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The first naturalization act was passed in 1802. Immigrants to the United States were not required to apply for citizenship. Of those who did apply, many did not complete the requirements for citizenship. | The first naturalization act was passed in 1802. Immigrants to the United States were not required to apply for citizenship. Of those who did apply, many did not complete the requirements for citizenship. | ||
Naturalization to become a U.S. citizen was a two-part process: the Declaration of Intent to Naturalize, or First Papers, and the Naturalization Record (including the Naturalization Petition), or Final Papers. The First Papers were normally filed five years before the Final Papers because of the five-year residency requirement to become a citizen. | Naturalization to become a U.S. citizen was a two-part process: the Declaration of Intent to Naturalize, or First Papers, and the Naturalization Record (including the Naturalization Petition), or Final Papers. The First Papers were normally filed five years before the Final Papers because of the five-year residency requirement to become a citizen. | ||
No centralized files existed before 1906. In 1906, | No centralized files existed before 1906. In 1906, federal forms replaced the various formats that had been used by the various courts. Copies were sent to the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), creating a central file for naturalization papers. The INS is now known as the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). | ||
Naturalization records are generally well preserved, but some records may have been lost to fire or other disasters. | Naturalization records are generally well preserved, but some records may have been lost to fire or other disasters. | ||
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The Illinois, Northern District Naturalization Index, 1840-1950 is NARA publication M1285: [[Soundex]] Index to Naturalization Petitions for the United States District and Circuit Courts, Northern District of Illinois and Immigration and Naturalization Service District 9, 1840-1950. This card file is an index to petitions for residents of northern Illinois, northwestern Indiana, southern and eastern Wisconsin, and eastern Iowa. Filed by [[Soundex]] codes the entries prior to 1906 differ from those after 1906.It includes no records from Cook County, Illinois, prior to 1871 as these records were destroyed by fire. For more information about Soundex indexes and instructions for coding names, see the Wiki article “[[Soundex]]." | The Illinois, Northern District Naturalization Index, 1840-1950 is NARA publication M1285: [[Soundex]] Index to Naturalization Petitions for the United States District and Circuit Courts, Northern District of Illinois and Immigration and Naturalization Service District 9, 1840-1950. This card file is an index to petitions for residents of northern Illinois, northwestern Indiana, southern and eastern Wisconsin, and eastern Iowa. Filed by [[Soundex]] codes the entries prior to 1906 differ from those after 1906.It includes no records from Cook County, Illinois, prior to 1871 as these records were destroyed by fire. For more information about Soundex indexes and instructions for coding names, see the Wiki article “[[Soundex]]." | ||
== What Can These Records Tell Me? == | == What Can These Records Tell Me? == | ||
Index cards for naturalizations taking place prior to 1906 typically contain the following information. Not all information is provided on every card. | Index cards for naturalizations taking place prior to 1906 typically contain the following information. Not all information is provided on every card. : | ||
{{columns-list|2| | {{columns-list|2| | ||
*Name of the petitioner | *Name of the petitioner | ||
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