The Carolina Room Staff of the Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County has taken this unique opportunity to give researchers information about World War I Mecklenburg County draft registration cards. These records plus numerous other sources create a name searchable database to assist historians and genealogists learn more about men and women who served in the military, registered for the draft or performed other patriotic duties in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina.

The James C. Dowd home, built in 1879, is one of the most historic houses and properties in west Charlotte. It served as a temporary headquarters for the military at Camp Greene and was later used as its construction headquarters. People all over the world are now able to take a virtual tour of the downstairs and the grounds.

Miriam Grace Mitchell and Edward Spaulding Perzel tell the role of Charlotte and Camp Greene during World War I in The Echo of the Bugle Call. Read this book in its entirety.

Read the diary of Private Willard Newton, a soldier in Company F of the 105th Regiment of Engineers and the Hornets' Nest Riflemen which shows the daily life of adventure, fear, hardships and boredom of a World War I soldier. This diary was reprinted as a series in The Charlotte Observer in 1920.

View different types of photographs and images about World War I, Camp Greene and Charlotte, North Carolina during "The Great War."

Even though the time period of American's involvement in World War I was short, Camp Greene, which resulted from our city fathers' efforts, made a huge impact on the economy of the area, the exposure of the citizens to people from other parts of the country and furthered the growth of the county, particularly on the west side.

This project is dedicated to David Ritch, who helped preserve the Dowd House and was its caretaker until his death in October 2001.



The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) is the official repository for personnel records for those who have been discharged from World War I military service.

World War I Military records are stored at the National Personnel Records Center (http://www.nara.gov/regional/stlouis.html) in St. Louis, Missouri.

On June 5, 1967, the Freedom of Information Act was enacted to prevent the unwarranted invasion of personal privacy. This law and the Privacy Act of 1974, as well as directives from the Department of Defense and other federal agencies, govern the release of information from records in the physical custody of the National Personnel Records Center.

To request military records, please contact the National Personnel Records Center at the following address:

National Personnel Records Center
(Military Personnel Records)
9700 Page Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63132-5100

For more information, visit the National Personnel Records Center Web site (http://www.nara.gov/regional/stlouis.html)

The National Archives and Records Administration (http://www.nara.gov/) also provides an overview of Access to Military Service and Pension Records which includes access to the required forms at http://www.nara.gov/research/ordering/milordr.html.



Speech of Hon. Sherman E. Burroughs of New Hampshire in the House of Representatives Regarding the Conditions at Camp Greene, February 22, 1918
http://docsouth.unc.edu/wwi/burroughs/menu.html

Two Panoramic Photos of Camp Greene, NC from the United States Library of Congress
http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/pan:@field(SUBJ+@band(Camp+Greene++N+C+++))

U. S. Army Corp of Engineers-Defense Environmental Restoration Program - Formerly Used Defense Sites
http://pirs.mvr.usace.army.mil/fuds/a-d/cmpgreen/project.htm)