Series 26661

District Court (Fifth District : Iron County) Naturalization petition book, 1915-1928.

1 microfilm reel

These records are housed in the Utah State Archives' permanent storage room.

Historical Note

See history of the records' creator.

Summary of Records

In order to obtain citizenship, immigrants were required to file naturalization petitions with the court. A petition for naturalization required a previous declaration of intention to become a citizen and then a waiting period. In most cases the declaration of intention or evidence of it is attached to the naturalization petitions. This series also includes lists of petitions granted or denied.

Scope and Content

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.

Arrangement

Chronological by date.

Additional Forms

This series is available on microfilm.

Access Restrictions

This series is classified as Public.

Use Restrictions

These records are available for reproduction and use.

Preferred Citation

Cite the Utah State Archives and Records Service, the creating agency name, the series title, and the series number.

Custody History

This book was originally transferred to the State Archives from the court in 2007. It was transferred to the regional repository at Southern Utah University in November 2009.

Acquisition Information

These records were acquired from the creating agency through established retention schedules.

Processing Information

This series was archivally processed by Jim Kichas and Emily Gurr in June 2008 as part of a NHPRC grant project designed to preserve the historic records of Utah's Fifth District Courts.

Other Finding Aids

Indexes: An alphabetized index is located at the front of the volume.

Related Material

Declaration of intention record book from the District Court (Fifth District : Iron County), Series 26662, contains the first record individuals filed in the naturalization process.
Citizenship certificate stubs from the District Court (Fifth District : Iron County), Series 26667, are the stubs for certificates of citizenship issued by the court to newly naturalized citizens.

Container List

ReelVolumeDescription
111907-1929