Mam-ma's Southern Family

The World War I draft registration cards are helpful in many ways. The front of the card gives his full name, birthdate and age, address, occupation, employer, place of occupation, and name and address of the nearest relative. At the bottom is his signature. There were three different registrations and these cards have slightly different questions. [1] The back of the card listed a description: height, build, color of eyes, and color of hair. Also included were any distinguishing marks or scars. The third registration card asked if there were obvious disability to be physically disqualified. These cards are a great way to get a picture of a family member, especially if you do not have any photographs. For example. William Carlton “Carl” Lancaster, my maternal 2x-great-grandfather, registered for the draft in the third registration because this registration on 12 September 1918 captured men between 18 through 45 and Carl was 45. He was a farmer and his wife, Martha Jane, was his nearest...