California Naturalization and Citizenship: Difference between revisions

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Naturalization proceedings were under the jurisdiction of the district court (a state court not a federal court) from 1850 until 1880. The county court was also given this responsibility from 1862 to 1880. The county clerk was the clerk of both these courts and kept the records. An 1872 state statute required the clerk to keep two alphabetical sets of records, one for declarations and one for admission to citizenship.
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In 1880 the district and county courts were discontinued and the superior court took over all their functions, including naturalization. The county clerk was also the clerk of this court.
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The California State Archives has records of Sacramento County for the years 1850 to 1903. The Los Angeles County Archives has records of Los Angeles County for the years 1856 to 1886:
<div id="fsButtons"><span class="online_records_button">[[United States Naturalization Online Genealogy Records]]</span></div>
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Los Angeles County Archives<br>225 North Broadway<br>Los Angeles, California 90012<br>Telephone: 562-462-2137<br>Internet: http://www.laalmanac.com/_main/LACountyRecords.htm


The Family History Library has microfilm copies of naturalization records for some other California counties and is currently acquiring additional records. Declarations of intention (1870-1928) for Alameda County, for example, are available at the Family History Library.


== Online Resources ==
Naturalization records could also be filed in U.S. district courts after 1850. In counties where a federal district court sits, the federal court, not the superior court, has jurisdiction over naturalization. The Family History Library has:


*'''1794-1995''' [https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/1192/ U.S. Naturalization Records Indexes, 1794-1995] at Ancestry; index & images ($) (select state)
* ''Declarations of intention from the U.S. Northern District Court for the years 1846 to 1903''(FHL films 977767-70). The originals are located at the [http://www.archives.gov/pacific/ National Archives—Pacific Region (San Bruno).]
*'''1824-1997''' {{RecordSearch|1402856|California, San Francisco County Records, 1824-1997}} at FamilySearch; index & images — [[California, San Francisco County Records - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]
* ''Declarations of intentions from the U.S. Southern District Court for the years 1927 to 1948'' (FHL films 1249797-840). The originals and more recent records are at the [http://www.archives.gov/pacific/laguna/ National Archives—Pacific Region (Laguna Niguel).]
*'''1831-1985''' {{RecordSearch|2125028|California County Naturalizations, 1831-1985}} at FamilySearch; index & images — [[California County Naturalizations - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]
* Records of the U.S. Eastern District Court are at the[http://www.archives.gov/pacific/ National Archives—Pacific Region (San Bruno).]U.S. Central District Court records and San Diego Superior Court records are at the [http://www.archives.gov/pacific/laguna/ National Archives—Pacific Region (Laguna Niguel).]
*'''1850-1986''' [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=8839 California, State Court Naturalization Records, 1850-1986] at Ancestry ($)  
*'''1852-1932''' [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=6099 Shasta county, California, Naturalization Records: 1852-1932] at Ancestry ($)
*'''1852-1989''' {{RecordSearch|1849982|California, Northern U.S. District Court Naturalization Index, 1852-1989}} at FamilySearch - [[California, Northern U.S. District Court Naturalization Index - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index & images; ''Also at: [https://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-10695/us-naturalization-records-northern-california-1852-1989 MyHeritage] ($)''
*'''1868-1958''' {{RecordSearch|1840471|California, San Diego Naturalization Index, 1868-1958}} at FamilySearch — [[California, San Diego Naturalization Index - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]
*'''1868-1958''' [http://www.fold3.com/title_97/ca_san_diego/ Naturalization Index Cards from the Superior Court of San Diego, CA, 1868-1958] at Fold3 ($)  
*'''1876-1915''' [http://www.fold3.com/title_108/ca_los_angeles/ Naturalizations - Naturalization Records of the Superior Court of Los Angeles, CA, 1876-1915] at Fold3 ($)
*'''1876-1940''' [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=1193 U.S., Naturalization Records - Original Documents, (World Archives Project) for California, 1876-1940] at Ancestry; index & images ($)
*'''1876-1940''' [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=1629 U.S. Naturalization Record Indexes, 1791-1992 (Indexed in World Archives Project)] for California, 1876-1940 - District and Superior Courts] at Ancestry; index & images ($)
*'''1883-1958''' [http://www.fold3.com/title_109/ca_san_diego/ Naturalization Records in the Superior Court of San Diego, CA, 1883-1958] at Fold3 ($)
*'''1887-1940''' [http://www.fold3.com/title_110/ca_southern/ Naturalization Petitions for the Southern District Of California, 1887-1940] at Fold3 ($)
*'''1888-1991''' [https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/3998/ California, Federal Naturalization Records, 1888-1991] at Ancestry; index & images ($)
*'''1906-1946''' [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=2980 San Francisco, California, Surrendered Alien Certificates, 1906-1946] ($).  
*'''1915-1976''' {{RecordSearch|1849628|California, Southern District Court (Central) Naturalization Index, 1915-1976}}
*'''1944-2003''' [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=62493 U.S., Index to Alien Case Files, 1944-2003] at Ancestry; index ($)


== History ==
The Family History Library also has an extensive collection of voting records that name the court where an individual applied for naturalization and the date (see [[California Voting Registers|"Voting Registers"]] section).


Naturalization proceedings were under the jurisdiction of the district court (a state court not a federal court) from 1850 until 1880. The county court was also given this responsibility from 1862 to 1880. The county clerk was the clerk of both these courts and kept the records. An 1872 state statute required the clerk to keep two alphabetical sets of records, one for declarations and one for admission to citizenship.  
For records after September 1906, contact the [http://www.archives.gov/pacific/ National Archives—Pacific Region (San Bruno)] for northern California and the National Archives—[http://www.archives.gov/pacific/laguna/ Pacific Region (Laguna Niguel)]for southern California, or the local office of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (former INS).


