By
By
Webinar Library
Historical Records Military Records World War I

Spies, Slackers, and Aliens: Records of the American Protective League

Michael L. Strauss, AG
May 12, 2023
439 views
CC
Want to watch the full webinar?
Join now to access all 2,408 webinars and unlock all features.
Join now
Syllabus
Join now

Content

Play. Playing.
Welcome
1m 37s
Play. Playing.
Speaker's Introduction
1m 27s
Play. Playing.
Introduction
10m 25s
Play. Playing.
Work of the APL
5m 23s
Play. Playing.
APL Records
17m 04s
Play. Playing.
Non-government records
7m 31s
Play. Playing.
Examples
20m 04s
Play. Playing.
Announcements / prizes
5m 06s
Play. Playing.
Questions / answers
8m 09s

About this webinar

Organized in Chicago, IL in 1917 by citizens who believed the United States Department of Justice was understaffed and not up to the task of fighting against espionage. They grew to a volunteer force of more than 250,000 members. The APL was given absolute power to stop ordinary citizens in the streets by checking whether men were legally registered for draft, or were sympathetic to the Germans, or those unregistered aliens living in the United States. Long believed to be a pseudo-patriotic organization. The APL documented both members and their activities in rich genealogical and historical details at the time the United States entered World War I.

About the speaker

About the speaker

Michael L. Strauss, AG
Michael L. Strauss, AG, an Accredited Genealogist and forensic investigator, is a native of Pennsylvania and a resident of Utah. He holds a BA in History and is a United States Coast Guard veteran. He is a licensed Private Investigator and qualifi
Learn more...

Comments (45)

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

1000 characters remaining
Cancel Submit

Sort by Newest
Sort by Close.
  • Newest
  • Oldest
  • Likes
  1. CC
    Christine Chesters
    2 years ago

    I love learning about new record sets! Just when you think there isn’t anything new to research, BAM! Legacy Family Tree pulls out a fantastic webinar! Kudos to Mr. Strauss!!

    Reply
  2. DM
    Dee Mathews
    2 years ago

    I so appreciate Michael Strauss bringing us webinars on these off-the-beaten-path collections. I had never heard of the APL, much less the vast amounts of data collected by these members. What a joy that he brings these new records to us.

    Reply
  3. KE
    Kathryn Everhart
    2 years ago

    Learned about something I’d never heard of!

    Reply
  4. GL
    Graham Lowe
    2 years ago

    Michael Strauss, thank you for another very interesting and informative presentation. This is the first time I have heard of the American Protective League (APL). I’m very appreciative of your syllabus containing many valuable research tips and links. Thanks again!

    Reply
  5. WB
    Wanda Bower
    2 years ago

    I would never have been aware of these records without this webinar.

    Reply
  6. VE
    Victoria Eaton
    2 years ago

    Michael is a great presenter, never talks down to viewers, makes you comfortable like he’s the guy next door. So knowledgeable on so many topics. Can’t wait to see his other webinars.

    Reply
  7. CW
    Cynthia Ward
    2 years ago

    Very informative. Never heard of the APL. i will look to see if any of my ancestors fit this category.

    Reply
  8. JF
    Jean Foster
    2 years ago

    Extremely interesting webinar and great information on how to find the records. Always enjoy and learn from a Michael Strauss webinar.

