Massachusetts, Naturalization Index, 1906-1966

What is in This Collection?

This collection contain images of naturalization petition card indexes in the United States Circuit and District Courts of the District Massachusetts. The cards are arranged alphabetically by surname and are in two parts. The records are located at the National Archives New England Region.

• Index, 1906-1926, Rolls 1-27
• Index, 1925-1966, Rolls 28-115

This card index indexes part of Petition and Records of Naturalization ,12/1790-2/1991 NAID 595176

Related Collections

• U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts. Petitions and Records of Naturalization, December 1790–February 1991 NAID 595176
• U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts. Name Index to Petitions and Records of Naturalization, ca. 1900–1991 NAID 5634058

General Information About These Records

The actual naturalization volumes are on printed forms and are often typewritten

While there were various types of naturalization records, the Declaration of Intent and Naturalization Petition usually had the most complete genealogical information.

The first naturalization act was passed in 1802. Immigrants to the United States were not required to apply for citizenship. Of those who did apply, many did not complete the requirements for citizenship.

Naturalization to become a U.S. citizen was a two-part process: the Declaration of Intent to Naturalize, or First Papers, and the Naturalization Record (including the Naturalization Petition), or Final Papers. The First Papers were normally filed five years before the Final Papers because of the five-year residency requirement to become a citizen.

No centralized files existed before 1906. In 1906 federal forms replaced the various formats that had been used by the various courts. Copies were sent to the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), creating a central file for naturalization papers. The INS is now known as the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Naturalization records are generally well preserved, but some records may have been lost to fire or other disasters.

Naturalization is the process of granting citizenship privileges and responsibilities to foreign-born residents. New York’s counties recorded naturalization procedures in the court records as legal proof of citizenship. The courts handling naturalizations changed several times so the card index was created as a way to quickly access specific records.

The index is very accurate and the information that was current at the time of naturalization was usually reliable. However, there was always a chance for misinformation. Errors may have occurred because of the informant’s lack of knowledge or because of transcription errors or other circumstances.

Additional records and/or images may be added to this collection in the future.

What Can These Records Tell Me?

The following information may be found in these records:

Naturalization card

• Name of immigrant
• Age
• Birth date
• Date and place Certificate of Admission was issued
• Petition number
• Spouse's name (sometimes)