Did you know that Connecticut conducted a "military census" during WWI? One of the people in my extended family tree filled out such a form. I've never seen it before, although
Jim Sanders found two for his family just a few months ago.
All men over the age of 16 had to answer this single-page questionnaire. I discovered that this ancestor could handle a team and drive an auto and a motorcycle, but he couldn't swim.
So here's what Connecticut asked: Can you do any of the following...
- Ride a horse?
- Handle a team?
- Drive an automobile?
- Ride a motorcycle?
- Understand telegraphy?
- Operate a wireless?
- Any experience with a steam engine?
- Any experience with electrical machinery?
- Handle a boat, power or sail?
- Any experience in simple coastwise navigation?
- Any experience with high speed marine gasoline engines?
- Are you a good swimmer?
I'm a college student in CT and I'm actually just completing my final project on the WWI military census! Not many people DO know about it. I found some amazing things on it at the CT State Archives!
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