CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS : WORLD WAR II SELECTIVE SERVICE FILES CAN INCLUDE DETAILS OF THE OBJECTION

The military records for those who registered and served, or did not, are open to the GENERAL PUBLIC through the National Archives of the United States (NARA) since it has been more than 62 years since World War II.  The records are not all digitalized or in databases and so we often must ask an archivist for help.

NARA RECORDS OF THE SELECTIVE SERVICE - OBJECTORS

This is the link to the page with very much information.  To focus, this excerpt:

147.2.2 Records of the Selective Service System, 1940-47 (This is a record group)

Textual Records: Central correspondence, 1940-47. Correspondence concerning protests over various aspects of the draft, 1940-44. Correspondence relating to men released from active duty, 1941; and to appointments in the Selective Service system, 1940-47. Microfilm copies of the lotteries held in 1940, 1941, and 1942 to determine registrant classification order, 1940-42 (11 rolls). Issuances of national headquarters, state directors, and local boards, 1940-47. Microfilm copy of Methods For Preservation of Selective Service Records, vols. 1-5, 1944-45 (2 rolls). Case files on conscientious objectors, 1940-47, with indexes (including 4 rolls of microfilm). Microfilm copy of case files, including "cover sheets" on conscientious objectors who served in work camps, 1941-45 (282 rolls), with index (2 rolls). Locator cards for conscientious objectors sent to camps, 1941-47 (including 9 rolls of microfilm). Microfilm copy of case files on registrants appealing to the President, 1941-47 (226 rolls), with index (12 rolls of microfilm). Microfilm copy of the docket book of the Presidential Appeal Board, 1941-47 (5 rolls). Microfilm copy of records of the President's Amnesty Board, 1941-47 (4 rolls). Retained sample of appeal and local board records, 1940- 47, for Utah Appeal Board and for local boards in the Bronx, NY; Franklin City, MA; Holmes County, MS; and Pima County, AZ.

Note that "Local boards" comment.  It is always possible that a Local Board presided in the case of your ancestor.

Camps are were some COs performed service state-side in supportive, non-combat roles. They were called Civilian Public Service Camps.

My suggestion is to first get the draft registration, then find out if the person WAS drafted and if they served. If they were successful in their Objection, you will likely need to give the archivist all the information you have from those earlier documents.

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CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS : NATIONAL ARCHIVES OF THE UNITED STATES : ARCHIVES THAT HOLD THE RECORDS : WORLD WAR II OBJECTORS ACCESS

Are you a child or spouse of a veteran? A "Next-of-Kin" is defined this way: Veterans and Next-of-Kin of deceased veterans have the same access rights to the record. The next-of-kin is defined as any of the following: the un-remarried widow or widower, son, daughter, father, mother, brother, or sister of the deceased veteran. Next-of-kin must provide proof of the death of the veteran, such as a copy of the death certificate, a letter from the funeral home, or a published obituary...

The GENERAL PUBLIC must respect a 62 year privacy law on military records. 

(U.S. involvement in Vietnam spanned from the early 1950's to 1973,escalating significantly from advisors to combat troops in July 1965. The Selective Service military draft was used to induct over 1.8 million men. A birth-date lottery began in December 1969. (The 62 years is for the DISCHARGE DATE so if the person was discharged in 1965 the records should be public next year.)

THE DETAILS FOR OBTAINING A MILITARY RECORD ARE HERE : NARA PERSONNEL RECORDS OF THE U.S. MILITARY  This is a start.  I have never personally found a World War II Draft Registration in which a CO was noted, but I hear some do.

According to NARA the primary place to find CO information for your ancestor is:

The National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) in Saint Louis, Missouri, which holds the official military personnel files (OMPF's) for those who served including the conscientious objectors who did serve but in non-combatant roles.

NARA NATIONAL PERSONNEL RECORDS CENTER

The collection you will likely be directed to or have an archivist at NARA look into for you is called: Record Group 147, which includes documentation on Conscientious Objectors (COs). 

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"CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTOR" ? WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU MUST REGISTER FOR THE SELECTIVE SERVICE DRAFT - UNITED STATES - AND ARE NOT ONE TO FIGHT?

I believe one can be patriotic but not agree with whatever the prevailing doings of the President or the House or the Senate or any politician that has influence on the citizens lives. I've done the genealogy for a family that had members on both sides of the Civil War.  I can just imagine the arguments at those dining tables.  So it has been, so it is - not everyone is for a War or on the same side of a question.

