Colorado Naturalization Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
This collection contains naturalization records, declarations of intention, court orders granting petitions, and case files from eight different NARA collections.The collections are part of Record Group 21 Records of District Courts of the United States at the NARA Regional Archives in Denver, Colorado. The Colorado Division of Court Services Naturalization Cards are from Record Group 85 Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service. The collection covers the years 1876 to 1990. 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.
 * US District Court for the District of Colorado. Denver Term. Declarations of Intention for Citizenship, 1877-1966, NAID 649217
 * US District Court for the District of Colorado. Denver Term. Court Orders Granting Petitions for Naturalization, 1952-1966, NAID 649271
 * US District Court for the District of Colorado. Denver Term. Naturalization Records, 1972-1986, NAID 3514570
 * US District Court for the District of Colorado. Denver Term. Naturalization Case Files, 1876-1947, NAID 649183
 * U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado. Naturalization Petitions, 1982-1988, NAID 5049445
 * U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado. Naturalization Records, January 1, 1987- December 31, 1990, NAID 5955511
 * Colorado.Division of Court Services. RG 85 Naturalization Cards, 1880-1906, NAID 1307044
 * U.S. District Court for the Pueblo Division for the District of Colorado. Orders and Petitions Concerning Naturalization, 1926-1949, NAID 720245

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).

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


 * Name of court
 * Full name of Petitioner
 * Place of residence
 * Occupation
 * Date and place of birth


 * Date of emigration, date of arrival
 * Port of entry and name of ship
 * Date and place of Declaration of Intent to become citizen
 * Name of spouse
 * Date of marriage


 * Number of children, name and residence of each child
 * Birth date and place of birth of each child
 * Able to speak English?
 * Affidavit of witness(es)

How Do I Search This Collection
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * The full name of your ancestor
 * The approximate immigration and naturalization dates
 * The ancestor’s residence

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. Keep track of your research in a research log.

What Do I Do Next?

 * Whenever possible, view the original records to verify the information and to find additional information that might not be reported. These pieces of information can lead you to additional records and family members.

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

 * Add any new information to your records
 * Use the information to search for the ship manifest
 * If available, check the image for additional information
 * Analyze the entry to see if it provides additional clues to find other records of the person or their family

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

 * The person may be recorded with an abbreviated or variant form of their name
 * Try searching by surname only
 * Remember that spelling was generally not standardized until the early part of the 20th century

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

Related Family History Library Holdings

 * Colorado Naturalization Records (petitions & case files), 1876-1990
 * Naturalization records created by the U.S. District Courts in Colorado, 1877-1952: M1192

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.