The Great War: Resources for Tracing Your Family History in World War I

Your family may have played a role in the Great War of 1914-1918. Discover how the war came about, what role your family, both soldier and civilian, played in the "War to End all Wars," and the resources available for researchers.

There are many resources available to help in your search for your family who may have participated in World War I. Beginning in 1917, there were various draft registrations for men born between 1871 and 1899. The World War I Draft Registration Cards are terrific resources. They are arranged by draft registration districts within a county and arranged by counties within a state. Men are listed alphabetically by name, with date of birth and place of birth, employer, nearest  relative, a physical description, and their signature. An easier way to search these records is to use Ancestry Library Edition at any Denver Public Library location. You can explore across this set of databases for family members who may have participated in the war.

To see who served in the war consult guides such as the Roster of Men and Women Who Served in the World War from Colorado, 1917-18 which was published by the Colorado Adjutant General of the Colorado National Guard in 1941. This book has been digitized and is available through Ancestry Library Edition and can be searched at any Denver Public Library.

Books that may assist in your research include:

American Women in World War I: They Also Served by Lettie Gavin,

Uncle We Are Ready!: Registering America's Men, 1917-1918: a Guide to Researching World War I Draft Registration Cards by John Newman

The Great War: a Guide to the Service Records of All the World's Fighting Men and Volunteers by Christina Schaefer.

Not every man or woman who served came home from the war. There are a couple of listings that the researcher may find useful, such as, Colorado World War I Casualties in Europe and Fallen Heroes of World War I From Denver, Colorado.

Remember, exploring your family history in the Western History and Genealogy Department can reveal their role in World War I.