Research: Topics: Military: Records Relating to World War I
Records Relating to World War I
Military Service Records
ADJUTANT GENERAL'S OFFICE
B0808. Abstracts of World War I Military Service, 1917- 1919. 238 cubic feet (ca. 518,000 cards)
Arrangement: Organized into 5 subseries: Subseries 1, Abstracts of World War I Military Service of Army Officers; Subseries 2, Abstracts of World War I Military Service of Nurses; Subseries 3, Abstracts of World War I Military Service of Enlisted Men; Subseries 4, Abstracts of World War I Military Service of Sailors; and Subseries 5, Abstracts of World War I Military Service of Marines.
Arrangement within subseries is alphabetical by last name.
The series consists of abstracts of military service for New York residents who enlisted or who were inducted into the armed forces of the United States from 1917 through 1919. The record consists of a 4 x 6" card (or a 5 x 8" card for Navy personnel) for each individual.
The record for each individual provides the following data:
- name
- serial/service number
- designation as "white" or "colored"
- residence
- place and date of enlistment/induction
- place of birth
- age or date of birth
- organizations served in, with dates of assignments and transfers
- dates of overseas service
- wounds or other injuries received in action
- date of separation/discharge (and place of separation for Navy personnel)
- percent of disability at discharge
For those who died while in service, date and cause of death, name and address of person notified of death, and relationship to the deceased are provided.
These records were procured in 1920, by the Bureau of War Records, from the federal government pursuant to Chapter 75 of the Laws of 1919 which directed the Adjutant General, through the Bureau, to compile, collect, and preserve the "records and relics... relating to the wars in which the state participated." (See also Chapter 247 of the Laws of 1887, which established the Bureau as the "Bureau of Records of the War of the Rebellion.") Most federal records of World War I service were destroyed in a repository fire. Many of the cards in this series are fragile and use may be restricted.
It should be noted that the Bureau discovered over time numerous errors in the transcription of the records provided by Washington that required correction. They made corrections to errors as they were found (see Annual Report of the Adjutant General, 1935, page 36).
13721. Abstracts of National Guard Service in World War I, 1917-1919. 30 cubic feet (96 volumes)
Arrangement: By military unit and therein alphabetical by name.
The series consists of abstracts of the service of officers and enlisted men in units of the New York National Guard who were mustered into the regular U.S. Army during World War I. The records were created pursuant to Chapter 75 of the Laws of 1919, which directed the Adjutant General to compile, collect, and preserve records relating to the wars in which the State participated.
The Military Law of the Consolidated Laws of 1909 (nominally Chapter 41), as amended by Chapter 644 of the Laws of 1917, governed the New York National Guard during World War I. The New York National Guard was drafted into the service of the United States by presidential order effective August 5, 1917.
The record for each individual usually provides the following data:
- name
- U.S. Army serial number
- date and place of commission or enlistment in State service
- date of appearance for duty
- dates of muster into service (N.Y. and U.S. with rank, company, and regiment)
- date and rank at time of leaving service
- reason for leaving service (type of discharge or transfer)
Following these data are "remarks" which sometimes give details of such additional matters as service overseas, promotions, or conduct during service.
At the bottom of the form is space to record:
- age
- height
- complexion
- color of eyes and hair
- birthplace
- occupation
- residence
- marital status
- name of wife, parent, or guardian
These spaces more often than not are blank.
Finding aid: Volume list.
B0814. Muster Rolls of New York National Guard Units that Served in the United States Army During World War I, 1917-1918. 4 cubic feet (12 volumes)
Arrangement: By type of unit, then numerical by unit number.
The series consists of bound volumes of bimonthly muster rolls registering officers and enlisted men from New York National Guard units that served in the U.S. Army during World War I. Also included is a very small amount of additional material, primarily memoranda, interspersed within the volumes. Filed in the Adjutant General's Office, these rolls became the records to which reference was made in investigation and settlement of claims or questions affecting officers and enlisted men and their heirs. Regulations stated that the rolls were to be forwarded to the Adjutant General within three days after each bimonthly muster.
