Alien Registration Booklet

The Alien Registration Act (also known as the Smith Act) passed by Congress on 29 June 1940 made it illegal for anyone in the United States to advocate, abet, or teach the desirability of overthrowing the government.

The law also required all alien residents in the United States over 14 years of age to file a comprehensive statement of their personal and occupational status and a record of their political beliefs. Within four months a total of 4,741,971 aliens in the United States had been registered.

The document we have "Registration of Aliens Under Act of 1940" has only two completed entries (see image above) although there are 15 tabs where there once was something to the right. Were the missing stubs for other foreign registrants? Were the missing pages explanations for the registration process? Unfortunately, we cannot determine an answer from the document itself as it exists today.

About those two registrants:
Anna Bresslau Speir had been in Beaufort, SC for 6 years. Previously, she had lived in Brooklyn for 22 years. She was 40 years of age and had been born in Russia. She was a hefty housewife at 5' 2" tall who weighed 175 1/2 lbs. She had black hair and brown eyes. She registered on June 27, 1940. There is no mention of her husband in the registration.

Michel Peter Rubin had only been in Frogmore for 2 1/2 months. He had lived in New York for 23 years before coming to South Carolina. He was a German national: 5' 11" tall; 155 lbs.; with brown hair and brown eyes. He was employed as a horticulturist by Mrs. McDonald in Frogmore. He registered 5 days after the Attack on Pearl Harbor, Dec. 12, 1941.

To read the current proviso based on the Alien Registration or Smith Act, click here for 18 USC chapter 2385 (2000).

It is always good to remember that government documents can help tell the story of a person's life -- and that a republic has an obligation to its people to preserve the record of its governance for the present as well as future generations.

Don't forget: Today, Thursday, Oct. 28th, the BDC Research Room is open 10 am - 1 pm; 2 pm - 5 pm. We must close from 1 pm - 2 pm to comply with Federal Labor law. Tomorrow, Friday, Oct. 29th, staff lunch period is Noon until 1 pm.