Rhode Island, District Court Naturalization Indexes, 1906-1991

What is in This Collection?

This collection consists of card indexes to naturalization records in the U.S. District Courts in Rhode Island. Cards arranged alphabetically. Corresponds with NARA microfilm publication M2084 Indexes to Naturalization Records for the District Court, 1906-1991, and the U.S. Circuit Court, 1906-1911, Rhode Island and are part of Record Group 21 Records of District Courts of the United States. The following indexes are included in this collection.

• Index to Naturalization Petitions,1906-1991 (Includes Circuit Court, 1906-1991), Rolls 1-17
• Index to Declarations of Intention,1906-1939, Rolls 17-21
• Index to Declarations of Intention,1940-1984, Rolls 21-22
• Military Naturalizations,1918-1940, Roll 22-23
• Military Naturalizations,1943-1945, Roll 23
• Overseas Naturalizations,1953-1956, Roll 23
• Cancelled Declarations,ca. 1942-1948, Roll 23
• Women's Repatriations,1936-1968, Roll 23

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

To Browse This Collection

What Can These Records Tell Me?

The following information may be found in these records:

Naturalization

Collection Content

Sample Image

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  1963 Card Index

The actual naturalization volumes vary in size and format. Prior to 1906 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. Most 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.