4 Steps to Begin WWI Research For A Country (Liberia)
This post will cover the four initial steps to research the participation of a country (non-U.S.) in WWI. At a recent talk about ancestors in the U.S. military, a very enthusiastic genealogist asked me a question: how could he research his Liberian WWI ancestor? Questions like this make me think, and make me want to learn more.
These first steps help you get oriented by learning more about the topic.
1. Google
Start with Google. Search for terms that combine your country name with “WWI” or “World War One”. You may get lucky and find your ancestor’s name, but more likely you will find context information.
Example results for Liberia were:
(Note: the date for Liberia’s declaration of war in on this page was incorrect)
2. Google Books
Use Google Books to learn about books that will be useful to your research. Some of the books may allow you to download them in entirety; others may provide snippets. For books that are available on Google Books, there are links to locate the book in WorldCat or to buy them. Remember that an unlikely book may contain material that will help you.
Look for information about relevant events. Uncovering dates and places is always helpful. Make a list of what you learned.
Example books for Liberia:
- Area Handbook for Liberia
- The Annual Messages of the Presidents of Liberia 1848–2010: State of the Nation Addresses to the National Legislature
- THE LITERARY DIGEST History of the World War Vol. 1
- World War I: Encyclopedia, Volume 1
3. FamilySearch Wiki
Check out the materials on the FamilySearch Wiki for the country.
Use the FamilySearch Wiki entry for Liberia to learn as much as you can about Liberia and its records. This page also contains a link to go social. The link for Military Records is currently a space holder, and has no content.
4. Make a Timeline
Now that you have the basic facts, you can rearrange them in chronological order to create a timeline as the backdrop for what you find out about your own ancestor. If the date is unknown for a fact, then place the item where it makes sense, but do not record a date for it.
Some of the information from the Google search and Google Books:
- In 1912 six black U.S. Army officers came to Liberia to train and command the Liberian Frontier Force
- Daniel Edward Howard was the President of Liberia from 1912 to 1920
- ¾ of Liberia’s trade was with Germany in early 1914
- German trade ended with the war
- German submarine blockade in WWI reduced to almost nothing all trade between Liberia and Britain, France and the United States
- Prior to the declaration of war ,Liberia had broken off diplomatic relations with Germany
- Liberia was pressured by the U.S. to declare war on Germany
- Liberia declared war against Germany on 4 August 1917
- Liberia was an Entente Belligerent
- There were 400 in the active military including militia, volunteers, police
- When Liberia joined the Allies, the property of German nationals was liquidated and the money used to compensate for the loss of revenue.
- A German submarine shelled Monrovia in June 1918
- Liberia sent troops to France during WWI (date unknown)
- Liberian troops in WWI did not see combat
- Liberia received war relief funds (Liberty Loan)The U.S. Government advanced funds to the Republic of Liberia during the peace negotiations after WWI. The amount was $26,000 (in three payments) and $9,610.46 accrued interest ($35,610.46)
Liberia is going to be a tough country to research. It may be worth contacting regional archives, and schools in the area for other research ideas.
