function DbInfoTitle() { document.write('Selected U.S. Naturalization Record Indexes, 1791-1992 (World Archives Project)') } function DbInfoHasGroupSearchPage() { return false; } function DbInfoGroupSearchPage() { document.write(''); } function DbInfoHasMiniDescription() { return true; } function DbInfoMiniDescription() { document.write('This collection is currently being indexed by World Archives Project contributors (see "Where to go from here" below for more info). It contains images of paper indexes to naturalization records (primarily Declarations and Petitions) for various courts (primarily U.S. District and Circuit courts) and years. Once World Archives Project indexing is complete, the searchable index will be published and available free of charge.'); } function DbInfoHasDescription() { return true; } function DbInfoDescription() { document.write('

This database contains indexes to naturalization records (primarily Declarations and Petitions) for various courts (primarily U.S. District and Circuit courts) and years. Indexes are either sheets containing lists of names or individual index cards. Information listed on the sheets or index cards may include:

Because this database only contains indexes, you will need to order a copy of the original paperwork from the National Archives. The regional offices of the National Archives most often are the repository where the records are now located. In some cases the original records may be available on microfilm at the Archives in Washington, D.C. See below for addresses of where to request copies from of original documents.

The index will give you the information you need to obtain the copy of the original paperwork. It is always best to provide the Archives as much information as possible when requesting a record.

What’s Included in this Database:

This database includes the following indexes:

Alaska:

  • Indexes to Naturalization Records of the U.S. District Court for the District Territory, and State of Alaska (Third Division), 1903-1991 (National Archives Microfilm Publication M1788, 22 rolls); Records of District Courts of the United States, Record Group 21; National Archives, Washington, D.C.


    • California:

  • Naturalization Index Cards of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California, Central Division (Los Angeles), 1915-1976 (National Archives Microfilm Publication M1525, 114 rolls); Records of District Courts of the United States, Record Group 21; National Archives, Washington, D.C.
  • Index Cards to Overseas Military Petitions of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California, Central Division (Los Angeles), 1943-1956 (National Archives Microfilm Publication M1606, 2 rolls); Records of District Courts of the United States, Record Group 21; National Archives, Washington, D.C.

  • Index to Naturalization Records of the U.S. District for the Southern District of California, Central Division (Los Angeles), 1887-1937 (National Archives Microfilm Publication M1607, 2 rolls); Records of District Courts of the United States, Record Group 21; National Archives, Washington, D.C.


  • Index to Naturalized Citizens from the Superior Court of San Diego, California, 1868-1958 (National Archives Microfilm Publication M1526, 5 rolls); National Archives Gift Collection, Record Group 200; National Archives, Washington, D.C.

  • Index to Citizens Naturalized in the Superior Court of San Diego, California, 1853-1956 (National Archives Microfilm Publication M1609, 1 roll); National Archives Gift Collection, Record Group 200; National Archives, Washington, D.C.

  • Index to Declarations of Intention in the Superior Court of San Diego County, California, 1853-1956 (National Archives Microfilm Publication M1612, 1 roll); National Archives Gift Collection, Record Group 200; National Archives, Washington, D.C.


  • Naturalization Index of the Superior Court for Los Angeles County, California, 1852-1915 (National Archives Microfilm Publication M1608, 1 roll); National Archives Gift Collection, Record Group 200; National Archives, Washington, D.C.


  • Index to Naturalization in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, 1852-ca. 1989 (National Archives Microfilm Publication M1744, 165 rolls); Records of District Courts of the United States, Record Group 21; National Archives, Washington, D.C.


    • Hawaii:

  • Index to Naturalizations of the U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaii, 1900-1976 (National Archives Microfilm Publication M2074, 23 rolls); Records of District Courts of the United States, Record Group 21; National Archives, Washington, D.C.


    • Connecticut:

  • Indexes to Naturalization Petitions for United States District Courts, Connecticut, 1851-1992 (National Archives Microfilm Publication M2081, 47 rolls); Records of District Courts of the United States, Record Group 21; National Archives, Washington, D.C.


    • Illinois:

  • Soundex Index to Naturalization Petitions for the United States District and Circuit Courts, Northern District of Illinois and Immigration and Naturalization Service District 9, 1840-1950 (National Archives Microfilm Publication M1285, 179 rolls); Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, Record Group 85; National Archives, Washington, D.C.


    • Louisiana:

  • Card Index to Naturalizations in Louisiana (National Archives Microfilm Publication P2087, 20 rolls); Records of District Courts of the United States, Record Group 21; National Archives, Washington, D.C.


    • Maine:

  • Indexes to Naturalization Records of Federal Courts, Portland, Maine, 1851-1955 (National Archives Microfilm Publication M2083, 6 rolls); Records of District Courts of the United States, Record Group 21; National Archives, Washington, D.C.


    • Montana:

  • Indexes to Naturalization Records of the Montana Territorial and Federal Courts, 1868-1929 (National Archives Microfilm Publication M1236, 1 roll); Records of District Courts of the United States, Record Group 21; National Archives, Washington, D.C.


    • New England:

  • Index to New England Naturalization Petitions, 1791-1906 (National Archives Microfilm Publication M1299, 117 rolls); Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, Record Group 85; National Archives, Washington, D.C.


