Center for Archival Collections

Introduction | Agency History | Scope and Content | Series Description | Inventory

Introduction

The collection was transferred to the Center for Archival Collections by the Hancock County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society in June of 2000.

The collection, compiled by Goldie Estelle Wilch, comprises the records of the Hancock County Local Board No. 56, Selective Service System. Included are lists of registrants, correspondence, state and federal Selective Service System newsletters, historical information and newspaper clippings.

Some restrictions exist on the use of this collection. Duplication is permitted for the purposes of preservation and research, and restricted to public information. The register was compiled by Stephen Charter, Reference Archivist, with revisions by Marilyn Levinson, Curator of Manuscripts.

For more information about the Selective Service System records, see their website at http://www.sss.gov/.

Agency History

The Selective Service System was established by act of Congress in 1917 as a means to maintain the strength of the armed forces and their respective components. Local draft boards were established to help facilitate the mission of the System. The process was divided into to four steps-registration, classification, selection, and delivery of acceptable registrants for induction.

The first step involved the registration of all men five days after they reach the age of eighteen. The second step involved the classification of each registrant into one of the classifications established in accordance with the law. Next the registrants were selected according to the numbers and types of men needed. Finally, the selected registrants were processed for induction into military service.

The local boards maintained detailed records of the prospective military personnel and the names of those registrants who provided military service. The Hancock County Local Board No. 56, Selective Service System, was established in 1940. The Board was comprised of two board groups, one for the city of Findlay and one for the rest of Hancock County.

Scope and Content

The records of the Selective Service System, Local Board no. 56 in Hancock County, Ohio cover the period from the start of World War II, through to the Vietnamese Conflict. Although of limited use in documenting the administrative workings of the local board, there is still some correspondence confirming various appointments to the board over the years. Separate employment information is also included in the collection for Goldie Estelle Wilch, the collector of this material, who served as the secretary for the Board for the period.

The various listings of Selective Service registrants in the district has some use in tracking individuals, but with limited personal information besides proof of their residency in the area. In a few of the lists data on date of birth has been added, but for the most part the only details provided are the Selective Service classification for the individual (and in those cases the meaning of the various categories are not explained).

Series Description

CORRESPONDENCE

APPOINTMENTS OF BOARD MEMBERS
1940-1971
Individual and form correspondence related to positions on the Board of the Selective Service system for Hancock County

GOLDIE WILCH EMPLOYMENT FILE
1940-1973
Inquiries, form letters, and other correspondence related to the employment of Goldie Wilch with Local Board 56

SUBJECT FILES

LISTS OF REGISTRANTS
1940, 1948-1973, n.d.
Various alphabetic listings of Selective Service registrants, giving Selective Service number, name, classification, and in some cases the date of birth. Restrictions may apply.

UNDERAGE FILES
1948-1952
Case files of Selective Service applicants cancelled due to being underage. Restrictions may apply.

PRINTED MATERIAL

OHIO SS SENTINEL
1957-1974
Local informational newsletter

SELECTIVE SERVICE NEWS
1951-1974
National informational newsletter

ARMY NEWS PHOTO FEATURES
September 17, 1968
Features a tribute to Major General Keith L. Ware who was killed in a helicopter crash in Vietnam.

HISTORIES
1967
"The Selective Service: Its Concept, History and Operation", and, "Short Course in Selective Service"

MISCELLANEOUS
1948-1971
Miscellaneous circulars, clippings, brochures, and clippings related to the Selective Service system

BUMPER STICKER
n.d.
Support Our Fighting Men in Vietnam

Inventory

Box 1 (RESTRICTIONS MAY APPLY)

Folder

1. Board Member Appointments, 1940-1971
2. Goldie Estelle Wilch Employment File, 1940-1973
3. Alphabetical List of Registrants, 1940 Selective Service Act Includes selective Service number, name and date of birth
4. Alphabetical List of Registrants 1948 S.S.S. and UMTS Acts
   Born After 30 August 1922
   Includes selective Service number, name and class
5. Hancock County Men, Served or serving since June 24, 1948,
   Includes selective Service number, name and service record, 1948-1973
6. Hancock County Men, Served or serving since June 24, 1948,
   Includes selective Service number, name and service record, 1948-1973 (Copy 2)

Box 2 (RESTRICTIONS MAY APPLY)

Folder

1. Alphabetical List of Registrants (A-H)
   Includes selective Service number, name and class, n.d.
2. Alphabetical List of Registrants (I-R)
   Includes selective Service number, name and class, n.d.
3. Alphabetical List of Registrants (S-Z)
   Includes selective Service number, name and class, n.d.
4. Alphabetical List of Registrants
   Includes selective Service number, name and class, n.d.
5. Alphabetical List of Registrants (scattered sheets)
   Includes selective Service number, name and class, n.d.
6. Underage Files, 1948-1952

Box 3

Folder

1. Ohio Selective Service (SS) Sentinel, 1957-1974 (scattered dates)
2. Selective Service, Volume I-Vol. VI (1951-1956)
3. Selective Service, Volume VII-Vol. IX (1957-1959)
4. Selective Service, Volume X-XI (1960-1961)
5. Selective Service, Volume XII, No. 2, 9 (1962), v.XIII-XV (1963-1965)
6. Selective Service, Volume XVI-XVIII (1966-1968)
7. Selective Service, Volume XIX-XX, 1970 Number 1-4
8. Selective Service NEWS, April-Dec 1970-1971
9. Selective Service NEWS, 1972-1974 (Jan, June)
10. Army News Photo Features, Extra Edition, Sep 17, 1968
11. The Selective Service: Its Concept, History and Operation, 1967
12. Short Course in Selective Service, 1967
13. Miscellaneous Printed Circulars/Clippings, 1948-1971
14. Bumper Sticker "Support Our Fighting Men In Vietnam"

Manuscripts by Subject | U. S. in Wartime | Miscellaneous Collections