Massachusetts, United States Naturalization Records, 1790-1991
This collection includes records such as Petitions for Naturalization, Declarations of Intention, and Oaths of Allegiance filed in the United States District and Circuit Courts of Massachusetts from 1790 to 1991. Images are originally housed at The National Archives and Records Administration Boston Branch. This collection is associated with NARA Record Group 21 and Microfilm Publication M1368.
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Massachusetts, United States Naturalization Records
What is in This Collection?
Naturalization records from the U.S. District and Circuit Courts in Massachusetts. The collections are from Record Group 21 Records of the United States District Court. Immigrants could naturalize in any court that performed naturalizations. That included city, county, state and federal courts. Begin by looking for naturalization records in the courts of the county or city where the immigrant lived. Look first for the petition (second papers), because they are usually easier to find in courts near where the immigrant eventually settled. After 1906, the declaration can be filed with the petition as the immigrant was required to submit a copy when the petition the petition was submitted. Because immigrants were allowed to naturalize in any court, they often selected the most convenient court. For example, if an immigrant lived in Maine, but worked in Vermont or New Hampshire, they may have gone to a court closer to work.
Additional records and/or images may be added to this collection in the future.
Related National Archives Collections
- Name Index to Petitions & Records of Naturalization for Massachusetts, 1967-1991. NAID 5634058 Search within this series
- Petitions & Records of Naturalization for Military Personnel, 1919. NAID 2847215
- Name Index to Naturalization Record Books, 1845-1817. NAID 2999967
- Miscellaneous Applications for Repatriation, 11938-1968. NAID 4903861
- Petitions & Records of Naturalization, 1946-1991. NAID 595176 Search within this Series
- Aliens Declaration of Intention to Become Citizens, 1946-191. NAID 2945883
- Naturalization Certificate Stub Books, Massachusetts, 1906-1925. NAID 2843135
- Depositions of Witnesses for Massachusetts, 1845-1991. NAID 2843057
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:
- Person's name
- Person's age
- Arrival date
- Port of entry
- Current residence
- 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. Records after 1906 contain more detailed information about the immigrants and their families.
- 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 Images
1949 Affidavit of witnesses
1983 Name index to petitions & records
1968 Declaration of intention
Inventory
For a list of all the titles included in this Historical Records publication see Massachusetts, United States Naturalization Records - Inventory
Collection Details
Location of Original Records
National Archives and Records Administration
"Massachusetts, United States Naturalization Records, 1790-1991." Database. FamilySearch. https://FamilySearch.org : 16 September 2025. Citing NARA microfilm publication M1368. Boston: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.