Conscientious Objectors are not officially "Conscientious Objectors" unless they state that WHEN THEY ARE ACTUALLY CALLED TO SERVE.  One registers and maybe there will be a draft, maybe there won't be, and maybe that person won't be called upon. Therefore, if you seek an ancestor's draft registration, their CO status will not be on those forms, which are often simple forms. A "CO" must prove they have a deep seated conviction, belonging to a religious organization that is anti-war is the primary way to prove this, such as being a member of the Jehovah Witnesses, and it can mean that the person must still serve, but not in "combat." (Other military records may have the information you seek.)

THE NUMBERS OF MEN/MALES WHO REGISTER ARE DEFINIING THEMSELVES AS "CO." HAS SOARED, some say 1000%. 

WOMEN/FEMALES STILL ARE NOT REQUIRED TO REGISTER.

I'm linking to a recommended website: If you or your loved-one wants to know "what happens next" if the United States continues or furthers its current participations and/or actions using the military, and people are once again actually drafted, this is what you want to read:

 GI RIGHTS HOTLINE MILITARY CONSCIENCIOUS OBJECTORS Wow!  Lots of information here!

(See the next post to find out where to get the military records for CO's

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NEW AUTOMATIC "SELECTIVE SERVICE" DRAFT REGISTRATION : OLD DRAFT REGISTRATIONS ARE VALUABLE GENEALOGY LINKS

CNBC New Draft Laws Starting Dec 2026

Oh, this change brings up so much history -

Not registering in the first place was one of the ways that some chose to evade being involved in war. Unpopular wars, wars not defined as wars or not officially declared, religious membership and non-violent lifestyles, and yes, the question of women's participation, all come to mind. There was no official involuntary service in the Revolutionary War because there was not yet a government of the United States and militia were voluntary and as for the Civil War, that's controversial too.

LETS LOOK AT THE HISTORY OF REGISTERING FOR THE MILITARY DRAFT (rather than voluntarily signing up for participation) IN THE UNITED STATES.

THERE WAS NO "SELECTIVE SERVICE" - DRAFT UNTIL WORLD WAR I

The SELECTIVE SERVICE ACT WAS passed on May 18, 1917, authorized the federal government of the United States of America to draft men for military service after voluntary enlistments for World War I proved insufficient, ultimately registering millions of American men between the ages of 18 and 45 in three waves.

REGISTRATION DID NOT and DOES NOT MEAN THE PERSON WILL BE DRAFTED TO SERVE.

The reason the Civil War enrollment is controversial is that this seems to apply to those to serve the Union, which won the war. An excerpt regarding the Civil War: No organized selection process. Those selected could pay cash in lieu of service, or hire substitutes. Induction was accomplished by district enrollment boards.

SELECTIVE SERVICE TIME LINE US GOV

I consider the most valuable of these draft registrations for most Americans researching at this point, is the World War I draft registration.  Many "industrial age" immigrants who arrived in the late 1800's and early 1900's registered for this draft, WHICH DID NOT REQUIRE A MAN BE A CITIZEN OF THE UNITED STATES. Often the man registering will state the date they entered the United States and where they were born, revealing the name of the town where you can look for church records.

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SUNNY DAY

 

FIRE CRACKERS!?

 

250th ANNIVERSARY OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE - UNITED STATES HISTORY

The United States will celebrate its 250th anniversary on July 4, 2026, marking the semiquincentennial of the Declaration of Independence.

Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery

James Barton Longacre (11 Aug 1794)

Etching and stipple and line engraving on paper.

Public Domain

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A GOOD STORY

 

HISTORICAL NEWSPAPERS ON LINE - CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY LONG BEACH : ALWAYS CHECK COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY COLLECTIONS

Many colleges and universities have collections that are useful for genealogy research and family history writing.  Some still have microfiche and microfilm!  

It's always a good idea to check your local colleges and universities where you may be able to use what they have without having a library card, so long do so within the library. Others have cards for alumni or offer rights and responsibilities to the paying public.

But you may be surprised to find that the collections may not just be local.  And you can call or visit to find out how to access as a guest. Besides holding many newspapers in microfilm, there's also digitalized collections,

Here is an example, from the California State University at Long Beach.

CSULIB - LIBRARY GUIDE - HISTORICAL NEWSPAPERS ON LINE

Sampling:

California Digital Newspaper Collection 1846-1922
A collection of free full text searchable historic newspapers, including these:
California Star 1847-1848
Daily Alta California 1849-1891
Imperial Valley News 1901-1911
Los Angeles Herald 1873-1910
Los Angeles Star 1851-1854
Marin Journal (San Rafael) 1861-1920
Pacific Rural Press (SF) 1871-1922
Sacramento Daily Union 1851-1898
San Francisco Call 1890-1913
Sausalito News 1885-1922

More sampling:
Chung Sai Yat Po (San Francisco)  coming from UC - example of collaboration between Cal States and UC's.
Chinese language newspaper, 1900-1904

Daily Forty-Niner Online Archive, 1949 to Date
Online archive of the campus newspaper from 1994-2006.

