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Re: Question for NARA types and genealogists



Locating naturalization records, both before and after 27 September 1906, can be a challenge.  Hopefully this will assist.

 A "rule of thumb" is that the person was usually naturalized in the nearest, most convenient court, whether Federal or County.  The INS assumed responsibility for naturalizations commencing after 27 September 1906.  Prior to that date, there was no uniformity of form/question/filing.  Each court acted as it saw fit, and retained only those papers it deemed necessary to record the event.

After 27 September 1906, the forms were standardized nationwide.  For the first time, all courts were using the same forms, and the same filing systems. 

When the Declaration of Intention was filed, three were filled out.
#1 was given to the applicant.  This would be turned in to a court when the person was ready to file the Petition, and would eventually be filed with the Petition.

#2 was forwarded to the INS.  Same disposition as above EXCEPT....if the applicant allowed the Declcaration to lapse (it was valid only for 7 years), the INS copy would be destroyed.

#3 was retained by the court.  Even if the Declaration were allowed to lapse, the court retained its copy.

The Petition for Naturalization or final papers admitting the applicant to citizenship, was filed (together with the Declaration of Intention) among the papers of the court.  A copy of the Petition as forwarded to the INS.  The applicant did NOT receive a copy.

Where are the papers today?

INS...obviously has a copy  since 27 September 1906.  They may be requested from the INS under the Freedom of Information Act.


The original was retained by the court.  If the naturalization took place in a Federal, i.e., U.S. Circuit or District Court, then the records will be found in the Regional Archives facility for that region.  If it took place in a non-Federal Court, then the records will be found in that court.   


If one is not sure just where the naturalization took place, a good local source is the Voter Registration records where the person resided.  When the new citizen went to register to vote, he/she would have had to show the Certificate of Naturalization to the Clerk.  Voter Registration records usually indicate the date and court of naturalization, and sometimes the Petition number.

Walter V. Hickey
Archives Specialist
NARA-Northeast Region (Boston)

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