Series 84156
District Court (Fourth District : Wasatch County) Naturalization record books
Dates: i 1896-1935.
0.50 cubic foot
These records are housed in the Utah State Archives' permanent storage room.
Scope and Content
To become a citizen of the United States, an individual normally filed a "declaration of intention to become a citizen" at least two years prior to applying for citizenship. The next step was the naturalization hearing at which the candidate and witnesses either made oral statements or filed written petitions and affidavits attesting to the applicant's character, worthiness to become a citizen, and the validity of statements made to the court. If the judge found the applicant eligible to become a citizen, an oath was administered and the individual renounced his former citizenship. At this point a certificate of citizenship was issued documenting the fact. These volumes contain documentation of the final steps of becoming a United States citizen. They include petitions for naturalization, certificates of citizenship, and accompanying documentation.
The first volume contains only certificates of citizenship. Each form gives the date, applicant's name, former town and country, currentresidence, and a standardized summary that the applicant had conformed to the legal requirements of producing necessary evidence and taking the necessary oaths. The judge then signed admitting the applicant as a citizen.
By late 1903, the preprinted application forms consisted of an applicant's affidavit and witness affidavits, as well as a certificate of citizenship. The applicant's affidavit gave his name, birthplace, sovereign, date and court where he had declared his intention to become a citizen, and date of entrance to the United States. Occasionally, the original declaration of intention is filed in the book as documentation. The affidavit included an oath of renunciation of allegiance to his former sovereign and a declaration that the applicant is not insane, epileptic, a pauper, beggar, contagious, a felon, guilty of moral turpitude, a polygamist, anarchist, or pimp. The affidavits of two witnesses confirmed the applicant's statements and declared his worthiness to become acitizen. A copy of a certificate of citizenship form was then completed reiterating this information and ordering his admittance as a citizen.
After 1906, courts were required to use pre-printed forms in volumes furnished by the Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization of the Department of Commerce and Labor. The volumes from 1906 to 1935, when the court relinquished jurisdiction, are held by the agency. A microfilm copy can be located in series 10146, DECLARATIONS OF INTENTION AND NATURALIZATION RECORD BOOKS.
Copies of these records are located at Familysearch.org View Online.
Access Restrictions
This series is designated as Public.
Reproduction and Use
These records are available for reproduction and use.
Finding Aids
Indexes: The volumes have incomplete indices at the beginning. Entries are alphabetic by the first letter of the petitioner's surname. A complete index is available electronically. View index.
Related Records
Declarations of intention and naturalization record books from the District Court (Fourth District : Wasatch County), Series 10146, contains a copy of these same naturalization records for 1896-1906 as well as declarations of intention filed in this court.
Declaration of intention record books from the District Court (Fourth District : Wasatch County), Series 10149, contain the original declarations of intention filed with this court, including some for those individuals whose naturalizations are recorded here.
Certificates of citizenship record books from the District Court (First District), Series 83895, record naturalizations prior to statehood in 1896. Wasatch County was in the 1st judicial district from 1862-1896.
Declarations of intention record books from the District Court (First District), Series 85113, record declarations filed prior to statehood in 1896. Wasatch County was in the 1st judicial district from 1862-1896, so the declarations may include those for some of the individuals whose naturalizations are filed here.
Citizenship certificate stubs from the District Court (Fourth District : Wasatch County), Series 85182, log the naturalizations recorded here after 1906 and act as an index to these naturalizations.
Indexing Terms
Naturalization--Utah--Wasatch County.
Emigration and immigration--Utah--Wasatch County.
Citizenship--Utah--Wasatch County.
Immigrants--Utah--Wasatch County.
| REEL | BOX | DESCRIPTION |
| 1 | N/A | 1896 - 1902 |
| 1 | 1 | 1903 - 1906 |