El Clamor Publico
A early Los Angeles Spanish language newspaper, with some English articles, published from 1855 - 1859.

Daily 49er (Current issues). Student CSULB Newspaper.

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FATHERS DAY

 

A 'mid-century' loving family gifting dad a watch...

Remember all those who nurtured you with love...

SPEAKING OF MONEY : DID YOU EVER TAKE A TOUR OF A UNITED STATES MINT? : ANNIVERSARY 250 YEARS : FIVE NEW QUARTERS

Yes there are tours and there are also offers such as the quarters minted for the 250th anniversary of this country.  UNITED STATES MINT GOVERNMENT SITE

Denver, CO
Philadelphia, PA
Washington, DC
San Francisco, CA
West Point, NY
Fort Knox, KY

Now, private businesses are offering $2 bills that are color enhanced (I never heard of such a thing being legal but it must be), but officially, the United States mint has created five new quarters designed to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

Semiquincentennial Quarters 2026 :  Buy a bag and distribute them among family and friends?

****

Deep in my memory is a tour of the mint in Washington DC when I was about ten years old. I was in awe of the sheets of paper money that were so messed up that they were in a bin, likely on their way to a big paper shredder.

FATHERLOSS by NEIL CHETHIK : AN EXCELLENT BOOK ABOUT GRIEVING THE DEATH OF YOUR FATHER

I picked up this book, published years ago, at a book sale. It's an excellent book!  It starts with a 'gypsy' proverb : You have to dig deep to bury your father. While this book is written for sons, I think daughters can benefit too. It's a book of empathy and understanding.

  

This book was based on a national survey of over 300 men back in the day, along with in-depth interviews of many others. Some famous men are examples used to bring up the different ways that men grieve or process their relationship and feelings - or lack of - for their fathers. So I'll name drop:

John F. Kennedy Jr.

Michael Jordan

Dylan Thomas

John Quincy Adams

Mahatma Gandhi

Ernest Hemingway ....

Read about men's style of mourning and how one's relationship with dad is so impactful.

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QUESTIONS FROM READERS of ANCESTRY WORSHIP - GENEALOGY

You can use COMMENTS to ask me for advice on a problem you're facing as you research. I don't respond immediately but will try to fit in a post on the subject whenever possible. The Question and Answer will appear on this blog, ANCESTRY WORSHIP - Genealogy Blogspot, and hopefully be helpful to you as well as other researchers.

I read all COMMENTS before publishing them and WILL NOT PUBLISH your personal information or your exact comment to me. I may also change names you provide for purposes of teaching and to maintain your privacy. 

This seems to have worked well so far!

Christine

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USING NEW MEXICO AS AN EXAMPLE : THE HISTORIC STATE : NATIVE AMERICANS - SPAIN - MEXICO - U.S. TERRITORY : STATE CENSUS ADVENTURE #6

 I found New Mexico confusing, so I hope to unconfuse you... !!!

What if your ancestor lived in what was a territory rather than a state?

As most of my readers know, the United States began on the Atlantic coast,  and then there was "expansion."

When Lewis and Clark began their expedition to find out what was West of the Alleghenies in May 1804, specifically to explore the Louisiana Territory, Purchased in 1803, they officially began in Missouri and the Missouri River, but actually, to get to the Missouri River they left what is the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area, using the Ohio River to get to that official starting point.  (Pittsburgh was almost the Wild Wild West!) Louisiana Territory was previously owned by France, but what of Spanish America and Mexican America? 

The twists and turns of history affected what's available as does who conducted the census. The acquisition of territory came first, then statehood.  What country owned that land? Who took the census? Was it Federal, State, Territorial, special?

First, research the history of the state. Spain first claimed land in what became New Mexico.  Then Mexico did. Spain did a census in 1790. Mexico did in1823 and then 1845.

In 1850, New Mexico became a Territory of the United States. From that point on the territory was included in what we call the U.S. Federal Census, though it was not a state. Statehood for New Mexico as a state of the United States of America - "joined the Union" was 1912. Which means that we are looking for resources from various countries.

Take a look at this list from NEW MEXICO STATE LIBRARY - GUIDE TO CENSUS (Genealogy) THERE WERE MANY CENSUS including some specific to Native Americans, it's a wonder...

