District Court (Fifth District : Washington County) Declarations of intention record books, 1897-1939.

To become a citizen of the United States, an individual normally filed a "declaration of intention to become a citizen" at least two years prior to applying for citizenship. The next step was the naturalization hearing at which the candidate and witnesses either made oral statements or filed written petitions and affidavits attesting to the applicant's character, worthiness to become a citizen, and the validity of statements made to the court. If the judge found the applicant eligible to become a citizen, an oath was administered and the individual renounced his former citizenship. At this point a certificate of citizenship was issued documenting the fact. These volumes contain recorded copies of the declarations of individuals' intentions to later become United States citizens and to renounce current citizenship. The first forms contain little more than the declarant's name and native country, but forms after 1906 contain more detailed information about both the individual and hisfamily.

The first volume contains preprinted forms created by the court. The forms contain blanks for the individual's name, sovereign, date, and signatures of the individual and the court clerk witnessing the statement.

The second and third volumes were furnished to the court clerks by the Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization of the Department of Commerce and Labor (later the Naturalization Service of the U.S. Dept. of Labor). Each volume was to be indexed and the declarations numbered consecutively beginning with number 1 in volume 1 (though volume 3 begins with number 16). Loose sheets were also furnished so the duplicate copy could be given to the declarant and the triplicate copy mailed to the Bureau of Naturalization. The forms contain blanks for the name and location of the court; the individual's name, age, occupation, color, complexion, height, weight, hair color, eye color, visible distinctive marks, birthplace, birthdate, and current residence; the location from whichhe emigrated to the United States and the vessel name; his last foreign residence; the name and title of the ruler to whom he would be renouncing allegiance; and the port and date of arrival in the United States.

By 1917, additional blanks were inserted to record his marital status, and if married, his wife's name (altered to "spouse's name" after 1922 when married women could seek citizenship on their own instead of automatically assuming the nationality of their husbands), birthplace and residence. He was to take an oath that he was not an anarchist or polygamist, and that it was his intention to become a United States citizen and make the country his permanent residence. Blanks were provided for his signature and for the date and signature of the court clerk who witnessed his oath. By the 1930s, more blanks were added for sex, race, present nationality; marriage date and place along with the spouse's birthdate and date and place of entrance to the United States; the number ofchildren with their names, birthdate, birthplace, and residence; any previous declaration of intention, with number, location, and court; and his or her name at entry.