October Meeting

October 9, 2004

Southern New England World War 1 Records

Thomas F. Howard, Speaker

1:30 p.m. John Curtis Free Library, Rt. 139, 534 Hanover Street, Hanover, MA (781) 826-2927

In 1917 and 1918, as it appeared apparent that the United States would be entering World War 1, every male, born between 1872 and 1900, whether a U.S. citizen or an alien, was required to register for the draft. This accounts for approximately 24 million men. While not all these men served, the registration cards may be just what you need to fill in some missing pieces. You may learn your ancestor's actual date of birth, status of citizenship, physical description, occupation and employer. The informational gem could be his actual town of birth!

Mr. Howard, a retired high school history teacher, has been very active in the historical and genealogical communities. For many years he was President of the East Granby Historical Society and is the current President of the East Granby Land Trust. He is President of the Connecticut Professional Genealogists Council and Coordinator of the Genealogist's Coalition of Connecticut. He is a former Director of NERGC and is a member of numerous genealogical societies. The talk he has prepared for SSGS on "Southern New England World War 1 Records," is a version of the very popular talk Mr. Howard presented at the NERGC conference in Nov. 2003, in Falmouth, MA. His talk will focus a little more on unique Massachusetts records.