Naturalization in the United States
Phyllis Kramer, Palm Beach JGS, 2009
Quick Guide to Finding Naturalization Papers
 Start with all available census, note the year, city, responses of na/pa/alien
 Search the manifests for clues
 Search other documents: draft, death certificates, Voter’s Registration
 Search major sites like Ancestry.com, Italiangen.org and Footnote.com
Major Sites:
 Best WebSite for Naturalization Information by State:
http://home.att.net/~wee-monster/naturalization.html
 ItalianGen.org
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For current list of indexes and data go to: http://www.italiangen.org/databaselist.stm
New York: Indexes for Eastern (Bklyn) and Southern (Manhattan,Bronx) Districts (1824-1957)
Nassau and Suffolk County Supreme Courts,
Upstate New York: Northern Country Court, Essex County, Western District Court
Bronx, Richmond and Queens Borough Supreme Courts (1914-1952)
New Jersey: Clinton and Essex Counties (1836-1906), Trenton (1838-1967)
New York Northern County Court
 Footnote: http://www.footnote.com (fee based)
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Partnership with NARA.
Many Naturalization Records for Louisiana (Eastern), Massachusetts, Maryland, New York
(Eastern/Southern/Western Districts), Ohio (Northern), Pa. (Eastern/Middle/Western Districts)
Not particularly easy to use the query facilities
For current list of indexes and data go to: http://www.footnote.com/browse.php
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Ancestry.com
World Archives Project - 1.2Million Documents and 5.4 million indexes. This
project encourages users to index NARA microfilms. To see the list of databases
covered, click on the “collaborate” tab, then World Archives Project.
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(fee based, free in library)
Southern California Naturalization Indexes-76%76%
Illinois Naturalization Indexes -82%
N. California Naturalization Indexes -35%
NYC Naturalization Indexes – 62%
Washington and Montana Naturalization Indexes -52%54%
New York, U.S. Naturalization Records - Original Documents, 1795-1972 – 5%
California, U.S. Naturalization Records - Original Documents, 1795-1972 – 22%22%
Pennsylvania, U.S. Naturalization Records - Original Documents, 1795-197219%-19%
U.S.Naturalization Record Indexes: 2.4 Million Records– this database appears to
be a mixture of early and later (post-1906) indexes. Ancestry does not list the
years covered for each court or state. Includes: Alaska California Delaware District of Columbia
Maryland Massachusetts Michigan New York Ohio Oregon Pennsylvania
Phyllis Kramer, VP Education, JewishGen
Page# 1
Copyright 2009
Naturalization in the U.S.
Naturalization in the United States
Phyllis Kramer, Palm Beach JGS, 2009
 NARA Microfilms and Online Order Function
o General Genealogy http://www.archives.gov/genealogy/
o Naturalization: http://www.archives.gov/genealogy/naturalization/index.html.
o Order Function:
https://eservices.archives.gov/orderonline/start.swe?SWECmd=Start&SWEHo=eservices.archive
s.gov
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Mormons: Microfilm Catalog http://www.familysearch.org
o Record Search project: http://pilot.familysearch.org/recordsearch/start.html#
o Catalog at http://www.familysearch.org/eng/Library/FHLC/frameset_fhlc.asp
o Each State has microfilmed records including: vital records, newspapers, books, census, courts
 USCIS
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Genealogy Program: http://www.uscis.gov; click on services & benefits, then genealogy
Fee for service: $20 for Index record, $35 for document
Full details are at http://www.globallawcenters.com/uscisforms_g-1041.php
 FOIA: Freedom of Information Act
To file a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Request, write a letter including a clear description of the documents/records you
are requesting with the subject's name and date and place of birth, and your contact information. Be warned that these agencies
will not answer questions; the request must be for records, not information. Download the FOIA request form G-639 from
http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=6f2a4154d7b3d010VgnV
CM10000048f3d6a1RCRD (this web address changes often; I googled USCIS and followed the links)
Key State Naturalization Sites: (check for wildcards and soundex queries)
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New Jersey, Passaic County: (indexes and documents)
http://records.passaiccountynj.org/press/Clerk/ClerkHomePB.aspx?op=basic
New York Major Sites: ItalianGen.org (NYC Indexes), Ancestry.com, Footnote.com
New York Upstate: Albany County (index for 1821-1991):
http://www.albanycounty.com/departments/achor/naturalizationindexes.asp?id=856
Illinois: Cook County (1871-1929) http://www.cookcountyclerkofcourt.org/NR/about.aspx
Penna,Phila: http://www.phila.gov/phils/Docs/Inventor/natz.htm
Other Websites of Interest:
o Naturalization at http://www.gaeleire.freeservers.com/custom2.html
o "Naturalization and Citizenship" at http://www.rootsweb.com/%7Enynewyo2/naturalization/
Phyllis Kramer, VP Education, JewishGen
Page# 2
Copyright 2009
Naturalization in the U.S.