This message was posted to another list and I thought it would be of interest to a number of us (definitely me!). . . . . . who are looking for naturalizations papers, I don't know if this is the best procedure, but this is how I found my great-grandfather's naturalization papers. By family members, I was told that they were certain he did become a U.S. citizen so I was sure I would find a record somewhere. At the genealogy library of the Midcontinent Library system in Kansas City the librarian directed me to a 4 volume publication called Passenger and Immigration Lists Index. It is published by Gale Research Co and edited by P. William Filby. This index is probably available at most genealogy libraries. In the volume covering A-K, I looked up my great-grandfather's name (Michael ***) and found a Michael *** approximately the right age (14 years old), arriving in the right year (1871), at the right port (New York) and traveling alone (stowaway). These books list family groups traveling together and also the name of the ship they arrived on. From the information in that book, the librarian showed me how to locate another book. There is a code number by each entry and each code refers to another book or court where the naturalization was filed. A list of the codes and their respective references is in the front of the Index book. In my great-grandfather's case it referred me to a book called Philadelphia Naturalization Records also published by Gale Research Co. and edited by P. William Filby. In this book I found that my great-grandfather filed for naturalization in the Court of Common Pleas in Philadelphia in 1879. He had to wait until he was no longer a minor and had been a resident of the United States for five years. The address for the Court of Common Pleas archives was listed. I wrote to the archives in Philadelphia and for $7.00 I finally received the naturalization paper. In this case, there were no declaration of intent papers since he arrived in the United States as a minor. I understand that declaration of intent papers usually contain much more genealogical data and the court would have sent them, too, if there had been any for no extra charge. However, I then found out that this naturalization was never completed. He left Philadelphia before it was complete and moved to Chicago. We did find a completed naturalization for him in Kansas City, Kansas where he filed many years later (1917). To find the Kansas City naturalization we just went to the Wyandotte County Courthouse and looked through their records. To find the records for another relative who was naturalized in Dakota Territory in 1880, we simply wrote to the county court house. Of course, records in larger cities are more complicated to find. I would suggest trying the Passenger and Immigration Lists Index and then contacting the court where the naturalization took place or just contacting the County courthouse where you believe the person was naturalized. I hope this information will help you in your search.