The state Digital Archives has a new program allowing people to access records of about 48,000 World War I veterans from Washington.

Copies of World War I Service Statement Cards from 1917 to 1919, recently indexed by Washington Historical Records Project volunteers, are now available and searchable online at the Digital Archives. The United States War Department had originals of the cards, and copies were provided to the Washington State Auditor many years ago.

“The great thing about having these veterans’ records available is that thousands of families here in Washington and outside of our state can access them and learn more about a relative who served in World War I,” said Digital Archivist Kerry Barbour. “The information in these records will help shed light on what these soldiers experienced during the war.”

Information contained in the records includes full name, serial number, race, place inducted, place of birth, unit assignments, ranks attained, engagements fought in, wounds received, dates served overseas, date of demobilization, and degree of disability (if any). Volunteer Sam Cagle has provided added value to the records with a glossary that fully identifies the many military abbreviations used in the records.

Digital Archives has compiled records on 48,010 soldiers from Washington who served during World War I.

To search, go to http://www.digitalarchives.wa.gov/TitleInfo.aspx?TID=640 . For more information on the World War I Service Statement Cards and related records, contact the Washington State Archives at (360) 586-1492 or visit its Web site at http://www.secstate.wa.gov/archives/archives_state.aspx .

Digital Archives is part of the State Archives, which is a division of the Office of Secretary of State.