Arkansas Naturalization and Citizenship

Availability
Naturalization records were generally filed in the circuit courts in each county. About 40 percent of the counties in Arkansas have pre-1906 records. The Family History Library has microfilm copies of the records for some of these counties. For residents of Little Rock (Pulaski County), for example, the library has declarations of intention and some final certificates, 1870 to 1918.

Some naturalization papers were filed in the U.S. District Courts located in Fort Smith, Arkansas; Little Rock, Arkansas and Fort Worth, Texas.

A statewide index to naturalization records of Arkansas was compiled by the Works Projects Administration for the years 1809-1906 (FHL film 1730849). Copies of this index are at the National Archives—Southwest Region (Fort Worth), the Arkansas History Commission, and the U.S. District Court in Fort Smith, Arkansas, as well as the Family History Library.

Post-1906 Records
In 1906 the Immigration and Naturalization Service (now United States Citizenship and Immigration Services) was created, forms were standardized, and duplicate records were created by the court and sent to the INS. To access these records, download a FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) form from www.uscis.gov, fill it out and send it to the addresss listed on the form. You may also contact the National Archives—Southwest Region (Fort Worth) for naturalization records