Naturalization Records

Naturalization is the process by which an alien becomes an American citizen. These records can provide a researcher with information such as a person's birth date and location, occupation, immigration year, marital status and spouse information, witnesses' names and addresses, and more.

From the first naturalization law passed by Congress in 1790 through much of the 20th century, an alien could become naturalized in any court of record. In most cases naturalization was a 2 step process that took at least 5 years. After living in the US for 2 years an immigant could file papers of intent, then 3 years later file a petition for naturalization. These papers didn't have to be filed in the same court.

Exceptions to the 2 step process:

1. "Derivative" citizenship was granted to wives and minor children of naturalized men. From 1790 to 1922, wives of naturalized men automatically became citizens. This also meant that an alien woman who married a U.S. citizen automatically became a citizen. (Conversely, an American woman who married an alien lost her U.S. citizenship, even if she never left the United States.)
2. From 1824 to 1906, minor aliens who had lived in the United States 5 years before their 23rd birthday could file both their declarations and petitions at the same time.
3. An 1862 law allowed honorably discharged Army veterans of any war to petition for naturalization--without previously having filed a declaration of intent--after only 1 year of residence in the United States. An 1894 law extended the same no-previous-declaration privilege to honorably discharged 5-year veterans of the Navy or Marine Corps. Over 192,000 aliens were naturalized between May 9, 1918, and June 30, 1919, under an act of May 9, 1918, that allowed aliens serving in the U.S. armed forces during "the present war" to file a petition for naturalization without making a declaration of intent or proving 5 years' residence. Laws enacted in 1919, 1926, 1940, and 1952 continued various preferential treatment provisions for veterans.

Before 1906, any "court of record" (municipal, county, state, or Federal) could grant U.S. citizenship. The National Archives doesn't normally have a copy of these records, but a few are in the county and state microfilm available. Contact the State Archives for the state where the naturalization occurred to request a search of state, county, and local courts records. Also contact the NARA regional facility that serves the state where naturalization occurred to request a search of Federal court records.

After 1906, the courts forwarded copies of naturalizations to the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). Naturalizations from Federal Courts are held in the NARA's regional facilities for the Federal courts for their area. The National Archives in Washington, D.C. holds naturalization records for Federal Courts in Washington, D.C. More information.

Happy hunting.

Dale L. Edwards

Immigration Records

The National Archives has immigration records from 1820 to 1982. There are some earlier immigration records that are incomplete for the port of Philadelphia beginning in 1800, and for the port of New Orleans, 1813-1819. Most pre-1820 passenger lists have been published.

Here is some of the types of information you can find in the immigration records:

• one's nationality, place of birth
• ship name and date of entry to the United States
• age, height, eye and hair color
• profession
• place of last residence
• name and address of relatives they are joining in the U.S.
• amount of money they are carrying, etc.

They do not have passenger lists available online, but there is a list of the microfilm available for each port. You can also search the Microfilm Catalog to see which regional locations have the microfilm you are seeking. Type in Passenger as the keyword. More information.

General Overview

• Immigration Records (Ship Passenger Arrival Records)
• Order copies of passenger lists using the Order Online! system, or with NATF Form 81

Specific Immigration Topics

• Canadian Border Crossing Records, an article in Prologue
• Chinese Immigration and Chinese in the United States: Records in NARA's Regional Archives
• "Famine Irish Passenger Records" in the Access to Archives Databases (AAD). This database identifies 604,596 persons who arrived in the Port of New York, from 1846-1851. Despite the name of the records, approximately 30 percent of the passengers list their native country as other than Ireland.
• Great Lakes Crew Lists
• Index to Case Files for Early Immigrants to San Francisco and Hawaii
• Mexican Border Crossing Records
• View Selected Chinese Immigration Records Online
• Genealogical CD-ROMS on Immigration in the Archives Library Information Center, National Archives Building, Washington, DC
• See the Passenger Arrival Records of the von Trapp Family
• View Selected Alien and Immigration Records Online

Happy hunting.

Dale L. Edwards

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