The rolls were kept according to the following rule of order, with names listed alphabetically under each grade (except for noncommissioned officers):
- commissioned officers, by rank
- commissioned officers attached to the organization, by rank
- noncommissioned officers, by grade and date of warrant
- all others, by grade
- musicians
- privates
The rolls are pre-printed sheets in columnar form; the majority of information is entered in typescript, although there are some manuscript entries. One side of the form provides a brief "cover" naming the company, regiment, and inclusive dates of the roll (from the date of the last bimonthly muster). This cover is generally date stamped by the Bureau of Records of the Adjutant General's Office. On the verso a heading repeats the name of unit and inclusive dates and also gives names and ranks of those present and absent; when enlisted or commissioned; checkmarks (if present) or "absent"; and remarks. The remarks may include information on: assignment; date of joining (enlistment or drafted); assignment to or relief from command (transfers, detachment); changes in rank/grade; sentences; absences (of 24 hours or more); and discharge. Very rarely is there information on injuries or wounds, confinement, or medals or certificates of merit.
At the end of the roll there are two certifications. One is signed by the commanding officer attesting that the roll conforms to the requisite instructions. The other is signed by the inspecting and mustering officer verifying that the roll has been examined and the organization inspected, including brief manuscript remarks on its condition (as to military appearance, arms, accoutrements and clothing).
The small amount of scattered material includes transfer memoranda from/to the Adjutant General (one signed by Adjutant General Charles H. Sherrill) about specific cases or changes to the rolls, description cards of deserters, and one brief history of the Service Company, 10th Infantry, which was apparently required by the War Department.
Finding aid: Volume list.
13726. National Guard Muster Rolls, 1878-1954. 87 cubic feet (311 volumes)
Arrangement: 13726-84 (1885-1914) is arranged by type of unit (artillery, cavalry, medical, signal corps, depot units, separate companies, or regiment) and therein chronological by year.
13726-86 (1891-1954) is organized into four subseries:
- Subseries 1, Annual Returns, 1915-1934 (102 volumes);
- Subseries 2, Naval Militia Annual Muster Rolls, 1891-1954 (10 volumes);
- Subseries 3, Semi-Annual Returns, 1916-1917 (4 volumes);
- and Monthly Returns, 1935-1941 (90 volumes).
- name
- rank
- whether present or absent at annual muster
- date of rank
- date and rank of original entry into service
- remarks on any change in status
- index number (Soundex code)
- claim number
- name
- serial number
- residence
- date of enlistment or induction
- date of discharge
- date reported for active duty
Within subseries arrangement is by unit and therein chronological by year.
This series consists of annual muster rolls for each division and brigade in the New York National Guard. They are bound together in one volume for all divisions, and one volume for each brigade. Chapter 80 of the Laws of 1870 provided for annual musters and inspections of units of the National Guard and return of the same to the Adjutant General. Material on the World War I years, 1914-1919, is found in accretions 13726- 84 and 13726-86.
The division volume lists general and staff officers for each division as well as the officers and privates in each separate company of infantry or battery of artillery attached to the several divisions. The brigade volumes list general and staff officers for each brigade, regiment, and battalion, and officers and privates in each company of infantry, battery of artillery, and troop of cavalry.
The following information is given for each commissioned officer:
The information for non-commissioned officers and privates is similar, except that each entry gives date and term of enlistment or re-enlistment, and age at the time.
Each roll also lists names of men gained or lost since the last annual muster, by discharge, promotion, expulsion, transfer, removal, desertion, or death. Each muster roll contains a certificate of the commanding officer which includes remarks on the state of discipline, drill, arms and accoutrements, clothing, and equipment of the unit. Company muster rolls have a record of drills, inspections, and parades performed during the past year. Each muster roll also has summary statistics on gains and losses and on present strength.
