Below is a wonderfully informative post regarding researching Naturalizations that was sent to the Adair County, MO list by our wonderful county website coordinator, Claudia Minor <cminor@qni.com>. Leslie Kohler - ------------------------------------------------- From: Claudia Minor <cminor@qni.com>. This link give a wealth of history and information on Naturalization: Lesson 11: Modern Naturalization Records: http://www.genealogy.com/102/lesson11/course11_01.html Here is a part from this link: 1900 Census Records: Most researchers believe the 1900 and later census records are the best starting point. In 1900, the census asked the year each foreign born adult came to the U.S., and if each were naturalized. The census used three codes to indicate the naturalization status: "Al" for alien (meaning they had not yet begun the process), "Pa" for papers (meaning the Declaration of Intent was filed), and "Na" for those who had completed their naturalization. Do not misinterpret the year, which is listed on the census after the naturalization status. That is the year of immigration, not the year of naturalization. Obviously, if an immigrant shows "Na" then you will probably not be seeking the new, post-1906 naturalization documents. 1910 and 1920 Census Records: Also search the 1910 and 1920 census records for the immigrant. The 1910 census asks the same questions, and uses the same abbreviations. In 1920, the census records the year of naturalization as well as the year of immigration -- a great boon to research. Remember, the information on census records may not be accurate, especially regarding dates many years previous, but the citizenship status is usually correct. State Court Records: Once you have learned that an immigrant was naturalized after 1906, your goal becomes obtaining the naturalization documents. Begin by searching indices for the courts where the immigrant lived the majority of his adult life. Start with the local courts, unless the naturalization took place after about 1930. Generally they are easier to search, and should have local indices. You will usually find records of state courts at one of three locations: the court itself often still has the records the state archives (or historical society) may have obtained them. the Family History Library and its system of Family History Centers has many state court naturalization records available on microfilm. For a useful overview of most county/state court records, see the book by Christina Schaefer described later in this lesson. Federal Court Records: You will also want to check the records of federal courts. Determine the federal court which had jurisdiction for the area where the immigrant lived. Contact that court to learn if they still have the naturalization records, and if they have maintained an index. Many federal court records have been gathered to the National Archives Field Offices, so you may need to write to the regional archives, or travel there. Many of those records have also been microfilmed by the Family History Library as well. The WPA created several indices to naturalization records during the 1930s. Often these include pre- and post-1906 naturalizations, and may include state as well as federal records. These indices often coincide with the jurisdiction of the regional branches of the National Archives so, for example, the Boston area archives has an excellent index to New England naturalizations. In fact, the Family History Library has the best collection of naturalization records in the county. Most of the films they have made of federal records simply are not available at or through the National Archives (although copies will be at the regional archives where the filming was done). Therefore, a trip to your local Family History Center may be one of the best places to begin your search. Examine the Family History Library Catalog for the localities of interest under the heading "Naturalization and Citizenship." We should also mention that the Immigration and Naturalization Service maintains an index to (allegedly) all naturalizations in the country since 1906. You can contact them at 425 I Street NW, Washington, DC 20536 to learn of their fees, conditions, and forms for requesting a search of their index. Note, however, that most researchers generally prefer to search for themselves, rather than trusting someone else who may not find the immigrant in a massive card file. Claudia