California, Northern U.S. District Court Naturalization Index, 1852-1989

What is in This Collection?

This collection includes a card index to naturalization records on NARA microfilm publication M1744 Index to Naturalizations of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, ca. 1860-1989, M1744. The cards are arranged alphabetically by surname.

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.

The following collections are covered by this index:

• US District Court. Southern (San Francisco) Division of the Northern District or California
• Duplicate Certificates of Citizenship, 1852-1906 NAID 2524822
• Naturalization Depositions, 1907-1963 NAID 2602672
• Applications for Repatriation, 1936-1969.NAID 2601974
• Petitions for Naturalization Transferred from Other Courts, 9/21/1952-8/23/1990 NAID 627696
• Petitions for Naturalization,10/23/1903-9/17/1991 NAID 605234

• US Circuit Court for the Northern District of California
• Index to Duplicate Certificates of Citizenship and Petitions for Naturalization, 1855–1911 NAID 605728
• Petitions for Naturalization, August 6, 1903–December 29, 1911 NAID 605504
• Naturalization Certificate Stubs, April 13, 1907–December 29, 1911 NAID 605608
• Duplicate Certificates of Citizenship, 1855–1906 NAID 605605
• Register of Applications for Naturalization, 1879–1903 NAID 605507
• Declarations of Intention for Citizenship, August 16, 1855–December 28, 1911 NAID 605505
• Petitions for Naturalization, August 6, 1903–December 29, 1911 NAID 605504

The naturalization volumes vary in size and format. Prior to the late 1800s each document was usually handwritten on one page. From the late 1800s and on, printed forms were used. After 1906, many entries were 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. California’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.

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

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What Can These Records Tell Me?

The following information may be found in these records

Collection Content

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  1983 Naturalization Index