World War I alien registration forms

Collection

Identifier: Mss 1540

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The collection consists of registration forms completed by German-born Americans in Oregon and by U.S.-born women who had married German-born men. The forms, titled "Registration Affidavit of Enemy Alien," include information about registrants such as name; date and place of birth; date of immigration to the United States; and whether any of their relatives were fighting on either side of World War I. Forms for men include a section about occupational history since 1914, while forms for women include a section about any children they had. Each form also includes a photograph and the fingerprints of the registrant. The collection also includes some permits and correspondence, which are enclosed within the registration form of the person those documents relate to. Correspondence in the collection includes letters between U.S. marshals and Oregon police chiefs or postmasters.

Dates

Creation: 1918

Creator

United States. Department of Justice (Organization)

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

The Oregon Historical Society owns the materials in the Research Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from copyright owners.

Extent

5.75 Cubic Feet (5 record cartons)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Collection consists of registration forms for German-born Americans living in Oregon or women in Oregon who were married to German-born men, and related documents. German-born residents of Oregon and women in Oregon married to German-born men were compelled to register as "enemy aliens" in 1918, while the United States was participating in World War I. Registrants were restricted in their rights and movements until December 1918, after the war had ended.

Arrangement

Forms are arranged in alphabetical order of name with men first, then women. The alphabetization is based on the spelling of the name typed on the form, which sometimes conflicts with the handwritten version of the name on that form. While alphabetization is generally by surname, there are some instances where the forms for women who belonged to religious orders were filed based on their first name.