONAL AGE DRAFT REGISTRANTS
OLD MEN's DRAFT (born between 1877-1897) (card from Henry Mortier is a sample)
Ancestry.com members can search some of the Old Men's Draft cards from WW2 in the military databases at Ancestry.com. This database does not currently contain all the cards from this registration.
Currently this database currently contains draft cards for the following states:
Arkansas
Connecticut
Delaware
Indiana
Maryland
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New York
Pennsylvania
Puerto Rico
Rhode Island
Vermont
Virginia
West Virginia
Arkansas
Connecticut
Delaware
Indiana
Maryland
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New York
Pennsylvania
Puerto Rico
Rhode Island
Vermont
Virginia
West Virginia
Here are some more samples of WW2 draft cards from the Old Men's Draft.
TRADITIONAL AGE WW2 Draft (born between 1897 and 1921)
If the guy is deceased, you can obtain his card from Selective Service if you can prove he is dead. Information on how to do this can be found in an article on our site. Sample card from this registration is below.
Labels: draft