Excerpt: Spanish and Mexican Census Records :

1845, 1830, 1827, 1826, 1823, 1822, 1816, 1802, 1790, and 1750-- Mexican and Spanish colonial censuses exist. The colonial censuses include the wife's maiden name. These censuses are incomplete and do not include all families in New Mexico.***

Though the United States first started taking a national (I call that a FEDERAL) census in 1790 (OF STATES THAT WERE ACTUALLY STATES), New Mexico did not appear until the 1850 census (7th). The New Mexico State Library has microfilm of the dicennial Federal Census of New Mexico for the years: 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, and then the New Mexico Territory Census of 1885!

*** No census has ever been totally complete, inclusive of every resident, for various reasons.  In New Mexico's example we should consider California, another state that was claimed by Spain and then Mexico. When populations were sparse or a great deal of travel was necessary, lots of people who lived there were not counted.

In the case of French America or Spanish America, Church records can be especially helpful.

And a reminder : STATE LIBRARIES are often separate of STATE ARCHIVES.

Whew!

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The TAG for this series is  "STATE CENSUS ADVENTURE"

MEMORIAL DAY

In 1890 every state in the United States (then in the Union) adopted MEMORIAL DAY to honor those who lost their lives in the service of the United States Military.  Since then service members may have their service noted on their tombstone or have markers placed by local veterans' groups.

Here is the link to the VA where a description of headstones, markers, and medallions, is given. National Cemetery Administration Headstones, Markers, and Medallions

Read about the no-cost benefits for veterans.

USING OKLAHOMA AS AN EXAMPLE : THE OKLAHOMA HISTORICAL SOCIETY TIPS US OFF! AND PROVIDES SEARCHABLE DATABASES

Oklahoma state census - 1890***, 1907.


No wonder there was a hit stage musical called Oklahoma! The state has played an important part in American history. There were pioneers of course but often researchers into Native American heritage find themselves looking into what's available in that state as well. So the bad news is that this state is one of those who suffered the loss from the legendary fire that wiped out most of the 1890 Federal Census... But there is the 1890 OKLAHOMA TERRITORIAL CENSUS! ***

As well, there is this offering: Smith's First Directory of Oklahoma Territory

Smith's First Directory of Oklahoma Territory For the Year Commencing August 1, 1890 provides information about the population of early Oklahoma. The index includes over 17,000 names arranged alphabetically by surname.

OKLAHOMA HISTORICAL SOCIETY Very interesting offerings! 

Such as :1933 Unemployed Relief Census - An index of more than 100,000 names listed in the Unemployed Relief Census records. There are twenty-seven Oklahoma counties included. A searchable database on line!

Now, you might think that Oklahoma Historical Society might only interested in those Native American tribes whose people were relocated to Oklahoma but WOW!  Excerpt: 

The American Indian Archives

Since 1934 the Oklahoma Historical Society American Indian Archives have housed records for numerous tribal nations. The records came to the Oklahoma Historical Society after Congress passed legislation giving the OHS custody of the materials. These records include a variety of official documents and information relating to nations in Indian and Oklahoma Territory. The archives include a significant number of records pertaining to the Five Tribes as well as other tribal nations.

The Research Division is an affiliate of the National Archives and Records Administration.

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The TAG for this series is  "STATE CENSUS ADVENTURE"

INDEXING

 

NATIONAL ARCHIVES OF THE UNITED STATES : DAWES ROLLS : 1896 APPLICATIONS AND THE CURTIS ACT : APPLICATIONS TAKEN 1898 - 1907

ARCHIVES GOV RESEARCH DAWES ROLLS 

Excerpt: The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) has custody of the Final Rolls of the Five Civilized Tribes, known as the Final Dawes Rolls, as well as related census cards, enrollment applications, land allotment jackets, and maps. These records are found in Record Group 48, Records of the Office of the Secretary of the Interior, and in Record Group 75, Records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

The Final Dawes Rolls and related records are some of the most heavily used records at NARA for researching membership in the Cherokee, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Creek, and Seminole Nations in Indian Territory (present-day Oklahoma).

Note that these tribes were originally exempted but did end up being counted, and it's controversial.

Excerpt: Then, in 1895, Congress authorized a survey of Indian Territory, and in 1896 Congress authorized the Dawes Commission to add names to existing tribal rolls as a preliminary step to allotment. The Commission received more than 7,500 applications for enrollment and traveled throughout Indian Territory conducting hearings.

These applications, known as the 1896 Applications, were declared null and void two years later, when Congress passed an act on June 28, 1898, authorizing the Commission to proceed with enrollment and allotment for the Five Civilized Tribes without tribal consent. The 1898 act, known as the Curtis Act, also provided for the termination of the Five Civilized Tribes’ tribal governments. By 1902, each of the Five Tribes had negotiated and ratified an agreement that modified the terms of the Curtis Act and became the basis for enrollment and allotment.

With new guidelines in place, the Dawes Commission accepted enrollment applications from 1898 through 1907, with a handful accepted in 1914.