Naturalizations in Civil Courts
The original records of naturalizations granted by the Orleans Parish civil courts were transferred to the City Archives along with the other civil court records. The records include declarations of intention, oaths of applicants and witnesses, and certificates of naturalization. The Orleans Parish civil courts kept separate books for certificates of majors and minors (those who entered the U.S. as minors).
The Archives holds naturalizations only for Orleans Parish. Naturalizations granted in other parish (or in Mississippi) must be obtained from the Clerk of Court of the relevant parish/county.
These records are currently unavailable due to an ongoing digitization project.
Index to Certificates of Naturalization Issued by Louisiana Courts, 1831-1906
Prepared by the New Orleans District Office of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, this index serves as a master index to the final naturalization certificates (but not to the declarations) in Orleans Parish civil and criminal courts and in civil courts in other Louisiana Parishes. The index also includes some naturalizations for Mississippi courts. (The original copy of this index is housed at the National Archives and Records Administration’s Southwest Region facility in Fort Worth, Texas.)
Available on microfilm in the City Archives, call number:
Since the index does not reference declarations of intention, the declarations can be easily located only if the naturalization certificate notes the date and court where the declaration was filed. Some certificates include that information; others do not.
- Loose Declarations of Intention, 1841-1846. Available on microfilm in the City Archives, call number: mf VNM320
- Loose Certificates (Majors and Minors), 1828-1846. Available on microfilm in the City Archives, call number: mf VNM743m
- Declarations of Intention, 1836-1844. Available on microfilm in the City Archives, call number: mf VNA320
- Certificates (Majors and Minors), 1836-1846. Available on microfilm in the City Archives, call number: mf VNA743ma
Naturalization records from the Second District Court are available on microfilm in the City Archives under the following call numbers:
- Oaths of Applicants and Witnesses, 1874-1870, call number: mf VNB250
- Declarations of Intention, 1849-1884, call number: mf VNB320
- Certificates (Majors), 1850-1878, call number: mf VNB743a
- Certificates (Minors), 1850-1884 mf VNB743m
- Certificates (Majors and Minors), 1872-1874, call number: mf VNB743ma
Naturalization records from the Third District Court are available on microfilm in the City Archives under the following call numbers:
- Oaths of Applicants and Witnesses, 1846-1867, call number: mf VNC250
- Declarations of Intention, 1848-1877, call number: mf VNC320
- Certificates (Majors), 1846-1867, call number: mf VNC743a
- Certificates (Minors), 1867-1876, call number: mf VNC743m
Naturalization records from the Fourth District Court are available on microfilm in the City Archives under the following call numbers:
- Declarations of Intention, 1854-1874, call number: mf VND320
- Certificates (Majors), 1854-1879,, call number: mf VND743a
- Certificates (Minors), 1866-1880, call number: mf VND743m
Naturalization records from the Fifth District Court are available on microfilm in the City Archives under the following call numbers:
- Declarations of Intention, 1854-1879, call number: mf VNE320
- Certificates (Majors), 1866-1877, call number: mf VNE743a
- Certificates (Minors), 1866-1879, call number mf VNE743m
- Certificates (Soldiers and Sailors), 1868-1878, call number: mf VNE743s
Naturalization records from the Sixth District Court are available on microfilm in the City Archives under the following call numbers:
- Declarations of Intention, 1863-1878, call number: mf VNF320
- Certificates (Majors), 1865-1872, call number: mf VNF743a
- Certificates (Minors), 1853-1880, call number: mf VNF743m
- Certificates (Majors and Minors), 1868-1872. Available on microfilm in the City Archives, call number: mf VNG743ma
Naturalization records from the Civil District Court are available on microfilm in the City Archives under the following call numbers:
- Oaths of Applicants and Witnesses, 1880-1903, call number: mf VNT250
- Declarations of Intention, 1888-1906, call number: mf VNT320
- Loose Declarations from State Courts, 1880-1903, call number: mf VNT320s
- Certificates (Majors), 1879-1906, call number: mf VNT743a
- Certificates (Minors), 1884-1906, call number: mf VNT743m
- Loose Certificates (Majors and Minors). Available on microfilm in the City Archives, call number: mf II VNL743ma
