September 27, 2024
If you have ancestors who arrived in the United States after the Civil War and before World War I, you’ve probably looked for their naturalization records. You may also have learned that these records are not always easy to find. There are several reasons for this.
The earlier the naturalization record the more difficult it is to locate. Before 1906, citizenship could be granted by any court in any state or territory. In addition, immigrants tended to move frequently in the early years of their residence in America. It’s hard to determine where they were at a given time. Finally, some immigrants naturalized as soon as they were eligible. Others waited decades. Some never naturalized at all.
Like other genealogical records, some naturalization records have been digitized. Online indexes are available for some areas and periods. However, many naturalization records are not digitized or even indexed online. The only place they’re available is at local courthouses and/or state archives and libraries.
All of this means that figuring out where and when your ancestor naturalized can be a daunting task. However, if your ancestor was enumerated in the 1920 census, you’re in luck.
All the censuses between 1900 and 1940 include citizenship status for people not born in the U.S. The 1920 census is unique in that it also includes the year an immigrant arrived as well as the year he naturalized.
Using the data from the 1920 census, it’s easy to determine whether someone was naturalized. If he or she wasn’t, the census listed him as AL, for alien. This would be the case if he had filed no naturalization paperwork. If he had filed a declaration of intent, he’d be listed as PA. PA means that he had started the process of obtaining citizenship but hadn’t completed it. Anyone naturalized was listed as NA.
For those who had been naturalized, a year of naturalization is also listed. This can be a great help in finding their naturalization records. You’ll still have to figure out where your ancestor was during that naturalization year, but that’s better than trying to follow him for years or possibly decades
There is one caveat to using any census record including the 1920 one. Remember that the censuses are not always accurate. People forgot when events occurred or obscured the truth for various reasons. The 1920 census naturalization information, like any census information, should be used as a clue not as a verified fact. Still, it’s not something to overlook when you’re trying to find your ancestor’s naturalization records.
Carol Stetser
Researcher
Larimer County Genealogical Society