Maine Naturalization and Citizenship

Portal:United States Naturalization >Maine

Availability

Applications for citizenship before 1906 could be filed in any county, state, or federal court in Maine. Some immigrants went to the office of the selectmen in their towns. The Maine State Archives is gathering all pre-1930 Maine court records, including declarations, petitions, and oaths. The Family History Library has naturalization records for many of the Maine counties.

Soundex Index

In the late 1930s, the Works Progress Administration (WPA) copied and indexed New England naturalization records for 1791 to 1906. The copies and index are at the National Archives—New England Region. The National Archives in Washington, D.C., and the Family History Library have microfilm copies of the index:

• United States, Immigration and Naturalization Service. Index to New England Naturalization Petitions, 1791-1906. Washington, D.C.: The National Archives, 1983. (Family History Library films 1429671-787.) Some of the records are more recent than 1906. The index gives the name and location of the court, the date of naturalization, and the volume and page number (or certificate number) of the naturalization record.

Post 1906 Records

For records after 1906, use the Genealogy Program at www.uscis.gov.

Web Sites

Maine State Archives:  http://statearchives.us/maine.htm

National Archives-Northeast Region:  http://www.archives.gov/northeast/boston/

National Archives:  http://www.archives.gov/

Citizenship and Immigration Services:  http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis

References

Maine Research Outline. Salt Lake City, Utah: Intellectual Reserve, Inc., Family History Department, 1998, 2001.