After the Fire: Reconstructing a World War I or II Military Service Record

Lecture Description

Many individuals who research World War I and World War II U.S. military veterans and casualties encounter a significant road block, due to record loss. A 1973 fire at the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) – part of the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) – in St. Louis, Missouri destroyed approximately 16 to 18 million records from this era. Army and Air Force personnel records suffered most of the loss.

So how does one hurdle this obstacle when conducting historical or genealogical research?

This methodology lecture will use several case studies to demonstrate strategies and alternative types of record collections that can help reconstruct a World War I or World War II service member’s history despite a destroyed personnel file.

Lecture Summary

• Length: 60 minutes, including Q&A
• Audience: Genealogists, family historians, educators, and students