Shortly after U.S. entry into World War I, the D.A.R. in Michigan established a Homes Ties and War Records Committee.  The purpose was to preserve materials documenting the contributions that men and women from this state made overseas in defense of liberty.  The chairwoman of the committee, Mrs. Mable Colgrove Stebbings, suggested that her own D.A.R. chapter honor the soldiers from Barry County by preparing a permanent records of their personal and military histories.  The proposal was so well received, and its execution so successful, that Mrs. Stebbins decided to try it on a statewide scale. In November, 1918, she approached Governor Sleeper who was receptive to the idea and appointed Mrs. Stebbins director of this effort.  A sum of $10,000 was allocated for the project, and administrators were appointed in each county.  The state provided the forms and these were distributed by churches, clubs, patriotic organizations and other groups.  In some instances enumerators even visited the homes in selected districts in an effort to find all individuals who had served with U.S. or Allied forces.  The information was returned to the county offices where the facts were typed in duplicate on cards and the forms were arranged alphabetically by name.  This data was kept in files and supplemented until around 1921 when the collections assembled by all counties were bound and distributed.  One set of records was sent to Lansing for safekeeping, and the other kept at the local level. 

These records can be found at the State Archives of Michigan, Lansing, Michigan.
RG57-24, boxes 16 and 17.

Census of WWI Veterans, 1917-1919 - Forms contained - name of veteran; serial number; address; place and date of birth; nationality; color; occupation before and after the war; marriage date; wife's name, birthplace and date; names of children and their birth dates; parents' names and addresses; first camp entered and date; rank, company, and regiment; transfers and promotions' battles engaged in; discharged date and reason; and additional information.
NOTE: Many of these forms only contain part of the information.

Michigan Club Register, 1918-1919 - During and shortly after WWI there existed in New York City the Michigan Club, a canteen where servicemen from Michigan could congregate for food and companionship.  Each person entering the premises was requested to sign a guest register -- giving name, residence, organization, station, next friend, and remarks.