Series 2793

Division of Archives and Records Service


World War I service records, 1917-1919.

View history of records' creator.

Schedule Description

This series consists of statements of service for military personnel serving in the marines and the army during World War I. The information was gathered originally by the federal government. At the time of their collection, authorization was sometimes granted to use the forms to adjudicate claims involving states and to be used by patriotic or philanthropic societies. The forms contain some variations; however, the following information is typical: name, service number, race, residence, type of entry (i.e. enlisted or inducted), place and date of entry, place and date of birth, organizations served in, assignments, transfers, grades and dates of appointment, engagements, injuries, overseas service, type of discharge,
departure from service, and a section for remarks. The cards were sent to the Utah Adjutant General sometime after they were compiled and were transferred to the Military Records Section of the Utah State Historical Society upon its creation in 1957.

Scope and Content

This series consists of statements of service for military personnel serving in the marines and the army during World War I; service in the navy is not included. The information was gathered originally as an historical record and to compile statistical data. At the time of their collection, authorization was sometimes granted to use the forms to to adjudicate claims involving states and to be used by patriotic or philanthropic societies, although the intention was not to make the data public or to allow it to be used as a basis for making any claim against the federal government. Their release to the the Utah State Historical Society by the State Adjutant General's Office in 1957 supported the effort of the new Military Records Section of the society to collect and make available military service data about all Utahans who had ever served in the federal armed forces.
The forms contain some variations; however, the following information is typical: name, service number, race, residence, type of entry (ie. enlisted/inducted), place and date of entry, place and date of birth, organizations served in, assignments, transfers, grades and dates of appointment, engagements, injuries, overseas service, type of discharge, departure from service, and a section for remarks.
Although few in number, other documents are also included. Occurring most frequently is a form which is self explanatory by its title: Individual Record of Decorations and Citations. There is also limited correspondence concerning individual soldiers which originated from the Adjutant General's Office of the War Department; separate forms with burial information; and forms appointing soldiers as emergency officers.

Notes

Microfilming took place in 1973, after which the cardes were interfiled in the MILITARY SERVICE CARDS series. Archival processing was completed during 1990.