San Francisco History Center's Alien Enemy Registration Affidavits

Alien Enemy Registration Affidavit, 1918. SF History Center

The San Francisco History Center of the San Francisco Public Library is the archives for the City and County of San Francisco. Formed in 1964 as the Californiana Collection, the current San Francisco History Center holds a comprehensive, non-circulating research collection covering all aspects of San Francisco history (and, to a lesser extent, California and Western history) from the time of the area's earliest habitation to the present day. The material sheds light on many aspects of the City's history: its geography and architecture; its politics and government; the lives of citizens, both prominent and ordinary; and, the contributions of ethnic, cultural and social groups in creating the City's vibrant character.

The mission of the San Francisco History Center is to illuminate the founding, growth and development of the City by providing primary and secondary resources.
Located on the 6th floor of the Main Library, the Center serves all library users and levels of interest, from the merely curious to those engaging in scholarly research.

In keeping with the theme of Im(migration) and Indigenous Voice of California, the San Francisco History Center will be sharing resources from several collections, which include Paul Radin Papers (SFH 23), Alien Enemy Registration Affidavits, 1918 (SFH 48), Maxine Gonong Papers (SFH 59).

For this post, the spotlight is on the Alien Enemy Registration Affidavits.

Alien Enemy Registration Affidavit SF History Center

Alien Enemy Registration Affidavit SF History Center

On November 16, 1917, all males in the United States older than 14 who were "natives, citizens, denizens, or subjects" of the German Empire were required to register as alien enemies. In 1918, an act of Congress included women aged 14 and older. The U.S. Attorney-General requested that the San Francisco Police Department administer the regulations under the general supervision and direction of the United States Department of Justice. Registration affidavits were filed at police district stations. Then each district sent its collected registration affidavits along with a summary sheet to the Chief Registrar. Each "alien enemy" was issued a registration card with photograph and identifying information, which he was required to have on his person at all times. He also needed permission from the
local registrar to travel or change place of residence. Certain areas were
also off-limit zones as deemed by the military. The Armistice was declared on November 11, 1918, and all regulations on enemy aliens were lifted December 25, 1918.

Alien Enemy Registration Affidavit SF History Center

Registration affidavits are 4 pages in length and include the following information: name, maiden name, address, length of residence in San Francisco, birthplace and date, all employment and residences since January 1, 1914, date and port of arrival in United States, ship's name, name of person who supported entry (sponsor), names of parents, parents' birthplaces, registrant's marital status, name of spouse, names and birth dates of children, whether or not registrant had family members in arms against the US, military service, naturalization information, arrest
information, physical description, photograph, signature, and fingerprints. Alien female forms also requested names, birth dates, and residences of all brothers and sisters, and languages spoken, written and read.




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