Oklahoma Naturalization and Citizenship



Online resources

 * 1795-1925 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * Oklahoma, Naturalization Records, 1889-1991 ($)
 * U.S., Citizenship Case Files in Indian Territory, 1896-1897, index

History
Naturalization records have been filed in the U.S. district and circuit courts, circuit courts,and in local (usually county) courts in Oklahoma. Each court had its own style of record keeping before 1906.

Various types of records were created during the naturalization process, including declarations of intention, petitions for naturalization, oaths of allegiance, and certificates of naturalization and citizenship. Each record can give details about a person, such as age, residence, country or city of origin, ethnic background, the date and port of arrival, the name of the ship, names of spouse and children with their birth dates and places, or current address.

Records for earlier years usually contain less information than those after 1906, when the federal court system for naturalization was revised and details such as birth date and place, physical description, and marital status may be given. See United States Naturalization and Citizenship for a more complete discussion of the naturalization process and the records created.

Availability
Immigrants seeking to become citizens often applied at a U.S. District Court or a district court at a county courthouse. You can obtain copies of declarations, certificates, and other records by contacting the clerk's office in the county. Contact details for Oklahoma county courts can be found on http://www.genealogy.com/00000265.html. The Family History Library has microfilm copies from some counties.

Post 1906 Records
For naturalization records after September 1906, contact the National Archives Southwest Region (Ft. Worth) or use the Genealogy Program at www.uscis.gov. The Southwest Region branch at Fort Worth has records of the U.S. District Court for the Indian Territory: 1889-1907; Oklahoma Eastern District: 1907-1988; Oklahoma Western District: 1907-1956; and Oklahoma Northern District: 1925-1969.