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California, Southern District Court (Central) Naturalization Index - FamilySearch Historical Records (view source)

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The actual naturalization volumes vary in size and format. Prior to the late 1800s each document was usually handwritten on one page. From the late 1800s and on, printed forms were used. After 1906, many entries were typewritten.
While there were various types of naturalization records, the Declaration of Intent and Naturalization Petition usually had the most complete genealogical information.
Naturalization is the process of granting citizenship privileges and responsibilities to foreign-born residents. California’s counties recorded naturalization procedures in the court records as legal proof of citizenship. The courts handling naturalizations changed several times so the card index was created as a way to quickly access specific records.&nbsp;
The index is very accurate and the information that was current at the time of naturalization was usually reliable. However, there was always a chance for misinformation. Errors may have occurred because of the informant’s lack of knowledge or because of transcription errors or other circumstances.&nbsp;
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.
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.
== What Can this Collection Tell Me? ==
'''The index cards''' include the following:  
'''The index cards''' include the following:  


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*Name of spouse  
*Name of spouse  
*Maiden name of wife
*Maiden name of wife
== General Information About These Records ==
The actual naturalization volumes vary in size and format. Prior to the late 1800s each document was usually handwritten on one page. From the late 1800s and on, printed forms were used. After 1906, many entries were typewritten.
While there were various types of naturalization records, the Declaration of Intent and Naturalization Petition usually had the most complete genealogical information.
Naturalization is the process of granting citizenship privileges and responsibilities to foreign-born residents. California’s counties recorded naturalization procedures in the court records as legal proof of citizenship. The courts handling naturalizations changed several times so the card index was created as a way to quickly access specific records.&nbsp;
The index is very accurate and the information that was current at the time of naturalization was usually reliable. However, there was always a chance for misinformation. Errors may have occurred because of the informant’s lack of knowledge or because of transcription errors or other circumstances.&nbsp;
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.
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.


== How Do I Search the Collection? ==
== How Do I Search the Collection? ==
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For tips about searching on-line collections see the on-line article [[FamilySearch Search Tips and Tricks]].
For tips about searching on-line collections see the on-line article [[FamilySearch Search Tips and Tricks]].


==I Found Who I was Looking for, What Now?==
== What Do I Do Next? ==
When you have located your ancestor’s record, carefully evaluate each piece of information given. These pieces of information may give you new biographical details that can lead you to other records about your ancestors. Add this new information to your records of each family.


When you have located your ancestor’s record, carefully evaluate each piece of information given. These pieces of information may give you new biographical details that can lead you to other records about your ancestors. Add this new information to your records of each family. For example, you can use naturalization records to:  
===I Found Who I was Looking for, What Now?===
You can use naturalization records to:  


*Learn an immigrant’s place of origin  
*Learn an immigrant’s place of origin  
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*Find records in his or her country of origin such as emigrations, port records, or ship’s manifests  
*Find records in his or her country of origin such as emigrations, port records, or ship’s manifests  
*Some of these records show the orginal name of the individual and the name they are using in America, this can be helpful in locating them in their home country
*Some of these records show the orginal name of the individual and the name they are using in America, this can be helpful in locating them in their home country
=== Tips to Keep in Mind  ===
*Look for the Declaration of Intent soon after the immigrant arrived, then look for the Naturalization Petition five years later, when the residency requirement would have been met. Look for naturalization records in federal courts and then in state, county, or city courts.  
*Look for the Declaration of Intent soon after the immigrant arrived, then look for the Naturalization Petition five years later, when the residency requirement would have been met. Look for naturalization records in federal courts and then in state, county, or city courts.  
*An individual may have filed the first and final papers in different courts and sometimes in a different state if the person moved. Immigrants who were younger than 18 when they arrived did not need to file a Declaration of Intent as part of the process.  
*An individual may have filed the first and final papers in different courts and sometimes in a different state if the person moved. Immigrants who were younger than 18 when they arrived did not need to file a Declaration of Intent as part of the process.  
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*These cards may contain inaccuracies, such as altered spellings, misinterpretations, and optical character recognition errors if the information was scanned.
*These cards may contain inaccuracies, such as altered spellings, misinterpretations, and optical character recognition errors if the information was scanned.


==I Can’t Find Who I’m Looking for, What Now?==
===I Can’t Find Who I’m Looking for, What Now?===


*Check for variant spellings. Realize that the indexes may contain inaccuracies, such as altered spellings and misinterpretations.  
*Check for variant spellings. Realize that the indexes may contain inaccuracies, such as altered spellings and misinterpretations.  
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== How You Can Contribute ==
== How Can I Contribute to the FamilySearch Wiki? ==


{{Contributor invite}}
{{Contributor invite}}
[[Category:NARA_Naturalization_and_Citizenship_Records]]
[[Category:NARA_Naturalization_and_Citizenship_Records]]
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