Description
In 1917 and 1918, approximately 24 million men, (98% of men present in America), born between 1873 and 1900 completed draft registration cards. During these two years, three registration days were held in each district where the registrant completed the registration card. Information found on these cards generally included, among other information, birth date, birth location, father's birthplace, and the address of next of kin. This civilian registration is often confused with induction into the military; however, only a small percentage of these men were actually called up for military service. There were only about 4.8 million men actually served in the U.S. armed forces in WWI.

During World War I there were three registrations:
The first, on June 5, 1917, was for all men between the ages of 21 and 31. The second, on June 5, 1918, registered those who attained age 21 after June 5, 1917. (A supplemental registration was held on August 24, 1918 for those becoming 21 years old after June 5, 1918. This was included in the second registration). The third registration was held on September 12, 1918 for men aged 18 through 45.

At each of the three registrations, a different form was used, with a slight variation of questions asked. All three registrations include full name, home address, exact date of birth, age in years, occupation, name and address of employer, citizenship status, citizen of what country, race, eye color, hair color, height, build, city/county and state of the local draft board, date of registration, and signature of applicant.

At the first registration, the following additional information was recorded: exact birthplace, dependents, marital status, previous military service, and grounds for exemption. At the second registration, the following were also recorded: exact birthplace, nearest relative and address, and father's birthplace. At the third registration, for men aged 18-21 and 31-45 (born between September 13, 1873 and September 12, 1900), the name and address of nearest relative were also recorded. Although the 2nd and 3rd drafts ask for name and address of nearest relative, they don't specify what the relationship is. Note that the third registration did not request birthplace.

NOTE: This database represents a complete coverage of Alaska, Delaware, Florida, Idaho, Mississippi, and Nevada and a good representation from Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nebraska, New York City, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah and Vermont. Of Clouser interest is no coverage of Pennsylvnia.

Source Information

Ancestry.com

World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, M1509(opens in a new window)

Name, Birth Date, Ethnicity, Birth Place, City/County, State
CLAUSER, Sam, 19 Dec 1889, W, Promallo Austria, Oneida, ID
CLOUSER, Bruce, 30 Mar 1890, W, Elliottsburg PA, Seminole, FL
CLOUSER, Earl Mowbray, 2 Jul 1893, W, Marshallton DE, New Castle, DE
CLOUSER, Edgar Josiah, 5 Jan 1898, W, , Orange, FL
CLOUSER, Edward Harvey, 9 Oct 1894, W, Marshallton DE, New Castle, DE
CLOUSER, Elmer Charles, 12 Mar 1882, W, dad lives Wilkes-Barre PA, Wilmington# 1, DE
CLOUSER, George Husler, 11 Oct 1896, W, Wilmington DE, New Castle, DE
CLOUSER, George Husler, 11 Oct 1896, W, his dad b. Boyertown PA, New Castle, DE
CLOUSER, Harden Oliver, 21 Aug 1891, W, Newport PA, Beadle, SD
CLOUSER, Herbert Russell, 6 Dec 1897, W, , Kent, DE
CLOUSER, John Webb, 15 Aug 1881, W, works for Chicago IL firm, Butte, SD
CLOUSER, Reuben Augustus, 19 Aug 1873, W, , Wilmington# 2, DE
CLOUSER, Rupard Orville, 4 Oct 1890, W, Newport PA, Beadle, SD
CLOUSER, Wesley Ogle, 10 Jul 1897, W, Pennsylvania, Beadle, SD
CLOUSER, William A., 16 Mar 1888, W, Reading PA, Wilmington# 3, DE
CLOUSER, William Arthur, 8 Sep 1897, W, , Wilmington# 2, DE
KLAUSER, David, 25 Mar 1892, W, New Wimer Samara Russia, Lincoln, ID
KLAUSER, John, 18 Mar 1894, W, Nywyman Russia, Minidoka, ID

If you have additional Clouser men who registered for the Draft in WWI, please forward to clousergenealogy.