At 05:15 AM 11/8/00 -0700, you wrote: >I am looking for pre-1906 naturalization records, >in Bridgeport, CT. (at least that's the first likely >town I'm starting with). > >When writing to the closest local court, is there usually a fee for the >clerk's time to search? I found the costs >for vital records but not for a search for a >naturalization record. Any advice? > >thanks, >Deborah Sterling >dls18@earthlink.net Deborah and all - I found this link on my "Cyndi's List - Immigration & Naturalization" page at: http://www.CyndisList.com/immigrat.htm Finding Aid to Naturalization Records at the Connecticut State Library http://www.cslnet.ctstateu.edu/natural.htm That web site states: "Prior to September 26, 1906, naturalization proceedings took place in local, state, or federal courts." Followed by: "In the late 1950s and early 1960s, naturalization records from some of Connecticut's municipal courts were transferred to the US District Courts for Connecticut. Those records were subsequently transferred to the National Archives along with naturalization records from the federal courts for Connecticut (United States District and Circuit Courts) for the 131 years from 1842 to 1973. All of these records -- municipal and federal court -- are cataloged as National Archives Record Group 21 at the National Archives -- New England Region, 380 Trapelo Road, Waltham, MA 02154 (tel. 781-647-8104)." You need to be sure and read all the details on this web page. It mentions the fact that there are several different record groups at the archives that have naturalization records in them. It also indicates that some of the records have been photocopied by the State Archives and some have been microfilmed by the LDS church. This means you have several different repositories and several different record groups to search through. Did anyone ever tell you that genealogy would be quick and easy? <g> Good luck, Cyndi