Series 85224

District Court (Fifth District : Juab County) Declarations of intention record books

Dates: 1896-1958.

0.50 cubic foot and 2 microfilm reels

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 declarations of individuals' intentions to become United States citizens. The first forms contain blanks only for the individual's name, sovereign, date, and signatures of the individual and the clerks witnessing his statement.

Beginning in 1906, the Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization of the Departmentof Commerce and Labor (later the Naturalization Service of the U.S. Dept. of Labor) furnished the court clerks with the necessary blank forms. The forms were furnished in bound volumes as a court record. Each volume was to be indexed and the declarations numbered consecutively beginning with number 1 in volume 1. Loose sheets were also furnished so the duplicate copy could be given to the declarant and the triplicate copy mailed to the Bureau of Naturalization.

The forms contain blanks for the name and location of the court; the individual's name, age, occupation, color, complexion, height, weight, hair color, eye color, visible distinctive marks, birthplace, birthdate, and current residence; the location from which he emigrated to the United States and the vessel name; his last foreign residence; the name and title of the ruler to whom he would be renouncing allegiance; and the port and date of arrival in the United States.

By 1917, additional blanks were inserted to record hismarital status, and if married, his wife's name (altered to "spouse's name" after 1922 when married women could seek citizenship on their own instead of automatically assuming the nationality of their husbands), birthplace and residence. He was to take an oath that he was not an anarchist or polygamist, and that it was his intention to become a United States citizen and make the country his permanent residence. Blanks were provided for his signature and for the date and signature of the court clerk who witnessed his oath.

By the 1930s, more blanks were added for sex, race, present nationality; marriage date and place along with the spouse's birthdate and date and place of entrance to the United States; the number of children with their names, birthdate, birthplace, and residence; any previous declaration of intention, with number, location, and court; and his or her name at entry.

In 1941, the Immigration and Naturalization Service was moved to the U.S. Department of Justice. Asentence was added regarding any departures from the United States with a table in which to record dates of departure and return, the ports used, and the vessel name. The anti-polygamy clause was dropped from the oath, but the statement regarding anarchy was expanded. In 1952, the filing of a declaration of intention became an optional rather than a mandatory step in naturalizations.

The series was begun at statehood in 1896 when Juab County moved to the fifth judicial district, and the district courts began keeping records separately in each county. In 1977, the county was moved to the fourth judicial district.

Images Available

Access Restrictions

This series is designated as Public.

Reproduction and Use

These records are available for reproduction and use.

Finding Aids

Indexes: Each volume has its own index. Entries are alphabetical by the first letter of the individual's surname. , covering from March 24, 1896 thru 1951.

Related Records

Certificates of citizenship record books from the District Court (First District), Series 83895, of the 1st District Court may contain final naturalizations of Juab County residents issued during the territorial period as Juab County was in the 1st judicial district from 1859-1896.

Declarations of intention record books from the District Court (First District), Series 85113, of the 1st District Court may contain declarations filed by Juab County residents during the territorial period, as Juab County was in the 1st judicial district from 1859-1896.

Naturalization record books from the District Court (Fourth District : Juab County), Series 85178, contain final naturalizations issued by the same court and may include records of individuals who filed their declarations here earlier.

Preliminary citizenship examination lists from the District Court (Fourth District : Juab County), Series 85179, contain a list of recommendations on naturalization and may include records of some of those individuals who earlier filed their declarations of intention with the court.

Citizenship certificate stubs from the District Court (Fifth District : Juab County), Series 85180, log declarations contained in this series along with other brief data.

Indexing Terms

Declaration of intention--Utah--Juab County.

Naturalization--Utah--Juab County.

Emigration and immigration--Utah--Juab County.

Citizenship--Utah--Juab County.

REEL	VOLUME	DATE	DESCRIPTION
1	A	1896 - 1906
2	1	1906 - 1917	1-100
2	2	1917 - 1929	101-168
2	3	1931 - 1951	169-196
2	N/A	1931 - 1951	Preliminary Examinations
2	N/A	1931 - 1951	Citizenship Certificate Stubs