Naturalization is the process where an immigrant becomes an American citizen. Finding a naturalization record can help you learn the original hometown of your ancestor or other information about your ancestor. Check out our post on two important records for immigrant ancestor.
Prior to September 27, 1906, any “court of record” (municipal, county, state, or Federal) could grant citizenship. Often people went to the court most convenient for them. National Archives has a few indexes and records from counties, states, and local courts. Beginning September 27, 1906, US naturalization law imposed a fee that encouraged the transfer of naturalization to Federal courts.
Naturalization was basically a two-step process that took at least five years. After residing in the United States for two years, an alien could file a declaration of intention (“first papers”). After another three years, the alien could petition for naturalization (”second papers”). Once granted, a certificate of citizenship was issued. These two steps did not have to occur in the same court.
Contact the National Archives serving the state in which the ancestor lived to determine if records are available from Federal courts or check out their microfilm collections. No central index exists. Records from state and local courts are sometimes at state archives or historical societies. Ancestry and Fold3 has some naturalization records.
The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has copies of court records (including the certificate of citizenship) from September 27, 1906-March 31, 1956 in Certificate Files (C-Files). Request C-Files and A-Files (Alien Files) through the USCIS Genealogy Program.
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