Rhode Island Naturalization and Citizenship

United States U.S. Naturalizations  Rhode Island  Naturalizations

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 nation of origin, his foreign and "Americanized" names, residence, and date of arrival. Information in post-1906 records is more detailed and may include birth dates, birth places, and other information about the immigrant and members of his family.

Availability
Naturalization records have been filed in the town, county and district courts. Papers filed since 1729 are often found in the records of the superior courts of judicature and courts of common pleas in Rhode Island.


 * The Family History Library has microfilm copies of some files, including declarations from Newport County (1888 to 1905) and Washington County (1881 to 1900). To locate county naturalization records go to the Place-names Search of the FamilySearch Catalog under:


 * RHODE ISLAND, [COUNTY] - NATURALIZATION AND CITIZENSHIP


 * In the late 1930s, the Works Progress Administration (WPA) copied and indexed New England naturalization records for 1791 to 1906. 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:


 * United States, Immigration and Naturalization Service. Index to New England Naturalization Petitions, 1791-1906. Washington, D.C.: The National Archives, 1983. 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. Also online at . (Learn more.)


 * The National Archives Northeast Region (Boston)has records of the:


 * U.S. District Court (1842-44, 1888-1945)
 * U.S. Circuit Court (1846-84, 1893-1906)

Post-1906 Records
Copies of the district court naturalization records since 1906 have been sent to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (formerly INS). The INS case files may include the original applications and may contain affidavits, copies of vital record certificates, photographs, emigration materials, and other information.


 * United States Citizenship and Immigration Service To access these case files, use the Genealogy option at the website.


 * National Archives—New England Region

Web Sites

 * National Archives--New England Region
 * Archives.gov
 * FamilySearch.org