    Reply
Show all comments

Related Webinars

1:03:17
Bonus webinarsPlaces and EthnicitiesHistorical Records
Over the Top: Researching Canadians in the First World War
Michael L. Strauss, AG
494 views
CC
Over the Top: Researching Canadians in the First World War
This lecture focuses on records of the Canadian Expeditionary Forces; including the C.E.F. personal files, Commonwealth grave registry, Regimental Nominal Rolls, and American’s fighting for Canada during this conflict and other records of the Royal Navy and Marines.
Bonus webinarsPlaces and EthnicitiesHistorical Records
Over the Top: Researching Canadians in the First World War
CC
Michael L. Strauss, AG
494 views
This lecture focuses on records of the Canadian Expeditionary Forces; including the C.E.F. personal files, Commonwealth grave registry, Regimental Nominal Rolls, and American’s fighting for Canada during this conflict and other records of the Royal Navy and Marines.
Fri, October 11 2019: 0:00 UTC
Login to register (for webinar members)
Login to register (for webinar members)
1:47:34
Historical Records
The Great War: Researching Your World War I Ancestors
Michael L. Strauss, AG
2.4K views
The Great War: Researching Your World War I Ancestors
Researching your World War 1 ancestors can be challenging. With the losses of records by fire in St. Louis in 1973 and stricter privacy laws; this lecture focuses on ways to reconstruct military service for family who served their country including records of draft registrations, war casualties, troop manifests, and…
Historical Records
The Great War: Researching Your World War I Ancestors
Michael L. Strauss, AG
2.4K views
Researching your World War 1 ancestors can be challenging. With the losses of records by fire in St. Louis in 1973 and stricter privacy laws; this lecture focuses on ways to reconstruct military service for family who served their country including records of draft registrations, war casualties, troop manifests, and…
Wed, May 31 2017: 0:00 UTC
Register for free
1:07:43
Places and EthnicitiesAfrican DiasporaHistorical Records
African Americans in the Army: 1868-1948
Janice Lovelace, PhD
393 views
CC
African Americans in the Army: 1868-1948
Following the Civil War, when nearly 200,000 African American men served, the U.S. Army established 4 African American infantry (later modified to 2) and 2 cavalry regiments in 1868. They initially served in the West but fought in the Spanish American War and the two World Wars in segregated units. It was not until 1948 that Executive Order 9981 integrated the military. What was life like for these soldiers? Where do you find service and pension records?
Places and EthnicitiesAfrican DiasporaHistorical Records
African Americans in the Army: 1868-1948
CC
Janice Lovelace, PhD
393 views
Following the Civil War, when nearly 200,000 African American men served, the U.S. Army established 4 African American infantry (later modified to 2) and 2 cavalry regiments in 1868. They initially served in the West but fought in the Spanish American War and the two World Wars in segregated units. It was not until 1948 that Executive Order 9981 integrated the military. What was life like for these soldiers? Where do you find service and pension records?
Fri, February 9 2024: 19:00 UTC
Register for free
48:52
Historical Records
Découvrir la vie de nos ancêtres (militaires et civils) en 14-18
Mickaël Mange
79 views
French
Free
Découvrir la vie de nos ancêtres (militaires et civils) en 14-18
La Première Guerre mondiale a marqué la vie de nos ancêtres, mais a également laissé des traces dans de nombreuses sources d'archives. Découvrez dans ce webinaire comment rechercher et exploiter ces documents, afin de retracer le parcours de vos ancêtres durant la Grande Guerre, qu'ils soient militaires ou civils.
Historical Records
Découvrir la vie de nos ancêtres (militaires et civils) en 14-18
French
Free
Mickaël Mange
79 views
La Première Guerre mondiale a marqué la vie de nos ancêtres, mais a également laissé des traces dans de nombreuses sources d'archives. Découvrez dans ce webinaire comment rechercher et exploiter ces documents, afin de retracer le parcours de vos ancêtres durant la Grande Guerre, qu'ils soient militaires ou civils.
Tue, April 26 2022: 12:00 UTC
Register for free
1:39:42
BCGHistorical Records
Death and Burial Practices in World War I and WW II
Rick Sayre, CG, CGL, FUGA
7.9K views
CC
Death and Burial Practices in World War I and WW II
Much of this webinar focuses on the process of collecting, identifying, and burying the dead, and the resulting records, including their genealogical significance. In World War I (1917–1918) there were 53,402 battle deaths, while in World War II (1941–1945) battle deaths rose to 291,557. There are 124,905 American…
BCGHistorical Records
Death and Burial Practices in World War I and WW II
CC
Rick Sayre, CG, CGL, FUGA
7.9K views
Much of this webinar focuses on the process of collecting, identifying, and burying the dead, and the resulting records, including their genealogical significance. In World War I (1917–1918) there were 53,402 battle deaths, while in World War II (1941–1945) battle deaths rose to 291,557. There are 124,905 American…
Tue, January 19 2021: 18:00 UTC
Register for free
38:34
Places and EthnicitiesHistorical Records
Thankful villages – the impact of World War One on communities
Kirsty Gray
3.8K views
CC
Thankful villages – the impact of World War One on communities
This webinar will provide an insight into the experience which shattered the pre-WW1 order and transformed society irrevocably, particularly in the small villages of rural Britain.
Places and EthnicitiesHistorical Records
Thankful villages – the impact of World War One on communities
CC
Kirsty Gray
3.8K views
This webinar will provide an insight into the experience which shattered the pre-WW1 order and transformed society irrevocably, particularly in the small villages of rural Britain.
Fri, March 13 2020: 0:00 UTC
Register for free
1:11:36
Places and EthnicitiesBonus webinarsDNA TestingHistorical Records
The Fromelles Genealogy Project: Reuniting WW1 Soldiers with their Families
Michelle Leonard
825 views
CC
The Fromelles Genealogy Project: Reuniting WW1 Soldiers with their Families
This presentation will tell the story of the Fromelles Project with a specific focus on how genealogical detective work has so far helped to identify 166 of the Fromelles soldiers and give them named graves in the first military cemetery to be built in France since WWII.
Places and EthnicitiesBonus webinarsDNA TestingHistorical Records
The Fromelles Genealogy Project: Reuniting WW1 Soldiers with their Families
CC
Michelle Leonard
825 views
This presentation will tell the story of the Fromelles Project with a specific focus on how genealogical detective work has so far helped to identify 166 of the Fromelles soldiers and give them named graves in the first military cemetery to be built in France since WWII.
Fri, November 22 2019: 0:00 UTC
Login to register (for webinar members)
Login to register (for webinar members)
1:02:05
Bonus webinarsHistorical Records
Tracing a World War One Soldier from US to Europe and Back Again
Craig R. Scott, MA, CG, FUGA
747 views
CC
Tracing a World War One Soldier from US to Europe and Back Again
This lecture focuses on tracing an American soldier from recruit camp, his ship journey to England or France, his time in the American Expeditionary Force (AEF) and his return to America and demobilization.
Bonus webinarsHistorical Records
Tracing a World War One Soldier from US to Europe and Back Again
CC
Craig R. Scott, MA, CG, FUGA
747 views
This lecture focuses on tracing an American soldier from recruit camp, his ship journey to England or France, his time in the American Expeditionary Force (AEF) and his return to America and demobilization.
Fri, July 5 2019: 0:00 UTC
Login to register (for webinar members)
Login to register (for webinar members)
1:00:42
Bonus webinarsMethodology and SkillsHistorical Records
World War I: Women's Lives During the War
Gena Philibert-Ortega
683 views
World War I: Women's Lives During the War
For this 100th anniversary year of the US in World War I, we'll look at the history of American women during World War I and what resources exist to research their story.
Bonus webinarsMethodology and SkillsHistorical Records
World War I: Women's Lives During the War
Gena Philibert-Ortega
683 views
For this 100th anniversary year of the US in World War I, we'll look at the history of American women during World War I and what resources exist to research their story.
Thu, February 1 2018: 0:00 UTC
Login to register (for webinar members)
Login to register (for webinar members)