District Court (Third District) Certificates of citizenship record books, i 1880-1895.

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 copies of certificates of citizenship issued to newly naturalized United States citizens.

The volumes have preprinted forms which briefly summarize the naturalization hearing and contain blanks for the date, individual's name, previous country and kingdom, current county of residence, and the judge's signatureas witness:

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TERRITORY OF UTAH

Be it Remembered,That on the ________ day of ________ in the year of our Lord, One Thousand Eight Hundred and Eighty ________, ________ late of ________, in the Kingdom of ________, at present of ________, in the Territory aforesaid, appeared in the Third District Court of the United States, in and for Utah Territory, and applied to the said Court to be admitted to become a Citizen of the United States of America,pursuant to the directions and requirements of the several Acts of Congress in relation thereto. And the said having thereupon produced to the Court such evidence, made such declaration and renunciation, and taken such oath as are by the said Acts required; thereupon it was ordered by the said Court the the said ________ be admitted, and he was accordingly admitted by the said Court to be a Citizen of the United States of America.

By the Court: __________ Judge.

Someone has later gone through the volumes inconjunction with the creation of a card index and scribbled on the forms the names of the witnesses at each naturalization hearing. The witnesses names were obtained from the court's TERRITORIAL MINUTE BOOKS, series 1649. No card index is extant.