Naturalization Records

Naturalization records document the official immigration of people from other countries to the United States. Historically, Oregon naturalization records were created by a court in the county where the documents were filed. These records usually are found at the State Archives or with the county clerk or trial court administrator for that county.

Typically, county courts and circuit courts heard naturalization cases in the 1800s and much of the 1900s. Modern naturalization proceedings are conducted exclusively in federal courts. Key historical records include county court journals, county court case files, circuit court journals, circuit court case files, probate records and clerk's miscellaneous records.

Extensive research may be necessary to locate naturalization documentation interspersed within these records. For example, county court journals often document numerous judicial actions and may include only a page here and there related to naturalization. In most cases, indexes can speed the search.

Naturalization Records Listings

County Records︿

If a listing is absent, refer to the Oregon Historical County Records Guide inventories of naturalization declarations, petitions and certificates held by counties and other repositories. Linked records include abstracted information in the Oregon Historical Records Index.

Benton County

Citizen Certificates, 1903-1906

Naturalization Declarations of Intention, 1889-1928

Naturalization Petitions & Records, 1908-1929

Clackamas County

Naturalization Certificates, 1891-1926

Naturalization Citizenship Application Record, 1905-1906

Naturalization Declarations of Intention, 1850-1931

Naturalization Petitions, 1905-1929

Curry County

Naturalization Certificates, 1903-1928

Naturalization Declarations of Intention, 1904-1929

Naturalization Petitions and Records, 1896-1929

Hood River County

Naturalization Records, 1880-1940

Jackson County

Naturalization Declarations of Intention, 1854-1975

Naturalization Deposition Notices, 1946-1972

Naturalization Index, 1886-1981

Naturalization Petition Court Orders, 1942-1982

Naturalization Petitions and Records, 1906-1981

Naturalization Records, 1903-1906

Naturalization Transferred Petitions, 1958-1971

Josephine County

Naturalization Records, 1854-1970

Naturalization Certificates, 1907-1936

Naturalization Declarations of Intention, 1855-1966

Naturalization Index, 1860-1970

Naturalization Orders, 1942-1970

Naturalization Petitions, 1903-1969

Linn County

Naturalization Records, 1850-1956

Naturalization Certificates, 1891-1956

Naturalization Correspondence, 1917-1939

Naturalization Declarations of Intention, 1855-1952

Naturalization Deposition Notices, 1930-1942

Naturalization List, 1854-1929

Naturalization Petitions, 1906-1956

Naturalization Records, 1923

Women's Naturalization Applications, 1941-1953

Marion County

Naturalization Declarations of Intention, 1849-1972

Naturalization Petitions and Records, 1851-1975

Naturalization Repatriation Records, 1937-1956

Polk County

Naturalization Certification Records, 1903-1925

Naturalization Certification Records Index, 1872-1906

Naturalization Declarations of Intention, 1889-1939

Naturalization Petitions and Records, 1906-1928

Tillamook County

Naturalization Certificates, 1907-1927

Naturalization Declarations of Intention, 1890-1954

Naturalization Declarations of Intention Docket, 1888-1892

Naturalization Index Cards, ca. 1871-1954

Naturalization Notices to Take Depositions, 1935-1940

Naturalization Petitions, 1923-1954

Naturalization Petitions Granted, 1930-1954

Umatilla County

Naturalization Declarations of Intention, 1906-1914

Wasco County

Naturalization Records, 1851-1962

Naturalization Certificate Stubs, 1885-1926

Naturalization Certification Records, 1894-1903

Naturalization Declarations of Intention, 1856-1958

Naturalization Docket, 1916-1930

Naturalization Index, 1854-1939

Naturalization Oaths of Allegiance, 1863-1865

Naturalization Petitions and Records, 1906-1962

Naturalization Register, 1906-1910

Yamhill County

Naturalization Records, 1849-1959

Naturalization Certificate Cards, 1853-1959

Naturalization Certificates, 1907-1927

Naturalization Declarations of Intention, 1853-1956

Naturalization Index, 1853-1951

Naturalization Petitions, 1903-1959

Federal records︿

The National Archives-Pacific Alaska Region, 6125 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA, 206-526-6507, holds these naturalization records:

