Missouri, County Naturalization Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
The collection includes digital images of naturalization records created by Missouri county courts. Additional records will be added as they become available. This collection includes records of Clinton County from 1883 to 1927.

Before 1906, immigrants could naturalize in any court that performed naturalizations including city, county, state and federal courts. As a result they often selected the most convenient court. If they lived in the Eastern District but worked elsewhere, they may have gone to a court closer to work. To begin, look for naturalization records in the courts of the county or city where the immigrant lived. If the county has an index search it first. Next look for the petition (second papers), because they are usually easier to find in courts near where the immigrant eventually settled.

Naturalization is the process of granting citizenship privileges and responsibilities to foreign-born residents. 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. 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.

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The following information may be found in these records:

Declaration of Intent and Naturalization Petitions • 3

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before the searching it is helpful to know:
 * The name of your ancestor
 * The name of a relative or date of the event

How Do I Analyze the Results?
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images.== What Do I Do Next? ==

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

 * Add any new information to your records
 * Search for the ship manifest
 * Search for vital records, such as birth, marriage, and death
 * Search for the family in census records
 * Search for church, land, and probate records

I Can’t Find the Person I’m Looking For, What Now?

 * Try viewing the original record to see if there were errors in the transcription of the name, age, residence, etc. Remember that there may be more than one person in the records with the same name
 * Collect entries for every person who has the same surname. This list can help you identify possible relations that can be verified by records
 * If you cannot locate your ancestor in the locality in which you believe they lived, then try searching records of a nearby locality
 * Standard spelling of names typically did not exist. Try variations of your ancestor’s name while searching the index or browsing through images
 * Remember that sometimes individuals went by nicknames or alternated between using first and middle names

Research Helps
The following articles will help you research your family in the state of Missouri
 * Beginning Research in United States Naturalization Records.
 * Missouri Guided Research
 * Missouri Research Tips and Strategies
 * Step-by-Step Research

Other FamilySearch Collections
These collections may have additional materials to help you with your research.

FamilySearch Catalog

 * Andrew Co. Naturalization record, 1869-1904
 * Bollinger Co. Naturalization records, 1909-1925
 * Buchanan Co. Naturalization records, 1867-1906; index to naturalizations, 1839-1921.
 * Clinton Co. Naturalization records, 1855-1936
 * Clinton Co. Naturalization records, 1883-1912
 * Dekalb Co. Naturalization records, 1904-1927
 * Gasconade County, Naturalization records, 1894-1904

FamilySearch Historical Records

 * Missouri, County Marriage, Naturalization, and Court Records, 1800-1991

Citing This Collection
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.