    • New York:

  • Soundex Index to Petitions for Naturalizations Filed in Federal, State, and Local Courts in New York City, 1792-1906 (National Archives Microfilm Publication M1674, 294 rolls); Records of District Courts of the United States, Record Group 21; National Archives, Washington, D.C.

  • Alphabetical Index to Declarations of Intention of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, 1917-1950 (National Archives Microfilm Publication M1675, 111 rolls); Records of District Courts of the United States, Record Group 21; National Archives, Washington, D.C.

  • Alphabetical Index to Petitions for Naturalization of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York, 1906-1966 (National Archives Microfilm Publication M1677, 20 rolls); Records of District Courts of the United States, Record Group 21; National Archives, Washington, D.C.


    • Pennsylvania:

  • Indexes to Naturalization Petitions in the U.S. Circuit and District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, 1795-1951 (National Archives Microfilm Publication M1248, 60 rolls); Records of District Courts of the United States, Record Group 21; National Archives, Washington, D.C.


    • Tennessee:

  • Index to Naturalization Records of the U.S. District for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Chattanooga, 1888-1955 (National Archives Microfilm Publication M1611, 1 roll); Records of District Courts of the United States, Record Group 21; National Archives, Washington, D.C.


    • Washington:

  • Indexes to Naturalization Records of the U.S. District Court for Western Washington, Northern Division (Seattle), 1890-1952 (National Archives Microfilm Publication M1232, 6 rolls); Records of District Courts of the United States, Record Group 21; National Archives, Washington, D.C.

  • Indexes to Naturalization Records of King County [Washington] Territorial and Superior Courts, 1864-1889 and 1906-1928 (National Archives Microfilm Publication M1233, 1 roll); Records of District Courts of the United States, Record Group 21; National Archives, Washington, D.C.

  • Indexes to Naturalization Records of the Thurston County [Washington] Territorial and Superior Courts, 1850-1974 (National Archives Microfilm Publication M1234, 2 rolls); Records of District Courts of the United States, Record Group 21; National Archives, Washington, D.C.

  • Indexes to Naturalization Records of the Snohomish County [Washington] Territorial and Superior Courts, 1876-1974 (National Archives Microfilm Publication M1235, 3 rolls); Records of District Courts of the United States, Record Group 21; National Archives, Washington, D.C.

  • Indexes to Naturalization Records of the U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington, Southern Division (Tacoma), 1890-1953 (National Archives Microfilm Publication 1237, 2 rolls); Records of District Courts of the United States, Record Group 21; National Archives, Washington, D.C.

  • Indexes to Naturalization Records of the Pierce County [Washington] Territorial and Superior Courts, 1853-1923 (National Archives Microfilm Publication M1238, 2 rolls); Records of District Courts of the United States, Record Group 21; National Archives, Washington, D.C.


    • Introduction to Naturalization Records:

    The act and procedure of becoming a citizen of a country is called naturalization. In the U.S., naturalization is a judicial procedure that flows from Congressional legislation. However, from the time the first naturalization act was passed in 1790 until 1906, there were no uniform standards. As a consequence, before September 1906, various federal, state, county, and local courts generated a wide variety of citizenship records that are stored in sundry courts, archives, warehouses, libraries, and private collections. After 1906 the vast majority of naturalizations took place in federal courts.

    Naturalization laws have changed over the years. These acts are important to understand as they would have greatly impacted when your ancestor was able to become naturalized, as well as the exact process he or she had to go through to become a citizen. For example, some naturalization acts required residency in the U.S. for a certain number of years, some excluded certain ethnicities from being able to become citizens, and others granted citizenship status in exchange for military service.

    The Naturalization Process:

    The first responsibility for an immigrant wishing to become an official U.S. citizen was to complete a Declaration of Intention. These papers are sometimes called First Papers since they are the first forms to be completed in the naturalization process. Generally these papers were filled out fairly soon after an immigrant\'s arrival in America. Due to some laws, there were times when certain groups of individuals were exempt from this step.

    After the immigrant had completed these papers and met the residency requirement (which was usually five years), the individual was able to submit his Petition for Naturalization. Petitions are also known as Second or Final Papers because they are the second and final set of papers completed in the naturalization process.

    Immigrants also took a naturalization oath or oath of allegiance. A copy of this oath is often filed with the immigrant\'s first or second papers. After an immigrant had completed all citizenship requirements he was issued a certificate of naturalization. Many of these documents can be found in the records of the court in which they were created.

    Other naturalization records include naturalization certificate stubs and certificates of arrival.

    Many immigrants took out their First Papers as soon as they arrived in America, in whatever county and state that may have been. Later they would file their Second Papers in the location in which they took up residence.

    '); } function DbInfoHasWhereToGo() { return true; } function DbInfoWhereToGo() { document.write('

    Help index this collection! The World Archives Project allows anyone to help bring FREE historical records to the public. Simply download the software and select the projects you want to help with. The resulting searchable indexes will be available free of charge on Ancestry.com.

        Start indexing these records today!

    '); } function DbInfoHasSourceInfo() { return true; } function DbInfoSourceInfo() { document.write('

    Ancestry.com. Selected U.S. Naturalization Record Indexes, 1791-1992 (World Archives Project) [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2009. Original data: See bottom of long description below for complete citation of National Archives (NARA) microfilm rolls.
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