U.S. Circuit Court for the District of Oregon

Court Journals of proceedings, 1859-1877

Declarations of intention, 1859-1906

Indexes to declarations and petitions, 1906-1956

Journals of admission to citizenship, 1877-1906

Petitions, 1904-1970

Unindexed petitions based on military service, 1868-1879

U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon

Court Journals of proceedings, 1863-1877

Declarations of intention, 1897-1911

Indexes to declarations and petitions, 1906-1911

Journals of admission to citizenship, 1877-1906

Petitions, 1904-1911

The indexes to naturalization records for both Oregon courts are on microfilm and available in the State Archives Reference Room. Refer to Oregon Federal Court Naturalization Records General Indexes (National Archives film M1242).

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has duplicate naturalization records for all U.S. naturalizations dated after September 26, 1906, and an index to those records.

Requests to USCIS for records of naturalizations dated September 27, 1906 to March 31, 1956 must be sent to the fee-for-service Genealogy Program.

Requests to USCIS for records of naturalizations dated on or after April 1, 1956 must be sent to the Freedom of Information/Privacy Act.

Common Types of Naturalization Records

Certificate of Arrival

No alien who arrived in the United States after June 29, 1906, could make a valid Declaration of Intention until it was established that his entry was lawful and that he was admitted for permanent residence. If the alien established that his entry was lawful, then a Certificate of Arrival was issued. This Certificate showed the date, place and manner of the aliens' arrival. Any alien who established that he entered the United States on or before June 29, 1906 could file a Declaration of Intention without the issuance of a Certificate of Arrival. In Oregon, this certificate is part of the Declaration of Intention.

Declaration of Intention

Any person 18 years of age or over who was lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence could file a Declaration of Intention in the office of any clerk of court having charge of naturalization. No period of residence in the United States was required before filing a Declaration of Intention. This form was initially issued by the United States Department of Commerce; and after 1926, it was issued by the United States Department of Labor (Form 2202).

The form was also used for and titled Certificate of Arrival. It carries the following information:

Name
Age
Occupation
Color
Complexion
Height
Weight
Color of hair
Color of eyes
Distinctive marks
Place and date of birth
Current residence
Port of departure and vessel
Last foreign residence
Port and date of arrival in the United States
Date of declaration

Petition for Naturalization (Petition for Citizenship)

When the Declaration of Intention was at least two years old and not more than seven years old, and the applicant had lived in the United States, its territory, or the District of Columbia for five years continuously, with the previous six months in a particular state, then the alien could file a Petition for Naturalization.

A hearing was then held to determine if all documents were in order and if educational and other requirements had been met. Two witnesses were required to support the petition. The witnesses had to be United States citizens over 21 years of age. They had to testify to the applicant's good moral character for the past 6 month period. In addition, witnesses were required to support the fact that the applicant had been a United States resident for the preceding 5 years.

Before 1938, this form was titled "Petition for Citizenship." After 1938, this form was entitled "Petition for Naturalization." The documents usually contain the following information:

Name
Residence
Occupation
Date and place of birth
Date and port of departure
Name of transport
Date and port of arrival
Date and place of declaration of intent and affidavits of witnesses

After about 1915, this record also included name, date and place of birth and residence of wife and minor children.

Oath of Allegiance

If the court was satisfied that all requirements of the law had been satisfied, the alien could take the Oath of Allegiance. This required the applicant to swear to defend the United States and be loyal. The alien had to give up all allegiance to his former country and to also give up any titles of nobility.

Record of Naturalization (Certificate of Citizenship)

This record was created during the years ca. 1867-1941. It contained the following information: name, date, term of court, name of naturalized aliens and their former nationality.

Certificate of Naturalization (Stubs)

This type of record appears to have been created during the period ca. 1907-1929. The series contained the following information: name, age, record of declaration of intent, record of petition, name of wife and minor children.

Petition and Record (of Citizenship or Naturalization)

This series title contains a combination of the Petition for Naturalization (Form 2204), the Declaration of Intention (Form 2203), and usually a copy of the Certificate of Arrival.