Pennsylvania, Eastern District Naturalization Records, 1795-1952
This collection includes Petitions of Naturalization and Declarations of Intention from the U.S. District and Circuit Courts for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Images are housed at the National Archives and Records Administration regional facility in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This collection is associated with NARA Record Group 21 and microfilm publications M1248 and M1522.
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Pennsylvania, Eastern District Naturalization Records
What is in This Collection?
The records consist of naturalization petitions for the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania for the years 1795 to 1931. The records corresponds to NARA publication M1522 part of Record Group 21 Records of District Courts of the United States. See United States Naturalization and Citizenship more information on naturalization records.
Additional records and/or images may be added to this collection in the future.
To Browse This Collection
| You can browse through images in this collection using the waypoints on the Collection Browse Page for Pennsylvania, Eastern District Petitions for Naturalization, 1795-1931. |
What Can These Records Tell Me?
Before 1906, the information recorded on naturalization records differed widely and often didn't mention the immigrant's town of origin or parents' names. These records may contain:
- Arrival date and port of entry
- Name and age of immigrant
- Age of immigrant
- Current residence of immigrant
- Country of origin or allegiance
In 1906, the Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization was created and later renamed Immigration and Naturalization Services or INS. Some results included standardized forms throughout the country and copies of naturalization papers sent to the INS in addition to the court keeping a copy.
Naturalization records after 1906 contain more detailed information about the immigrants and their families. Possible information given in post-1906 naturalization records include:
- Name of declarant
- Date of Declaration of Intent
- Age and occupation of declarant
- Physical description of declarant
- Declarant's date and place of birth
- Declarant's marital status
- Spouse's name
- Spouse's date and place of birth
- Names of children
- Children's dates and places of birth
- Date of arrival and port of entry
- Name of ship
- Departure date and port of departure
- Current U. S. residence
- Last foreign address
Collection Content
Sample Image
Naturalization Record 1919
Collection Details
Location of Original Records
National Archives and Records Administration
"Pennsylvania, Eastern District Naturalization Records, 1795-1952." Database with images. FamilySearch. https://FamilySearch.org : 30 November 2025. Citing NARA microfilm publication M1522. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.
