Washington, Western District, Naturalization Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
This collection consists of petitions for naturalization records and indexes of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, 1853-1957 for Seattle and Tacoma. These records correspond to NARA publication M1542 and is part of Record Group 21 Records of the District Courts of the United States.


 * U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington. Seattle Term. NAID 592779.Petitions for Naturalization,1890-1991.Seattle, rolls, 1-121
 * U.S. Circuit Court for the Western (Tacoma) Division of the District of Washington. Petitions for Naturalization,1890-1904. Tacoma,rolls 121-153

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The following information may be found in these records:

Naturalization
 * 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
 * The location or date of the event

View the Images
View images in this collection by visiting the :
 * 1) Select the Record Type, Year Range, and Volume Number or Letter to view the images.

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.

What Do I Do Next?
Whenever possible, view the original records to verify the information and to find additional information that might not be reported. These pieces of information can lead you to additional records and family members.

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

 * Use the information to find other records such as emigrations, port records, ship’s manifests, birth, christening, census, and land records
 * Learn foreign and “Americanized” names
 * Use the information to find additional family members

I Can’t Find the Person I’m Looking For, What Now?

 * Remember that there may be more than one person in the records with the same name
 * Collect entries for every person who has the same surname. This list can help you identify possible relations that can be verified by records
 * If you cannot locate your ancestor in the locality in which you believe they lived, then try searching records of a nearby locality
 * Standard spelling of names typically did not exist during the periods our ancestors lived in. Try variations of your ancestor’s name
 * Remember that sometimes individuals went by nicknames or alternated between using first and middle names

Research Helps
The following articles will help you in your research for your family in the state of Washington.
 * Beginning Research in United States Naturalization Records
 * Washington Guided Research
 * Washington Record Finder
 * Research Tips and Strategies
 * Step-by-Step Research: 1850-1907 &#124; 1907-Present

Related Family History Library Holdings

 * U.S. District Court. Western District. Tacoma naturalization records, 1890-1957; indexes, 1854-1922. M1232
 * U.S. District Court. Eastern District. Declaration of intention, 1890-1972; petition for naturalization, 1907-1950; repatriations, 1940-1942; application for citizenship, 1879-1906; indexes, 1890-1947
 * Certificate of head tax paid by aliens arriving at Seattle from foreign contiguous territory : National Archives microfilm publications, M1365
 * U.S. District Court. Western District. Southern Division. Indexes to naturalization records of the U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington, Southern Division (Tacoma), 1890-1953 : NARA RG21 publication M1237
 * Naturalization records of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, 1890-1957; indexes to naturalization records of the U.S. District Court Western District of Washington Northern Division (Seattle), 1890-1952 : NARA RG21 publications M1542 and M1232

Related FamilySearch Historical Record Collections

 * Washington, County Naturalization Records, 1850-1982

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.