New World War I website launched

The Sequoyah National Research Center at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock is pleased to announce the launch of a new website, Modern Warriors of World War I. The website features individual profile pages for each identified Native American veteran. Each page can include military service records, questionnaires, letters, newspaper clippings, and photographs.

Since 2017, the staff at the Sequoyah National Research Center have worked to identify the approximately 12,000 American Indian and Alaska Native service members of World War I. Research began with resources found in the Center, including tribal newspapers, boarding school publications, manuscript collections, and more. Staff have also utilized online resources and archives across the country.

The purpose of Modern Warriors of World War I is to create a central repository for the archival records of the estimated 12,000 American Indian and Alaska Native servicemen who served in World War I. The project began as a commemoration of the centennial of America’s entering the war. It aims to ensure their names and stories are remembered for future generations as we do the following:

• Identify all American Indian and Alaska Native service members who served during the Great War,
• Create a robust record of service for each individual who served by compiling military records, publications, and archival documents for each veteran, and
• Honor their legacy of service by providing a lasting historical account of their contributions.

Research is ongoing. If you have information to contribute to the project, please contact Erin Fehr, Assistant Director and Archivist, via email ([email protected]).