Washington, Naturalization Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

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Washington, Naturalization Records, 1850-1994
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This article describes a collection of records at FamilySearch.org.
Washington, 
United States
Flag of the United States of America
Flag of the United States of America
US Flag 1851-1858 (31 stars)
US Flag 1851-1858 (31 stars)
National Archives and Records Administration Logo
National Archives and Records Administration Logo
Location of the United States of America
Location of the United States of America
Record Description
Record Type Naturalization
Record Group RG 21: Records of District Courts of the United States
Collection years 1850-1994
Microfilm Publication M1542. Naturalization Records of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, 1890-1957. 153 rolls
National Archives Identifier 592779, 5709976
FamilySearch Resources
Related Websites
Archive
National Archives and Records Administration
National Archives at Seattle


What is in This Collection?

This collection consists of petitions for naturalization records and indexes of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, 1853-1957 for Seattle and Tacoma. These records correspond to NARA publication M1542 and is part of Record Group 21 Records of the District Courts of the United States.

Seattle Term

Tacoma Term

Additional records and/or images may be added to this collection in the future.

Index and Image Visibility

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To Browse This Collection

You can browse through images in this collection using the waypoints on the Collection Browse Page for Washington Naturalization Records, 1850-1994.

What Can These Records Tell Me?

The following information may be found in these records:

  • Person's name
  • Country of birth
  • Arrival date
  • Date of Declaration of Intent or Naturalization
  • Names of witnesses
  • Signature of judge or court official
  • Birth date or age
  • Birthplace
  • Race
  • Last foreign residence
  • Current residence
  • Arrival place
  • Marital status
  • Name of spouse
  • Maiden name of wife
  • Birth date of spouse
  • Residence of spouse

Collection Content

Sample Images

How Do I Search This Collection?

Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:

  • Name of the person
  • The location or date of the event

Search the Index

Search by name on the Collection Details Page.
  1. Enter the information in the fields in the Search Collection section or click More Options to see additional fields
  2. Click Search to show possible matches

View the Images

View images in this collection by visiting the Collection Browse Page:
  1. Select Record Type, Year Range, and Volume Number or Letter to view the images

How Do I Analyze the Results?

Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

What Do I Do Next?

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

  • Add any new information to your records
  • If available, check the image for additional information
  • Analyze the entry to see if it provides additional clues to find other records of the person or their family
  • Record entries for other people with the same surname to identify possible relationships

I Can’t Find the Person I’m Looking For, What Now?

  • The person may be recorded with an abbreviated or variant form of their name
  • Try searching by surname only
  • Remember that spelling was generally not standardized until the early part of the 20th century

Research Helps

The following articles will help you research your family in the state of Washington.

Other FamilySearch Collections

These collections may have additional materials to help you with your research.

FamilySearch Catalog

  • Newman, John J. American Naturalization Records;1790-1990: what they are and how to use them. Bountiful, Utah: Heritage Quest, 1998. FS Catalog book 973 P47na
  • Szucs, Loretto Dennis They became Americans: finding naturalization records and ethnic origins Salt Lake City, Utah: Ancestry Publishing, 1998. FS Catalog book 973 P47t

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Citing This Collection

Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.

Collection Citation:
The citation for this collection can be found on the Collection Details Page in the section Cite This Collection.
Record Citation:
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Image Citation:
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