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Index of Petitions for Naturalization
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According to the National Archives web site, naturalization is the process by which an alien becomes an American citizen. Prospective applicants must declare their intention to become citizens, observe the required residence period, and finally petition for admission.
Although naturalization requirements have changed many times since the first laws were passed, it was the act of 1795, further defined in 1802, that initiated a two-part recording process that resulted in distinct sets of papers for researchers to locate when researching ancestors born outside of the United States who later immigrated to this country and applied for citizenship.
Naturalization petitions -- second or final papers -- were filed after the applicant had met the necessary requirements of citizenship and residency. Before 1906, their content varied, often including data such as the names of witnesses, how long a petitioner lived in the United States, current residence, age, former nationality and renunciation of allegiance to foreign governments.
Search the Naturalization Petitions Index
This collection is taken from the following NARA microfilm publications:
- M1368. Petitions and Records of Naturalizations of the US District and Circuit Courts of the District of Massachusetts, 1906-1929. (Uploaded 4/May/2008)
- M1522. Naturalization Petitions for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania 1795-1930. (Uploaded 11/May/2008)
- M1524. Naturalization Petitions for the Southern District of California, 1887-1949. (Uploaded 27/Apr/2008)
- M1537. Naturalization petitions of the US District Court, 1820-1930, and the Circuit Court, 1820-1911, for the Western District of Pennsylvania. (Uploaded 20/Apr/2008)
- M1626. Naturalization records for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, 1906-1930, also include US Circuit Court records for 1901-1906. (Uploaded 27/Apr/2008)
- M1640. Naturalization Petitions of the US District Court for the District of Maryland, 1906-1930. (Uploaded 20/Apr/2008)
- P2233. Naturalization records in this publication include petitions and oaths for new citizens in New Orleans, Louisiana from 1838 to 1861. (Uploaded 11/May/2008)
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Additional Information
- Naturalization Records (NARA)
- New York Petitions for Naturalization
- Naturalization Petitions: Soundex Search Request
- Naturalization Records for Minnesota
- They Became Americans: Finding Naturalization Records
