by Linda Morton-Keithley, Administrator

Information updated Friday, May 04, 2007

Declaration of Intention for Peter C. Rund, August 22, 1882

Naturalization records are a rich source of immigration and family history information. They can provide names of family members, indicate where a family came from, and give important dates and locations. The naturalization process was conducted over a number of years and required differing paperwork at each step. Each of the various forms contain different bits of information; taken as a whole, they provide important clues about an individual or family.

The naturalization process was first implemented in the United States in 1790 and has seen many changes over the years. For the period of Idaho's history, beginning in 1863, the process of naturalization generally began when the applicant filed a declaration of intention with the local court of record (federal, state, or local), followed by a naturalization petition, and ended when a certificate or record of naturalization was issued. Each step required a period of residency, although that residency didn't have to take place in the same location throughout.

Many exceptions to the process existed. For example, honorable discharge from military service could lead to expedited citizenship. Minor children automatically became citizens when their parents naturalized. Prior to 1922, a woman automatically became a citizen when she married a citizen or when her husband naturalized. Former slaves and American Indians were made citizens by federal law.

Prior to 1906, the forms used for the naturalization process varied from state to state and even county to county, leading to inconsistency in the information gathered. The Basic Naturalization Act of 1906 imposed standardization on the process and, happily for researchers, also provided for the gathering of more biographical information about applicants.

The Idaho State Historical Society Public Archives and Research Library (PARL) holds a variety of naturalization records, primarily from the various counties, although some state-level records can be found as well. Some naturalization records have been microfilmed by the Utah Genealogical Society and can be found with the PARL's county microfilm collections (as well as the Family History Library system maintained by the LDS Church). In other cases, the PARL holds original paper records that have been transferred from the originating county to the PARL as part of a regular records transfer. It is always a good idea to check both sources as the holdings may differ.

Affidavit for Alfred S. Rolls, February 11, 1889

Over the past few years, staff, volunteers and interns have created a searchable index to those naturalization records for which the PARL holds the original paper record. To date, the index includes records from: Ada, Alturas, Bingham, Boise, Canyon, Clearwater, Elmore, Idaho, Nez Perce, Oneida, Teton, and Twin Falls counties, and the Idaho Supreme Court. It is expected that new information will be added to the index as more naturalization records are transferred to the PARL.

It is important to note that the index is just that - a list arranged in alphabetical order by surname with an indication where additional information can be found. The majority of these records are hand-written; transcribing them has been a challenge. Please be flexible when looking for a specific name. For example, your family name might be Hansen but to the transcriber, it looks like Hanson. Among the letters most often confused are: o and a; e and i; n and u; m and w; and k and h. Many names are listed more than once; this is simply an indication that more than one type of record exists for that individual.

If you find a name on the list and would like a copy of the original record, please contact us. We do respond to U.S. mail, e-mail, and telephone requests. Please be aware that we have photocopy and research fees.

To view the Naturalization index, click on the link below. You must have Adobe Acrobat or Adobe Acrobat Reader (free download) on your computer to open the file. If you do not have Acrobat and would like us to look up a name for you, or if you encounter any difficulties, click here to review our procedures for submitting a request for assistance. Be advised that the Naturalization index is intended for personal research purposes only and should not be copied or distributed to others in any format, including paper or electronic versions.

• Naturalization Index PDF format (561 kb--updated 5/4/2007)

Download a free copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader


Additional Resources

Idaho:

Ada County Abstracts of Naturalization: United States District Court, Idaho (3 vol.). [author, publisher, and date of publication unknown] - available at L&A

Bear Lake County, Idaho: Abstracts of Naturalization (6 vol.). [author, publisher, and date of publication unknown] - available at L&A

Boise County, Idaho: Abstracts of Naturalization (2 vol.). [author, publisher, and date of publication unknown] - available at L&A

Canyon County, Idaho Declaration of Intention for Naturalization (1 vol.). [author, publisher, and date of publication unknown] - available at L&A

Franklin County, Idaho
http://www.rootsweb.com/~idfrankl/declaration_of_intention.htm

Kootenai County, Idaho, Declaration of Intention and Naturalization, 1882 thru 1939. Compiled by Alfred E. & Betty J. Shane. [Hayden Lake, ID: Kootenai County Genealogical Society, 1986?] - available at L&A

Oneida County, Idaho
http://www.rootsweb.com/~idoneida/naturalization_records.htm


General Information:

Guide to Naturalization Records of the United States. Christina K. Schaefer. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1997.

They Became Americans: Finding Naturalization Records and Ethnic Origins. Loretto Dennis Szucs. Salt Lake City, Utah: Ancestry Inc., 1998.