The cover sheet of each roll gives identifying information on the unit, including names of commanding and mustering officers, and date and location of muster. Inside the cover of each volume is a typewritten list of muster rolls contained therein. The list gives name of unit and date and place of muster.
Finding aids: There is a volume list for 13726-84 (30 cubic feet, 85 volumes).
There is an item list (volume contents by unit) for 13726-86 (48 cubic feet, 206 volumes).
B1357. World War I Veterans Bonus Cards, ca. 1920-1937. 97 microfilm reels
Arrangement: Alphabetical by first letter of last name; names coded by Soundex.
The series consists of 16mm negative microfilm of card files that were apparently part of the process to award bonus payments to New Yorkers for military service in the United States armed forces during World War I. Initially, any person who served honorably in military service from April 6, 1917 through November 11, 1918 and resided in New York at the time of service was eligible for a bonus. The amount of the bonus was based on the number of months served (at $10 for every month of service), but no bonus could exceed $150. These records do not show the amount of individual bonuses awarded. Some applications were disallowed and are so marked on the cards. Neither the original cards nor the applications for bonuses are extant.
The cards usually contain the following information:
The cards are usually stamped "Army" or "Navy" and some carry remarks (e.g., "no active military service," "officer," or "investigate"). Most information is typescript although there are some manuscript entries.
Bonus payments were first authorized under Chapter 872 of the Laws of 1920, which allowed bonds to be issued, upon agreement of the voters in the general election of 1920, with the money realized from the sale of the bonds to pay for the bonuses.
The bonus program was administered by an unnamed commission, which was created by Chapter 315 of the Laws of 1921 to administer payments provided for by the previous law. The commission consisted of the adjutant general (chairman), the comptroller, and the attorney general. It had the right to appoint deputies in each county, the right to subpoena witnesses and take testimony, and to adopt rules and regulations for distribution of the bonuses. It was to be abolished by executive order of the governor as soon as its purposes were accomplished, and its records turned over to the adjutant general. This commission was superseded by the New York State Bonus Commission, created in 1924 (Chapter 19) after a constitutional amendment was passed to authorize financing of the bonus payments.
The bonus program was marked by constitutional, financial, and administrative problems. It required additional appropriations and extensions of its original 2-year application deadline well into the 1930s. The foundation legislation for the program, Chapter 872 of the Laws of 1920, was declared unconstitutional (in People v. Westchester County National Bank). In 1923 a concurrent resolution was passed proposing an amendment of article 7 of the State constitution, to empower the legislature to authorize by law the creation of debt for payment of the bonuses. The amendment (new section 13 of article 7) was submitted to the people and passed by voters in November of 1923.
Chapter 19 of the Laws of 1924 was the resulting act to authorize creation of the debt and issuance and sale of bonds for the bonuses. The proceeds of the bond sales were to be distributed by the New York State Bonus Commission which was created by this law. The commission was made up of the adjutant general (chairman), attorney general, comptroller, and the State treasurer. At the same time eligibility was extended specifically to any person in the army or navy nurse corps. Bonus awards were to be made by application filed within two years. Surviving relatives could claim the bonus in this order: widow or widower, child, mother, father, brother, and sister.
Chapter 26 of the Laws of 1925 redefined "honorably discharged" to include those who died or were killed in service (in which case the bonus could be paid to relatives). Filing deadlines were extended numerous times and additional appropriations were passed throughout the 1920s and 1930s.
On April 22, 1926 the functions of the New York State Bonus Commission were transferred to a unit of the Adjutant General's office called the Soldiers' Bonus Bureau. According to a 1929 report of the Adjutant General, approximately 518,000 people from New York served in the war and by the end of 1928 over $48 million had been paid out in bonuses and administrative costs. The Bureau was closed June 30, 1937. Chapter 40 of the Laws of 1937 authorized the Board of War Records to take over the bureau's records.
Finding aid: An explanation of the Soundex system is available.