The National Archives and Records Administration, Southeast Region Atlanta

It is a pleasure to introduce another "guest author." The following was written by newsletter reader A. G. Conlon. This article is copyright 2006 by A.G. Conlon and is used here with his permission.

A recent Atlanta business trip permitted time to pursue my genealogical addiction. I spent a wonderful morning within the National Archives and Records Administration, Southeast Regional Archives, Atlanta research rooms located in Morrow, GA. The Morrow Georgia facility is fairly new. The facility first opened its doors at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, April 1, 2005.

The staff at the regional branch was very courteous, knowledgeable and friendly. Additionally, I believe all of the National Archive Branch staff that I met are history majors. This was a real treat as I indulged myself in conversation with staff members, learning more about the holdings at the Archives Southeast Branch. During my discussions I learned that the Archives Branch in Atlanta is the sole repository of the original World War I draft registration cards. A quote from the NARA Southeast Branch Atlanta website is most instructive:

World War I: Original Draft Registration cards exist for nearly 24 million men, American Citizens or not, born between 1873 and 1900 and who registered for the draft in 1917 and 1918. The records are filed by state and draft board. The full name of the registrant and his location or address at the time of registration are needed to search the cards. Enemy aliens and those who had enlisted did not register. The records cover the entire United States.

I was aware of the city, county, and state for my World War I draft registration subject. Unfortunately, the person I was researching proved negative as he was on 100% disability by 1916. However, I will most definitely have to return when I have the information concerning my maternal family research. It is amazing that approximately 24 million draft registration cards are ALL maintained at the Atlanta facility.

Previously, my military records research was limited to my father's service record, maintained at the National Personnel Records Center, St. Louis, Missouri. Most family historians and genealogy researchers realize the National Archives maintain military records up to approximately World War I.

My current family research has not regressed to the Civil War era. However, I did have two names of Confederate ancestors I could research for friends. More importantly, this allowed me to quench my inherent addiction of all things historical. So, impelled by my need for a history "fix," I continued my first venture into Confederate Soldier research. I asked the research assistants at the facility how best to proceed. To my amazement, they produced a three-ring binder that contained the NARA publication, Military Service Records, A Select Catalog of National Archives Microfilm Publications. It was the same book I had acquired at an Orlando genealogy convention in 2003. However, his three-ring binder also included a guide that was annotated with the filing cabinet number and drawer number where each microfilm could be located.

I was fortunate to know the Confederate subject's name and state. If all you have is a name, then you must review the Confederate name index for each state (each has an index of the last name). Once you find the correct name, state, and unit name, you can proceed to the unit's records. The units microfilm records have the compiled service records for those personnel assigned. The individual microfilm rolls are numbers and are arranged alphabetically by last name. My first subject was a Confederate Soldier from Georgia and serving in a Georgia unit. Page 84, Table 3 depicts the microfilm series number for the index, M226, and for the compiled service records, M226. I can also use the consolidated index to compiled service records, M253, which starts on page 84. If you have a last name and an initial or initials, the index is the place to start. In my case it was a last name of Carter, which is Series M226, Roll 11. Now I can go through the microfilm and locate all the Carters that fit my search criteria. I found two such matches; first was for the Georgia 11th and the next was for the Georgia 15th. I located the appropriate roll number and copied a total of 20 pages concerning the target subject ($.30/page). I repeated the same procedure for another Confederate soldier belonging to a Mississippi unit with about 14 pages of data.

All in all, it was a very instructive visit. It is one thing to read any book concerning a research source; the actual experience is so much better. My suggestion: don't be shy, jump in. It's really rewarding, no matter what you find.

In closing, a vast majority of family historians have visited, at one time or another, the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) website, www.archives.gov. We have perused the numerous web pages of information on immigration records, land records, wills, other historical documents, and of course, military records. I would strongly suggest a visit to the website of the closest NARA Regional office. Therefore, a trip to Washington D.C. may not be necessary. Explore what may be very near to your doorstep.

