British Columbia Naturalization and Citizenship: Difference between revisions

 

British Columbia did not join Canada until 1871 so naturalization and citizenship were handled by the colonial government(s) before 1871. The earliest naturalization records are Oaths of Allegiance signed from 1859 and are in the British Columbia Archives. A number of finding aids for these and later naturalization records are searchable on the [http://www.bcarchives.bc.ca BC Archives website] and these records are included in this online collection: [https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/British_Columbia_Naturalization_Records_%28FamilySearch_Historical_Records%29 British Columbia Naturalization Records, (FamilySearch Historical Records)].<br>  

 

Many times, local newspapers reported on naturalization and citizenship hearings and decisions. For articles from the earliest years in British Columbia, search the [http://www.britishcolonist.ca/ British Colonist Online, 1858-1910.] Although this newspaper was based in Victoria on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, it carried news from the mainland of British Columbia as well as local news.

 

Christopher J. P. Hanna indexed British Columbia Naturalizations from 1859 to 1882. His index is available in the [http://www.bcgs.ca/?page_id=87 British Columbia Genealogical Society's Walter Draycott Library].&nbsp; A British Columbia Genealogical Society (BCGS) volunteer is re-indexing these records and that index, an on-going project, is on the [http://www.bcgs.ca/?page_id=1491 BCGS BC Research Projects page].