Online sources offer World War I records
In observance of the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I, genealogist Jim Ike recently presented a program on “WWI Ancestors” at the Oklahoma Genealogical Society Computer Interest Group of Oklahoma City. Armistice Day, which marks the anniversary, is Nov. 11.
Ike provided a list of available books about the war, history links, national records that are available online and veteran database links. He also provided a list of military and veteran links and nonmilitary personnel websites.
History information is available at www.firstworldwar.com. National records can be found at www.archives.gov/st-louis.
Military data is available at the U.S. Army Center of Military History at https://history.army.mil and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs at www. va.gov.
Unfortunately, Army and Air Force discharge records were destroyed in a 1973 fire at the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis. The period affected, including records from both branches of service, ranges from November 1912 to January 1964. Between 75 and 80 percent of the data was lost.
However, researchers can access Statement of Service Cards, Muster-In Records and Bonus Applications fordata on those soldiers and airmenwhose records were destroyed. Read “Our Loose Ends,” a column byLynna Kay Shuffield, at www.lksfriday.com/Column/COLUMN-013.htm for more information.
Ike’s program was followed by a presentation about Legacy, a genealogy database program. La Nell Shores discussed what hashtags are and “How Hashtags Can Help Your Genealogy.”
Hashtags can help find content on specific topics through Twitter, Instagram and Google+, Shores said. Examples such as #genealogy or #familyhistory can provide a researcher untapped sources of information. The social media site Pinterest also has started supporting hashtags, she said.
The Oklahoma Genealogical Society Resource Center, 1125 NW 50, is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Mondays and from 9 a.m. to noon on the first Saturday of the month.