In 1880 the district and county courts were discontinued and the superior court took over all their functions, including naturalization. The county clerk was also the clerk of this court.
'''Web Sites<br>'''


== Post-1906 Records  ==
http://home.att.net/~wee-monster/naturalization.html


In 1906 the Immigration and Naturalization Service was created, forms were standardized and court records were duplicated and sent to the INS. These records can be accessed by downloading a FOIA (Freedome of Information Act) form from [http://www.uscis.gov www.uscis.gov]. Post-1906 records are also available at the [[National Archives at San Francisco]] for '''northern and central''' California, and the [[National Archives at Riverside]] for '''southern''' California.
http://rootsweb.com/~cascgs/nat2.htm
 
<!--{12077847597910} -->
== Availability ==
[[Category:California]]
 
[https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/1849982 Northern US District Court Naturalization Index] (1852-1989) is now online. More information at [California, Northern U.S. District Court Naturalization Index (FamilySearch Historical Records)]
 
[https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/1840501 Southern District Court (Central) Naturalization Index ](1915-1976) is also online. More information at [California, Southern District Court (Central) Naturalization Index (FamilySearch Historical Records)]
 
[https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/1840471 California, San Diego Naturalization Index, 1868-1958]. More info at [[California, San Diego Naturalization Index - FamilySearch Historical Records]]
 
The FamilySearch Library has microfilm copies of naturalization records for many California counties. Search individual counties in the FamilySearch Catalog to determine the library holdings. Declarations of intention (1870-1931) for Alameda County, for example, are available at the FamilySearch Library.
 
Naturalization records could also be filed in U.S. district courts after 1850. In counties where a federal district court sits, the federal court, not the superior court, has jurisdiction over naturalization. The FamilySearch Library has:
 
*''Declarations of intention from the U.S. Northern District Court for the years 1846 to 1903''(FS Library films 977767-70). The originals are located at the [http://www.archives.gov/pacific/ National Archives—Pacific Region (San Bruno).]
*''Declarations of intentions from the U.S. Southern District Court for the years 1927 to 1948'' (FS Library films 1249797-840). The originals and more recent records are at the [http://www.archives.gov/pacific/riverside/ National Archives—Pacific Region (Riverside County).]
*Records of the U.S. Eastern District Court are at the[http://www.archives.gov/pacific/ National Archives—Pacific Region (San Bruno).]U.S. Central District Court records and San Diego Superior Court records are at the [http://www.archives.gov/pacific/riverside/ National Archives—Pacific Region (Riverside County).]
 
== Voting Records with Naturalization Information  ==
 
The FamilySearch Library also has an extensive collection of voting records that name the court where an individual applied for naturalization and the date (see [[California Voting Records|"Voting Records"]] section).
 
== Websites ==
 
http://www.germanroots.com/naturalization.html
 
http://rootsweb.com/~cascgs/nat2.htm<!--{12082722200930} --><!--{12082722200931} --><!--{12082722200932} --><!--{12082722200933} -->  
 
'''Wiki articles describing these collections are found at:'''
 
*[[California, Northern U.S. District Court Naturalization Index - FamilySearch Historical Records|California, Northern U.S. District Court Naturalization Index  - FamilySearch Historical Records]]
*[[California, San Diego Naturalization Index - FamilySearch Historical Records|California, San Diego Naturalization Index - FamilySearch Historical Records]]
*[[California, San Francisco County Records - FamilySearch Historical Records|California,San Francisco County Records - FamilySearch Historical Records]]
*[[California, Southern District Court (Central) Naturalization Index - FamilySearch Historical Records|California, Southern District Court (Central) Naturalization Index - FamilySearch Historical Records]]
 
References
 
''[[California, United States Genealogy|California]] Research Outline.'' Salt Lake City, Utah: Intellectual Reserve, Inc., Family History Department, 1998, 2003.
 
:NOTE: All of the information from the original research outline has been imported into this Wiki site and is being updated as time permits.
 
{{California|California}}
 
[[Category:California, United States|Naturalization]]
[[Category:United States Naturalization and Citizenship]]

Revision as of 16:47, 9 April 2008

Naturalization proceedings were under the jurisdiction of the district court (a state court not a federal court) from 1850 until 1880. The county court was also given this responsibility from 1862 to 1880. The county clerk was the clerk of both these courts and kept the records. An 1872 state statute required the clerk to keep two alphabetical sets of records, one for declarations and one for admission to citizenship.

In 1880 the district and county courts were discontinued and the superior court took over all their functions, including naturalization. The county clerk was also the clerk of this court.

The California State Archives has records of Sacramento County for the years 1850 to 1903. The Los Angeles County Archives has records of Los Angeles County for the years 1856 to 1886:

Los Angeles County Archives
225 North Broadway
Los Angeles, California 90012
Telephone: 562-462-2137
Internet: http://www.laalmanac.com/_main/LACountyRecords.htm

The Family History Library has microfilm copies of naturalization records for some other California counties and is currently acquiring additional records. Declarations of intention (1870-1928) for Alameda County, for example, are available at the Family History Library.

Naturalization records could also be filed in U.S. district courts after 1850. In counties where a federal district court sits, the federal court, not the superior court, has jurisdiction over naturalization. The Family History Library has:

The Family History Library also has an extensive collection of voting records that name the court where an individual applied for naturalization and the date (see "Voting Registers" section).

For records after September 1906, contact the National Archives—Pacific Region (San Bruno) for northern California and the National Archives—Pacific Region (Laguna Niguel)for southern California, or the local office of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (former INS).

Web Sites

http://home.att.net/~wee-monster/naturalization.html

http://rootsweb.com/~cascgs/nat2.htm