Massachusetts Naturalization and Citizenship

Naturalization records were filed in the various county and district courts. The Family History Library has some microfilm copies of these records.

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—New England Region. The National Archives in Washington, DC, and the Family History Library have microfilm copies of the index:

United States, Immigration and Naturalization Service. Index to New England Naturalization Petitions, 1791–1906. Washington, DC: National Archives, 1983. (FHL films 1429671-787.)

The Family History Library also has:

United States, District Court (Massachusetts). Naturalization Index Cards, 1790–1926. Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1985. (FHL films 1420205-21.) An index to naturalization records of the U.S. District Court and the U.S. Circuit Court for Massachusetts. A letter M beside the petition number indicates that it is a military naturalization.

Massachusetts. Secretary of the Commonwealth. Returns of Naturalization before Various Massachusetts Courts, 1885–1931. Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1993. (On nine films, beginning with FHL film 1901984.) These documents are also at the Massachusetts State Archives. Most years have full name indexes. List name, age, occupation, residence, date of naturalization, and witnesses.

Massachusetts. Secretary of the Commonwealth. Indexes to Returns of Naturalization, 1920–1923, 1924–1925. Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1994. (On seven FHL films, beginning with film 1940387.) Card index is also available at the Massachusetts State Archives. Each index card typically lists name, residence (town), occupation, court, age, and date.

United States. District Court (Massachusetts). Naturalization Records, 1906–1917. Washington, DC: National Archives, 1988. (FHL films 1578248–302.) Microfilms of originals are also in the National Archives in Washington, DC. Most volumes are individually indexed. Petitions list court district, name, residence, occupation, date and place of petition, port and date of embarkment, port of arrival, vessel, citizenship date, spouse, children, and their birth dates and places.

For information on naturalization records after 1906, contact the:

National Archives—Northeast Region Frederick C. Murphy Federal Center 380 Trapelo Road Waltham, Massachusetts 02452-6399

Phone: (781) 663-0130 Fax: (781) 663-0154 E-mail: [mailto:waltham.archives@nara.gov waltham.archives@nara.gov ]

Immigration and Naturalization Service U.S. Department of Justice JFK Federal Building, Government Center Boston, MA 02203 Telephone: 617–565–3879

Online Resources

http://www.sampubco.com/nats/ma/massachusetts.htm

http://www.rootsweb.com/~ussnei/NatlzMA.htm