New York, Southern District Naturalization Petitions - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in the Collection?
This collection contains petitions for naturalization from the Southern District Courts of New York, 1897-1944. This collection corresponds with NARA Publication M1972: Petitions for Naturalization from the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, 1897-1944.

Declarations of Intent may have been filed soon after the immigrant arrived, and the Naturalization Petition five years later, when the residency requirement would have been met. Look for naturalization records in federal courts and then in state, county, or city courts. An individual may have filed the first and final papers in different courts and sometimes in a different state if the person moved. Immigrants who were younger than 18 when they arrived did not need to file a Declaration of Intent as part of the process. The witnesses named on naturalization records may have been older relatives of the person in the naturalization process.

What Can this Collection Tell Me?
The following information may be found in these records: Petition • 2 Declaration of Intent and Naturalization Petitions • 4

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know: If you do not know this information, check the 1900 or 1910 census and then calculate the possible year of naturalization based on the date of immigration. The 1920 census may tell you the exact year of immigration or naturalization.
 * The full name of your ancestor
 * The approximate immigration and naturalization dates
 * The ancestor’s residence

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 Who 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
 * Find records in his or her country of origin such as emigrations, port records, or ship’s manifests

I Can't Find Who I'm Looking for, What Now ?

 * Check for variant spellings. Realize that the indexes may contain inaccuracies, such as altered spellings and misinterpretations
 * Try a different index if there is one for the years needed. You may also need to search the naturalization records year by year
 * Search the indexes of nearby counties

Research Helps
The following articles will help you research your family in the state of New York.
 * New York Guided Research
 * New York Research Tips and Strategies
 * Step-by-Step New York Research, 1880-Present

Citing This Collection
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.