Some of you may already have this information, but I am sure there are others like me who do not. While at my local library genealogy room I came across these two articles. I would like to share them in hopes that they might help someone in their research. STATUS OF WOMEN - GOOD/BAD Genealogists should be aware of laws and amendments from 1907 to 1916 that determine citizenship for American women and even robbed certain American women of their citizenship. 2 March 1907 - as a result of section 3 of an act of Congress, any American woman who married a man not born in the U.S. assumed the nationality of her husband. 22 Sept. 1922 Congress repealed section 3 but did not restore citizenship. 22 Sept. 1922 - 25 June 1936 - A native born American woman who married a man of foreign birth was required to do the following to regain her citizenship: file a petition for citizenship; provide proof and witnesses to the facts of her petition and character; take an oath of allegiance, and receive a certificate of naturalization. 25 June 1936 - a woman who married a foreigner was required to prove that she was born in the USA, that she had lost her citizenship by marriage to an alien and that the marriage had ended. She then took an oath of allegiance, using Form2234. Two copies of this form were filed, one in the court where the naturalization occurred and the other with the Naturalization Service. 3 March 1931 - a woman no longer acquired citizenship through marriage to a citizen or through the naturalization of her husband. Instead, she could achieve citizenship independently by fulfilling all of the requirements (46 Stats.1511, Sec 2). After march 1931, marriage to an alien did not dictate that a woman lose her citizenship, unless she formally renounced her citizenship in a court of law (46 Stat.1511, Sec.3a). An understanding of these acts of congress may answer questions about the nationality of your female ancestor. Irish Gen. Quarterly, March'88 Vol 7; Carlton G.S. April '99 ADOPTION RECORDS These records did not become confidential until July 8, 1941 when Act 1941, Chapter 146, Section 6 became effective. Legislation pertaining to adoptions that had been enacted prior to 1941, focused on the issure of providing legal proof to heirship to that the adopted child become an heir at law of the adoptive parents. The intent of the pre 1941 legislation was to make the adoption a public matter. All adoptions prior to 1941 were recorded in the civic or probate order book which were and are public records. Records pertaining to adoptions after July 8, 1941, are confidential: All court orders, judgments, case filed, etc. pertaining to post 1941 adoptions are to remain confidential. Zion, IL G.S. '95; Carlton Co G.S. Feb '99