How to: Search Naturalization Records

The first step in the naturalization process, by which an applicant declared his intention to become a citizen and renounced his allegiance to a foreign government. Those who entered the country as minors were not required to make a declaration of intention, nor were applicants who were married to U.S. citizens.

Information found in pre-1906 declarations of intention (sometimes called “first papers”) varies, but generally includes only the name of the applicant, date of declaration, port of arrival, and country (but not town) of origin or allegiance. The applicant’s age and year of arrival in the U.S. are sometimes also given. After 1906, declarations include some or all of the following: name, age, occupation, race, complexion, height, weight, color of hair and eyes, place and date of birth, address, port of embarkation for the U.S., name of ship, former place of residence, port and date of arrival in U.S.

The formal petition to the court asking to be made a citizen was made several years (the length of the waiting period varied over time) after the declaration of intention was filed. The petition was generally made on the day the naturalization was granted. Some petitions make reference to the date of the declaration of intention and the court in which it was filed.
Petitions give much the same information as the post-1906 declarations: name, address, occupation, date of birth, place of birth, port of embarkation to U.S., date of embarkation, port of arrival, date of arrival, name of ship, date and location of court in which declaration was filed. The petition (for males) also gives marital status, name of wife, her date and place of birth and current residence, and the name, birth date, place of birth, and address of minor children. The petition also provides the opportunity for the petitioner to “Americanize” his name.

Statement of the applicant renouncing allegiance to foreign government and swearing allegiance to the U.S. government. Accompanied by statements of several witnesses who attest that they know the applicant to be of good character and to have met the designated residency requirements for naturalization. (The witnesses may be relatives of the applicant.) Oaths of Applicants and Witnesses are unindexed; however, they may be filed with other naturalization records for individuals.

Formal document granting citizenship. Pre-1906 certificates give very little information beyond the name of applicant, date of naturalization, and country of origin or former allegiance. Certificates are not included in the post-1906 federal records; after 1906, a copy of the certificate was given to the new citizen and a copy was sent to the Immigration and Naturalization Service, where it was kept on file. In the federal court records, the oath is followed simply by an order of the court admitting the applicant to citizenship. Researchers wanting to obtain a copy of a naturalization certificate post 1906 should contact the US Citizenship and Immigration services directly.