I received this from a coworker from a list she's on. Thought it might be of use. >Subject: Naturalization > > >>There are THREE documents to obtain for Naturalization. >>(1) Declaration of Intent filed first and called First Papers. >>Here renouncement to a foreign government and intent to >>become a United States citizen were pledged. This was >>usually two years before application to become a citizen >>was done. Even if the alien >>never became a citizen, the Intent Papers should be on >>file. >>(2) Petition for Naturalization was the second step filed >>with the court. The alien would have to had met residency >>requirements of five years in the United States, one year >>in the state, and declared intention to become citizens. >>(3) Final Papers or Certificate granting citizenship. >>Be sure to get all three. The first two contain the most >>information, such as, full name, date of birth, place of >>origin, date of arrival, ship arrived on, who their sponsor >>was, where they were living at the time of petition. >>To write for citizenship/naturalization papers, from >>September 26, 1906: >>Immigration & Naturalization Service >>FOIA/PA Officer, Chester Arthur Building >>425 I Street N.W., >>ULLICO Building >>2nd Floor >>Washington D.C. 20536 >>Phone:202-514-3278 Fax: 202-514-3902 >>Ask for Form G-639 or in a letter "RE: Freedom of >>Information Act", give Name, Date of birth, and place of >>birth, date of Naturalization if you know it. >>Note that the Naturalization Act of June 29, 1906 required >>issuance of a "Certificate of Arrival" for aliens filing a >>Declaration of Intention. Be sure to request this >>document...it will give you the name, date, and port of >>arrival. >>For citizenship documents before September 26, 1906 >>you should write to the INS Regional Archives, if done in a >>federal court; OR write to the state court, OR county >>clerk's office. >>this should help