TipWorld - http://www.tipworld.com The Internet's #1 Source for Computer Tips, News, and Gossip Proudly presents: Genealogy And now for today's tip... NATURALIZATION RECORDS FOR WOMEN If you're searching for a naturalization record for a female ancestor, you may be out of luck. In the past, naturalization laws for women were very different from those for men because women did not have the right to vote, and as such, had no "reason" to have citizenship. A woman's rights came through marriage or through inheritance from a male relative. An 1804 law said that if a man died before final citizenship papers were granted, his wife and children were automatically given citizenship. An 1855 law stated that any female alien who married a U.S. citizen automatically became a citizen. If a woman was not married, she had to wait until she was 21 before filing for citizenship. If a husband and wife became citizens at the same time, the wife's name was not included on her husband's paperwork. --by Diana J. Muir ---------------------------------------------- Born and raised in Iowa, Diana Muir began studying genealogy at the age of 18 and has subsequently taught genealogy and conducted research for 30 years. Specializing in the Midwestern United States, she has also done extensive research in Southern and Eastern States, as well as England and Ireland. Diana operates an online K-12 and post-secondary school on the Internet, Porta School, Inc., and maintains her own Web page--Mother Hubbard's Cupboard--at http://www.rootsweb.com/~genclass/ which offers eight online genealogy courses.