Good luck and good hunting!

A.G. Conlon
Winter Park, FL

footnotes:

1. National Archives and Records Administration, Southeast Regional Archives Atlanta, 5780 Jonesboro Road, Morrow, Georgia 30260, Phone: 770-968-2100, Fax: 770-968-2547
2. Extracted 4/26/06 from http://www.archives.gov/southeast/finding-aids/genealogy.html#military
3. NPRC Mailing Address: National Personnel Records Center, Military Personnel Records, 9700 Page Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63132-5100; telephone - 314-801-0800.
4. Page 83 commences the Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served During the Civil War (Record Group 109).

Comments

[Paul K. Graham]

I hope Mr. Conlon also went next door to the Georgia Archives to look up his Georgia Civil War ancestors. All of the best records of Confederate soldiers other than the compiled service records are located with each state archive, since the Southern states had to take care of their veterans after the war. At the Georgia Archives you will find pension applications, county pension rolls, and records of people who served in non-combat government posts, among others. There are also many published indexes to Georgia Civil War soldiers at the Georgia Archives that are not among the National Archives books.

Having the National Archives, Southeast Region and the Georgia Archives side by side is a tremendous resource, especially for those with Georgia connections. (When I say side by side, I mean 100 feet from the front door of NARA to the front door of the GA Archives.) If you can make it, it is definitely worth putting yourself up in a local hotel for a week to explore both of these brand new facilities.

[A G Conlon]

Greetings Paul,

Thanks for the additional information concerning the Georgia Archives. Unfortunetly, due to time contraints, I was not able to visit the Georgia Archives that was next door. I did peek inside and it is a great facility. I'm hoping for another business trip to the area later this year. Driving back to Orlando after my visit I, of course, remembered numerous other items I wanted to research at both facilities.

thanks again for the "heads up" concerning the Georgia Archives.

AG Conlon
p.s. I did take a picture of the building though...

[Jack Novicki]

Hi All:

I enjoyed A. G. Conlon's article about the NARA Georgia facility. There is a way to access the original, in COLOR, WWI Draft Registration Cards without leaving your home.

For a fee of $10.00 they will search for the card you seek. They then will email you a JPEG file with a SHARP COLOR copy of both sides of the card. If you ever have searched the microfilm copies of the of the WWI cards you know how difficult they sometimes are to read. The only thing I could be sure of, on my father's card, was his signature.

Most of us think of the cards to be black ink on a white card but in reality they are a light yellow and every line, in my experience, is sharp and readable. With a little work in a graphic editor you can create an item of history that will look great framed on any wall.

I think it is best to do this by mail. If possible, send a copy of the microfilm copy of the card and a check for $10.00 for each card you request. Don't forget to include your email address. Check it twice just to make sure your email address is correct and also include your daytime phone number. If you have any questions give them a call.

To telephone the NARA, Georgia, please call at their toll free number:

1-866-272-6272
or
1-86-NARA-NARA

URL:(http://www.archives.gov/southeast/index.html)

To see a sample of the type of copy you will get, take a look at this URL and click on the box that says Harry:

URL:(http://www.archives.gov/southeast/exhibit/4.php)

Good luck, Jack Novicki

[Jack Novicki]

Hi again:

When you go to the "exhibit" page on the following URL be sure to also click on the photographs and scroll down to see the WWI draft card of the celebrity.

URL:(http://www.archives.gov/southeast/exhibit/4.php)

Regards, Jack

[Gail Rich Nestor]

I am lucky enough to live somewhat near both of these facilities and have found much information on my numerous Georgia Ancestors. One service I wish NARA would consider offering is an inter-office loan of its microfilm. I really would like to search through the War of 1812 and the Creek Indian War records, but am not close to DC. NARA is the only place in the US (unless they are on the FHL films) that has these records. It sure would be nice if Ancestry or some other group with film and offer them.