State Historical Society

This series contains military service questionnaires and photographs of Utah's World War I veterans. The survey was the result of a gubernatorial request to the State Council of Defense that a War History of the State be compiled; when the council disbanded, the Historical Society continued the project. The questionnaire form includes general information, induction information, overseas service data, promotions, casualties, and remarks. The forms also asked that a photograph be returned with the questionnaire. General information gives personal and family history. Induction information provide dates, branch of service, and training camp data. Overseas service information includes transport and service dates and place. Promotions information includes rank, military training, discharge date, and any citations. Casualties are listed: date, place, and cause of death.

This series contains military service questionnaires and photographs of Utah's World War I veterans compiled by the Utah State Historical Society shortly after the war. The forms were sent to veterans or their families to complete and return.

The survey was the result of a request by Governor Bamburger to the State Council of Defense that a War History of the State be compiled. By 1920 when the Council had disbanded, the project was continued by the Utah State Historical Society who hired Dr. Andrew L. Neff to write the history. By 1926 the production of an all encompassing work proved overwhelming, and it was learned that the federal government was compiling similar information to be filed with the state adjutant general. Therefore the project was abandoned as infeasible and a duplication of effort.

The form included general information, induction information, oversea service data, promotions, casualties, and remarks. General information gives the veteran's name; home address; camp or oversea address; birth date and place; race; parents' names; occupation before entering service; employer and employer's address; marital status, and if married, wife's name; and the number and names of children. Induction information gives date of induction; method of induction (selective service or volunteer); branch of service; name and number of company and regiment; division; commanding officer; if in the navy, the name of ship; other organizations the individual had belonged to; name of first and later training camps with the time spent in each; and remarks. Oversea Service lists date of transport overseas, place of oversea service, and remarks. The promotions section lists rank at entrance to service; previous military training; promotions with date of each; date of discharge, if applicable; citations for bravery, etc.; and remarks. Casualties lists date and place if killed in action; date, place, and disease if died of illness; date, place, and nature of wounds if wounded in action; date, place, and details if died of accident or other causes; and remarks.

At the end there was a place for the signature of the person completing the questionnaire. This was followed by a note which stated: "Send photograph. Record will be incomplete without photograph. Enclose interesting incidents, clippings, letters, and other material which should be made part of record. Don't neglect this opportunity to have your boy properly represented on the permanent records of Utah." Many of the questionnaires are accompanied by a photograph of the serviceman. A few were also accompanied by letters or newspaper clippings.

This material is present in two forms: 1) Microfilm 2) Boxed copies of original photographs and individually jacketed sections of microfilm. The original papers, except photos, were apparently discarded. The microfilm shows the questionnaire, the photograph, and any accompanying papers. The boxed copy contains the original photograph and individually jacketed portions of the microfilm as they pertain to a single individual. In rare cases, where only the photograph was present (ie. missing jacketed microfilm), it is usually accompanied by a form 724-1 A.G.O. This form is a 4x6 inch note card furnished to the states by the U.S. Adjutant General's Office. These cards similarly summarize the individual's service record.