Arkansas, County Naturalizations - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
Images and index of petitions for naturalization, declarations of intention, and other naturalization records held at county courthouses in Madison and Washington counties.

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:

Petition
 * Name of the petitioner
 * Residence
 * Country of birth
 * Place and date of arrival
 * Names of two witnesses
 * Petition number
 * Date of petition
 * Volume and page number of the petition

Declarations of intent and naturalization petitions
 * Name of the immigrant
 * Country of birth
 * Arrival date
 * Date of Declaration of Intent or Naturalization
 * Names of witnesses
 * Signature of judge or court official
 * Birth date
 * Birthplace
 * Age
 * Race
 * Last foreign residence
 * Current residence
 * Arrival place
 * Marital status
 * Name of spouse
 * Maiden name of wife
 * Birth date of spouse
 * Residence of spouse

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * Name of the person
 * Approximate 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. Keep track of your research in a research log.

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

 * Add any new information to your records
 * 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?

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

Research Helps
The following articles will help you research your family in the state of Arkansas.
 * Beginning Research in United States Probate Records
 * Arkansas Guided Research
 * Arkansas Research Tips and Strategies
 * Step-by-Step Research: 1880-Present

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

FamilySearch Catalog

 * Newman, John J. American Naturalization Records;1790-1990: what they are and how to use them. Bountiful, Utah: Heritage Quest, 1998. FS Library 973 P47na
 * Szucs, Loretto Dennis They became Americans: finding naturalization records and ethnic origins Salt Lake City, Utah: Ancestry Publishing, c1998 FS Library 973 P47t


 * Benton County, Circuit Court, Naturalization, petition for naturalization records and declaration of intention records
 * Boone County, Circuit Court, Naturalization petition and records, 1907-1920
 * Bradley County, Circuit Court, Records of declaration of intention 1908-1914
 * Clay County, Circuit Court, Naturalization records, 1919-1922
 * Cleburne County, Circuit Court, Petitions for naturalization, 1909-1920
 * Crawford County, Circuit Court, Naturalization records, 1896-1910
 * Franklin County, Circuit Court, Petitions for naturalization, Charleston district, 1919-1921
 * Garland County, Circuit Court, Naturalization records, v. A-B, 1918, 1904-1905
 * Greene County, Circuit Court, Naturalization records, 1855-1896
 * Jackson County, Circuit Court, Naturalization records, 1910-1918
 * Johnson County, Circuit Court, Declarations of intention, 1886-1908; final naturalization papers, 1904- 1905
 * Lawrence County, Circuit Court, Naturalization papers, 1855, 1874-1886
 * Lawrence County, Circuit Court, Naturalization petition and record, 1909-1910
 * Logan County, Petitions for naturalization, 1906, 1912-1929; declaration of intention, 1910-1928
 * Madison County, Circuit Court, Naturalization petition and record (Madison County, Arkansas), 1909-1926
 * Newton County, Circuit Court, Declaration of intentions, 1908-1928
 * Polk County, Circuit Court, Naturalization records, 1907-1934
 * Pope County, Circuit Court, Naturalization records and declarations of intent, 1904-1915
 * Prairie County, Naturalization records, 1910-1912
 * Pulaski County, Circuit Court Naturalization records, 1870-1918
 * Randolph County, Circuit Court, Naturalization records, 1908-1947
 * Washington County, Circuit Court, Naturalization records, 1921-1934
 * White County, Circuit Court, Declarations of intention of naturalization, 1906-1922

FamilySearch Digital Library

 * James C. Neagles and Lila Lee Neagles. Locating your immigrant ancestor : a guide to naturalization records Logan, Utah : Everton Publishers, c1986

Citing This Collection
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