Connecticut Naturalization and Citizenship

United States U.S. Naturalizations  Connecticut  Naturalizations

History
Naturalization is the process of granting citizenship privileges and responsibilities to foreign-born residents. Naturalization papers are an important source of information about an immigrant’s place of origin, foreign and Americanized names, residence, and date of arrival.

Immigrants to the United States have never been required to apply for citizenship. Of those who applied, many did not complete the requirements for citizenship. Evidence that an immigrant completed citizenship requirements can be found in censuses, court minutes, homestead records, passports, voting registers, and military papers.

Availability
Naturalization records in Connecticut were filed in the city courts, superior courts, and the courts of common pleas. Many pre-1906 records are indexed and located at the Connecticut State Library. Some are in the county courts. For more information, go to http://www.cslib.org/natural.htm

The National Archives Northeast Region (Boston) has some local court records for New Haven County, and the cities of Ansonia, Hartford, and Meriden. It also has applications filed in U.S. circuit and district courts from about 1842 to 1955.

Records
1791–1906

New England naturalization records for 1791 to 1906 were copied and indexed by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) in the late 1930s. Some of the records are more recent than 1906. The index gives the name and location of the court, the date of naturalization, and the volume and page number (or certificate number) of the naturalization record. The copies and index are at the National Archives Northeast Region (Boston). The National Archives in Washington, D.C. and the Family History Library have microfilm copies of the index 1791-1906 (Family History Library films ).

After 1906

For records after 1906, contact the National Archives Northeast Region (Boston) or the local office of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (formerly INS).

A wiki article describing this collection is found at:


 * United States New England Naturalization Index (FamilySearch Historical Records)